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I followed the same procedure as every year and visited the first morning after arrival in Bayern (Germany) ‘my’ Dusky Large Blue spot and again a part of their habitat was gone. I searched for more than hour but I could not find any butterfly. This morning I visited the spots near the Dreisesselmountains but the spotes were empty....besides no butterflies it was striking that on the flowers of the thistles I did not see a single resting bumble-bee. I decided to return to the Dusky Large Blue spot and finally I found my first resting butterfly on Great Burnet, a False Dusky Large Blue aka Small Heath:  Small Heath - Canon 7DMKII, tripod, remote release, 180 mm, 1/8 sec, F 8, ISO 100 A characteristic of the Small Heath is that he is mostly resting in a kind of twisted position and a 100% sharp photo is hard to realize (without disturbing the butterfly).
A few minutes later a found an other butterfly on Great Burnet and fortunately it was not a false one!
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An other highlight from the Mercantour/Haute-Alpes trip was the rebellious family member of the Alcon Blue, which looks very simillar but who prefers an other larval foodplant, the cross-leaved gentian (gentiana cruciata), it was nice to 'meet' the Mountain Alcon Blue!  Mountain Alcon Blue - Canon 7DMKII, beanbag, remote release, 180 mm, 1,3 sec, F 13, ISO 100 The day before we explored the area and we found a lot of active butterflies; Frank discovered a couple of this species who were busy with the 2019 generation.
It was a pleasure to see that this species was doing well and that a lot of them were flying around. In a few days I hope to meet a family member of this species during my holiday in Germany.
Last Saturday I returned from a nice and relaxed week in the Mercantour. Together with Hans, Gerard, Mees, Debbie, Jacco and Frank (the Palinka club) I searched for butterflies which can't be found in the Netherlands. Two years ago we visited the Cevennes with the mission to find the Scarce Copper....unfortunately we did not so I pinned my hope to find this species in the Mercantour. At arrival I noticed an Orange-tip which was the sign that a lot of species were not emerged yet. Again I did not find the wanted Scarce Copper but instead a lot of other very beautiful species like this Southern Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor). This picture costs me a lot of sweat....not to take the picture but to reach the butterfly as he was resting at an much higher place on the mountain.  Southern Swallowtail - Canon 7DMKII, tripod, remote release, 180 mm, 1/30 sec, F 11, ISO 100 It was the first time that I visited the Mercantour and I was impressed by its beauty: rough mountains, lovely villages and a tremendous variety of nature. The Col d'Allos was amazing and one day I will return to the Mercantour and the Col d'Allos!  Mountain Fritillary - Canon 7DMKII, tripod, remote release, 180 mm, 1/85 sec, F 7.1, ISO 100 Yesterday evening I found a nice surprise in my garden while I was watering the plants. At first sight I thought that it was a Common Blue until he opened his wings and I saw a lot of brown with orange......a Brown Argus! I have never seen this species before in my garden or in the neighbourhood.  Brown Argus - Canon 7DMKII, tripod, remote release, 180 mm, 1/40 sec, F 9, ISO 100 It's a good appetizer to start my holiday with as tomorrow I will travel to the Mercantour for a week together with some members of the Palinka club.
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Jibt dir dit Leben mal een Buff, denn weene keene Träne. Lach Dir'n Ast und setz Dir druff und baumle mit de Beene.
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