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Swiss mountain habitat
Home to many alpine, sub-alpine and damp moorland species
Titania's Fritillary
Boloria titania
4th July 2026. Vaud.
My first proper butterflying trip to Switzerland in July 2026 found me connecting with several new life ticks, and also reconnecting with some familiar mountain species. This one is an old friend from years ago in the French Alps - the lovely Titania's Fritillary.
4th July 2026. Vaud.
My first proper butterflying trip to Switzerland in July 2026 found me connecting with several new life ticks, and also reconnecting with some familiar mountain species. This one is an old friend from years ago in the French Alps - the lovely Titania's Fritillary.
Niobe Fritillary
Fabriciana niobe
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Another old friend, and not just found in the mountains, the Niobe Fritillary has a particularly appealing underside pattern to my eyes, nicely shown here.
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Another old friend, and not just found in the mountains, the Niobe Fritillary has a particularly appealing underside pattern to my eyes, nicely shown here.
Swiss Brassy Ringlet
Erebia tyndarus
8th July 2026. Valais.
A lifer! The Swiss Brassy Ringlet was just coming onto the wing during our trip and we saw it flying in small numbers. Somewhat tricky to approach with a rather relentless flight, they were almost entirely males that we saw. Later in the summer it apparently becomes extremely numerous on many Swiss mountainsides.
8th July 2026. Valais.
A lifer! The Swiss Brassy Ringlet was just coming onto the wing during our trip and we saw it flying in small numbers. Somewhat tricky to approach with a rather relentless flight, they were almost entirely males that we saw. Later in the summer it apparently becomes extremely numerous on many Swiss mountainsides.
Swiss Brassy Ringlet
Erebia tyndarus
8th July 2026. Valais.
See previous photograph for commentary.
8th July 2026. Valais.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Mountain Clouded Yellow
Colias phicomone
5th July 2026. Vaud.
A high altitude species usually found above 1500 metres, it was good to reacquaint myself with this beauty up on the higher reaches of La Berneuse.
5th July 2026. Vaud.
A high altitude species usually found above 1500 metres, it was good to reacquaint myself with this beauty up on the higher reaches of La Berneuse.
Mazarine Blue
Cyaniris semiargus
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Who can resist photographing a fresh male Mazarine Blue? I certainly can't! The rich dark colour in flight, that prominent wing venation. Beautiful.
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Who can resist photographing a fresh male Mazarine Blue? I certainly can't! The rich dark colour in flight, that prominent wing venation. Beautiful.
Lesser Marbled Fritillary
Brenthis ino
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Another old friend, the Lesser Marbled Fritillary has a certain colour to it in flight that makes it easy to identify with a good degree of certainty even before it has landed. This one was lovely and fresh and a joy to behold!
6th July 2026. Vaud.
Another old friend, the Lesser Marbled Fritillary has a certain colour to it in flight that makes it easy to identify with a good degree of certainty even before it has landed. This one was lovely and fresh and a joy to behold!
High Brown Fritillary
Fabriciana adipe
8th July 2026. Valais.
A rarity in the UK, the High Brown Fritillary is much more frequently encountered in the mountains of the central Alps, but even so it took me several days to get a photograph of one during this trip. It is a species I have ridiculously few digital photographs of, a situation that I really must improve upon.
8th July 2026. Valais.
A rarity in the UK, the High Brown Fritillary is much more frequently encountered in the mountains of the central Alps, but even so it took me several days to get a photograph of one during this trip. It is a species I have ridiculously few digital photographs of, a situation that I really must improve upon.
Large Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus alveus
6th July 2026. Valais.
Another species that I have very few photographs of, this one was posing most obligingly, much to my delight. Widely distributed across much of Europe it is highly variable from one region to another, with several sub-species described and some uncertainty as to their true species status.
6th July 2026. Valais.
Another species that I have very few photographs of, this one was posing most obligingly, much to my delight. Widely distributed across much of Europe it is highly variable from one region to another, with several sub-species described and some uncertainty as to their true species status.
Idas Blue
Plebejus idas
5th July 2026. Vaud.
Another common "blue" in the Alps, but one that requires closer examination to distinguish from its close relatives, the Silver-studded and Reverdin's.
5th July 2026. Vaud.
Another common "blue" in the Alps, but one that requires closer examination to distinguish from its close relatives, the Silver-studded and Reverdin's.
Escher's Blue female
Polyommatus escheri
7th July 2026. Valais.
There is something particularly appealing about a female Escher's Blue, and this one really caught my eye! It helped that she was really fresh, and the underside (see next photo) is equally alluring.
7th July 2026. Valais.
There is something particularly appealing about a female Escher's Blue, and this one really caught my eye! It helped that she was really fresh, and the underside (see next photo) is equally alluring.
Esher's Blue female
Polyommatus escheri
7th July 2026. Valais.
See previous photograph for commentary.
7th July 2026. Valais.
See previous photograph for commentary.
Darwin's Heath
Coenonympha darwiniana
7th July 2026. Valais.
Very similar to the Alpine Heath, and subject to controversy with regard to taxonomy over the years, this is a very localised species with a restricted range.
7th July 2026. Valais.
Very similar to the Alpine Heath, and subject to controversy with regard to taxonomy over the years, this is a very localised species with a restricted range.
Alpine Heath
Coenonympha gardetta
4th July 2026. Vaud.
Photographed at altitude, I find this small unassuming species of heath to be very attractive with that broad white band and the tiny contrasting ocelli within it.
4th July 2026. Vaud.
Photographed at altitude, I find this small unassuming species of heath to be very attractive with that broad white band and the tiny contrasting ocelli within it.
Cranberry Blue
Agriades optilete
7th July 2026. Valais.
This is a butterfly of mid-to-high altitude Ericaceous bogs and damp heaths, a habitat that I clearly have not spent sufficient time exploring, as this is only the second time I have seen this gorgeous species. We saw about a dozen of both sexes and I was very pleased to get a few photographs.
7th July 2026. Valais.
This is a butterfly of mid-to-high altitude Ericaceous bogs and damp heaths, a habitat that I clearly have not spent sufficient time exploring, as this is only the second time I have seen this gorgeous species. We saw about a dozen of both sexes and I was very pleased to get a few photographs.
Carline Skipper
Pyrgus carlinae
10th July. Valais.
This is another Pyrgus of sub-alpine to alpine grasslands, confined to the central Alps. Again, I have very few photographs so this was a much-valued image capture! Many of these pyrgus are tricky to identify in the field, but this is classic Carline.
10th July. Valais.
This is another Pyrgus of sub-alpine to alpine grasslands, confined to the central Alps. Again, I have very few photographs so this was a much-valued image capture! Many of these pyrgus are tricky to identify in the field, but this is classic Carline.
Habitat of the Cranberry Fritillary
Cranberry Fritillary
Boloria aquilonaris
11th July 2026. Vaud.
The Cranberry Fritillary had eluded me in France for years despite several attempts to track it down, and I am indebted to Guy Padfield for kindly showing me around his local patch this summer, which included a marvellous wetland site where Cranberry Fritillaries were indeed flying by the dozens. A long-overdue lifer that I finally got the chance to know quite well. A lovely butterfly with a distinctive appearance on the wing, frequently found at nectar. An absolute delight to finally have this one ticked off my life-list in such beautiful surroundings!
11th July 2026. Vaud.
The Cranberry Fritillary had eluded me in France for years despite several attempts to track it down, and I am indebted to Guy Padfield for kindly showing me around his local patch this summer, which included a marvellous wetland site where Cranberry Fritillaries were indeed flying by the dozens. A long-overdue lifer that I finally got the chance to know quite well. A lovely butterfly with a distinctive appearance on the wing, frequently found at nectar. An absolute delight to finally have this one ticked off my life-list in such beautiful surroundings!
Cranberry Fritillary
Boloria aquilonaris
11th July 2026. Vaud.
See previous photograph for commentary.
11th July 2026. Vaud.
See previous photograph for commentary.
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