Mirador de Piedrasluengas and Surrounding areas, Castilo Y León, Spain.

A couple of hours with Monica and Ed as they head off South to continue their Holiday.

Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus) on the crags in the early morning light.

After messaging with Ed and finding out that they were heading off a little way south and were going up over Mirador de Piedrasluengas after de camping from their site at Potes so I said I would meet them up there for a mooch around the area. 

Masterwort (Astrantia major).

Gentiana lutea.

I went up a bit earlier, on my way I started the list with Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricapilla), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Song (Zorzal Común / Turdus philomelos) and Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Grey (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea) and White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Linnet (Pardillo Común / Carduelis cannabina), Goldfinch (Jilguero / Carduelis carduelis) and Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus).

Wild Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus).

Aconitum vulparia.

I arrived at the top but found the Mirador was rammed with Camper vans, either taking up all the parking spots or actually blocking the entrance so no one else could get in, so I didn't bother stopping after arguing with one of them when he refused to unblock the entrance, Tossers.

Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris).

Prunella grandiflora.

I dropped down to a nearby Gorge where I parked on the road side and whilst scanning the cliffs recorded Egyptian Vulture (Alimoche Común / Neophron percnopterus), Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), 2x fly over White Storks (Ciguena Blanca / Ciconia ciconia  and as I walk back up the hill checking the verge for wild flowers I found Wild Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), Masterwort (Astrantia major), Gentiana lutea, Aconitum vulparia, Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), Prunella grandiflora, Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), Alchemilla mollis, Bistort (Bistorta officinalis) and Wild Carrot (Daucus carota).

Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis).

Green-veined White (Pieris napi).

I Turned around at the bridge at the top of the hill and as I walked back down added Garden Warbler (Curruca Mosquitera / Sylvia borin), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Red-billed Chough (Chova Piquirroja / Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), Crag Martin (Avión Roquero / Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Common Kestrel (Cernicalo Vulgar / Falco tinnunculus), Common Stonechat (Tarabilla Común / Saxicola torquata), Great Tit (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo) and a Black Kite (Milano Negro / Milvus migrans).

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).

Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera).

Before I reached the car the first bit of sun hit the area and there were soon a few butterfly species on the wing including Iberian Marbled White (Melanargia lachesis), Green-veined White (Pieris napi), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Large Wall Brown (Lasiommata maera) and a Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae).

Monica and Ed had said that they thought they would be packed and up at the Mirador by 11.00 so I made my way up there and found a parking spot, one of the campers was still more than half blocking the car park which was interesting when a coach load of Spanish tourists turned up followed by Ed and Monica, I explained that I had seen nothing at the Mirador but had found this nice spot further along the road so we headed straight there and checked out the stream side meadows and the roadside banks on the opposite side of the road.

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene).

Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia).

By now it was warming up nicely and there were far more butterflies on the move, which meant we soon found Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis), Queen of Spain (Issoria lathonia), Silver-Washed (Argynnis paphia), Small Pearl-bordered (Boloria selene) and Dark-green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja), several Scarce Coppers (Lycaena virgaureae) which just glowed in the sun and with the tiny black dots and mark on the upper fore wing identify it as the Spanish ssp miegii (Thanks Ed), Iberian Marbled White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Large Wall Brown, Pearly Heath, Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris) Grayling (Hipparchia semele) and more surprisingly were a couple of gliding Apollo (Parnassius apollo).

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) male.

Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) male.

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) male.

Down by the stream we also had several Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo), a couple of Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), Betony (Stachys officinalis), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) and up along the road a very showy Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea) and Bonelli's Warbler (Mosquitero Papialbo / Phylloscopus bonelli).

Grayling (Hipparchia semele).

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre / Poecile palustris).

We returned to the cars and said our goodbyes thinking we were going our separate ways for a while, Monica and Ed headed of South and I headed back up to the Mirador which had cleared pretty much so I went for another short walk around but mostly off down the road back towards Potes finding a single spike of what looks like Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), Rock Bunting (Escribano Montesino / Emberiza cia) but little ease so I headed back towards the hotel where I had dome lunch before heading back out to one of the spots that Ed had taken me to a few days ago.

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).

I parked near Argüébanes and walked out to the spot where we had checked a couple of wet flushes where today I found a single Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) or at least that's what I thought at the time but when I got home and was prepping the photos I realized it was actually a stunning Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) which was a species I had wanted to see.

Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia).

Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia).

In the same area I also saw 2x Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), Southern Heath Fritillary, Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Silver-Washed Fritillary, along with Wren (Chochin / Troglodytes troglodytes), Middle-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Mediano / Dendrocopos medius), Coal Tit  (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus), Mistle Thrush (Zorzal Charlo / Turdus viscivorus), Jay (Arrendajo / Garrulus glandarius) and Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs).

Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia).

Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia).

During the walk back to the White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) and Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli) were added to the list.

Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

It had turned into a warm afternoon so I returned to the Hotel and spent a while in the bar having a beer or three catching up with my notes.

Heading out West into Castilo Y León, Spain.

Out looking for a Mega Butterfly species.

The Habitat which was similar to the site but I forgot to take one there.

I was out quite early and drove out to the west and then I took a minor road North to a spot which a good friend had given me for a species I had long wanted to see, the Woodland Brown (Lopinga achine) but he warned me it was extremely difficult and he was certainly not wrong about this as it took me to 5.5 hours to get one brief view without a chance of a picture but it was worth it.

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus).

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus).

On the way to the site I had White Wagtail (Lavandera Blanca / Montacilla alba), House Sparrow (Gorrión Común / Passer domesticus), Common Swift (Vencejo Común / Apus apus), Red-backed Shrike (Alcaudón Dorsirrojo / Lanius collurio), Blackbird (Mirlo Común / Turdus merula), Blackcap (Curruca Capirotada / Sylvia atricailla), Cirl Bunting (Escribano Soteno / Emberiza cirlus), Barn Swallow (Golondrina Común / Hirundo rustica), House Martin (Avión Común / Delichon urbica), Black (Colirrojo Tizón / Phoenicurus ochruros) and Common Redstart (Colirroja Real / Phoenicurus phoenicurus), Carrion Crow (Corneja Negra / Corvus corone), Serin (Verdecillo / Serinus serinus) and Woodpigeon (Paloma Torcaz / Columba palumbus).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

I parked and walked on to the site picking up Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera), Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina), Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris), Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus) and just over the river we picked up Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus), Purple Hairstreak (Favonius Quercus), Southern Heath (Melitaea nevadensis) and Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) before I started to search the woodland glade and meadows.

Pearly Heath (Coenonympha arcania).

Southern Blue (Polyommatus celina) female.

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis).

Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus).

As I searched I saw and heard Blackcap, Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer (Escribano Cerillo / Emberiza citronella), Common Buzzard (Busardo Ratonero / Buteo buteo), Grey Wagtail (Lavandera Cascadena / Motacilla cinerea), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Parus ater) and Marsh Tit (Carbonero Palustre /Parus palustris), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Middle-spotted Woodpecker (Pico Mediano / Dendrocopos medius) and Robin (Petirrojo Europeo / Erithacus rubecula).

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

As the morning went on more and more butterflies were on the wing which included Marbled White (Melanargia galathea), Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus), Silver-Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia), Dusky Heath (Coenonympha dorus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Adonis (Lysandra bellargus), Common (Polyommatus icarus), Holly (Celastrina argiolus),  Long-tailed (Lampides boeticus) and Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas), Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia), Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus), Rock Grayling (Hipparchi alcyone), Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis), Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) and Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthameli), Wood White (Leptidea sinapis), Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) and Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi).

Zygaena transalpina probably.

Hypomecis punctinalis.

Rock Grayling (Hipparchi alcyone).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) female.

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) female.

Sooty Copper (Lycaena tityrus) female.

I walked back to the car for a drink and some food finding a male Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii), Betony (Stachys officinalis), Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense), Common (Malva sylvestris) and Musk Mallow (Malva moschata), Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), Purple Bugloss (Echium plantagineum), Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon), Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) and Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria).

Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon).

Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon).

Common Golden Ringed (Cordulegaster boltonii).

I sat down by the river next to another couple where I saw another Common Golden Ring, more Southern Heath Fritillaries and another new species for me, a Chalk Hill Blue (Lysandra coridon) which kept landing on the hand of a lady who kindly let me take some pictures as it was taking minerals from her skin.

Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia).

Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia).

Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus).

Dark-green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

After a sit down I returned to the wooded meadows and continued to search and after quite a lot of walking round I suddenly saw a butterfly in the grass for just a moment before it flew up and quite quickly way in the wind but I had a good enough view of it on the ground and through the Bin's in flight to confirm it was a very smart Woodland Brown.

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino).

Southern Heath Fritillary (Melitaea nevadensis).

By this point I was absolutely knackered and didn't think it was worth chasing the Brown as it was whipped away on the strengthening wind so I returned to the car where I watched at least 3x Berger's Clouded Yellow moving around a field of Bugloss before starting to head back to the hotel.

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous) habitat.

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous).

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous).

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous).

Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous).

On the way I remember a few words of wisdom from Ed, if you see Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) in any of the hay meadows stop and check it for Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous), so when I spotted the plant I stopped and very quickly found the first of several of this new Blue species for me, over the moon. 

Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).

Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides).

Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides).

Purple-edged Copper (Lycaena hippothoe).

In this same area I also recorded Lesser Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis ino), Spanish Heath (Coenonympha iphioides), Purple-edged (Lycaena hippothoe) and a single Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae), Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) and a very unexpected Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna).