Michael Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 Having seen the terrible decline of butterflies in the UK, what a great pleasure it is to come to France and see how abundant they are here. Anyone like to identify these two species?[IMG]http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Twinkle3000/600multi.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted October 10, 2007 Share Posted October 10, 2007 The very colourful ones with the "eyes" on its wings are Peacock (English) Inachis io.Paon du jour (French) and the brown one is Speckled Wood (English) Pararge aegeria-Le Tircis (French), both I'm pleased to say are common and doing well.Edit. After playing with your photo I think the brown one is a Wall-Brown (English) Lasiommata megera.La Mégère (French)So, are we going to see you spreading your wings so to speak??Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 11, 2007 Author Share Posted October 11, 2007 Hi Chris, yes Wall Brown, the angle makes identification a bit difficult. Spread my wings as in birds to butterflies? lol. No, I enjoy all natural subjects. How about this beauty?[IMG]http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Twinkle3000/600PL.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Ah, La Belle Dame, (Painted lady) and a very nice photo Michael. We didn't have quite as many of those this year as we normally do due to the cold wet start to summer.Are you living in France?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share Posted October 12, 2007 La Belle Dame, what a beautiful name. Yes, moved over LS&B last October. Chris, I'm having trouble identifying this tiny little chap, who's picture I took in May, any idea? Sorry it's not a very good picture.[IMG]http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Twinkle3000/111.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Im not very good on moths but is it a black peppered moth ?Chris will know ..............[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share Posted October 12, 2007 Hmmmm.......... nice try Pads, but I don't think so, because the little chap has got the lovely white patches on the tips of his wings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Ah didnt see them until now you have mentioned it , still chris will know[:)] We put a lot of pressure on you dont we chris .........[:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Well cheers for that, truth is I'm not sure but I would guess at a purple hairstreak (La Thécla du chêne) as a possibility, it depends on how true the colour is in the photo, bit out of focus as well, not your usual high standard Michael. (It ain't easy, I know).[;-)]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 Colours are true Chris, black wings with white tips and he was only about 1 cm wide. Don't think it's a purple hairstreak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 Sorry folks it's a moth not a butterfly. Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata(Linnaeus, 1758)Wingspan 23-27 mm.This unusual species flies in the daytime, and prefers bright sunshine. It is completely black except for the white fringes at the tips of the forewings.It inhabits grassy meadows, dry chalky and limestone districts, and is locally distributed throughout most of Britain.The single generation flies in June and July, and the larvae feed mainly on the flowers of pignut (Conopodium majus). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 That's brilliant, never come across it before so a big thank you for that.[:D]Interestingly the same name in French. "Le Ramoneur".BTW Michael, not butterflies, but I saw two black shouldered kites together yesterday in Indre, how bad is that?Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 A wonderful experience and incredibly lucky I’d say, or was it a case of who you know? A beautiful bird, were you close enough to see the red eyes? Apparently, there are very few pairs in France and only on the Atlantic Coast, although my bird guide informs me that a pair has established themselves near Le Havre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 Just a stroke of good fortune, in fact I was walking with a good ornithologist mate along a footpath with wide open flatland and lakes not expecting anything out of the ordinary when the first one flew across our path at medium altitude, flew on for several hundred metres where it started to glide around and was joined by another which flew in from the other direction, so mostly fairly long distance viewing, too far to see the red eyes but an incredibly elegant bird.All I know is that their status in France is rare and that they nest occasionally, a first for me and two of them.[:D]Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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