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Blue-spot Hairstreak Satyrium spini
© Teresa Farino
Butterfly & moth holidays in the Picos de Europa
Discover the fabulous diversity of butterflies and moths present in the mountains of northern Spain
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Leader: | Teresa Farino
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2010 Dates: | Weds. 30 June - Weds. 7 July
Sun. 1 Aug. - Sun. 8 Aug. (Children's Special).
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Price: | 1,100€ per person (single-room supplement 125€), excluding flights.
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Click here for full details |
Female Scarce Copper Lycaena virgaureae
© Teresa Farino
During the week's tour we will explore the forests, haymeadows and high peaks of the valley
of Liébana, situated on the southeastern flank of the Picos de Europa, from a comfortable,
family-run hotel in Pesaguero. We can expect around 100 species of butterfly from our daily
exploits (of a total of 155 recorded in the area), including such memorable creatures as Large
Chequered and Marbled Skippers, Apollo, Mountain Clouded Yellow, High Brown and Niobe Fritillaries,
Cardinal, Lefèbvre's and Chapman's Ringlets (the latter endemic to northern
Spain), Esper's Marbled White, Scarce and Purple-edged Coppers, Spanish Purple Hairstreak
and Gavarnie and Dusky Large Blues, amongst a host of others.
A visit to the limestone plateaux of northern Castile should enable us to observe several species not found in the
Picos de Europa, including Twin-spot Fritillary and Ripart's Anomalous and Meleager's Blues.
Day-flying moths will also be recorded, and might include such delights
as Fiery Clearwing, Dew Moth and Feathered Footman,
as well as several eye-catching species of burnet and tiger moths.
In searching for butterflies we will, of course, not be ignoring the many other delights
of the Picos de Europa, including its spectacular scenery, colourful wildflowers, birds
galore and the occasional reptile, amphibian or mammal, as well as having the opportunity
to experience a traditional agricultural regime that has remained virtually unchanged
for centuries.
Zygaena fausta
© Teresa Farino
Every evening we will set the moth-trap on the terrace of Teresa's home (just opposite the hotel),
and will spend an hour or so before breakfast examining the contents. Given good weather the trap
attracts a phenomenal number of moths, and every year we discover species not previously recorded
in the Picos de Europa. To date Teresa has recorded almost 700 species of macromoth here, and
at this time of year, we should encounter a number of British rarities such as Goat Moth, Portland
Ribbon Wave, The Mocha, Four-spotted Footman, Jersey Tiger, Light Crimson Underwing, Heart Moth and L-album
Wainscot, as well as some that occur in the United Kingdom solely as migrants; for example,
Three-humped Prominent, Oak Yellow Underwing, The Passenger and Dewick's Plusia.
We might also add to our list several species of hawkmoth and a number of non-British
species, such as Plum Lappet (Odonestis pruni: Lasiocampidae), Lesser and
Spanish Puss Moths (Cerura erminea & C. iberica: Notodontidae), Gypsy Rose
(Ocneria rubea: Lymantriidae) and Glaucous Muslin (Paidia rica: Arctiidae).
All the records we collect will be submitted to an ongoing database of the Lepidoptera
of Liébana: a project initiated by Teresa in 1988.
For the Children's Special, we might also incorporate a day-trip to the fabulous sandy
beaches of the nearby Cantabrian coast.
Southern White Admiral Limenitis reducta
© Teresa Farino
Butterfly & moth holidays in the Picos de Europa
Leader: Teresa Farino
2010 Dates: Weds. 30 June - Weds. 7 July
Sun. 1 Aug. - Sun. 8 Aug. (Children's Special).
Price: 1,100€, including half-board, en suite accommodation at Posada
El Hoyal, picnic lunches,
minibus/4WD transport throughout, all entry fees and the services of Teresa Farino as
leader. A single-room supplement of 125€ is applicable. Although the cost of the tour is given in euros,
clients may pay in sterling, the exchange rate to be calculated at the time of payment using www.oanda.com
For the Children's Special, under 14s qualify for a 20% discount, taking the price to £880; all children must be accompanied by an adult.
This is a land-based tour. Flights and travel insurance (obligatory) are the responsibility of the client.
Pick-up details:
Flight schedules for the low-cost airlines have not yet been posted for next summer, but Teresa will be meeting one of the
following: the easyJet flight from London Stansted to Asturias or Bilbao, or the Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Santander,
depending on prices and times. Further details will be posted here once available.
Alternatively, those travelling to the Picos independently can arrange to meet the group at the hotel on the first evening.
Group size: maximum 8 clients.
Booking information:
please contact Teresa Farino for further details and a booking form, or if you have any queries about these tours.
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| Office phone: | (+34) 942 735154 |
| Mobile phone: | (+34) 656 337129 |
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| Address: |
Apartado de Correos 59
39570 Potes
Cantabria
Spain
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