Tree Grayling were the most numerous, fresh & active species seen on my short visit to the Sierra de las Nieves NP this week. There were also good numbers of Spanish Chalk-hill Blue & Southern/Common Blue but most were past their best. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Still good numbers of butterflies in the Sierra de las Nieves NP yesterday with 21 species seen in a couple of hours exploring despite the time of year & recent heatwave. Pic of Southern Gatekeeper.

All set up for the day at Leeds CC’s Lotherton Hall. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Silver-washed Fritillary. One of many along the sunny rides at Bishop Wood North Yorks today. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

It's the Big Butterfly Count and we are at Tropical World Leeds. The Privet Hawk is proving a real crowd pleaser along with a very full moth trap. Lots of interest from visitors.

Discover the beauty of butterflies this summer at Tropical World, Roundhay Park from 19th to 31st July and find out about their habitats. We’re taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2025 (19 July to 10 August) Join BCY team with live insects 19-20th July tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/tropical-wor...

Last weeks highlight was seeing Zullich’s Blue high in the Sierra Nevada. At 2,600 to 2,700m, in the same habitat as Spanish Argus, flying rapidly at ankle height across exposed ground of schist stones & sparse vegetation made them difficult to see & follow. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Striped Grayling. The last butterfly of my trip to Spain last week & a great way to finish. My stop at Nerja on the way to the airport looked like being unsuccessful but a trail into the Sierras de Trejeda, Almijara y Alhama NP first produced Sage Skipper then this Grayling.

Back in Leeds & joined the Leeds CC transect walker on the Roundhay Park loop. Lots of butterflies to count but most exciting two fresh White-letter Hairstreak on Creeping Thistle by the folly. Here’s a phone pic. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Two stunning blues from the Sierra de Heutor NP this week. An exciting first for me was this fresh male Spanish Chalk-hill Blue. Its size & white/pale colour in flight were noticeable. Also a female Escher’s Blue. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Dark Green Fritillary. I used to see these in my local area just north of Leeds but sadly not for the last couple of years. This one at 2,200m in the Sierra Nevada.

Great Banded Grayling at the Jardin Botanico, Hoya de Pedraza (1,900m)

Nevada Blue at 2,600m in the Sierra Nevada. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Walked up Pico Veleta this morning & was rewarded with stunning 360 views. I was joined by several hill-topping Small Tortoiseshell at 3,398m! Long-tailed Blue, Painted Lady & Small White at 3,300m at the upper ski lift.

Silver-studded & Idas Blue fly together in the Sierra Nevada making ID’s tricky. 2nd pic looks consistent with local form P.idas & no obvious fore-tibia spine. 3rd pic looks like P.argus with spine just visible. At Pradollano 2,100m. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Spanish Brassy Ringlet & Purple-shot Copper on a perfect, still and clear morning at 2,600m in the Sierra Nevada at the Hoya de la Mora. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Desert Orange Tip. First day back in Spain and despite them being constantly on the move it was well worth the short detour to see these fantastic butterflies and in such good numbers. Granada province coast. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Time to look back at an once in a century Spring with sunniest, warmest and one of the driest on record. The result was exceptional numbers of Peacocks, Brimstones but also the Whites, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper. In mid April some transects had counts of 100+ insects.. quite remarkable!

Rock Grayling were regular company along the tracks of the Sierras de Cazorla & Magina last week but this was the only Hermit seen.

In June 2024 during week 11 only 1 Small Tortoiseshell was recorded overall Yorkshire's sites. This year 150 have been recorded so far! Everywhere I go near nettles I'm seeing them! A strong recovery but everything depends on the weather and nettle quality. Too hot/dry could still spell disaster.

Blue-spot & False Ilex Hairstreak both seen daily whilst exploring the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura & Magina last week.

Mother-of-pearl Blue. One of the highlights of the week, found on a spectacular karst limestone plateau at 1,600m in the Sierra de Carzola. @europebutterfly.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social

Four blues from the Sierra de Cazorla. Southern/Common Blue, Southern Brown Argus, Adonis Blue & (possibly) Mountain Argus.

Two blues from the Sierra Magina this week. Escher’s Blue & Mazarine Blue. @europebutterfly.bsky.social @asoczerynthia.bsky.social

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) from yesterday evening at Mariandyrys and Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) from Church Island, Menai Bridge this evening.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) at North Wales WT Mariandyrys NR. An evening visit to this fabulous limestone outcrop NR gave great views of Brown Argus, Small Heath & Dingy Skipper roosting together with Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary active along the paths. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Ledsham Bank NR this afternoon.

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) along a hedgerow in east Leeds this afternoon.

Had a couple of hours free this pm to enjoy the weather so went to nearby Otley Chevin looking for and finding Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi).

Our Spring Open day is open to all . Come and enjoy Wenthillside with guided tours by the Owner Les Driffield

We have changed the date for the Wild Spaces talk; it will now be held on Monday 19th May at 19:30 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leeds-wild...

Open to everyone but especially aimed at new Transect walkers. We look at simple methods to ID not only when at rest but also in flight including how do you tell apart our 6 white species below! Mail me for an invitation.

Visited Leeds CC’s Lotherton Hall team today. They have created some fantastic artwork for their new wildflower meadow and transect encouraging visitors to also walk the route 👏 @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

First transect walk at Roundhay Park today in glorious sunshine with the LCC/Tropical World team. Comma, Peacock and a first Orange-tip for the year recorded.

A final couple of pics from my week in Spain. Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea) & Bath White (Pontia daplidice) from the Cabo de Gata.

These are some of the amazing landscapes I’ve been exploring in Andalusia over the last week.

Here’s another Provence Hairstreak (Tomares ballus). What a cracking little butterfly, this one from the Cabo de Gata.

Spanish Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe bazae) from the semi-desert region of the Hoya de Baza. Only one found on an overcast day but the most exciting find of the week.

Probably the best butterfly stakeout of the week. Black-eyed Blue LHP in the foreground (Anthyllis cytisoides), Las Negras & the Cabo de Gata coast in the background. Rewarded with good views of patrolling males and an egg laying female.

Common Tiger Blue (Tarucus theophrastus). Really pleased to find this tiny butterfly in the Cabo de Gata.

A couple of tiny butterflies from a beachside village in the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata. African Grass Blue ( Zizeeria knysna) & Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Mallow / False Mallow. Probably Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) in the Serrania de Ronda. One of the first skipper to appear in spring.

Green-striped White - Euchloe belemia. Found flying with Small White, Western Dappled White & Clouded Yellow in an abandoned field in the Serrani de Ronda.

Provence Hairstreak - Tomares ballus from day 2 of my Spanish hols (Serrania de Ronda)

First day in Spain and great to see so many fresh Spanish Festoon - Zerynthia rumina (San Pedro, Costa Del Sol)

Great to see the Leeds CC parks team preparing the wildflower meadow extension today in Roundhay Park. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

My first butterflies of the year today - peacock x2 in Roundhay Park.

Had another great day managing Duke of Burgundy habitat in N. Yorkshire, this time at a woodland site that was becoming overgrown. We removed a lot of thorn, birch, and beech saplings, and thinned out the hazel to open up the site. Lots of larval feeding damage present too! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social