Eros Blue Polyommatus eros
La Molina Spanish Pyrenees July 2023. I overlooked this image until recently. Always pays to revisit photographs especially when you take hundreds on trips. This was sandwiched between Glandon blue and Pyrenees Brassy and Lefebvreis Ringlet. No wonder I ignored it !

Didn’t see any last week in two of the usual places and , speaking to a local expert onsite , none have been reported this year Martin. Two years of drought on Tenerife seems to be the cause. But there is hope.

Ok. Thank you

Is it going on YouTube?

Wow, this is an important paper. We had some evidence early on from @ukbms.bsky.social sites but rarely had good data in grazing regimes. But @tombrereton.bsky.social always said that extensive cattle was the best for butterflies and this add yet more evidence

David Lance Callahan The Wolfhounds / Moonshake leader returns with his third - and best - solo album. Recorded in Valencia, Spain with Pram / Nightingales / The Fall member Daren Garratt and musicians from around the world, "Down To The Marshes" is David's masterpiece, a stunning collection of marvellous songs.

It's Bandcamp Friday, but I've nought new to sell you. Why not catch up, then? Buy my solo stuff here:

davidcallahan.bandcamp.com

... and Wolfhounds stuff here:

thewolfhounds.bandcamp.com/merch
thewolfhounds.bandcamp.com/music

... and Moonshake stuff here:

moonshake.bandcamp.com/album/eva-lu...

Eastern Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy) © Dave Fairhurst

Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra) © Dave Fairhurst

Postcard from the field, from tour leader Dave in Cyprus:

Our Orchids of Cyprus tour continues to find endless orchids, but we're finding some super butterflies too - glamorous Eastern Festoon, and easily overlooked Dark Grass Blue. Every day is packed with interest here...

Plenty on the wing today in sunny London. Double figures of both Peacock and Brimstone with the former basking on woodland rides and the latter barely stopping

This Oxford Giant Orchid is scant consolation for missing my trip to Cyprus. But it is lovely.
@mariposanature.bsky.social we're wonderful. Mail from David and call from Jon whilst at airport. No hassle refund.
This is why they are so successful. Nice guys, brilliant guides and top customer service.

Fantastic images Matt

A few days ago I spent a brilliant morning with friends down in Malaga Province looking for Orchids, one of the best looking species we saw was Ophrys alpujata, both Yellow and Orange flowers were seen.
www.lojawildlife.com

After difficult weather conditions in Tenerife last week , back to London and a beautiful day produced my first UK butterflies of the year. Cyprus in three weeks looks out of the question so probably back to Spain instead.

Nice beach African Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna in Tenerife . Had to drive above the clouds for a view of Teide.

Number of butterfly species per 5x5km square in Netherlands in 2025. The richest sites are on the Veluwe (centre) and South Limburg (southeast). The open polders in N Holland, Friesland, Groningen and Flevoland have the least number of species.

Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna), Romania in Spring © Jon Dunn

Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone), Romania in Spring © Jon Dunn

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), Romania in Spring © Janos Olah

Large Copper (Lycaena dispar), Romania in Spring © Jon Dunn

Tour update 🚨

Bookings for 2027 butterfly tours continue to come in and, this morning, Romania in Spring moves to guaranteed departure status. This is a lovely tour, with Brown Bear guaranteed too, as is a donation to our friends at @europebutterfly.bsky.social.

mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

#talk #butterflies

Nice comparison of Vanessa Atalanta and Vanessa vulcania. Here in the Northern region of Tenerife Vulcania outnumbers Atalanta by 10-1.

As closer look at Gonepteryx cleobule on Tenerife today.

Hope you are successful. We need good news.

After 4.5 hours over two days , finally Tenerife cleopatra gave itself up to my camera . A beautiful endemic and worth the effort. My attempt to locate Canary large white failed and locals believe it to be extinct on the island now. Sad news if confirmed

Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae), Fuerteventura © Michael Z

Fuerteventura Green-striped White (Euchloe hesperidum), Fuerteventura © Bob M

Postcard from the field, from Fabulous Fuerteventura leader Dave Fairhurst, gorgeous images courtesy of our guests:

Yesterday, displaying Cream-coloured Courser & Houbara Bustard; uncountable numbers of Green-striped White & Greenish Black Tip; dazzling flora.

A superb day!

#NaturePhotography

Many butterflies are emerging in warmer parts of Europe. Over 30 species will soon be flying in Spain

Should read Tenerife. Saw 30+ Tenerife Cleopatra but not one settled in 3 hours

Visited the North coast barranca in

Eastern Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy) © Jon Dunn

Freyer's Purple Emperor (Apatura metis) © Jon Dunn

Blue Argus (Aricia anteros) © David Moore

Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon) © Jon Dunn

If you're considering Greece for a butterfly holiday this year, our Butterflies of North Greece offers unrivalled bang for your buck, a rainbow of possible species and, like ALL our butterfly tours, it generates a donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Well that didn’t take long ! Arrived at hotel on Tenerife at 4pm , seen two endemics by 4.15pm. Canary Speckled Wood and Canary Red Admiral .

The Fall - New Face In Hell (Peel Session) YouTube video by Vibracobra23 Redux

#ArtistFaveLP
#TheFall - Peel Sessions Box Set

Chronologically
2. New Face In Hell

Session 3, the best one ever. Great ad-libbed lyrics and funky as feck, I love the bit @4m 06s where it sounds like an extended mix is about to begin, just a shame it doesn't...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p3H...

Western Bath White (Pontia daplidice) © K Bailey

Provence Orange Tip (Anthocharis euphenoides) © K Bailey

Sooty Orange Tip (Zegris eupheme) © Jon Dunn

Spanish Greenish Black Tip (Euchloe bazae) © Pete Smith

Good morning and welcome to a new week.

This week's featured tour is Spring Butterflies of Central & North Spain. Just 4 places left on this tour running in April, and a guaranteed donation made to support the invaluable work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social (1/2)

mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Scrub robin artwork from Birds of Greater Southern Africa fieldguide © Brian Small

Mediterranean Flycatcher (Muscicapa tyrrhenica) © Michele Viganò

Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca), first record for Britain, Whalsay, Shetland, October 2023 © Jon Dunn

Cover of The Glitter in the Green - In Search of Hummingbirds, by Jon Dunn

Yes, we like birds too... and we're not just saying that because it's what we think you want to hear.

Many of Team Mariposa's leaders have some birding credentials in addition to their keen interest in other aspects of natural history... (1/5 🧵)

False Comma (Nymphalis vaualbum), False Comma & Summer Butterflies of Serbia © Janos Olah

Balkan Copper (Lycaena candens), False Comma & Summer Butterflies of Serbia © Clive Burrows

Tour update 🚨

Bookings are coming in steadily for our 2027 butterfly tours and, this afternoon, False Comma & Summer Butterflies of Serbia now moves to guaranteed departure status.

We're the first choice for European butterfly-watching holidays.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...