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:
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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