After a thunderstorm the night before last the air has freshened considerably but it is still warm. Yesterday I went out hoping to find some wildlife. Passing Minerve I noticed a couple of Alpine Swifts over the village and reaching the Foret de Minervois a Sparrowhawk passed carrying prey. I was in the forest for a good reason. I concentrated on a sunny bank which is a favourite place for finding butterflies. This was a good day.
 |
| Glanville Fritillary |
I was concentrating on photographing these glorious insects and if I did not identify them immediately doing so later from the photos. I stayed about 45 minutes and logged Clouded Yellow, Pale Clouded Yellow, Great banded Grayling, Scarce Swallowtail, Chapman's Blue, Glanville Fritillary, Spotted Fritillary Wood White and Cleopatra. There will be others I missed but the air was full of butterflies in a way that sadly rarely happens in the UK any more.
 |
| Chapman's Blue |
 |
| Spotted Fritillary |
On my way home I drove through local vineyards noting Hoopoe, Bee-eaters and Rollers. Late last night as I closed up the house a Little Owl called from our hillside.
What a fantastic selection of butterflies Derek. As for the birdlife, I can but dream of such birds on my local patch in Worcestershire!
ReplyDelete