Back to Anse

The sun has returned to the Rhône so the magnetic attraction of a walk in Anse natural park proved irresistible.

The nightingales have started to sing. Walking the paths is like wrap-around sound as the song of one fades the next starts its crescendo. They seem so near yet are so hard to spot, and impossible to photograph, as they stay hidden deep in the bushes.

One change from previous years is that an area of the forest has flooded, and shows no signs of draining away. Frogs have already moved in. Hoping that at least some of this water remains, it will be interesting to observe the wildlife arrivals during the year. I notice that some Rumex is pushing up through the mud. I wonder how and how long it takes for Large Coppers to find a new area to colonize?

Last visit I was delighted to find 2 Map butterflies. This time there were lots, with males defending territories and attacking anything which moved in their range like mini-Don Quixotes. The Speckled Woods were equally aggressive, so the air was quite a war zone.

Another butterfly which I had already seen elsewhere has emerged at Anse. Here is a pic of this tiny flying emerald, the Green Hairstreak.

The first "Map"

As the sun shone and the temperature rose, checked out a site near a river and lakes.The expected Orange Tips and Small Whites were flitting along the banks of the pathways. Peacocks were knocking chunks out of each other defending territories at regular intervals along most paths, particularly near emerging nettles.

Disappointment when found that the dell where in past years Map butterflies were regularly seen has been completely blocked with brambles. Wandered to another favourite spot ... and spotted a Map butterfly (Araschnia levana) ... definitely the first of the year. Later a second one was seen.