The Pyrenees and more: Northern Spain and Western France, 14th-26th June 2009

This section details the species of birds and other wildlife seen during the trip.

Highlights are shown in brown and the [number in square brackets] at the end of the species name is the number of individuals seen or heard during the trip (or [?] if not counted).

As the place names won't all be known, I've usually broken down the details into the 6 main regions visited, namely English Channel, Western France, Northern Spain (away from the Pyrenees) and the Pyrenees in each of Navarre (Spain), Aragon (Spain) and France.

 

PART 3 - NON-AVIAN WILDLIFE

 

Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris [6]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 20th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Balneario on 23rd.

French Pyrenees: 1 at Barèges on 24th with 4 there on 25th

 

Alpine Marmot Marmota marmota [17+]

Aragon Pyrenees: At least 5 at 2 sites in the Gállego Valley on 22nd-23rd.

French Pyrenees: At least a dozen at Gavarnie on 24th.

Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09
Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09
Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Valle de Gallego, 23-Jun-09

Alpine Marmots, Valle de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 23rd June

 

Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Alpine Marmot, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Alpine Marmots, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Coypu Myocastor coypus [3]

Western France: 1 at Canal du Clain and 2 NE of Bordeaux on 14th. Although these were smaller than I remember Coypu being I don't think there's anything else they could have been.

 

Western Polecat Mustela putorius [2]

Navarre Pyrenees: 2 ran across the road after dark on 19th at the west end of Garralda and disappeared under a door to an old building.

 

Deer sp. [5]

Northern Spain: 5 in Sierra de la Demanda on 16th. Groups of 3 and 2 were not fully identified - both Roe and Red Deer are apparently within range but they didn't look quite right for either to me.

Deer, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09  

Deer sp., Sierra de la Demanda (La Rioja, Spain), 16th June

 

Chamois Mustela putorius [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 on the hillside above Balneario on 23rd.

 

Fire Salamander Salamandra salamandra [11]

Navarre Pyrenees: At least 11 along the track in Selva de Irati after dark on 19th.

Fire Salamander, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09 Fire Salamander, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09

Fire Salamanders, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 19th June - stupidly I didn't have my camera with me so had to make do with my phone, which clearly wasn't quite up to the job

 

Toad sp. [10+]

Navarre Pyrenees: Lots along the track in Selva de Irati after dark on 19th - so far as I can tell they must be Spiny Toad Bufo spinosus, the western counterpart of Common Toad.

Toad, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09 Toad, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09

Spiny Toads, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Large Psammodromus Psammodromus algirus [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th - thanks to James Christensen for the ID.

Large Psammodromus, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Large Psammodromus, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo [5]

Western France: 2 at Forêt de Rennes on 14th.

Navarre Pyrennes: 3+ along the Urobi river south of Burguete.

Beautiful Demoiselle, Urobi, 18-Jun-09 Beautiful Demoiselle, Urobi, 18-Jun-09

Beautiful Demoiselles, Urobi river (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Yellow-spotted Emerald Somatochlora flavomaculata [1]

Western France: 1 near Lencouacq on 25th, but it never stopped hawking, flying fast and eratically and never landing. Given the nature of the observation and the fact that I didn't know what ID features to look for until after the event, this record should probably be regarded as tentative - the only possible alternative is Orange-spotted Emerald but I'm pretty happy that it had to be Yellow-spotted.

 

Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum [1]

Western France: 1 near Lencouacq on 25th.

Ruddy Darter, near Lencouacq, 25-Jun-09  

Ruddy Darter, near Lencouacq (Landes, France), 25th June

 

Egyptian Grasshopper Anacridium aegyptium [2]

Northern Spain: 2 at Lumbier on 18th.

Egyptian Grasshopper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Egyptian Grasshopper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Egyptian Grasshoppers, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Ascalaphid Libelloides sp. [?]

French Pyrenees: Small numbers seen at Gavarnie on 24th - not sure of the species, possibly Libelloides coccajus.

Ascalaphid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Ascalaphid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Ascalaphid, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Swallowtail Papilio machaon [14]

Northern Spain: 4 at Lumbier on 18th.

Aragon Pyrenees: About 10 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Swallowtail, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Swallowtail, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Swallowtail, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Scarce Swallowtail Iphiclides podalirius [3]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 20th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 2 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Scarce Swallowtail, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Scarce Swallowtail, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Scarce Swallowtail, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Scarce Swallowtails, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Apollo Parnassius apollo [3+]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1-2 probables at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd - not seen well enough to be certain of what would have been my first record of this species before it disappeared high into the sky. I have been unable to establish whether or not this is typical behaviour for this species - the name might suggest it is?

French Pyrenees: At Gavarnie on 24th, after a few more brief probable sightings one finally showed well enough to confirm it. Others followed, but all were only seen in flight and only one (which crashed into my back) offered a good enough view for me to be able to make out the red hindwing spots.

 

Black-veined White Aporia crataegi [42]

Pyrenees: Common throughout the Pyrenees.

Black-veined White, Gabardito, 21-Jun-09 Black-veined White, Aribe, 19-Jun-09

Black-veined White, Gabardito (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Black-veined White, east of Aribe (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Black-veined White, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Black-veined White, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Black-veined White, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Large White Pieris brassicae [13]

Pyrenees: Seen in each of the regions visited.

Large White, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Large White, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Small White Pontia daplidice [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Codo (Belchite Steppes) on 15th.

Small White, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09  

Small White, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Green-veined White Artogeia napi [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 20th.

Green-veined White, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09 Green-veined White, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09

Green-veined White, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 22nd June

 

Bath White Pontia daplidice [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Belchite Steppes on 15th.

Bath White, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09 Bath White, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09

Bath White, Lomaza, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines [1]

1-2 seen while driving but I forgot to record where. I think they were somewhere in France.

 

Clouded Yellow Colias crocea [?]

Very common throughout northern Spain and the Pyrenees. A minority were paler examples, presumably these belonged to the form helice but in most cases Pale or Berger's Clouded Yellow wasn't ruled out.

Clouded Yellow, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Clouded Yellow, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Clouded Yellows, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Clouded Yellow, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Clouded Yellow, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Clouded Yellow, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

Clouded Yellow sp., Codo, Belchite Steppes (Navarre, Spain), 15th June

 

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni [2]

Western France: At least 2 near Lencouacq on 25th.

 

Cleopatra Gonepteryx cleopatra [30+]

Northern Spain: Over 30 at Lumbier on 18th.

Cleopatra, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Cleopatra, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09
Cleopatra, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Cleopatra, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Cleopatras, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Wood White Leptidea sinapis [20+]

Aragon and French Pyrenees: Common, especially at Gabardito and Gavarnie.

Wood White, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Wood White, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Ilex Hairstreak Satyrium ilicis [40+]

Northern Spain: At least 40 at Lumbier on 18th.

Ilex Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Ilex Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09
Ilex Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Ilex Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Ilex Hairstreaks, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini [2]

Northern Spain: At least 2 among the Ilex Hairstreaks at Lumbier on 18th.

Blue-spot Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Blue-spot Hairstreak, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Blue-spot Hairstreaks, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Small Copper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09  

Small Copper, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Purple-edged Copper Lycaena hippothoe [1]

French Pyrenees: 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Purple-edged Copper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Purple-edged Copper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Purple-edged Copper, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus [2]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 20th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Holly Blue, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Holly Blue, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09

Holly Blue, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

Holly Blue, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Little Blue Cupido minimus [36+]

Aragon Pyrenees: 20 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

French Pyrenees: 1 at Col d'Aubisque on 23rd and 15+ at Gavarnie on 24th.

Little Blue, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Little Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Little Blue, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Little Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Little Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Little Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Little Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Little Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Little Blues, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Silver-studded Blue Plebejus argus [6+]

Northern Spain: At least 2 at Lumbier on 18th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Jasa on 21st.

French Pyrenees: At least 3 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Silver-studded Blue, Jasa, 21-Jun-09 Silver-studded Blue, Jasa, 21-Jun-09

Silver-studded Blue, Jasa (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

presumed Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June - this individual had striking "tails" but there is no species that should have tails that looks anything like it. I couldn't make out any silver studs in the field and they're not clear in the photos either, but what else looks like this?

 

Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Silver-studded Blue, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Silver-studded Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

Silver-studded Blue, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Idas Blue Plebejus idas [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 in the Valle de Aragues near Jasa on 21st.

Idas Blue, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09 Idas Blue, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09

Idas Blue, Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Escher's Blue Agrodiaetus escheri [3]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

French Pyrenees: 2 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Escher's Blue, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Escher's Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Escher's Blue, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Escher's Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Escher's Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Escher's Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Escher's Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Amanda's Blue Agrodiaetus amanda [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 20th.

Amanda's Blue, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09 Amanda's Blue, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09

Amanda's Blue, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Turquoise Blue Plebicula dorylas [5+]

French Pyrenees: At least 5 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Turquoise Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Turquoise Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Turquoise Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Turquoise Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Turquoise Blues, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Provençe Chalkhill Blue Lysandra hispana [3]

Northern Spain: 2 at Lumbier on 18th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Jasa on 21st.

Provence Chalkhill Blue, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Provence Chalkhill Blue, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09
Provence Chalkhill Blue, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Provence Chalkhill Blue, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Provençe Chalkhill Blues, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Provence Chalkhill Blue, Jasa, 21-Jun-09  

Provençe Chalkhill Blue, Jasa (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Adonis Blue Lysandra bellargus [3]

Aragon Pyrenees: 2 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

French Pyrenees: 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Adonis Blue, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Adonis Blue, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Adonis Blues, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Adonis Blue, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

Adonis Blue, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Common Blue Polyommatus icarus [8+ ]

Spain: Small numbers in each region. Surprisingly perhaps, none were identified in France, but more attention was paid to the interesting-looking blues so perhaps some were overlooked.

Common Blue, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Common Blue, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09
Common Blue, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Common Blue, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Common Blues, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Common Blue, Codo, 15-Jun-09 Common Blue, Codo, 15-Jun-09

Common Blues, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Navarre, Spain), 15th June

 

Common Blue, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09 Common Blue, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09

Common Blue, Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

Common Blue, Tramacastilla de Tena (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Gabardito on 21st.

Duke of Burgundy, Gabardito, 21-Jun-09 Duke of Burgundy, Gabardito, 21-Jun-09

Duke of Burgundy, Gabardito (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Southern White Admiral Satyrium spini [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Southern White Admiral, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09  

Southern White Admiral, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Peacock Inachis io [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 19th.

 

Small Tortoiseshell Aglasi urticae [8+]

Pyrenees: Small numbers in each region.

Small Tortoiseshell, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Small Tortoiseshell, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Red Admiral Vanessa atlanta [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui [22]

Seen in all regions. A butterfly seen alighting on the cross-channel ferry was probably this speceis.

Painted Lady, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09  

Painted Lady, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Comma Polygonia c-album [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Comma, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Comma, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 19th.

Dark Green Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Dark Green Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09
Dark Green Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Dark Green Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Dark Green Fritillary, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana euphrosyne [5+]

Northern Spain: 1-2 in the Sierra de la Demanda on 18th.

Spanish Pyrenees: 4 positively identified from photos in both Navarre and Aragon, but many unidentified Fritillaries were probably this species.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Pearl-bordered, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Clossiana selene [2]

Navarre Pyrenees: 2 above Ochagavía on 18th. Others may well have been overlooked.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

False Heath Fritillary Melitaea diamina [2]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Frnech Pyrenees: 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

False Heath Fritillary, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 False Heath Fritillary, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

False Heath Fritillary, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

False Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

False Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Heath, Provençal and Meadow Fritillaries Mellicta athalia, M. deione, M. parthenoides [2]

Pyrenees: Mellicta Fritillaries seen in all regions of the Pyrenees but their identification proved a challenge too great for me! After many hours studying my photos with three field guides to hand and several websites I am still not confident about them. The first two shown below are different from the others and I identified them as the dark form of Heath Fritillary. However I have been unable to find any consistently diagnostic methods of separating the dark form of Heath Fritillary from paler examples of False Heath Fritillary, so my identification is tentative.

For the remainder the choice is between Heath, Provençal and Meadow. I think that the photos show at least two of these species, and perhaps all three, but there are none that I am quite certain about. If you can confirm any of them, please let me know!

Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillary, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Heath Fritillary, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June (different individual from above)

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillary, Tramacastilla de Tena (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillary, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillary, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June - probably different from the ones above

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillary, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June - possibly different from the one above?

 

Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09
Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09 Heath-type Fritillary, Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09

Heath/Provencal/Meadow Fritillaries, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 20th June - I think the lower two are probably a Meadow Fritillary

 

Marbled White Melanargia galathea [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09
Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Marbled White, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Iberian Marbled White Melanargia lachesis [20+]

Northern Spain: 20+ around Codo and Belchite on 15th and 16th. Thanks to John for pointing out that this form is now treated as a distinct species (it used to be lumped with Marbled White).

Iberian Marbled White, Lumbier, 15-Jun-09 Iberian Marbled White, Lumbier, 15-Jun-09
Iberian Marbled White, Lumbier, 15-Jun-09 Iberian Marbled White, Lumbier, 15-Jun-09

Iberian Marbled Whites, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Western Marbled White Melanargia occitanica [1]

Northern Spain: At least 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Western Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Western Marbled White, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Western Marbled White, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Black Satyr Satyrus actaea [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Belchite Steppes on 15th.

Black Satyr, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09  

Black Satyr, Lomaza, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Great Banded Grayling Kanetisa circe [1]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Great Banded Grayling, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09  

Great Banded Grayling, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron [2]

Navarre Pyrenees: At least 2 at Roncesvalles on 18th.

Mountain Ringlet, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09 Mountain Ringlet, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09

Mountain Ringlet, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

De Prunner's Ringlet Erebia triaria [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Gabardito on 21st.

De Prunner's Ringlet, Gabardito, 21-Jun-09 De Prunner's Ringlet, Gabardito, 21-Jun-09

De Prunner's Ringlet, Gabardito (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Bright-eyed Ringlet Erebia oeme [1+]

French Pyrenees: At least 1-2 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Bright-eyed Ringlet, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

Bright-eyed Ringlet, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Piedmont Ringlet Erebia meolans [15+]

Pyrenees: Probably the commonest Ringlet throughout - the total of 15 includes just those positively identified from photos; many more similar-looking Ringlets were not photographed.

Piedmont Ringlet, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09 Piedmont Ringlet, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09

Piedmont Ringlet, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Piedmont Ringlet, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09 Piedmont Ringlet, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09

Piedmont Ringlet, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina [4]

Northern Spain: 2 at Lumbier on 18th.

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 19th.

Western France: 1 at Lavua-sur-Loire on 26th.

Meadow Brown, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Meadow Brown, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Meadow Browns, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Southern Gatekeeper Pyronia cecilia [5+]

Northern Spain: At least 5 at various sites around the Belchite Steppes on 15th.

Southern Gatekeeper, Codo, 15-Jun-09 Southern Gatekeeper, Codo, 15-Jun-09

Southern Gatekeepers, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Spanish Gatekeeper Pyronia bathseba [25+]

Northern Spain: At least 5 around Codo in the Belchite Steppes on 15th and about 20 at Lumbier on 18th.

Spanish Gatekeeper, Codo, 15-Jun-09 Spanish Gatekeeper, Codo, 15-Jun-09

Spanish Gatekeepers, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Spanish Gatekeeper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Spanish Gatekeeper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Spanish Gatekeepers, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus [4]

Small numbers in the Pyrenees in Navarre and France.

Small Heath, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09 Small Heath, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Small Heaths, Selva de Irati and above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Pearly Heath Coenonympha arcania [3]

Navarre Pyrenees: At least 1 above Ochagavía on 20th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Tramacastilla de Tena on 22nd.

French Pyrenees: 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Pearly Heath, above Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09 Pearly Heath, above Ochagavia, 20-Jun-09

Pearly Heath(s?), above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Pearly Heath, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09  

Pearly Heath, Tramacastilla de Tena (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Speckled Wood Pararge aegeria [1]

Western France: 1 near Lencouacq on 25th.

Speckled Wood, near Lencouacq, 25-Jun-09  

Speckled Wood, near Lencouacq (Landes, France), 25th June

 

Wall Brown Lasiommata megera [7]

Spain: Small numbers in each region.

Wall Brown, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09 Wall Brown, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09

Wall Brown, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae [2]

French Pyrenees: Initially identified as an Oberthür's Grizzled I eventually settled on Grizzled for these - confirmation would be welcome though as I am not 100% certain.

Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

probable Grizzled Skippers, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus armoricanus [4+]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 19th.

French Pyrenees: Appeared to be quite common at Gavarnie on 24th but as 2 butterflies initially identified as this species were later re-identified as Grizzled Skippers it's safest to leave those not photograhed as unidentified.

Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09 Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09

Oberthür's Grizzled Skipper, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Oberthur's Grizzled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Oberthür's Grizzled Skippers, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Red Underwing Skipper Spialia sertorius [2]

French Pyrenees: 2 at Gavarnie on 24th. Although the underwing is much duller than the books suggest it should be there are online images similar and I can't make anything else fit. The two individuals shown are different - I didn't see the underwing of the right hand one.

Red Underwing Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Red Underwing Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Red Underwing Skippers, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Mallow Skipper Carcharodus alceae [1]

Northern Spain: At least 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Mallow Skipper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Mallow Skipper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Mallow Skipper, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Marbled Skipper Carcharodus lavatherae [1]

French Pyrenees: 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Marbled Skipper, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

Marbled Skipper, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Dingy Skipper, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Dingy Skipper, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Dingy Skipper, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon [3]

Northern Spain: At least 2 at Codo (Belchite Steppes) on 15th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Lulworth Skipper, Codo, 15-Jun-09 Lulworth Skipper, Codo, 15-Jun-09
Lulworth Skipper, Codo, 15-Jun-09 Lulworth Skipper, Codo, 15-Jun-09

Lulworth Skippers, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola [-]

French Pyrenees: None positively identified but a probable at Gavarnie on 24th.

 

Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris [2]

Northern Spain: The only ones positively identified were at Lumbier on 18th.

Small Skipper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Small Skipper, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Small Skippers, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Large Skipper Ochlodes venatus [9]

Pyrenees: Small numbers in each region.

Large Skipper, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09 Large Skipper, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09

Large Skippers, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Large Skipper, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09  

Large Skipper, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Pyrausta purpuralis [2]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 19th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Valle de Aragues on 21st.

Pyrausta purpuralis, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Pyrausta purpuralis, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Pyrausta purpuralis, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Pyrausta purpuralis, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09  

Pyrausta purpuralis, Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Forester sp. Adscita sp. [1]

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 unidentified Forester in the Valle de Aragues on 21st. As much as the mystery of the identification is the mystery of how I managed to come away without a single sharp photo.

Forester sp., Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09 Forester sp., Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09

Forester sp., Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae [?]

A number Burnet moths were seen in Spain at sites close to the base of the Pyrenees. All appeared consistent with Narrow-bordered Five-spots, though I am not 100% certain that other species were fully eliminated.

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Lumbier, 18-Jun-09

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets, Lumbier (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Small Argent & Sable Epirrhoe tristata [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: At least 1 at Roncesvalles on 18th.

Small Argent & Sable, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09  

Small Argent & Sable, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Isturgia famula [30+]

Northern Spain: 30+ flying in light rain at Sierra de la Demanda on 16th.

Isturgia famula, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09 Isturgia famula, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09

Isturgia famula, Sierra de la Demanda (La Rioja, Spain), 16th June

 

Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 19th.

Brown Silver-line, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09  

Brown Silver-line, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia [6+]

Northern Spain: 5 at Sierra de la Demanda on 16th.

French Pyrenees: At least 1 at Gavarnie on 24th.

Speckled Yellow, Belchite Steppes, 16-Jun-09  

Speckled Yellow, Sierra de la Demanda (La Rioja, Spain), 16th June

 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth Macroglossum stellatarum [4]

Northern Spain: 1 at Lumbier on 18th.

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 above Ochagavía on 19th and 1 at Selva de Irati on 20th.

Aragon Pyrenees: 1 at Sallent de Gállego on 22nd.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, above Ochagavia, 19-Jun-09

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, above Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain), 19th June

 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera [1]

Navarre Pyrenees: 1 at Selva de Irati on 20th.

Bordered Straw, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09  

Bordered Straw, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica [3+]

Aragon Pyrenees: 2 at Tramacastilla de Tena on 22nd.

French Pyrenees: Large numbers of moths at Gavarnie on 24th were not identified in the field but may well have been this species - 1 of them was subsequently identified from photos.

Burnet Companion, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09  

Burnet Companion, Tramacastilla de Tena (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Unidentified moths

If you can help identify any of these, then please let me know!

moth, Codo, 16-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Codo, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 16th June

 

moth, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Sierra de la Demanda (La Rioja, Spain), 16th June

 

moth, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

moth, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09 moth, Selva de Irati, 19-Jun-09

unidentified moths, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 19th June - the one on the left is perhaps a Common Heath?

 

moth, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09 moth, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09

unidentified moths, Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

moth, Sallent de Gallago, 22-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June - a bit like Latticed Heath but I'm not sure it's quite right

 

moth, Tramacastilla de Tena, 22-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Tramacastilla de Tena (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

moth, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 moth, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
moth, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 moth, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

unidentified moths, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June - presumably both some kind of Emerald?

 

moth, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

unidentified moth, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Bumble Bee sp. [?]

Bumble Bee, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09  

Bumble Bee, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Beetle sp. [?]

The one shown on the right here was very distinctive in flight, having pale blue patches, I think at the base of the wings and the tip of the abdomen. When it landed it appeared to hold on to some grass by laying with its back against the stem and hanging on with its rear legs.

Dor Beetle sp., Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Beetle, Selva de Irati, 20-Jun-09

Dor Beetle sp., Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

Beetle, Selva de Irati (Navarre, Spain), 20th June

 

Millipede sp. [1]

Millipede, Belchite Steppes, 15-Jun-09  

Millipede, Belchite Steppes (Aragon, Spain), 15th June

 

Orchids

Large numbers of orchids were growing at several sites, especially in the Pyrenees, the most notable of which was the impressive and extremely rare Lady's Slipper. I arrived at this site by chance and met a group of photographers who were just leaving - they told me why they were there and pointed me in the direction of a local conservationist who took me up to see the plant. The site is secret because these orchids are so popular with collectors that they are close to extinction in the wild - apparently there are only three sites left in the Spanish Pyrenees and one on the French side.

Lady Slipper Orchid, Valle de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Lady Slipper Orchid, Valle de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June - the site was shady and it was difficult to photograph - this really doesn't do it justice at all.

For most of the others I do not know which species are involved. In the following photos most of the images on the right hand side are close-ups of the same plant as the ones to their left.

Orchid, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09 Orchid, Sierra de la Demanda, 16-Jun-09

Orchid, Sierra de la Demanda (La Rioja, Spain), 16th June

 

Orchid, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09 Orchid, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09
Orchid, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09 Orchid, Roncesvalles, 18-Jun-09

Orchids, Roncesvalles (Navarre, Spain), 18th June

 

Orchid, Valle de Aragues, 21-Jun-09

Orchid, Valle de Aragues (Aragon, Spain), 21st June

 

Orchid, Valle de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Valle de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Orchid, Valle de Gállego (Navarre, Spain), 22nd June

 

Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09
Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Orchids, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Black Vanilla Orchid, Valle de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Black Vanilla Orchid, Valle de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Black Vanilla Orchid, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Fragrant Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 Fragrant Orchid, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09

Fragrant Orchid, Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June - thanks to Duncan for the ID.

 

Orchid, Col d'Aubisque, 23-Jun-09 Orchid, Col d'Aubisque, 23-Jun-09

Orchids, east of Col d'Aubisque (Pyrénées-Atlantique, France), 23rd June

 

Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 Orchid, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09

Orchids, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

Other wildflowers

Broomrape, Sallent de Gallego, 22-Jun-09 wildflower, east of Col d'Aubisque, 23-Jun-09

Broomrape sp., Sallent de Gállego (Aragon, Spain), 22nd June

 

Wildflower, east of Col d'Aubisque (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 23rd June

 

Gentians, east of Col d'Aubisque, 23-Jun-09 Gentians, east of Col d'Aubisque, 23-Jun-09

Gentian sp., east of Col d'Aubisque (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 23rd June

 

wildflower, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09 wildflower, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
wildflower, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09
wildflower, Gavarnie, 24-Jun-09  

wildflowers, Gavarnie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), 24th June

 

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