Hautes Pyrenees Butterfly Sites

• Luz St Saveur
• Plateau de Bernazau
• Lac d’Estrom
• Tourmalet
• Gèdre
• Cirque de Troumouse
• Port de Boucharo
• Barrage d’Osseau
• Jardin Botanique, Gavarnie
• Néouville

Luz St Saveur

Around campsite , North of Luz St Sav                                          28. 07- 09.08. 95

Walks around the campsite, various local lanes and meadows

Species confidently identified:

Small, Essex, Large, Lulworth and Mallow Skipper

Small, Large, Green Veined and Wood White, Clouded Yellow, Scarce Swallowtail, Swallowtail

Adonis, Common, Eschers, Holly, Long Tailed, Mazarine, Silver studded and Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus,

Small and Scarce Copper, Purple Hairstreak

Dark Green, Heath, Queen of Spain, Silver Washed, and Violet Fritillary, Comma, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell

Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Small and Pearly Heath, Speckled Wood, Wall

 Probables (not definitely identified) Chapmans Blue

Plateau de Bernazau

Road that becomes track departing to SE of main road. 01 & 08.08.95

Species confidently identified:

Small, Essex, Large, Lulworth and Silver Spotted Skipper

Apollo, Small, Large, Green Veined, Black Veined and Wood White, Clouded Yellow

Adonis, Chalkhill, Common, Eschers, Holly, Long Tailed, Mazarine, Silver studded and Small Blue, Brown Argus,

Small, Purple Edged and Scarce Copper, Purple Hairstreak

Dark Green, Heath, High Brown Fritillary, Queen of Spain, Silver Washed and Spotted Fritillary, Camberwell Beauty, Comma, Map, Painted Lady, Purple Emperor, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell

Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Rock Grayling, Small and Pearly Heath, Speckled Wood, Wall, Yellow Spotted Ringlet

Lac d’Estrom

Path from Le Fruitieres to Lac d’Estrom                                       02.08.95

Species confidently identified:

Essex, and Oberthurs Grizzled Skipper

Brimstone, Green and Black Veined White

Chalkhill Blue

Scarce Copper

Dark Green, Shepherds and Small P. Bord. Fritillary, Small Tortoiseshell

Mountain and Piedmont Ringlet, Small and Pearly Heath, Wall

Probables (not definitely identified) Large Blue

Dets Coubous (on flank of Tourmalet)                                          

Weather poor until late p.m., but judging by the flora and birds this worth a visit  07.08.95

 Species confidently identified:

Silver Spotted Skipper

Clouded Yellow

Chalkhill, Mazarine, and Silver Studded Blue, Brown Argus,

Purple Edged and Scarce Copper

Dark Green, Heath and Shepherds Fritillary, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell

Common Brassy Ringlet, Gavarnie Ringlet, Large Wall, Piedmont Ringlet, Wall

Gèdre

A quiet town near to the bustle of Gavarnie. Records relate to the area around the town and a few km up the valleys, up to about 1200m.

Cirque de Troumouse

Including roadside approach from Heas.

Stopped both on way to top and at top to record the following                       29.7.95

 Species confidently identified: 

Small, Essex, and Silver Spotted Skipper

Apollo and Black Veined White, Clouded Yellow

Glandon, Silver Studded and Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus, Small and Scarce Copper

Dark Green, Heath, Queen of Spain, Shepherds and Silver Washed Frit, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell

Meadow Brown, Mountain Ringlet, Small Heath, Common Brassy Ringlet, Gavarnie Ringlet, Marbled White,

Probables (not definitely identified) Grayling spp Idas Blue

Port de Boucharo

Records relate to the area near the Port de Boucharo, altitude from 2000-2500m. There is a tarmac road to the Col des Tentes, saves a lot of walking!

Port de Boucharo/Breche De Roland                                                   03.08.95

Species confidently identified:

Apollo, Peak White

Small Tortoiseshell

Brassy Ringlet spp?

Barrage d’Osseau

Wonderful valley, quiet and full of wildlife  03. & 05. 08.95

Species confidently identified:

Small, Essex, Large, Large Grizzled, Lulworth, Mallow, Oberthurs Grizzled, Silver Spotted and Tufted Marbled Skipper

Apollo, Small, Green Veined, Black Veined, Peak and Wood White, Clouded Yellow and Swallowtail

Chalkhill, Common, Mazarine, and Silver Studded Blue, Brown Argus,

Small, Purple Shot and Scarce Copper

Dark Green, Heath, High Brown, Lesser Marbled, Queen of Spain, Shepherds, Silver Washed Fritillary and Small Tortoiseshell

Common Brassy Ringlet, Gavarnie Ringlet, Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Piedmont Ringlet, Rock Grayling, Small and Pearly Heath, Wall, Yellow Spotted Ringlet

Probables (not definitely identified) Eschers or  Chapmans, Turquoise or Amandas Blue Large Ringlet

Jardin Botanique, Gavarnie                                                                     

An open air opera festival the previous week had trashed the flora. 09.08.95

Species confidently identified:

Dingy, Essex, Large, Large Grizzled, Silver Spotted and Small Skipper

Apollo, Green Veined, Small and Wood White, Clouded Yellow and Swallowtail

Chalkhill, Common, Eschers, Holly and Silver Studded Blue, Brown Argus, Purple Shot and Scarce Copper

Dark Green, Heath, Queen of Spain, Shepherds, Silver Washed Fritillary, Camberwell Beauty and Small Tortoiseshell

Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Piedmont Ringlet, Small and Pearly Heath, Wall, Large Wall

Probables (not definitely identified) Large Ringlet

Néouville

A high altitude reserve with many of the typical Pyrenean species including;

Apollo, Clouded apollo, Glandon and Gavarnie blue.