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Another Tabanus sudeticus or Dark Behemothic Horsefly turned up at the apartment but a decent picture eluded me (again) . I still had some time to explore so I drove over to the Hochgratbahn cable-car station to see if I could find myself another Purple Emperor along the WeiBach river. As is often the case, encounters like this are not repeated but nevertheless there were butterflies to see. Noticeable were the Brimstones which were attracted to a white flowering thistle-like plant I’ve yet to find the name of. The woodland path ran alongside the small WeiBach river with its stony bed created a very tranquil atmosphere. I went looking for and found a gap in the trees to get to the water’s edge and after doing so encountered another species: a White Admiral .As is often the case with the White Admirals I find this one had chunks out of its wings probably the result of feeding on bramble flower? I ventured further along the track which climbed up away from the river into denser woodland with the occasional clearing. On the way big orange Silver-washed Fritillaries zoomed and glided occasionally going to ground which helped me get this next shot. The woodland walk reminded me of the woods here in the South-east with Silver-washed and the occasional White Admiral but the next one in a partial clearing was a real surprise another Erebia species but which one? Checking up later I soon had it identified as Erebia ligea or Arran Brown, another lifer . Getting a decent photo as it moved from shade to sunlight with strong shadows cast proved difficult but it was an enjoyable challenge on a nice example. Soon after I spotted a small butterfly flying amongst the tree branches out of reach. It looked like a Hairstreak but I couldn’t say which one. My only chance of a shot was using the low quality but good reach FZ-72. I’m 95% certain this is a White-letter Hairstreak .The woodland raspberries provided a welcome little snack And another moth. Spotted in the woodland shade and photographed … and another lifer Colostygia olivata the Beech Green Carpet The next butterfly, a Green-veined White was a rather unusual looking I think? It seems to have eye-spot in the forewing cell and S2 of the hindwing. Perhaps this is rain damage The track continued downwards and converged with the river by a bridge. By the bridge downstream was an enticing natural swimming-pool in the river. Near the bridge was a deserted farmhouse/barn where there were clumps of wild flowers providing nectar for Silver-washed Fritllaries and Brimstone. Across the river was a recently grazed grass field with the usual suspects: Meadow Brown; Common Blue and a courting pair of well-worn 'Small Skipper' . The Silver-washed pre-occupied with taking nectar were relatively easy to get close to …. the natural light reflecting off the underside scales to provide the gorgeous “silver” (and old gold too) . Looking back over the whole holiday, Silver-washed Fritillaries was the most numerous species seen.
The Silver-washed were a delight but time was getting on and I had to make my way back taking in another White admiral and then an obliging Comma (near to the spot I’d seen the Emperor and Wood White) my second Ringlet (struggling to cling on to a blade of grass), and a Common Blue . My species count had increased by another three with White Admiral; Arran Brown and White-letter Hairstreak.
Meadow Brown; Small Heath; Gatekeeper; Common Blue; Small White; Mazarine Blue (L); Green-veined White; Swallowtail; Silver-washed Fritillary; Marbled White; Small Skipper; Sooty Copper; Silver-spotted Skipper; Essex Skipper; Map; Ringlet; Comma; Niobe fritillary (L); High Brown Fritillary (L); Holly Blue; Mountain Clouded Yellow (L); Small tortoiseshell; Red Admiral; Large Wall Brown (L); Yellow-spotted Ringlet (L); Dusky Grizzled Skipper (L); Painted Lady; Peacock; Brimstone; Purple Emperor; Wood White; Speckled Wood; White Admiral; Arran Brown (L) and White-letter Hairstreak
= 35 species of which 8 potentially lifers. (Pyrgus Skipper subject to review)

Phil

Philzoid wrote:The next butterfly, a Green-veined White was a rather unusual looking I think? It seems to have eye-spot in the forewing cell and S2 of the hindwing. Perhaps this is rain damage?

Certainly not a natural occurrence, Phil. Continental GVWs are quite different to UK ones (generally being less heavily marked) but the spots you refer to DO look like the remnants of liquid that the butterfly has come into contact with.

Nice Arran Browns, by the way!

David M wrote: Continental GVWs are quite different to UK ones (generally being less heavily marked)

Yes, I think this is form meridionalis which I also encountered in southern France.

David M wrote:but the spots you refer to DO look like the remnants of liquid that the butterfly has come into contact with

yes, they have to be haven't they?

Thanks for your comments on the Arran Brown. Seeing the underside helped with this one

Philzoid wrote:Thanks for your comments on the Arran Brown. Seeing the underside helped with this one

Yes. The underside is definitive, Phil, although having seen them flying alongside Large Ringlets on several occasions in southern France, I am struck by just how much brighter the white fringes appear on ligea. It's a very attractive erebia, that's for sure.

Cracking Arran Browns Philzoid, great that you also managed to catch the 'tooth mark' on the underside I reckon you're right about the Whitter, I didn't manage a shot of one of those this year Those are also interesting marks on the GVW, they're perfectly round which makes them seem even more curious

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Wurzel wrote:that you also managed to catch the 'tooth mark' on the underside

That was a big help with the ID. Pity I couldn't have got a 'tooth-mark' shot for that other difficult genus, Pyrgus . Looks like my 'Dusky grizzlie' will be consigned to a maybe

Wurzel wrote:Those are also interesting marks on the GVW, they're perfectly round which makes them seem even more curious

They are indeed, but I'm not aware of any GVW aberrants that have eye-spots so water-damage has to be the likely explanation