Monks Wood 26/06/2013

After a couple of years trying to see Black Hairstreak at several sites, this year the waiting finally paid off. I had been a few times to the wood in the days preceding, but then saw a report on the local Butterfly Conservation site that they had been spotted, so I went early on the 26th hoping to finally see them. 

I was met there by local enthusiasts and experts Phil, Rosalyn and Nick, and they patiently showed me the most likely spots and pointed them out when my eyes couldn't locate them first off. I am really grateful to them for all the help and advice they gave, and it was really great to spend time with people who share a passion for Butterflies. 

Reasonably early on I caught my first glimpse, but getting close and ready for a photo was very tricky. I eventually got a few shots but not of great quality, but I was still really pleased to have something to show I'd seen them! Also I was interested to see that when they bask on leaves, they often lean right over almost horizontally to gather as much heat as they can, which also makes photographing them even harder!

Also Monks has a few Greater Butterfly Orchids which I was really pleased to see for the first time.

Species seen - 

Meadow Brown

Speckled Wood

Black Hairstreak

Comma

Large Skipper

Common Spotted Orchid

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Black Hairstreak

Black Hairstreak lying down

? Caterpillar any suggestions welcome

Greater Butterfly Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid

Fulbourn Fen 25/06/13

A quick trip in the morning to see Marsh Orchids at Fulbourn Fen. There were good numbers, along with a few Southern Marsh Orchids, including one massive one! The June butterfly lull was in effect, as the meadows there are really full of flowers, but I hardly saw anything. 

Marsh Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

Woodwalton Fen 16/6/2013

After the highs of Bulgaria, I needed to continue the insect fix, and so went over to Dragonfly and Damselfly central round here, Woodwalton Fen.

Things I saw - 

Large Red Damselfly (male and female)

Blue-tailed Damselfly (male and female)

Common Blue Damselfly (male and female)

Azure Damselfly (female)

Black-tailed Skimmer (male)

Four-spotted Chaser - (male)
Scarce Chaser (female)

Hairy Dragonfly (male and female)

Solitary Digger Wasp - Ectemnius continuus

Xylota sylvarum Hoverfly

Striped Hoverfly

Noon Fly

Common Lizard 

and other general Butterflies and hoverflies

 Large Red Damselfly male

 Solitary Digger Wasp - Ectemnius continuus

Blue-tailed Damselfly male

 Large Red Damselfly female

Common Blue Damselfly female

Four-spotted Chaser

Black-tailed Skimmer male

Hairy Dragonfly male

Common Lizard

Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria 8-14 June 2013

In my searching for a great place in Europe to see Butterflies, an area of Bulgaria quickly came to the fore, as having great diversity and natural beauty. A big thank you to Nick Greatorex-Davies in my local Butterfly and Moth group, and his advice and information was invaluable. Nick gives guided tours of Bulgaria, more info here http://www.bbfs.org.uk. I would recommend a trip to Bulgaria not just for Butterflies, but the scenery, food and friendly people.

8.6.13

Bachkovo - a lovely village nestled in a high sided valley, and a picturesque river rumbling along through it, which was our base for 5 days.  

Species seen on a short walk along the hillside in the late afternoon: 

Marbled Fritillary

Nettle-tree Butterfly

Large Skipper

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Eastern Festoon

Eastern Festoon

Queen of Spain Fritillary

9.6.13

Dobrostan - A high plateau area, mixed grassland and scrub. A very pretty place, and loads and loads of butterflies and insects, it was great. 
Species seen on walk roughly between 10am - 3pm:

Black Veined White

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Woodland Ringlet or Bright Eyed Ringlet (not sure)

Glanville Fritillary

Spotted Fritillary

Niobe Fritillary

Common Blue

Chapman's Blue

Amanda's Blue

Mazarine Blue

Small Heath

Small Tortoiseshell

Painted Lady

Brown Argus

Blue Argus? (checking)

Owly Sulphur

Black Veined Moth

Niobe Fritillary

Woodland or Bright Eyed Ringlet - contact me if you know!

Owly Sulphur

Glanville Fritillary

Pair of Amanda's Blue

Amanda's Blue (m)

Spotted Fritillary (m)

Spotted Fritillary (f) form meridionalis

10.6.13

Wonderful Bridges - A beautiful formation in the rocks, surrounded by wooded hills. 

Species seen roughly between 10:30am - 1pm:

Painted Lady

Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Common Blue

Glanville Fritillary

Grizzled Skipper

Woodland Ringlet

Chestnut Heath

(up on the wooded hill above the Wonderful Bridge)

Large Wall Brown

(on the road side on the way)

Scarce Swallowtail

Chestnut Heath

10.6.13

Track at Siniakhan (between Hvoyna and turning for the Wonderful Bridges)

Stopping off in a lay by and exploring a track running off the road. Species seen roughly between

Nettle Tree Butterfly

Twin Spot Fritillary

Wood White

also - 

Dactylorhiza saccifera Orchid

Nettle-tree Butterfly

Dactylorhiza saccifera

10.6.13

Meadow at Siniakhan roadside

By the lay-by on the same road there's a really lovely meadow with lots of activity -

Meadow Brown

Adonis Blue

Black Veined White

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Clouded Yellow

Small Tortoiseshell

Painted Lady

Large White

Owly Sulphur

 Queen of Spain Fritillary

Black-veined Whites

11.6.13

Roadsides near Oreshets

Stopping off on the way to see the Stork nest in Cherven, we headed to the hillside town of Oreshets, which were alive with Butterflies. Species seen roughly between 10am - 12:30pm. 

Great Banded Grayling

Spotted Fritillary (m & f)

Niobe Fritillary

Idas Blue or SS Blue? checking

Amanda's Blue

Large Skipper

Eastern Festoon

Marbled White

Cardinal

Scarce Copper

Meadow Brown

Burnet Moth

Garden Tiger moth caterpillar

Stork and chick (commonly take up residence on telephone poles)

Great Banded Grayling

Cardinals

Scarce Copper

Niobe Fritillary

12.6.13

Zabardo (hillside above village)

Zabardo is a premier site, but was very quiet due to the chilly day and lack of sun, and rain showers. 

Black Veined White

Chestnut Heath

Meadow Brown

Chimney Sweep Moth

(roadside at entrance to village)

Queen of Spain Fritillary

12.6.13

Hvoyna (Riverside meadow and base of hillside to the north of village)

Again things were very quiet due to the weather, but the meadow was quite active. 

Niobe or High Brown Fritillary

Clouded Yellow

Marbled White

Black Veined White

Small Heath

Amanda's Blue

Lattice Brown

Essex Skipper

Burnet Companion

Black-veined Moth

Niobe or High Brown Fritillary (any comments welcome)

14.6.13

Plovdiv 

Species seen in the city parks and hills:

(Park)

Swallowtail

Small White 

(Danov Hill)

Comma

Scarce Swallowtail

Queen of Spain Fritillary

(Bunardzhika Hill)

Mallow Skipper

Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Scarce Swallowtail

Please contact me if you'd like to know anything about my trip or the species seen. It was an amazing trip and I would recommend it massively!