Richard Tripp

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)

Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statilinus)

Tree Grayling ( Hipparchia statilinus)

Tree Grayling were the most numerous, fresh & active species seen on my short visit to the Sierra de las Nieves NP this week. There were also good numbers of Spanish Chalk-hill Blue & Southern/Common Blue but most were past their best. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Southern Gatekeeper - Pyronia cecilia

Southern Gatekeeper - Pyronia cecilia

Still good numbers of butterflies in the Sierra de las Nieves NP yesterday with 21 species seen in a couple of hours exploring despite the time of year & recent heatwave. Pic of Southern Gatekeeper.

All set up for the day at Leeds CC’s Lotherton Hall. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)

Silver-washed Fritillary. One of many along the sunny rides at Bishop Wood North Yorks today. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

It's the Big Butterfly Count and we are at Tropical World Leeds. The Privet Hawk is proving a real crowd pleaser along with a very full moth trap. Lots of interest from visitors.

Discover the beauty of butterflies this summer at Tropical World, Roundhay Park from 19th to 31st July and find out about their habitats. We’re taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2025 (19 July to 10 August) Join BCY team with live insects 19-20th July tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/tropical-wor...

Zullich’s Blue (Agriades zullichi)

Zullich’s Blue (Agriades zullichi)

Zullich’s Blue (Agriades zullichi)

Zullich’s Blue (Agriades zullichi) on food plant.

Last weeks highlight was seeing Zullich’s Blue high in the Sierra Nevada. At 2,600 to 2,700m, in the same habitat as Spanish Argus, flying rapidly at ankle height across exposed ground of schist stones & sparse vegetation made them difficult to see & follow. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia )

Striped Grayling. The last butterfly of my trip to Spain last week & a great way to finish. My stop at Nerja on the way to the airport looked like being unsuccessful but a trail into the Sierras de Trejeda, Almijara y Alhama NP first produced Sage Skipper then this Grayling.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

Back in Leeds & joined the Leeds CC transect walker on the Roundhay Park loop. Lots of butterflies to count but most exciting two fresh White-letter Hairstreak on Creeping Thistle by the folly. Here’s a phone pic. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

Spanish Chalk-hill Blue (Lysandra albicans)

Escher’s Blue (Polyommatus escheri)

Two stunning blues from the Sierra de Heutor NP this week. An exciting first for me was this fresh male Spanish Chalk-hill Blue. Its size & white/pale colour in flight were noticeable. Also a female Escher’s Blue. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja)

Dark Green Fritillary. I used to see these in my local area just north of Leeds but sadly not for the last couple of years. This one at 2,200m in the Sierra Nevada.

Great Banded Grayling (Brintesia circe)

Great Banded Grayling at the Jardin Botanico, Hoya de Pedraza (1,900m)

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus)

Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus)

Nevada Blue at 2,600m in the Sierra Nevada.
@europebutterfly.bsky.social

Pico Veleta

Walked up Pico Veleta this morning & was rewarded with stunning 360 views. I was joined by several hill-topping Small Tortoiseshell at 3,398m! Long-tailed Blue, Painted Lady & Small White at 3,300m at the upper ski lift.

Hi-sorry, I’m not a regular enough visitor to say with any authority. It’s too hot for me let alone the 🦋! I’m seeing fresh 🦋 of what I was hoping to see but for e.g. the Spanish Argus I’ve seen look past their best. Staying above 2km now. Have a great trip & looking forward to seeing your pics!

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus Argus)

Idas Blue (Plebejus idas)

Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)

Silver-studded & Idas Blue fly together in the Sierra Nevada making ID’s tricky. 2nd pic looks consistent with local form P.idas & no obvious fore-tibia spine. 3rd pic looks like P.argus with spine just visible. At Pradollano 2,100m. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Spanish Brassy Ringlet (Erebia hispania)

Purple-shot Copper (Lycaena alciphron)

Spanish Brassy Ringlet & Purple-shot Copper on a perfect, still and clear morning at 2,600m in the Sierra Nevada at the Hoya de la Mora. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Desert Orange Tip (Colotis evagore)

Desert Orange Tip. First day back in Spain and despite them being constantly on the move it was well worth the short detour to see these fantastic butterflies and in such good numbers. Granada province coast. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Speckled wood has seen the largest numerical increase in abundance of 3 fold

Time to look back at an once in a century Spring with sunniest, warmest and one of the driest on record. The result was exceptional numbers of Peacocks, Brimstones but also the Whites, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper. In mid April some transects had counts of 100+ insects.. quite remarkable!

Rock Grayling (Hipparchia alcyone)

Hermit (Chazara briseis)

Rock Grayling were regular company along the tracks of the Sierras de Cazorla & Magina last week but this was the only Hermit seen.

In June 2024 during week 11 only 1 Small Tortoiseshell was recorded overall Yorkshire's sites. This year 150 have been recorded so far! Everywhere I go near nettles I'm seeing them! A strong recovery but everything depends on the weather and nettle quality. Too hot/dry could still spell disaster.

Blue-spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini)

False Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium esculi)

Blue-spot & False Ilex Hairstreak both seen daily whilst exploring the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura & Magina last week.

Mother-of-pearl Blue (Polyommatus nivescens)

Mother-of-pearl Blue. One of the highlights of the week, found on a spectacular karst limestone plateau at 1,600m in the Sierra de Carzola. @europebutterfly.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social

Southern Blue / Common Blue (Polyommatus celina / Polyommatus icarus)

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera)

Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)

Mountain Argus (Aricia montensis)

Four blues from the Sierra de Cazorla. Southern/Common Blue, Southern Brown Argus, Adonis Blue & (possibly) Mountain Argus.

Escher’s Blue (Polyommatus escheri)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Two blues from the Sierra Magina this week. Escher’s Blue & Mazarine Blue. @europebutterfly.bsky.social @asoczerynthia.bsky.social

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) from yesterday evening at Mariandyrys and Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) from Church Island, Menai Bridge this evening.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) at North Wales WT Mariandyrys NR. An evening visit to this fabulous limestone outcrop NR gave great views of Brown Argus, Small Heath & Dingy Skipper roosting together with Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary active along the paths.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Ledsham Bank NR this afternoon.

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) along a hedgerow in east Leeds this afternoon.