Eifel 2012

An annual photo happening is my trip to the Eifel. Together with Gerard Schouten (also a passionate nature photographer) I visited this area a few days ago. We arrived early in the morning and just after one minute I found the first resting butterfly, a Chequered Skipper (Bont dikkopje) on a Black Rampion (Zwartblauwe rapunzel). I was happy and after I had taken some photos I walked up the hill searching for other butterflies.....after one hour a desperate feeling overwhelmed me.....where were the other butterflies??? Fortunately I found some orchids. After two hours I found a second and third Chequered Skipper and some later a Dingy Skipper (Bruin dikkopje), a Red-underwing Skipper (Kalkgraslanddikkopje) and one old Woodland Ringlet (Voorjaarserebia). Gerard found an old Common Blue (Icarusblauwtje); the total score of this area was 7 butterflies.......unbelievable!!!

Fortunately on an other place we found some Purple-edged Coppers (Rode vuurvlinder), Small Blues (Dwergblauwtje), Common Blues (Icarusblauwtje) and Dingy Skippers (Bruin dikkopje). A Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Zilveren maan) passed our camera’s and just at the moment we wanted to take a rest a talkative old ranger told us that it’s forbidden by German law to take photos in nature reserves and national parks. Thanks to him I read the “Bundesnaturschutzgesetz” (what else I can do on a free evening); 31 pages, at least more pages to read than butterflies in the Eifel and guess what......it’s not forbidden as long endangered species get not disturbed.

Early in the evening we drove to a valley for our last search for the Bog Fritillary (Ringoogparelmoervlinder). As I was a bit tired I decided not to take all the lenses with me.....why do I need the MP-E 65 mm as I have not seen any jumping spider all day long! We walked a while to find the meadow full of Common Bistort (Adderswortel) as the desired butterfly likes to rest on them. As a few things had changed there since my last visit I lost my orientation and so we walked into the wrong direction and while we were looking around I saw a ‘big’ jumping spider looking at me. I was happily surprised but also angry with myself not taken the MP-E 65 mm with me. With the 180 mm macro I took some photos and in contrast with ‘my’ other jumping spiders this one was very cooperative and stayed decently on the leaf.

Walking back we passed the meadow with Common Bistort but instead of butterflies two big feared eyes were looking at us within 5 metres....a Doe Deer was lying between the flowers and something was going on.....probably she had a little fawn or she had to deliver.....with my 180 mm I could have taken some photos but Gerard and I decided not to make any photo and to continue our way carefully without looking too much to her as in the first place we are nature lovers.

More photo’s are added in my Gallery Butterflies -> Germany - Eifel -> 2012