Spring shots from Spain and Portugal

[moloch]

Greetings all,

I've just returned from a three-week stay in Spain and Portugal. This trip was for work so I only had weekends free to walk and search for animals. The weather on two of my three weekends was good with warm to hot (36C) conditions. One weekend was surprisingly cool (10C) and wet as a late cold front crossed Europe. It was late spring in this area so there were many flowers to be seen, especially early in the trip. Most of these had disappeared by the end of my three week visit.

Here is a map that highlights Almonaster La Real where I spent most of my time. I worked out at a copper/polymetallic mine not too far from the village.



Almonaster La Real was a lovely area with live-oak forest and pine plantations in the surrounding hills. The dominant feature in the village was an old monastery. It was originally built by the Moors around a 1000AD.





My wife arrived during the second week of my stay. We climbed Cerro San Cristobel behind the village one day. The view from the summit was nice. The mine where I worked is visible at about 11:00 (two white domes). I was surprised to see how near the village it was considering that it took us about 40 minutes to drive to the mine.



habitat near the apartment where we stayed:





Spring flowers included these vibrant red poppies:

[moloch]

Here are a few more shots of the flowers. They were colourful and of course attracted many insects including butterflies.




Small Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas) were common.






Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) is a widely distributed species. I see it here in Australia as well.

[moloch]

I think that these are Common Blues (Polyommatus icarus) but am not certain.





I think that these are Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera)




Satyrinae were the most numerous butterflies. I think that this Spanish Gate Keepers (Pyronia bathseba) was particularly colourful.

[moloch]

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) were common.





Wall Browns (Lasiomma tamegera) were fairly common. I usually saw these in shady areas along rock walls or trails.

[moloch]

A very common satyrinae was the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)





Speckled Woods were common.





I saw Spanish Purple Hairstreaks (Laeosopisro boris) on two occasions.

[Angiud]

More,please

[moloch]

Not certain about this blue. I think that it may be an Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) due to the heavy spotting but am not certain.



Pierids included the Clouded Yellow (Colias crocea). These were a common species.




Cleopatra (Gonepteryx cleopatra) were seen a few times but in low numbers.



Western Dappled White (Euchloe crameri) were seen only twice.





Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) was a common species.

[moloch]

One of my favourites on this trip was the Spanish Marbled White (Melanargia ines). I saw these lovely butterflies on many occasions.







Another new species to me was the colourful Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii baetica) (thanks for id correction, Les). This species flew and behaved much like a Tawny Coaster. I saw two of these one afternoon but then did not encounter the species again.

[Silverstreak]

David,

Very nice butterflies and shots !

It is always a pleasure reading your travelog, many thanks for sharing with us!


Cheers!

[Leopard Lacewing]

Beautiful butterflies shots, David!

Love to visit Spain soon!