Spring 2012 newsletter - Butterfly Conservation

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