. Switzerland was a mixture … beautiful mountain scenery, little farms, and small towns with their unique church steeples (that helped me identify the locations of photos I took as we passed on through) but also the trappings of modern industry development: - steel bunker buildings, tall cranes, stone and cement quarries advertising hoardings and car-ports: - towns of industrial estate likeness. It was …. and wasn’t like I envisaged.
- Nufenen, Switzerland
. Initially I was focussed on a Sawfly (Tenthredo sp); a ‘Small White’ which wouldn’t land, a moth I’ve still to identify then at the far end of the car-park amongst a clump of grasses and Rosebay Willowherb, I eventually got something meatier: - a Large Fritillary. This one a Niobe Fritillary I think. It would play hard to get by dropping into long grass whilst still being very alert at my approach although my photographic ability also deserted me at this point as you can see from the pictures.
- Tenthredo sp. sawfly
- Anyone know what this species is. Saw it (or similar) frequently throughout my holiday
- Niobe Fritillary
The passengers were already back and seated and I was missing. I heard the missus hollering and I made it back with a fast sprint … second only to the one I made to stop ‘Tuco’ the copper-cum-traffic warden issuing me with a parking ticket in Vilaflor, Tenerife. My panting arrival was much to the annoyance of the driver and amusement of the other passengers 
. The driver then went on to warn everyone about an American couple who had missed the coach back from Luino and the huge cost that had entailed. “Don’t be late” 
The scenery was beautiful by Lake Maggiore but the weather was even hotter than we’d experienced in Oberstaufen. A large market selling clothing and haberdashery type goods (but no food) wasn’t of particular interest as we wended our way through the thronging crowds trying to stick together and keep to the shady side of the streets. Some refreshment at a bar and lunch in a pizzeria provided a welcome break. Afterwards we strolled along the lake promenade where I got my 19th species a Holly Blue spotted by my youngest (if only I had her eyes
). Also seen was a Wall lizard; Yellow-legged gull; Hooded Crow and the ubiquitous Pied (White) Wagtail. In the lake were large scaled fish which I think were Chub 
- Holly Blue
- Bee. Anthidium sp.?
- Podarcis muralis, Common Wall Lizard
- Lake Chub
.
- Scenic view of Hinterrhein and Nufenen area, Switzerland
- Viamala Gorge, Switzerland
. After following the undulating woodland track for around a half mile I emerged into the open next to a building site which to my amazement was populated by Red Deer 
. The deer were somewhat nervous of my approach and a few decided to move off through a gap in the fencing back to where they presumably came from. Thankfully not all did so and I was more or less able to view them through fencing, the herd consisting of around 2 dozen animals, including a large velvet antler stag and a couple of cute 'bambi’s' . . The picture below was the best I could manage as it was over 35 yards away partially hidden as well as blending into the clumps of clay. The other birds were Chaffinch and Black Redstart. .
. This would curtail any further sun-lounging/outdoor swimming activities for me for the rest of my holiday . The rest of the crew were keen to try out the saunas but beat a hasty retreat on discovery that they were mixed ones . As for me? When in Rome 
.Another ‘wildlife’ feature at Aquaria Erlebnisbad and around Oberstaufen in general, were the huge inch+ long Tabanus sudeticus horseflies like the one that nearly took Wurzel’s leg off at Bentley a few years back
. One even got into our car and caused chaos (that’ll teach em to keep opening the windows against my wishes 
). After the leisure pool it was back to the resort where I put in a little exploring before dinner but could only manage this Shield bug.
- Carpocoris purpureipennis
Phil
