Профиль

Another day, another Ghost Orchid…

Well, hello you. First full day of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Summer Orchids of the French Alps tour, and we saw our first three Ghost Orchid, including this rather fine example. Massive credit to my co-leader, @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for all his hard pre-tour work in the field.

The mountains of the Hohe Tauern abounded with other wildlife besides butterflies - birds and, in particular, wildflowers were daily highlights for our @mariposanature.bsky.social guests throughout the past week.

Final full day of the Butterflies of the Hohe Tauern tour I'm co-leading for @mariposanature.bsky.social, and while I could post an 'obscure rarity', let's simply share this lovely pair of Dryad. Today was dripping with Dryad, bringing much joy to our group.

And sure enough, there were more Mountain Fritillary to be seen too up there in the heights yesterday. These ones making more Mountain Fritillary...

A fair personal shift put in today - 16 kilometres walked, almost 1,000 metres of cumulative elevation gain. And here are the two personal highlights - self-found Silky Ringlet and, most thrillingly, Swiss Brassy Ringlet. Delighted to share both with our @mariposanature.bsky.social guests.

Another day, another mountain... Morning coffee being drunk now and looking out of the window, sizing up another day in the field with our @mariposanature.bsky.social group. There will be Mountain Fritillary, certainly. And more besides.

A truly outstanding day of butterflying in Austria, with a cable car up to 2,200 metres above sea level, into the homeland of the achingly rare Austrian endemic White Speck Ringlet. Many seen with our @mariposanature.bsky.social guests, and a great many other desirable ringlets besides.

Some fine orchids today on the Butterflies of the Hohe Tauern tour I'm co-leading this week in Austria for @mariposanature.bsky.social - Dark Vanilla Orchid, and Black Vanilla Orchid. #orchids

I do love a clouded yellow, and Europe's montane places allow for opportunities to renew my acquaintance with Mountain Clouded Yellow - a really charismatic and attractive Colias, albeit often not an approachable one. This one seen well today in Austria. #butterflies

If you've been enjoying photos of butterflies seen in Romania lately, there's a fabulous tour heading back there next May. It's a guaranteed departure, and a guaranteed donation made to support @europebutterfly.bsky.social. #butterflies

‘Swinhoe’s Feral Pigeon’ on the Northlink ferry between Shetland and Fair Isle. Not the all black seabird anyone hopes to see round here at this time of year…

Huge congratulations to my mate Joe, whose book has been longlisted for the Wainwright today. It’s a timely read.

I've never seen so many Turquoise Blue in the space of one day as I did yesterday - it's a species that's often something of a loner, encountered sparingly. Approaching double figures were seen in the Hautes Pyrenees during the day with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group.