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Habitat on Mount Galicica
Home to many species of butterfly including Sandy Grizzled Skipper, Esper's Marbled White, Turquoise Blue, Sloe Hairstreak etc.
Turquoise Blue
Polyommatus dorylas
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
A lovely bright blue on the wing, it's always a pleasure to see this species in Europe. This male was especially fresh and posing nicely on the abundant nectar sources on Mount Galicica.
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
A lovely bright blue on the wing, it's always a pleasure to see this species in Europe. This male was especially fresh and posing nicely on the abundant nectar sources on Mount Galicica.
Southern Small White
Pieris mannii
19th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Damp patches alongside the access road to Mount Galicica were attracting a number of mud-puddlers, including this Southern Small White.
19th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Damp patches alongside the access road to Mount Galicica were attracting a number of mud-puddlers, including this Southern Small White.
Sloe Hairstreak
Satyrium acaciae
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Both Sloe and Ilex Hairstreaks were common around patches of scrub on the mountain slopes of Galicica during our visits.
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Both Sloe and Ilex Hairstreaks were common around patches of scrub on the mountain slopes of Galicica during our visits.
Sandy Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus cinarae
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
I have searched for Sandy Grizzled Skippers for quite a few years in various parts of the Balkans, but it wasn't until 2025 that I saw my first example in Bulgaria. This particular photograph is one of my favourites from 2026 - a stunningly marked example of this species. Sandy Grizzled Skippers were very common on Mount Galicia and I felt like I finally got to know this beauty at last. It is a large skipper and those prominent markings and the large pinched forewing cell-spot really jump out at you! Superb!
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
I have searched for Sandy Grizzled Skippers for quite a few years in various parts of the Balkans, but it wasn't until 2025 that I saw my first example in Bulgaria. This particular photograph is one of my favourites from 2026 - a stunningly marked example of this species. Sandy Grizzled Skippers were very common on Mount Galicia and I felt like I finally got to know this beauty at last. It is a large skipper and those prominent markings and the large pinched forewing cell-spot really jump out at you! Superb!
Sandy Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus cinarae
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
See previous photograph for commentary.
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Meleager's Blue
Polyommatus daphnis
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Another mud-puddler on mount Galicica was this male Meleager's Blue, showing the subtle hindwing scallops off nicely here.
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Another mud-puddler on mount Galicica was this male Meleager's Blue, showing the subtle hindwing scallops off nicely here.
Dusky Meadow Brown
Hyponephele lycaon
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
I always think this species behaves more like a heath than a meadow brown, never opening its wings and often landing on rocks or bare patches of soil. This example has particularly nice hindwing irroration.
16th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
I always think this species behaves more like a heath than a meadow brown, never opening its wings and often landing on rocks or bare patches of soil. This example has particularly nice hindwing irroration.
Esper's Marbled White
Melanargia russiae
19th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Mount Galicia is the only location in Europe where I can recall seeing three species of "marbled whites" flying together. The slopes here held Balkan Marbled White, Esper's Marbled White and the standard issue Marbled White (galathea), a nice trio to see side by side!
19th July 2026. Mount Galicica.
Mount Galicia is the only location in Europe where I can recall seeing three species of "marbled whites" flying together. The slopes here held Balkan Marbled White, Esper's Marbled White and the standard issue Marbled White (galathea), a nice trio to see side by side!
Habitat at Pletvar
Home of the Macedonian Grayling
Macedonian Grayling
Pseudochazara cingovskii
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
They don't come much rarer than this! Another IUCN Red LIst "Critically Endangered" species, the Macedonian Grayling is under huge threat, being confined to just a handful of dry hillsides on the Pletvar Massif where it is threatened by habitat destruction through commercial marble quarrying, collectors, and climate change. It is highly sedendary and once found is easy to approach and photograph, as even if disturbed, it will only fly a few metres before landing again, whereupon if you haven't noted its landing spot, camouflage renders it almost invisible!
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
They don't come much rarer than this! Another IUCN Red LIst "Critically Endangered" species, the Macedonian Grayling is under huge threat, being confined to just a handful of dry hillsides on the Pletvar Massif where it is threatened by habitat destruction through commercial marble quarrying, collectors, and climate change. It is highly sedendary and once found is easy to approach and photograph, as even if disturbed, it will only fly a few metres before landing again, whereupon if you haven't noted its landing spot, camouflage renders it almost invisible!
Macedonian Grayling
Pseudochazara cingovskii
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
See previous photograph for commentary.
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Hermit female
Chazara briseis
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
The Hermit was one of very few other butterflies sharing the karst slopes of Pletvar with the famous Grayling, this female posing nicely showing off most of her forewing markings.
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
The Hermit was one of very few other butterflies sharing the karst slopes of Pletvar with the famous Grayling, this female posing nicely showing off most of her forewing markings.
Hermit male
Chazara briseis
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
See previous photograph for commentary.
17th July 2026. Pletvar.
See previous photograph for commentary.
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