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Two-tailed Pasha
Charaxes jasius
30th May 2013. Souli Valley. Epirus. Greece.
This is a breathtaking butterfly, large and powerful with dramatic underside markings. Getting close to a Two-tailed Pasha for the first time is an unforgettable experience. This example was hill-topping at the peak of a rocky outcrop in the Souli Valley, and was the first one that I had ever managed to photograph. The corpses of a couple of dead goats were rotting away close by, and may have been an attractant, as this species is known to be drawn to carrion, rotting fruit and alcohol.
30th May 2013. Souli Valley. Epirus. Greece.
This is a breathtaking butterfly, large and powerful with dramatic underside markings. Getting close to a Two-tailed Pasha for the first time is an unforgettable experience. This example was hill-topping at the peak of a rocky outcrop in the Souli Valley, and was the first one that I had ever managed to photograph. The corpses of a couple of dead goats were rotting away close by, and may have been an attractant, as this species is known to be drawn to carrion, rotting fruit and alcohol.
Southern Swallowtail
Papilio alexanor
29th May 2012. Mount Pandokrator. Corfu. Greece.
Having searched for this species in south-east France with no success, it was a pleasure to finally catch up with it in Greece, back in 2011. We found about a dozen flying in the Vyros Gorge in the May of that year. It is considerably more restricted in distribution than its relatives, the European Swallowtail and the Scarce Swallowtail. The female above was photographed the following year during a trip to the north-east of Corfu. This is my favourite photograph of this butterfly, taken along a warm sunny track up Mount Pandokrator. It is a lovely species to watch in flight, and even more satisfying to see at rest when nectaring! The males in Greece are considerably more yellow than the females.
29th May 2012. Mount Pandokrator. Corfu. Greece.
Having searched for this species in south-east France with no success, it was a pleasure to finally catch up with it in Greece, back in 2011. We found about a dozen flying in the Vyros Gorge in the May of that year. It is considerably more restricted in distribution than its relatives, the European Swallowtail and the Scarce Swallowtail. The female above was photographed the following year during a trip to the north-east of Corfu. This is my favourite photograph of this butterfly, taken along a warm sunny track up Mount Pandokrator. It is a lovely species to watch in flight, and even more satisfying to see at rest when nectaring! The males in Greece are considerably more yellow than the females.
Southern White Admiral
Limenitis reducta
1st June 2012. Mount Pandokrator. Corfu. Greece.
A friendly and approachable butterfly, the Southern White Admiral is similar to, and yet subtly different from our own White Admiral, and can often be found in more open, scrubby conditions rather than primarily being a woodland species. Fresh examples such as this one, which demonstrate a hint of a blue sheen when they catch the light at a certain angle, are a joy to behold! A common species across much of southern Europe, it is widespread in many parts of mainland Greece and the Greek Islands. Despite being common, I never tire of seeing these when abroad in Europe.
1st June 2012. Mount Pandokrator. Corfu. Greece.
A friendly and approachable butterfly, the Southern White Admiral is similar to, and yet subtly different from our own White Admiral, and can often be found in more open, scrubby conditions rather than primarily being a woodland species. Fresh examples such as this one, which demonstrate a hint of a blue sheen when they catch the light at a certain angle, are a joy to behold! A common species across much of southern Europe, it is widespread in many parts of mainland Greece and the Greek Islands. Despite being common, I never tire of seeing these when abroad in Europe.
Southern Sage Skipper
Muschampia alta
13th September 2020. Vyros Gorge. Mani Peninsula. Greece.
A lovely skipper, quite localised but often common, especially in parts of Greece later in the summer. I have found it in excellent numbers at several locations in the Pelopponese during September. To me, it seems quite approachable, and easier to follow in flight than many of the other skipper butterflies. This example was particularly fresh, and posed quite happily at nectar along the lower Vyros Gorge near Kardhamili.
13th September 2020. Vyros Gorge. Mani Peninsula. Greece.
A lovely skipper, quite localised but often common, especially in parts of Greece later in the summer. I have found it in excellent numbers at several locations in the Pelopponese during September. To me, it seems quite approachable, and easier to follow in flight than many of the other skipper butterflies. This example was particularly fresh, and posed quite happily at nectar along the lower Vyros Gorge near Kardhamili.
Southern Comma
Polygonia egea
28th May 2015. Giatreika. Pelopponese. Greece.
This is another species with a very southern distribution in Europe. It is very localised in south-east France, where I have seen it on several occasions, and it occurs further east along the mediterranean. In Greece I have found it to be common and widespread. Indistinguishable in flight from our own Comma, it is only when it lands that the differences become apparent. The underwings have a more striated pattern, the "comma" mark is more v- or y-shaped, and the upperwings are lighter in markings. This species also has a strong association with walls and rocky places, where the larval foodplant, Pellitory of the Wall, grows. This photograph shows a typical resting place, and I was delighted that it was selected for inclusion in the Butterfly Conservation European Interests Group Calendar in 2016, an honour to have a photograph selected for this annual publication.
28th May 2015. Giatreika. Pelopponese. Greece.
This is another species with a very southern distribution in Europe. It is very localised in south-east France, where I have seen it on several occasions, and it occurs further east along the mediterranean. In Greece I have found it to be common and widespread. Indistinguishable in flight from our own Comma, it is only when it lands that the differences become apparent. The underwings have a more striated pattern, the "comma" mark is more v- or y-shaped, and the upperwings are lighter in markings. This species also has a strong association with walls and rocky places, where the larval foodplant, Pellitory of the Wall, grows. This photograph shows a typical resting place, and I was delighted that it was selected for inclusion in the Butterfly Conservation European Interests Group Calendar in 2016, an honour to have a photograph selected for this annual publication.
Pygmy Skipper
Gegenes pumilio
25th September 2017. Parga. Epirus. Greece.
This is a very fast-flying, dark-coloured skipper that is quite excellent at disappearing rapidly from view when it wishes to be away! Very difficult to follow, the one saving grace for the photographer is that this butterfly is very fond of nectaring, but in hot weather it may well rest for just a few seconds at a time on a given flowerhead before rapidly moving on. It has a quite localised mediterranean distribution, mainly coastal, although it can be found some distance inland on occasion. I have found it to be common in several parts of Greece, but have not found it outside of this country. A small butterfly with a big personality!
25th September 2017. Parga. Epirus. Greece.
This is a very fast-flying, dark-coloured skipper that is quite excellent at disappearing rapidly from view when it wishes to be away! Very difficult to follow, the one saving grace for the photographer is that this butterfly is very fond of nectaring, but in hot weather it may well rest for just a few seconds at a time on a given flowerhead before rapidly moving on. It has a quite localised mediterranean distribution, mainly coastal, although it can be found some distance inland on occasion. I have found it to be common in several parts of Greece, but have not found it outside of this country. A small butterfly with a big personality!
Plain Tiger
Danaus chrysippus
16th September 2020. Diros. Mani Peninsula. Greece.
A close relative of the famous migratory Monarch butterfly, the Plain Tiger must be one of the worst-named butterflies in the world! It is a stunning creature, anything but plain. Slightly smaller than the Monarch, and slightly daintier in flight, although still capable of travelling at speed when it wants to, this species has a very coastal distribution in the Mediterranean. Numbers vary considerably from year to year, but it is invariably more abundant towards the end of summer and into early autumn. I first saw this delightful beast near Igoumenitsa, back in 2017, but didn't manage to get a satisfactory photograph until September 2020, when this male flew past, alighted, and posed nicely for me. A very exciting and memorable moment!
16th September 2020. Diros. Mani Peninsula. Greece.
A close relative of the famous migratory Monarch butterfly, the Plain Tiger must be one of the worst-named butterflies in the world! It is a stunning creature, anything but plain. Slightly smaller than the Monarch, and slightly daintier in flight, although still capable of travelling at speed when it wants to, this species has a very coastal distribution in the Mediterranean. Numbers vary considerably from year to year, but it is invariably more abundant towards the end of summer and into early autumn. I first saw this delightful beast near Igoumenitsa, back in 2017, but didn't manage to get a satisfactory photograph until September 2020, when this male flew past, alighted, and posed nicely for me. A very exciting and memorable moment!
Nettle-tree Butterfly
Libythea celtis
31st May 2012. Kremythas. Corfu. Greece.
This is the sole European member of the "snout" family of butterflies, with its long palpi giving it the appearance of having a large nose! It has a southern-European distribution. I have seen it in ones and twos in the south of France and Spain, but in Greece I have come across much larger populations, with several sites producing sightings of up to 20 or more individuals. The one photographed here was found in the north-east of Corfu. Greece certainly seems to be a good place to find this fascinating species relatively easily.
31st May 2012. Kremythas. Corfu. Greece.
This is the sole European member of the "snout" family of butterflies, with its long palpi giving it the appearance of having a large nose! It has a southern-European distribution. I have seen it in ones and twos in the south of France and Spain, but in Greece I have come across much larger populations, with several sites producing sightings of up to 20 or more individuals. The one photographed here was found in the north-east of Corfu. Greece certainly seems to be a good place to find this fascinating species relatively easily.
Mallow Skipper
Carcharodus alceae
17th September 2020. Ridomo Gorge. Peloponnese. Greece.
Absent from the UK and yet widely distributed across most of central and southern Europe, this small skipper is quite similar in habit to our own Dingy Skipper. And like the Dingy, it is quite an attractive skipper when fresh, but soon becomes worn and rather drab in appearance on ageing. This one was photographed at the bottom of a gorge, in dry grassland with sparse vegetation and occasional flowers. I have never found Mallow Skippers in any numbers. They usually turn up in ones and twos, and are quite territorial, frequently challenging other butterflies in an aggressive manner if they enter their personal space. Always a nice species to see, as they confirm that you are away from home in some foreign country!
17th September 2020. Ridomo Gorge. Peloponnese. Greece.
Absent from the UK and yet widely distributed across most of central and southern Europe, this small skipper is quite similar in habit to our own Dingy Skipper. And like the Dingy, it is quite an attractive skipper when fresh, but soon becomes worn and rather drab in appearance on ageing. This one was photographed at the bottom of a gorge, in dry grassland with sparse vegetation and occasional flowers. I have never found Mallow Skippers in any numbers. They usually turn up in ones and twos, and are quite territorial, frequently challenging other butterflies in an aggressive manner if they enter their personal space. Always a nice species to see, as they confirm that you are away from home in some foreign country!
Mountain Small White
Pieris ergane
15th September 2020. Vyros Gorge. Pelopponese. Greece.
This is a very different butterfly to the Small White that might be found in allotments and vegetable gardens, laying eggs on Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts and other cultivated Brassicae crops. The Mountain Small White is a little smaller, with a lower, weaker, more delicate flight pattern, and is very rare in western Europe, although more widespread further east in Greece. Stumbling across a small group of these half way up a dramatic gorge in the Pelopponese in September 2020 was very exciting, probably the highlight of my European butterfly year! This was my first sighting of this species, and a very welcome addition to my life-list. I suspect that only fellow butterfly enthusiasts will fully understand the thrill of finding a butterfly such as this!
15th September 2020. Vyros Gorge. Pelopponese. Greece.
This is a very different butterfly to the Small White that might be found in allotments and vegetable gardens, laying eggs on Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts and other cultivated Brassicae crops. The Mountain Small White is a little smaller, with a lower, weaker, more delicate flight pattern, and is very rare in western Europe, although more widespread further east in Greece. Stumbling across a small group of these half way up a dramatic gorge in the Pelopponese in September 2020 was very exciting, probably the highlight of my European butterfly year! This was my first sighting of this species, and a very welcome addition to my life-list. I suspect that only fellow butterfly enthusiasts will fully understand the thrill of finding a butterfly such as this!
Long-tailed Blue
Lampides boeticus
31st May 2014. Theologus. Thassos. Greece.
This is another species with a primarily southern, Mediterranean distribution in Europe, but one that frequently migrates north and can be found through parts of central Europe in varying numbers in most seasons. During a holiday on the northern Aegean island of Thassos, on a dry limestone hillside, I found a sheltered glade full of Bladder Senna, one of its larval foodplants, and here were literally hundreds of Long-tailed Blues, including this mating pair. The underside pattern is just delightful. It is a very active butterfly, almost always on the move, but mating pairs and nectaring adults can usually be approached with ease.
31st May 2014. Theologus. Thassos. Greece.
This is another species with a primarily southern, Mediterranean distribution in Europe, but one that frequently migrates north and can be found through parts of central Europe in varying numbers in most seasons. During a holiday on the northern Aegean island of Thassos, on a dry limestone hillside, I found a sheltered glade full of Bladder Senna, one of its larval foodplants, and here were literally hundreds of Long-tailed Blues, including this mating pair. The underside pattern is just delightful. It is a very active butterfly, almost always on the move, but mating pairs and nectaring adults can usually be approached with ease.
Lattice Brown
Kirinia roxelana
26th May 2012. Kassiopi. Corfu. Greece.
This is quite a large member of the "brown" family, with a very attractive underside pattern. I first saw this butterfly on Corfu back in 2012, but have since seen it elsewhere in Greece, in the Pelopponese, and on the island of Thassos. It has a south-easterly distribution in Europe. It seems to be quite a shy butterfly, often disappearing in amongst trees and shady places, where it regularly alights on tree-trunks, out of range of the camera. Fortunately it will also occasionally rest up on walls and rocks, where it can sometimes be approached more closely. This lovely fresh example gave me one of my favourite images from our 2012 Corfu trip!
26th May 2012. Kassiopi. Corfu. Greece.
This is quite a large member of the "brown" family, with a very attractive underside pattern. I first saw this butterfly on Corfu back in 2012, but have since seen it elsewhere in Greece, in the Pelopponese, and on the island of Thassos. It has a south-easterly distribution in Europe. It seems to be quite a shy butterfly, often disappearing in amongst trees and shady places, where it regularly alights on tree-trunks, out of range of the camera. Fortunately it will also occasionally rest up on walls and rocks, where it can sometimes be approached more closely. This lovely fresh example gave me one of my favourite images from our 2012 Corfu trip!
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