www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I have been visiting the Alpes Maritimes for several years now, but this year saw me also venture into the Queyras region further north, which provided several species not found nearer the coast.

The weather was decidedly unpredictable for the first few days (in stark contrast to the bulk of the UK), but it soon settled down into its normal routine of 26-30c, with fine mornings followed by increasing cloud in the mid to late afternoon.

The range of butterflies is pretty remarkable in this part of France, and I reckon I saw around 140 or so, although several will need work to confirm their identity.

Here's a sample of the scenery and habitat on offer:

you tempt us with your mountain scenery

David, the Queyras is probably my favourite place in France! I look forward to seeing how you got on there...

Hi Pete. yes, the Queyras is quite spectacular, and it's amazing how some of the butterflies that are present further south are scarce or absent in this region and vice versa.

Whilst the species range was excellent, general butterfly numbers were rather poor, and extremely poor compared to last year's annus mirablis. I was told that the hot, dry weather persisted last summer and autumn, dessicating LHPs, and the subsequent winter and spring period were wet and cold, doing butterflies no favours.

Even some of the commonest butterflies were around in noticeably smaller numbers - Marbled Whites, Heath Fritillaries, many of the Coppers, etc, but by contrast the vegetation was abnormally lush and verdant given the rainfall earlier in the year.

Here are a few more habitat images prior to the butterflies (and to further tempt Charles):

Hi David
Great pictures of the mountains view looking forward to see the butterflies
john

Thanks, John. Good to see you again and hopefully next time it will be for longer!!

Meantime, here are the butterflies.....

Lycaenidae - Coppers

I'll start with this group simply because they best exemplify how things can change so markedly in the space of a year.

In 2017, Scarce Coppers were everywhere. I'd estimate I saw 1,500+.

This year...............just THREE, and not a single image!

Similarly, Sooty Coppers were practically absent - just TWO seen.

These Coppers tend to use the same foodplant (common/sheep's sorrel), so perhaps it's understandable that if one species is hit they all are. The dry conditions last year may well have put the LHP in short supply leading to a paucity of numbers the following year.

I don't normally take overseas images of phlaeas but my Copper 'fix' was so low that when I saw this individual I felt obliged:
Purple Shot Coppers were around in small numbers:
At altitude, quite a few Purple Edged Coppers were seen, but far fewer than last year:
However, there was one notable moment; what I first thought was a deformed Orange Tip flew past me at a site at 2,000m altitude. When it settled I was quite stunned - a Purple Edged Copper with totally pale hindwings:
1. Small Copper <12
2. Scarce Copper 3
3. Sooty Copper 2
4. Purple Shot Copper 10-15
5. Purple Edged Copper 20-30

Hi David,
That Purple-edged Copper with pale hindwings is very unusual! The lack of coppers out there during our trip was also very noticeable. In fact we only saw a single male Scarce Copper, a couple of Sooty, and just two Purple-shot females. The higher altitude sites where usually many coppers can be found were just eerily quiet. I would guess that a return visit in a week or two would produce much better numbers, but sadly that isn't an option this year!

The biggest casualties for me, Pete, were Coppers and higher altitude Blues. By contrast, Hairstreaks seemed not to have suffered so much (perhaps because their LHPs are trees and shrubs, which may have been better able to withstand last year's dry conditions).

Lycaenids - Hairstreaks

I never expected to see EIGHT species of Hairstreak on this trip. My list only had seven, but at the end of the first week, behind the hotel in a lightly wooded area, I got an enormous shock when I spotted this Black Hairstreak:
It isn't recorded as present within 30 miles or so of the location where I saw it in my PACA atlas, but Hairstreaks can be very discreet creatures, and this sighting proved it.

Lycaenids - Hairstreaks cont....

It was a real pleasure to encounter both Ilex and False Ilex Hairstreaks simultaneously. I've always struggled to distinguish between these species....but not any more! When you see them side by side they're quite distinctive, although the bulk of the Ilex were past their prime sadly.

Here's one which was presentable:
False Ilex were generally quite fresh:
...and here's one of each (Ilex on the left) in relatively close proximity:

Great David, that pruni is very high on my wish list congrath

John Vergo wrote:Great David, that pruni is very high on my wish list congrath

It was completely unexpected, John, and I doubt I'll ever see one again in the region

Lycaenids - Hairstreaks cont......

Last year, for the first time, White Letter Hairstreaks were recorded in the wooded area behind the second hotel. However, a tip-off from the wife of the first hotel's owner saw good numbers of this species in grassy meadows about a mile away from base camp.

There was a collection of elm trees and the WLHs were spinning around the canopy in decent numbers. Pleasingly, one or two would come down to nectar from the low growing flowers every now and then, allowing close approaches:
Wherever you venture, it's always nice to have a reliable site for a desirable species, and I suspect in years to come I'll revisit this spot, as it also provides wonderful views along the valley as well as a range of other butterflies.

Lycaenids - Hairstreaks cont....

The other Hairstreaks were Purple, which I merely got blurred and distant record shots of, as they were canopy bound most of the time, but Green Hairstreaks were still about, including this well-marked one:
Sloe Hairstreaks were around in low double figure numbers:
...whilst Blue Spot Hairstreaks, which are the biggest and 'chunkiest' of the local Hairstreaks, could also be found with a bit of patience:
6. Green Hairstreak 10-20
7. White Letter Hairstreak 20-30
8. Ilex Hairstreak 10-20
9. False Ilex Hairstreak 20-30
10. Sloe Hairstreak 20-30
11. Blue Spot Hairstreak 10-20
12. Purple Hairstreak <12
13. Black Hairstreak 1

Lycaenids - Blues

The abnormally early season saw several species that one would not normally expect turn up.

The most surprising was Provençal Short Tailed Blue:
During the first week, we have invariably encountered the back end of the Chequered Blue season. This year, they were around reliably in both weeks:
Even Green Underside Blue was still around:
Baton Blues were also still on the wing:

Lycaenids - Blues cont....

Holly Blues were around in small numbers, and when a female presents herself it's difficult to resist:
At lower altitudes, Amanda's Blue was still hanging on:
As is often the case here, Escher's Blue was the default species on the forest track, and a good number were fresh:
Adonis Blues were about too, but their scarcity and their appearance was indicative of the tail end of their flight period. That said, this individual looked quite smart, and had hindwing submarginal spots as well:

Lycaenids - Blues cont.....

At medium altitudes, different species of Blue start to reveal themselves. This is a Geranium Argus at around 1,700m:
Turquoise Blue, as ever on this trip, kept itself to itself, with just two seen. Both were fresh though, and sublimely beautiful:
Eros Blue began to emerge towards the end of the first week:
Mountain Alcon Blues were in full swing, with quite a few seen, which was good. Here's a male basking:
....and a female laying:
Mazarine Blues were also fairly common, often puddling beside other lycaenids:

Interesting what you say about the drop in numbers due to the shrivelled foodplants last year. A broadly similar thin could happen in Britain, this year.

Lovely shot of dorylas, David. They really are a very special butterfly.

Tony M.

You're right, Mark. We could be in for plummeting numbers next year if we don't get some rain soon. The hot, sunny weather may be great for adult butterflies but their larvae are going to struggle badly.

Tony, Turquoise Blue is possibly my favourite Blue, although my last post in this lycaenid sequence will challenge that as it depicts something I've yearned to see for several years!!

Lycaenids - Blues cont.....

At higher altitudes, one can expect to see different species of Blue. Luckily, we were just in time to catch the emergence of the delightful Damon Blue as well as Silvery Argus:
Idas Blues remained absent until the latter half of the second week, whereupon they became regular:
Of course, Glandon Blue is an altitude specialist, and after a slow start I'm pleased to say they became common companions:
This really left only Alpine Blue. This species is never widespread but you tend to encounter it every now and again. This year, however, they were practically absent, but on the last full day we all got a sighting.....and it was a female!!

I've never seen this before and had consequently pondered long and hard about where the fairer sex would be 'hanging out', given that males would pop up quite frequently at both puddling sites and in the grassland above 2,000m.

Well, this female was contentedly nectaring on sainfoin at 2,100m and was very approachable to the point where I found it hard to tear myself away: