@orientbutterflies.bsky.social
After a few days of poor weather in Malaga province, this afternoon just about warmed up sufficiently to tempt Spanish festoon Zerynthia rumina to bask in the sun
December 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
After a few days of poor weather in Malaga province, this afternoon just about warmed up sufficiently to tempt Spanish festoon Zerynthia rumina to bask in the sun
Interesting variation in the amount of red markings on Spanish Festoon Zerynthia rumina in Southern Spain. The upper wing base colour can also vary from pale to a deep rich yellow.
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Interesting variation in the amount of red markings on Spanish Festoon Zerynthia rumina in Southern Spain. The upper wing base colour can also vary from pale to a deep rich yellow.
I have to admit that when I was scraping the frost off the car window this morning in London , I didn’t expect to see these on the river wall at Rainham.
November 21, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I have to admit that when I was scraping the frost off the car window this morning in London , I didn’t expect to see these on the river wall at Rainham.
Remarkable temperature in London today. Could this be my last UK butterfly this year ? It’s turning colder.
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Remarkable temperature in London today. Could this be my last UK butterfly this year ? It’s turning colder.
Still some end of season colour in Malaga with Z.Rumina and P.Machaon. M.Proto was added to the list of quality skippers seen over the last three days.
October 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Still some end of season colour in Malaga with Z.Rumina and P.Machaon. M.Proto was added to the list of quality skippers seen over the last three days.
Another great day in Tarifa enjoying the specialities the area holds with @lojawildlife.bsky.social . Spent the day trying to outwit the skippers. B. Borbonica, G. Nostradamus, C. Tripolinus, D. Chrysippus
October 14, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Another great day in Tarifa enjoying the specialities the area holds with @lojawildlife.bsky.social . Spent the day trying to outwit the skippers. B. Borbonica, G. Nostradamus, C. Tripolinus, D. Chrysippus
A nice day in Tarifa, Spain today with @lojawildlife.bsky.social . C. Tripolinus , B.Borbonica, D.Chrysippus, and D.Plexippus were in reasonable numbers. Not the prize we hoped for but still two days surveying to come
October 13, 2025 at 7:12 PM
A nice day in Tarifa, Spain today with @lojawildlife.bsky.social . C. Tripolinus , B.Borbonica, D.Chrysippus, and D.Plexippus were in reasonable numbers. Not the prize we hoped for but still two days surveying to come
13 species of butterfly along a 100mtr stretch of the Thames sea wall at Rainham today on the last day of September. That’s around 25% of the UK list. A nice end to my UK butterflying season.
September 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
13 species of butterfly along a 100mtr stretch of the Thames sea wall at Rainham today on the last day of September. That’s around 25% of the UK list. A nice end to my UK butterflying season.
The smallest patch of nectar held five species including P Celina and A Cramera for comparison. Also a pod of 30 presumably Bottle nosed dolphins off Malaga beach. First dolphins I have seen from shore since lockdown. Too many jet skis now .
September 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
The smallest patch of nectar held five species including P Celina and A Cramera for comparison. Also a pod of 30 presumably Bottle nosed dolphins off Malaga beach. First dolphins I have seen from shore since lockdown. Too many jet skis now .
Few species on the wing in Malaga after a furnace summer. M. Proto one of the few tough enough to survive the dry conditions
September 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Few species on the wing in Malaga after a furnace summer. M. Proto one of the few tough enough to survive the dry conditions
M. Proto Western sage skipper distribution along with Southern and eastern Sage skipper .
September 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
M. Proto Western sage skipper distribution along with Southern and eastern Sage skipper .
Nettle tree butterfly, Black wheatear, and Western sage skipper M . Proto. Recently split into three species , Sage skipper becomes Western , here in Spain and France , Eastern from Turkey eastwards, and Southern in Greece and the islands.
September 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Nettle tree butterfly, Black wheatear, and Western sage skipper M . Proto. Recently split into three species , Sage skipper becomes Western , here in Spain and France , Eastern from Turkey eastwards, and Southern in Greece and the islands.
Beautiful fresh Z.Knysna in the garden. A tiny North African species with a foothold on the Iberian peninsula
September 8, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Beautiful fresh Z.Knysna in the garden. A tiny North African species with a foothold on the Iberian peninsula
Of all the skippers I see in Spain , P Nostradamus is the one I see the least. Rarely do they sit long enough to image so when this individual landed in front of me today I grabbed the opportunity. H. Fidia , on the other hand, were everywhere. This couple were laying the foundations for next year.
September 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Of all the skippers I see in Spain , P Nostradamus is the one I see the least. Rarely do they sit long enough to image so when this individual landed in front of me today I grabbed the opportunity. H. Fidia , on the other hand, were everywhere. This couple were laying the foundations for next year.
Usually on Brown Argus , the orange markings on the upper wing reach the top of the wing and there would be no blue in the wing of the Argus. Sometimes, when fresh , Brown Argus can show a bronze / blue sheen as seen in this image I took.
September 2, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Usually on Brown Argus , the orange markings on the upper wing reach the top of the wing and there would be no blue in the wing of the Argus. Sometimes, when fresh , Brown Argus can show a bronze / blue sheen as seen in this image I took.
A lovely day watching Adonis and Chalk hill blues in Hertfordshire. Enough cloud to encourage them to open wings.
August 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A lovely day watching Adonis and Chalk hill blues in Hertfordshire. Enough cloud to encourage them to open wings.
Many butterflies still on the wing in London and many spring fresh. The hot weather prolongs the season and encourages additional brooding. A.agestis , P. Icarus , C.pamphilus , C . Crocea
August 12, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Many butterflies still on the wing in London and many spring fresh. The hot weather prolongs the season and encourages additional brooding. A.agestis , P. Icarus , C.pamphilus , C . Crocea
It’s taken some time , but , finally Thecla betulae has a strong foothold in London. Blackthorn occurs in most boroughs so , clearly, warming temperatures are aiding the rapid spread. How long before Satyrium pruni follows !
July 30, 2025 at 11:50 AM
It’s taken some time , but , finally Thecla betulae has a strong foothold in London. Blackthorn occurs in most boroughs so , clearly, warming temperatures are aiding the rapid spread. How long before Satyrium pruni follows !
Beautiful and fresh Common blue Polyommatus icarus in London today
July 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Beautiful and fresh Common blue Polyommatus icarus in London today
I am always surprised to see how tiny Desert Orange tips Colotis evagore are. No larger than Southern common blue in some cases. Heat hardy and drought resistant , this North African species just extends into the southern tip of Spain. These were near Motril
July 13, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I am always surprised to see how tiny Desert Orange tips Colotis evagore are. No larger than Southern common blue in some cases. Heat hardy and drought resistant , this North African species just extends into the southern tip of Spain. These were near Motril
Thanks to a tip off from @lojawildlife.bsky.social I was able to enjoy 50+ Plain Tigers going about their business near Motril , Spain. Fantastic opportunity to watch them take nectar on this low level plant.
July 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Thanks to a tip off from @lojawildlife.bsky.social I was able to enjoy 50+ Plain Tigers going about their business near Motril , Spain. Fantastic opportunity to watch them take nectar on this low level plant.
Short video of Andalusian anomalous blue Polyommatus violetae in the Sierra Nevada
July 11, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Short video of Andalusian anomalous blue Polyommatus violetae in the Sierra Nevada
Sagarra’s (lesser spotted ) Fritillary Melitaea ignasiti in Sierra Nevada today. Despite being on site for five hours it only visited once. Western Sage skipper Muschampia proto and Iberian scarce swallowtail Iphiclides feisthamelii helped pass the time
July 10, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Sagarra’s (lesser spotted ) Fritillary Melitaea ignasiti in Sierra Nevada today. Despite being on site for five hours it only visited once. Western Sage skipper Muschampia proto and Iberian scarce swallowtail Iphiclides feisthamelii helped pass the time
Nice to be able to compare the two ssp of Aricia morronensis. First two are Ssp ramburi from Sierra Nevada with 3/4 being Ssp hasselbarthi from Montes Universales.
July 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Nice to be able to compare the two ssp of Aricia morronensis. First two are Ssp ramburi from Sierra Nevada with 3/4 being Ssp hasselbarthi from Montes Universales.
As always , great to meet up with @lojawildlife.bsky.social to share stunning scenery and butterflies in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Iberian marbled white posed in the early morning sun.
July 9, 2025 at 12:23 PM
As always , great to meet up with @lojawildlife.bsky.social to share stunning scenery and butterflies in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Iberian marbled white posed in the early morning sun.