Making this ahead of time - the count down has begun and provided I can get off the Island this afternoon this should be finally actually happening. a few years in the planning and postponed twice - I'm actually fizzing with excitement
Cin J
Just wait PB.....
The next day dawned sunny but still windy - it was moving day again - off to the mountains
Quick stop to buy lunch
and then up to a mountain pass
Glanville Frit
Black veined White
Pearly Heath
Knapweed Frit
Safflower Skipper
Checkered Blue
Geranium Argus
'I don't remember'
Large Grizzled Skipper
Dalmatian Wall Lizard
Toadflax
Chestnut Heath
Ringlets
Lesser Marbled Frit
PimperneBloke said:AWE SOME!!!! Who knew there were so many different variations of different makes of flutterby!! All the frits are so intricately patterned, a joy to see Google lens said white-spotted sable moth for the one you couldn't remember? Were the bits you visited touristy at all, or more like "real" Croatia?
Thats a good possible for the UFO, PB - it may be one we are waiting on for confirmation
Some bits were touristy i.e the Plitvice Lakes National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 1000's go there daily BUT it is incredibly well managed and cared for and time slots are allocated from what I understand. There are obviously better times of day to go and I won't deny there were hoards of school children but they were for the main part polite and respectful. The Velebit National Park was popular but we were there on a Sunday so understandable. The Croatians are quite rightly very proud of their National Parks and I think there is an interconnected network of routes. The rest of the time we were very much in the real Croatia and in places that you wouldn't find without the local knowledge.
My latest obsession showed up again
Owl Fly
Our picnic spot was an interesting 'Fen' area
There wasn't a huge amount around except for one very special little flyer, who was very shy and wary but did show for a brief magical moment
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Owl Flys making a future generation
Ilex Hairstreak
Lace Border
Lattice Heath
Really interesting updates CJ and so many I've never even heard of. Nice you encountered the Owl fly again, what a beauty and I've only seen one Lesser spotted woodpecker before which was in Wales so nice to see your photo of this one in Croatia.
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Regards, Hazel
A new abode -
Early morning butterfly
Black veined moth
Today we were heading into to the Velebit Mountains via some incredible meadows. It was Frit heaven
Glanville
Southern Heath
Purple-shot Copper
Turquoise Blue
Duke of Burgundy
Dark Green & Amanda's Blue
Fresh Tort
Heath hitching a lift
Sooty Copper
High Brown
Hoppers
It was truly an experience in these meadows and lane - everywhere one looked there was something to see, it was almost sensory overload
Now two rather special treats
The Stunningly beautiful Silver-washed showing exactly why it's called that
and the stop you in your tracks - have I really just seen that ..
Scarce Copper