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Balkan Copper
Lycaena candens
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
This gorgeous Balkan Copper was one of a number of new life-ticks that I added to my list during a tremendous 17 day tour of south-west Bulgaria, this particular male being photographed in a damp meadow at an altitude of 1080 metres above sea level.
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
This gorgeous Balkan Copper was one of a number of new life-ticks that I added to my list during a tremendous 17 day tour of south-west Bulgaria, this particular male being photographed in a damp meadow at an altitude of 1080 metres above sea level.
Meleager's Blue
Polyommatus daphnis
7th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Surely one of the most attractive of the European blue butterflies, this mating pair show off the uniquely scalloped hindwings to great effect. Photographed along a woodland track, where large numbers of other blues were also flying.
7th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Surely one of the most attractive of the European blue butterflies, this mating pair show off the uniquely scalloped hindwings to great effect. Photographed along a woodland track, where large numbers of other blues were also flying.
Poplar Admiral
Limenitis populi
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
Getting this photo of a stunning male Poplar Admiral down on the ground was one of the highlights of my European butterfly career! Such a dramatic, magnificent creature, I had dreamt of getting close up to one for many years; this moment had been a long time coming and it certainly didn't disappoint!
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
Getting this photo of a stunning male Poplar Admiral down on the ground was one of the highlights of my European butterfly career! Such a dramatic, magnificent creature, I had dreamt of getting close up to one for many years; this moment had been a long time coming and it certainly didn't disappoint!
Poplar Admiral
Limenitis populi
17th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
An even harder photograph to obtain is of a female Poplar Admiral grounded. The females come down less often and are much more flighty than the males, so I was beyond delighted to capture this image!
17th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
An even harder photograph to obtain is of a female Poplar Admiral grounded. The females come down less often and are much more flighty than the males, so I was beyond delighted to capture this image!
Sandy Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus cinarae
5th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Another life tick - this female Sandy Grizzled Skipper was one of only two seen during our visit. I failed to get an upperside shot, but am happy to have seen it at all!
5th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Another life tick - this female Sandy Grizzled Skipper was one of only two seen during our visit. I failed to get an upperside shot, but am happy to have seen it at all!
Scarce Copper
Lycaena virgaureae
15th July 2025. Bansko. Bulgaria.
It is always a pleasure to see and photograph this iridescent gem of a copper - this fresh male was irresistible, so fresh and posing adorably.
15th July 2025. Bansko. Bulgaria.
It is always a pleasure to see and photograph this iridescent gem of a copper - this fresh male was irresistible, so fresh and posing adorably.
Nicholl's Ringlet
Erebia rhodopensis
18th July 2025. Borovets. Bulgaria.
Yet another lifer, this time a high altitude species photographed on the way from Yastrabets up to Musala hut, where it was flying in excellent numbers. This is a fairly small but rather pretty Erebia, fond of basking on bare rock and stony ground.
18th July 2025. Borovets. Bulgaria.
Yet another lifer, this time a high altitude species photographed on the way from Yastrabets up to Musala hut, where it was flying in excellent numbers. This is a fairly small but rather pretty Erebia, fond of basking on bare rock and stony ground.
Nicholl's Ringlet
Erebia rhodopensis
18th July. Borovets. Bulgaria.
See previous photograph for commentary.
18th July. Borovets. Bulgaria.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Map
Araschnia levana
4th July 2025. Sofia. Bulgaria.
I have many photographs of summer brood Map butterflies, but still find it impossible not to take more when I come across them. This one was particularly obliging, way too busy taking up salts to be disturbed by the camera. A delightful insect!
4th July 2025. Sofia. Bulgaria.
I have many photographs of summer brood Map butterflies, but still find it impossible not to take more when I come across them. This one was particularly obliging, way too busy taking up salts to be disturbed by the camera. A delightful insect!
Lesser-spotted Fritillary
Melitaea trivia
12th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
This is a common species out in many parts of Greece and Bulgaria, but always nice to see. Found in a range of flowery habitats including meadows, woodland rides and along roadside verges.
12th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
This is a common species out in many parts of Greece and Bulgaria, but always nice to see. Found in a range of flowery habitats including meadows, woodland rides and along roadside verges.
Lesser Purple Emperor
Apatura ilia
4th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
The area around Samokov was fantastic for Emperors. We had three species (Purple, Lesser Purple and Freyer's) mud-puddling together on the same damp patch along a track running through riverine woodland, an unforgettable sight! This male Lesser Purple was showing off its amazing colours to full effect!
4th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
The area around Samokov was fantastic for Emperors. We had three species (Purple, Lesser Purple and Freyer's) mud-puddling together on the same damp patch along a track running through riverine woodland, an unforgettable sight! This male Lesser Purple was showing off its amazing colours to full effect!
Freyer's Purple Emperor
Apatura metis
4th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
Yet another lifer for me here, and one of my top three targets for our Bulgaria adventure, finally catching up with Freyer's Purple Emperor was a magical moment. Somewhat smaller than the Purple Emperor and very obviously orange in flight, we soon got our eye in for these, and saw quite a few during our stay.
4th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
Yet another lifer for me here, and one of my top three targets for our Bulgaria adventure, finally catching up with Freyer's Purple Emperor was a magical moment. Somewhat smaller than the Purple Emperor and very obviously orange in flight, we soon got our eye in for these, and saw quite a few during our stay.
Ottoman Brassy Ringlet
Erebia ottomana
14th July 2025. Vihren. Bulgaria.
I have seen the Ottoman Brassy Ringlet just once before in France. It was nice to get reacquainted with it in Bulgaria: we found it at a number of high altitude sites in small numbers. In common with the other brassy ringlets, it is immediately distinguishable in flight from other Erebias with which it flies, although getting close enough for a photo can be challenging, as these butterflies don't settle that often and can be a little nervous.
14th July 2025. Vihren. Bulgaria.
I have seen the Ottoman Brassy Ringlet just once before in France. It was nice to get reacquainted with it in Bulgaria: we found it at a number of high altitude sites in small numbers. In common with the other brassy ringlets, it is immediately distinguishable in flight from other Erebias with which it flies, although getting close enough for a photo can be challenging, as these butterflies don't settle that often and can be a little nervous.
Freyer's Grayling
Hipparchia fatua
11th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
They don't come much fresher than this! Our stay in the delightful town of Melnik coincided with the emergence of this species. We saw about a dozen of them, all mint fresh and clearly just coming on to the wing. The males were keen to take up mineral salts, giving us a chance to capture some decent images. When photographing a species for the first time it is always satisfying to have fresh examples to work with!
11th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
They don't come much fresher than this! Our stay in the delightful town of Melnik coincided with the emergence of this species. We saw about a dozen of them, all mint fresh and clearly just coming on to the wing. The males were keen to take up mineral salts, giving us a chance to capture some decent images. When photographing a species for the first time it is always satisfying to have fresh examples to work with!
Higgin's Anomalous Blue
Polyommatus nephohiptamenos
14th July 2025. Vihren. Bulgaria.
We were very fortunate to stumble across a mating pair of this very localised species on a steep rocky, grassy slope in amongst high altitude scrub and woodland.
14th July 2025. Vihren. Bulgaria.
We were very fortunate to stumble across a mating pair of this very localised species on a steep rocky, grassy slope in amongst high altitude scrub and woodland.
Eastern Large Heath
Coenonympha rhodopensis
9th July 2025. Orelek. Bulgaria.
Quite common at altitude in the Rila and Pirin mountains, we found Eastern Large Heaths at a number of sites, usually in small numbers and commoner around the 2000m mark.
9th July 2025. Orelek. Bulgaria.
Quite common at altitude in the Rila and Pirin mountains, we found Eastern Large Heaths at a number of sites, usually in small numbers and commoner around the 2000m mark.
Common Glider
Neptis sappho
6th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
I was really hoping we would see a Common Glider during our Bulgarian holiday. As it turned out, we saw loads, mainly in riverine woodland habitat but also in towns and villages. We had clearly timed our visit well for this lovely species with its graceful gliding flight pattern and striking markings. A joy to behold!
6th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
I was really hoping we would see a Common Glider during our Bulgarian holiday. As it turned out, we saw loads, mainly in riverine woodland habitat but also in towns and villages. We had clearly timed our visit well for this lovely species with its graceful gliding flight pattern and striking markings. A joy to behold!
Common Glider
Neptis sappho
10th July 2025. Petrovo. Bulgaria.
See previous photograph for commentary.
10th July 2025. Petrovo. Bulgaria.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Cardinal
Argynnis pandora
12th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
I didn't have to go far to photograph this Cardinal. It was puddling right outside the front door of our hotel! Although I did get a few funny looks from the locals as I laid down on the road to take this pic!
12th July 2025. Melnik. Bulgaria.
I didn't have to go far to photograph this Cardinal. It was puddling right outside the front door of our hotel! Although I did get a few funny looks from the locals as I laid down on the road to take this pic!
Chestnut Heath
Coenonympha glycerion
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
The Chestnut Heath was around in small numbers at a few sites out in Bulgaria. This one caught my eye as it was showing off the forewing orange rather nicely.
5th July 2025. Samokov. Bulgaria.
The Chestnut Heath was around in small numbers at a few sites out in Bulgaria. This one caught my eye as it was showing off the forewing orange rather nicely.
Bulgarian Ringlet
Erebia orientalis
18th July 2025. Musala. Bulgaria.
I was so happy to find this butterfly down amongst the grasses at a damp high altitude site at 2400m. It was the only one I photographed all holiday, a localised Erebia with a very restricted European distribution, and a massive life tick!
18th July 2025. Musala. Bulgaria.
I was so happy to find this butterfly down amongst the grasses at a damp high altitude site at 2400m. It was the only one I photographed all holiday, a localised Erebia with a very restricted European distribution, and a massive life tick!
Bulgarian Ringlet
Erebia orientalis
18th July 2025.
See previous photograph for commentary.
18th July 2025.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Anomalous Blue
Polyommatus admetus
6th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Having failed to find this species previously during trips to Greece it was a delight to finally connect with it at a mud-puddling spot along a riverine woodland ride. There were quite a few around, but this one takes first prize for beauty and freshness - an immaculate individual posing perfectly, one of my favourite photographs of 2025!
6th July 2025. Kyustendil. Bulgaria.
Having failed to find this species previously during trips to Greece it was a delight to finally connect with it at a mud-puddling spot along a riverine woodland ride. There were quite a few around, but this one takes first prize for beauty and freshness - an immaculate individual posing perfectly, one of my favourite photographs of 2025!
Vihren high altitude habitat
Home to Higgin's Anomalous Blue, Nicholl's Ringlet etc.
Kyustendil woods and meadows
Home to Anomalous Blue, Common Glider, Meleager's Blue etc.
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