Spring 2012 newsletter - Butterfly Conservation
Spring 2012 newsletter - Butterfly Conservation
Spring 2012 newsletter - Butterfly Conservation
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TUESDAY 12th July Pibest Nature Reserve.<br />
Weather AM 20%, PM 60% sun.<br />
Our guide for the first week, Jude, a British lady<br />
who has lived in Luz St. Sauveur with her husband<br />
for the last 25 years running Borderline Holidays - a<br />
holiday firm offering Bird and <strong>Butterfly</strong> watching<br />
holidays, had made some phone calls and advised us<br />
to head away from the mountains to a local nature<br />
reserve some 15 kms on the way to Lourds. We<br />
parked by the entrance to the Pibest Nature Reserve<br />
and walked along a track through light scrub in a<br />
disused quarry area. Ilex Hairstreak was the first<br />
new species seen followed by Weavers Fritillary,<br />
Southern White Admiral, Scarce Swallowtail and<br />
Cinquefoil Skipper which was later confirmed to be<br />
Pyrgus malvoides a species thought by some to be a<br />
sub species of Grizzled Skipper, in Spain it receives<br />
full species status. In a book of Spanish butterflies it<br />
is called the Southern Grizzled Skipper. 43 species.<br />
Southern Grizzled Skipper<br />
WEDNESDAY 13th July Weather 100% rain<br />
We sat around the hotel most of the day reviewing<br />
what we had seen, I sent some post cards and watched<br />
the Tour de France on the TV, Pizza for lunch.<br />
THURSDAY 14th July Valley de Lys.<br />
Weather AM 70% PM 95% sun<br />
We had to go south from the village along a narrow<br />
dead end track as all other roads were closed due to<br />
the Tour de France. We drove about 8Kms along<br />
the track then parked and walked to the end of the<br />
road. We saw just three new species: Sooty Copper,<br />
Camberwell Beauty larvae (100) and Purple<br />
Emperor. 37 species.<br />
4<br />
FRIDAY 15th July Lac de Gloriette.<br />
Weather AM 60% PM 90% sun<br />
Walking around the lake, high in the mountains,<br />
in bright weather a Purple Shot Copper was flying<br />
with Large Blues, we then came across a group of<br />
blues and skippers mud-puddling on a patch of<br />
urine soaked earth; species seen included Turquoise,<br />
Adonis and Common Blues with Mallow, Marbled<br />
and Grizzled Skippers. Higher up amoung the scree<br />
we discovered Gavarnie Blue, one of two butterflies<br />
to have Gavarnie in their names. 39 Species.<br />
Marbled and Grizzled Skippers, a Turquoise Blue, and a<br />
Silver-studded Blue<br />
Gavarnie Blue<br />
SATURDAY 16th July Transfer to Ariege.<br />
Weather 100% sun<br />
We moved about 180 Km east to meet an old<br />
friend from my days on BC’s National Executive –<br />
Graham Hart an English Vet now established with<br />
a local veterinary practice. Graham was to be our<br />
guide for the second week.<br />
SUNDAY 17th July Porte Puymorens<br />
Weather AM 30% PM 75% sun<br />
The weather was overcast and showery so Graham<br />
suggested that we go south east towards the Spanish<br />
border to a valley into the mountains where Graham<br />
had done most of his studies on the Violet Copper.