Alittlebitoutoffocus

Alittlebitoutoffocus

You may have noticed that there was something missing from the pictures of my last walk – butterflies.  That wasn’t because there were none around, I just didn’t have the time to stop (or wait for them to stop) and capture them on camera.  Anyway, on Sunday I made up for that, and some, when I decided to walk to La Gouille, via the Alpage de l’Etoile.  There was one very small area, at the Mayen de la Cretta, which must have had at least a dozen different species fluttering around just a few thistle plants.

So my apologies if there now too many in this gallery, but even now I’ve left out the Marbled White, the Tortoiseshell and the Peacock.  At last though, I’ve finally captured an Apollo (which was rooted to the spot and I must have taken 20 or more photos of that one alone – see pic 16).

I also just happened to have my camera in my hand when the Hummingbird Hawkmoth came hovering by while I was having a little refreshment at the Hotel Dents de Veisivi.  🍺😊

 

 

13 responses

  1. usathroughoureyes Avatar
    usathroughoureyes

    Great images! We’ve not seen so many wonderful butterflies. You must have all the species over there, lol.

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Ha, ha! Yes, they all come for the huge variety of wild flowers. 😉 After my recent butterfly ‘Field Trip’, the organiser subsequently sent out a list of 50 different species that we (well he at least) had seen. That’s an incredible number for just one day. As a child I didn’t take much interest in any of this ‘nature’, but now it fascinates me! Another sign of age, or should that be maturity!? 😊

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      1. usathroughoureyes Avatar
        usathroughoureyes

        Yes… I like the word maturity. Isn’t great we are maturing, lol.

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        1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
          Alittlebitoutoffocus

          Let’s hope we mature to a ripe old age! ☺

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        2. usathroughoureyes Avatar
          usathroughoureyes

          Amen.

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  2. Maggie and Richard Avatar
    Maggie and Richard

    Beautiful pictures! You must have had a lot of patience for all of the butterfly pics, and what a beautiful place to spot them!

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Thanks for your nice comments. Actually I don’t have a lot of patience, but we have so many butterflies, that I can pick and choose which ones have landed and look to be ‘busy’ feeding. That Apollo was still there 5 minutes later! And a few, I was even nudging the edge of their wings to get them to open up (as it’s easier to identify them that way), but even then they wouldn’t move! But, yes, it can get frustrating sometimes, when they don’t land. 🙂

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      1. Maggie and Richard Avatar
        Maggie and Richard

        Sounds like an amazing setting to photograph.

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        1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
          Alittlebitoutoffocus

          Yes it is, though from what I’ve seen of your site, you have been to some much ‘bigger’ and much more adventurous places. 🙂

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  3. blhphotoblog Avatar
    blhphotoblog

    Lovely job Mike! The Apollo is a beaut, I also like that Brassy Ringlet.

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Thanks! At one point, I didn’t know which way to turn. To get to some in that ‘oasis’, I had to edge down a steep slope – only to find the same butterfly at eye level, where I’d been standing, a few minutes later! As I think I said, they find you sometimes! 🙂

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  4. bayphotosbydonna Avatar
    bayphotosbydonna

    Gorgeous scenic captures, Mike! Love the butterflies, so many I’ve never seen. The Swiss Brassy Ringlet is stunning and congrats on the beautiful Apollo! Is that another butterfly with the Apollo?

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    1. Alittlebitoutoffocus Avatar
      Alittlebitoutoffocus

      Thank you Donna. The Brassy Ringlet is certainly startling when you first see all those different colours, almost fluorescing, in the sunshine. It’s definitely one of my favourites, like the Apollo (which I’d never seen until I came to Switzerland). As for that black and red ‘thing’ in the Apollo picture, it’s a day flying moth from the Zygaenidae family. My book lists 14 different types, so I didn’t try to identify it. They are also quite common around here, but I was just pleased to capture the Apollo at last! 😀

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