Croatia

PimperneBloke said:

Does new abode mean you've bought it and are moving there?!? The landscapes and scenery are certainly spectacular.

Absolutely stunning, belting, phenomenal trip Cin.... I can't imagine how long you've spent grinning like a Cheshire cat reliving all these sightings!
Thanks for sharing (hoping there's more to come!!)

It was only a temp. move for 2 nights - sadly - I so want to go back 

There are still a few more to come 

Southern Small White - 

Jumping Spider Philaeus chrysops

Woodland Ringlet

up into the mountains

Pearl Bordered Frit

I only just resisted breaking into 'Climb Every Mountain'

Wood White  - possibly Fenton's but needs an expert 

Mountain Ringlet

Brimstone

Dingy Skipper

Small Blue

This poor Clouded Apollo got blasted past us like tumble weed 

View from near the top

native Orange Lilly

Dianthus

Marazine Blue

Black-veined White

Bee fly

We have reached the final day of our travels, It's a fairly long drive to the airport but it's going to be taken slowly as we don't need to be there until 5pm so it allows for a little more exploration of this sensational country.  

At dinner the previous night when we did the species count we had reached 93 - fingers were crossed for 7 more to reach the 100 - it was going to be a push 

On the pre-breakfast a new one was spotted right beside the hotel -   very high up the tree 

Black Hairstreak

Roadside birding - Whinchat

Our first stop was utterly delightful watermills at the springs of the Gacka River 

There was a family of Black Redstarts flitting about 

I was a bit disappointed that I had missed getting my first photos of Dippers as a very busy pair had just flown off but as we wandered back one was spotted taking a very quick rest and I got my photo op.

As we were walking down the road to look in the water meadows a huge dark butterfly glided in and we all briefly got our eyes on a Poplar Admiral before a couple of lazy flaps took it off and over the houses.

Off again and onto the motorway window spotting birds 

We took a break at a Service Station and boy could the ones in the UK take a huge lesson.  Clean, inviting, beautifully presented food and drink - there was even a Silver-washed Frit flying around the serving area!

The grass area was full of wild flowers - so of course it would be rude not to go look and boy was it worth it. Our super spotter (One of the other clients) clocked this belter 

2nd gen  Map

There were also a couple of other new ones - our numbers were climbing 

We head off into the countryside again as we still have a few hours in hand, we are off into an area that sort of reminded me of the Peak District, a stop in a passing point resulted in flutter 99 and a tour leader heading off down the road in pursuit of a 'different' looking white - he didn't find it.

Number 99 was a

Large Checkered Skipper

We move onto a small meadow and orchard area with a stream - the first thing we spot is this beautiful Spider Orchid

It's at this point the tour leader claims number 100 and is met with a rebellion - as a group we point blank refuse to accept his spot - none of us saw it and we were not taking a Green-veined White as our 100! so it was onwards to a potentially better site - still alongside water and so it proved to be fruitful

Number 100 a stunningly beautiful stonker 

Large Copper 

Then another new one was spotted resting on the road 

Hungarian Glider

I managed to coax it onto my hand and place it in the greenery so it didn't get squished 

The guys the spotted a Green Hairstreak and finally the official last butterfly was ... a Green-veined White that we accepted :)

It was a sensational trip and I really hope to travel with them again - I am not sure if it's weird to do the same trip twice, there was just so much to take in 

Thank you for reading and indulging me - it's allowed me to get everything sorted in my head - sorry it's taken so long to post 

Absolutely fabulous, and such fabulous photos of a spectacular visit.

Many thanks for sharing, and we appreciate the time taken to upload and share those wonderful photos.