In the halcyon days of Casa Libélule Francine and I had what we used to refer to as our ”training walk” from Senija up to the top of one of the mountains behind it. The summit was adorned with a cross. These days, with advancing years and some reduction in fitness, the thought of the walk felt more of an expedition but we decided we’d go for it again.
The main appeal for me is that this was a mountain used by butterflies for their habit of “hill topping” – they tend to congregate at the top of hills. I’d regularly seen a few species up there the most appealing of which are the two species of Swallowtail resident in Spain: the “regular” Swallowtail (Papilio macaon) and the Iberian Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii). They are always a delight and I’d love to see them again. The weather was sunny but very windy. I also suspected I’d be a bit too early in the season for the Swallowtails, so my expectations were not high. We really just wanted the leg stretch.
We drove to Senija and began our walk. Not long into the route a lady appeared to implore us for some help. Our Spanish being pretty awful, we had to rely on our eyes to figure out that another poor wheelchair-bound lady had fallen and needed helping back up. We obliged as best we could and tried to check that she was OK before moving on.
Our friendly Dutch neighbours had loaned us their trekking poles (ours were back at home – duh!”) and we made our way the modest 2kms up the hill to the cross atop the mountain. The climb was not so daunting with the poles which were a great help – you sort of push yourself uphill.
Arriving at the summit we soon spotted a couple of butterfly species flitting about and occasionally sunbathing. Trees at the top shelter some of the summit from the worst of the wind. As expected, one customer was a Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera), which cooperated quite readily. There was also a small blue butterfly which was not keen on settling. Fairly quickly, I managed a shot of a Wall Brown and set about patiently waiting for the blue. One did eventually settle up in a tree so I could snag it. It was a Lang’s Short-tailed Blue (Leptotes pirithous) somewhat unusually displaying its topside. Happy camper.
Not wishing to spend too long in the wind, we began our descent. Once again, the trekking poles were helping keep us stable on the way down the steeper, rocky slopes. Part way down eagle-eyed Francine spotted a brown caterpillar on a stem, quite low to the ground. How she spotted it, I know not. The angle is odd but the caterpillar chose it. As far as I can make out, this is the caterpillar of an Oak Eggar moth (Lasiocampa quercus) but, being a moth numbskull, I’m prepared to be corrected.
Now, where’s that beer for weary legs?
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