Snub Nosed (Lataste´s) Viper - vipera latasti
No, it´s not a butterfly, it´s a venomous snake. I mentioned to wildlife guide Mick Richardson that he was almost standing on it as we paused on a high trail walk in Sierra Nevada. I must say that for a big chap Mick can move quite swiftly when the need arises. He recognised it instantly as a Snub Nosed Viper, one of Spain´s most venomous snakes. More scientifically known as Lataste´s Viper it is an ambush predator which employs a ‘sit-and-wait’ strategy to capture prey. It is considered to be one of the most aggressively defensive vipers and if threatened will strike repeatedly while producing a loud hiss. Fortunately it was in a docile mood, having being out in the open enjoying the summer sunshine, and rather than getting stroppy it slithered away to hide under a nearby rock.
Snub Nosed (Lataste´s) Viper - vipera latasti Mick, Elena and I were up here hiking this barren trail over 2500 meters up looking for one of Spain´s rarer butterflies, the Spanish Brassy Ringlet. We were also seeking out some of the rare wild flowers and plants, many of which are endemic to this location. We were successful on all counts, and the snake sighting was an added bonus.
Spanish Brassy Ringlet - erebia hispania The Spanish Brassy Ringlet is found at altitudes above 2000 meters and is confined to the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada. When the sunlight catches its brown forewing it gives off a brassy sheen, giving the species its English name.
Black Satyr female - open wing shot on Eryngium Bourgatii Before moving up to this higher location we had scoured the alpine meadows around the ski resort looking for more familiar butterfly species. It was interesting to see how much things had changed in just a few weeks.
Black Satyr - satyrus actaea In late July Apollos had been abundant, today we saw just one, it was a similar story with Small Tortoiseshell and Siver Studded Blue . The dominant species now was the Black Satyr, closely followed by Meadow Browns of more than one type. Bath White and Iberian Marbled Whites were also plentiful.
 Black Satyr female - satyrus actaea The male Satyr is darker brown with less pale patterning on the wings than the female, males may be almost black in fact.  Meadow Brown - maniola jurtina |  Black Satyr pair, female below - satyrus actaea  Oriental Meadow Brown - hyponephele lupina Meadow Browns can be difficult to distinguish. The insect to the left has a single forewing spot and is most likely a common Meadow Brown - maniola jurtina. However the insect above has two wing spots which Mick pointed out means it must be a female Oriental or Dusky Meadow Brown. The smaller spot having white dot means it is most likely an Oriental Meadow Brown, a new species for my list. |
Silver Spotted Skipper - hesperia comma Here is another new one for me, a Silver Spotted Skipper. I would probably have thought "Large Skipper" but Mick pointed out the differences. A clear example of how it helps to be with a proper guide who can point out these small but important points.
 Silver Spotted Skipper - hesperia comma |  Small Skipper - thymelicus sylvestris |
Sharing the same flowers with the Silver Spotted Skipper were this Bath White in company with a sizable Ephippiger, a large locust-like insect known as a saddle-backed Bush Cricket. They appeared to like these conditions as there were many of them.
Saddle-backed Bush Cricket - Ephippiger?
Large Psammodramus Lizard, in hiding We had many wildlife encounters apart from our target butterflies. I was too slow to capture the endemic Grey Ocillated Lizard (Timon lepidus nevadensis) that ran up a steep bank right in front of us. I made do with a shot of a Psammodramus, a much more common reptile, but always nice to see.
Orb-Web Spider - aculepeira armida, with Sand Fly This sizable Oak Orb-Web Spider aculepeira armida, was neatly enshrouding its latest victim, an unfortunate Sand-fly.
Crane Fly - tipulidae Here is a very large and handsome Crane Fly, much larger than the Daddy Longlegs I remember from the UK. In fact with so many insects apparent it was surprising that there were so few birds around
Northern Wheatear juvenile - oenanthe oenanthe A few hirundines, a Black Redstart or two, Northern Wheatears and a fleeting glimpse of a soaring Golden Eagle were all that we saw up at the higher levels.
This juvenile Northern Wheatear had obviously not learned to be wary of people as it showed no fear in our presence. It looked very scruffy in its transitional moult from fledgling-down to adult plumage.
This juvenile Northern Wheatear had obviously not learned to be wary of people as it showed no fear in our presence. It looked very scruffy in its transitional moult from fledgling-down to adult plumage.
Tree Grayling - neohipparchia statilinus But back to butterflies. During our descent we stopped at one of Mick´s best spots and here we picked up more interesting species. Five Graylings in one spot is excellent, what is more, Tree Grayling and False Grayling were new species for my list. I was delighted.
 Tree Grayling - neohipparchia statilinus  Great Banded Grayling - kanetisa circe |  False Grayling - arethusana arethusa  Striped Grayling - pseudotergumia fidia |
Our butterfly list had grown to well over thirty species, a very respectable total. Nowhere near the fifty or sixty we managed last year, but then everything seems to have been adversely affected by the prolonged cold, and up here icy winter. Below are some of the other butterflies we picked up during the day.
 Brown Argus - aricia agestis  Holly Blue -  Silver Studded Blue - plebejus argus |  Dark Green Fritillary, recently deceased  Dusky Heath - coenonympha dorus  Small White - artogeia rapae  Lang´s Short-tailed Blue - leptotes pirithous |
Iberian Marbled White - melanargia lachesis This shot of an Iberian Marbled White is interesting because of the plant it is sitting on. The flower consists of a very large thistle-like head composed of bracts immersed in what looks like a bed of cotton wool or spiders web. From the top of this ball a cluster of pure white petals sprouts, and here the butterfly probes for nectar.
We were fortunate to have Mick´s expertise in showing us the rare plant species, some of which are endemic to Sierra Nevada.
Below is another cracking good shot of an Oriental Meadow Brown taken by Elena with her Panasonic Lumix compact camera. This is a new species for my list so it was nice that she took such a good clear shot for the record.
We were fortunate to have Mick´s expertise in showing us the rare plant species, some of which are endemic to Sierra Nevada.
Below is another cracking good shot of an Oriental Meadow Brown taken by Elena with her Panasonic Lumix compact camera. This is a new species for my list so it was nice that she took such a good clear shot for the record.
Oriental Meadow Brown - hyponephele lupina (photo - Elena Powell)
Carpenter Bee - xylocopa violacea (photo - Elena Powell) And here´s another one from Elena, she captured well the blue sheen of a Carpenter Bee on the endemic Eryngium Bourgatii plant. Carpenter Bees are so called because they bore holes into dead wood for nesting. Only the female has a sting but they are totally non aggressive and would only sting if trapped and unable to escape.
It had been a super day chasing butterflies in Sierra Nevada under the expert guidance of Mick Richardson. My initial count is 33 for the day including four new species for my life list - Oriental Meadow Brown, Silver Spotted Skipper, Tree Grayling and False Grayling. We also learned a lot about the fascinating plants and insects of this very special location and a close encounter with the Snub-nosed Viper made it truly memorable
 Black Satyr male |  Purple Shot Copper |  Painted Lady |
