Foxley Wood, Wiveton Down, New Buckenham Common 4.5.14

A lovely day was had in Norfolk with my parents. We started at Foxley Wood which had the best Bluebell display I've ever seen, it was really a fantastic sight. Also lots of Early Purple Orchids just off the paths, and some pinkish Wood Anemone still in flower. It gradually warmed into a beautiful and fairly still spring day, ideal for Butterflies. Next was Wiveton Down for Wall butterflies, a species I've only seen once before as it has declined much in recent years. But there we plenty here and quite active due to the warmth. Also seen were Green Hairstreak, in the gorse bushes and stoney paths. Finally an evening bike ride to New Buckenham common for Green-winged Orchids, of which there are many. 

Species seen - 

Foxley Wood
Orange-tip
Small White

Wiveton Down
Wall
Green hairstreak
Holly Blue
Brimstone
Small White
Large White
Green-veined White
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma 
Speckled Wood

New Buckenham Common
Green-winged Orchid (two white ones also)
Micropterix calthella Moth

Foxley Wood Bluebells

 Pink Bluebell

 Longhorn Moth

 View from the top of Wiveton Down

 Wall

 Green Hairstreak

 Green-winged Orchid

 Interesting colour variant

 Albino Green-winged Orchid

Micropterix calthella Moth

Monks Wood 23.8.13

A quick morning visit to see what was flying in the meadows on the South side of the wood, and also check if the Violet Helleborines were out. I just caught them before they went over, so no further chances to get them in better lighting conditions, but I still like the effects I got. Also observed what I took to be parasitic wasps visiting them frequently, but could have been a type of fly. I also saw a Hornet have a nectar from them. 

Species seen -

Common Blue

Meadow Brown

Silver Washed Fritillary 

Common Blue

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

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

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!