Wildlife May 2011

[ranunculus]

I think your butterfly is a "simple" swallowtail....Papilio machaon as opposed to the Spanish, Southern or  Scarce swallowtail - Iphiclides podalirius f. feisthamelii

Main difference is the amount of blue near the wing tips, I think.

Many thanks Maggi ... quite fitting for me to find the 'simple' swallowtail.   

[Maggi Young]

It's a beauty, Cliff and precious little simple about it, I'm sure.
You had good luck with flora and fauna  in the Picos, it seems. Are you home now?

[ranunculus]

It's a beauty, Cliff and precious little simple about it, I'm sure.
You had good luck with flora and fauna  in the Picos, it seems. Are you home now?

Hi Maggi,
Home safe and sound thanks, after an amazing nine days in this magnificent location.  The weather was very kind to us, only two mornings of gentle rain interrupted wall to wall sunshine and the flowers responded to this benign climate, orchids were especially good and we were fortunate to visit some sensational meadows.  I am hoping to create a Keynote presentation/lecture with such an abundance of images, but hope to find some photos for the forum when time and tide allow.
May we just thank John and Clare Dower for introducing us to this superb destination?

Marbled White