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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Tour update 🚨 Another booking today for Spring Butterflies of Andalusia moves the tour to guaranteed departure status. And that means another guaranteed donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social too. www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) © Jon Dunn

Spanish Fritillary (Euphydryas desfontainii) © Clive Burrows

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Tour update 🚨 The 2027 edition of our highly popular Serbian tour, False Comma and Summer Butterflies of Serbia, moves to guaranteed departure status this morning with another booking received, which means a guaranteed donation to @europebutterfly.bsky.social www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Just a tiny handful of the wonderful butterflies we expect to see in Serbia, images © Janos Olah & Clive Burrows

[clockwise from top left] Balkan Copper, False Comma, Freyer's Fritillary, Russian Heath, Yellow-banded Skipper, Lesser Lattice Brown

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Tour update 🚨 Unsurprisingly, given the record-breaking total of species recorded by our group this year, and with the combined experience of @selbypaul.bsky.social & Miki Vigano leading it, Butterflies of the French Alps is now fully booked. Remaining 2027 tours: mariposanature.com/calendar

Alpine Blue (Agriades orbitulus) © Jon Dunn

Cynthia's Fritillary (Euphydryas cynthia) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

"Richly rewarded with rare Erebias and local specialities, evidence of the extensive site research that had been done" A lovely testimonial from a guest for our current featured tour of the week, Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees. Thank you, Harry! www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Guest testimonial for our Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees tour

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

"A total of 106 species including 10 Erebia ringlets was beyond our expectations, and all against a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery" More lovely feedback for Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees. Thank you Chris & Sheila!

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Andrew Lipczyński @andrewlipczynski.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A calm warm sunny morning perfect for a late season trip to Kingsdown Leas. Scanning the Everlasting Pea fortunate to find one worn Long-tailed Blue. Several Adonis were still on the wing, inc this ♂️which had me 🤔 😕 as it had lost its internal hindwing spots @savebutterflies.bsky.social #KentNature

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

New tour alert! 📢 We don't rest on our laurels here at Team Mariposa. Designed by our amazing Spanish butterfly scientist duo of Miguel Munguira & Juan Pablo Cancela, we're thrilled to announce our unique and exclusive Butterflies of Val d'Aran tour: www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone) © Jon Dunn

Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) © Clive Burrows

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Ooh. Feeling fruity? We certainly are, as the hedgerows burst with colour and juicy goodness. Whether you're a peckish Blackbird or a dedicated @wildflowerhour.bsky.social participant, there are treasures out there to be found in the coming week's #wildflowerhour #fruits challenge. 🫐

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Spotted this beautiful Green Veined White this morning. Here in Sheffield I rarely see a butterfly after the end of September. So I'm making the most while I can!

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

As gateway species go, Hungarian Birch Mouse will take a lot of beating when it comes to getting me hooked on small mammals. Charismatic, cute as a button, and known from just a handful of locations. It's got it all going on.

Hungarian Birch Mouse (Sicista trizona transylvanica) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

In the nicest possible way, let's all go to seed this week for #WildflowerHour! We'll be heading out into our local area and seeing what wildflower seedheads we can find. And shh, whisper it, some are more attractive than the flowers themselves...

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Red Admiral numbers up to 12 in my Corfe Castle garden at any one time today +3 Painted Lady, 5 Hummers! At least one was somebodies lunch but it’s surprisingly rare to find their wings on the ground. I guess the red might be a warning? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Grayling peaked several weeks earlier this year at Studland, 2 weeks earlier than 2025 and 4 weeks earlier than 2024. Not surprisingly, they are going over quickly now due to the heatwaves and drought which have now thankfully ended. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

Trend plots of Grayling butterfly, Hipparchia semele, at Studland National Nature Reserve, Dorset, UK in 2024 (when it peaked it week 18), 2025 (peak in week 16) and 2026 (peak in week 14)

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Our Butterflies of the French Alps tour finished on a record-breaking 151 species seen by our group in July... or so we thought. A photo sent to us yesterday by one of the guests takes that total to 152 species - thank you Derek for your False Ilex Hairstreak! Now just 3 spaces available for 2027.

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Small apollo, Parnassius phoebus. #butterfly #insect

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 With another booking received today, our Orchids of Cyprus tour now has just 3 places left available to join the brilliant @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for a week of fabulous orchids and wildlife next spring. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 With another booking received overnight, the 2027 edition of our popular Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour now moves to guaranteed departure status. And all bookings made before 1 December 2026 qualify for £150 off list price... www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Architecture of the beautiful medieval town of Albarracin in which we stay during our time in the Montes Universales © Jon Dunn

Azure Chalkhill Blue (Polyommatus caelestissima) © David Moore

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Dr Richard Bate @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

12/8/26 #Spain - My first total solar #eclipse and hopefully not my last! An absolutely mindblowing experience and a joy to share with the great company of my good friends at @mariposanature.bsky.social and guests

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

No day was ever made worse by an encounter with a swallowtail. Happily, the Montes Universales is home to a thriving population of Iberian Scarce Swallowtail, so no day there passes without time spent watching them flirting, fighting, feeding, or simply basking in admiration.

Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

"Mariposa... deliver beyond expectations" More lovely feedback from a guest on our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour. While we don't promise the Holy Grail* on the tour, we certainly think Montes IS a Terrestrial Paradise! *well, Southern Hermit... that may qualify? 😉

Guest feedback received after our Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We don't do obscure rarities here at @mariposanature.bsky.social - but we do do brilliant rarities. This Southern Hermit was one of at least eight we saw at a new site on the last day of the Montes Universales holiday. Maybe there is hope for this extremely threatened butterfly.

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Our featured tour this week, Spring Butterflies in Abruzzo, is also rather wonderful for orchids - we recorded almost 30 species there last May, and that was without really trying! www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

There's nothing false about the @mariposanature.bsky.social Montes Universales holiday. Just fantastic expert guides who created the itinerary 8 years ago, allowing us to see wonderful butterfly species such as this False Grayling.

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We were treated to large numbers of Zapater's Ringlet today, Day 6 of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Montes Universales holiday. Including some unusally fantastic photo opportunities.

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Striped Grayling, the master of cryptic camoflage. The truth hides in plain sight... Our leaders pioneered butterfly tours here in the Montes Universales and, with our team of local Spanish butterfly guides, continue to lead the way in the region. #FYB

Striped Grayling (Hipparchia fidia) © Jon Dunn

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The total solar eclipse. Seen yesterday evening on the @mariposanature.bsky.social holiday to the Spanish Montes Universales. A truly special experience.

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

One of the most visceral, moving experiences I’ve ever experienced. A total solar eclipse in my favourite region of Spain. Made all the more wonderful for my being surrounded by friends. @mariposanature.bsky.social

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Striped Grayling on Day 5 of the @mariposanature.bsky.social holiday in the Montes Universales. A highlight before the main highlight of the total solar eclipse later....

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Some lovely encounters with the Iberian endemic Oberthür's Anomalous Blue today with our @mariposanature.bsky.social group here in the Montes Universales. Butterflies don't have to be flashy and colourful to be appreciated. They're all wonderful in their own ways.

Oberthür's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus fabressei) © Jon Dunn

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Marbled ringlet, Erebia montana. #butterfly #insect

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Drew Cooper @andrewcooperx.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) in Dorset recently, lots about at the moment. #UKButterflies

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Postcard from the field: Yesterday in the Montes Universales we caught up with some of the few remaining specialties of the region we've hitherto not seen this week - including the subtle, understated beauty that's Oberthur's Anomalous Blue. More to follow today...

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

As anyone who knows me well can attest, I love coppers above all other butterflies. Time today watching many Iberian Sooty Copper with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group was time well-spent. Coppers are pennies from heaven. Spend them wisely!

Iberian Sooty Copper (Lycaena bleusei) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Postcard from the field, from tour co-leader @dunnjons.bsky.social in Spain's lovely Montes Universales: Our group gathered pennies from heaven today, with lots of fresh and beautiful Iberian Sooty Copper to enjoy in fine, sunny conditions. #butterflies

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 Our 2027 orchid tours continue to fill. Another place secured yesterday on Orchids of Cyprus leaves just 4 places available to join @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst there next year for a week of endemic & regional rarity #orchids. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Always lovely to find Spanish Chalkhill Blue. Especially individuals as fresh as this one. Just one of the many highlights on Day 4 of the @mariposanature.bsky.social Monte Universales holiday.

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Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Epipogium aphyllum, the Ghost #orchid. An amazing experience, and something I never thought I'd see. With great thanks to @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A really lovely first full day of the Butterflies of the Montes Universales tour I'm co-leading this week, with a profusion of butterflies seen, rarities among them. Hermit, as the name suggests, are usually uncommon, but views yesterday were magnificent.

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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Zapater's Ringlet - the main target species on the @mariposanature.bsky.social holiday to the Montes Universales in Spain. Fantastic views today, amongst many other species.

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 More bookings made y'day mean our spring 2027 orchid tours are filling up. Just 2 places remain available to join @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for the superb Orchids of Crete - nearly 60 species were recorded by our 2026 group! www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Small Apollo were numerous last week in the French Alps, a pleasant distraction while orchid-hunting with our @mariposanature.bsky.social group.

Small Apollo (Parnassius phoebus) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

All of our butterfly tours generate donations to @europebutterfly.bsky.social, and we've this week made our latest donation to them. The conservation work BCE does is of the utmost importance, and we prioritise making our promised support a tangible reality for them in a timely fashion.

Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone) © János Oláh

Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri) © Jon Dunn

Dusky-winged Fritillary (Boloria improba) © Jon Dunn

Spanish Greenish Black Tip (Euchloe bazae) © Pete Smith

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Postcard from the field, from tour co-leader @dunnjons.bsky.social in France: That's a wrap on this year's Summer Orchids of the French Alps tour. We've seen some fabulous orchids, including the mythical Ghost Orchid, and many beautiful alpine wildflowers besides. We'll be back next year!

False Orchid (Chamorchis alpina) © Jon Dunn

Gymnadenia corneliana x G. rhellicani © Jon Dunn

Spring Gentian (Gentiana verna) © Jon Dunn

Ghost Orchid (Epipogium aphyllum) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Tour update 🚨 The early bird gets the worm! Our Early Bird deal* on 2027 tours is proving popular - next year's tours are filling fast: A Spring in Provence is now fully booked. Spaces remain on other tours: www.mariposanature.com/calendar *£150 off if booked before 1 Dec 2026.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The king of the mountains. Vastly outnumbered this past week by its more diminutive and high altitude cousin, Small Apollo, we were nonetheless treated to some great encounters with Apollo while orchid-hunting in the French Alps on our @mariposanature.bsky.social tour.

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

My 2 Wider Countryside butterfly recording squares on Lulworth Army ranges felt like the end of days, with brown grass and very few butterflies left. Just the odd Meadow Brown, Wall, Small Heath +whites in 4 km. And one very worn Lulworth Skipper @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Today was Blue Monday, in the very best of ways, with seven species of gentian seen in flower here in the French Alps with the @mariposanature.bsky.social tour I'm co-leading with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.

Snow Gentian (Gentiana nivalis) © Jon Dunn

Willow Gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea) © Jon Dunn

Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis ciliata) © Jon Dunn

Small-leaved Gentian (Gentiana brachyphylla) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Good morning and welcome to a new week! Our featured tour this week is Orchids of Sicily. Led by Sicilian native and naturalist legend Andrea Corso, guests will be in for a feast of outstanding orchids, great food, and local culture. www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Butterfly bonus today in the French Alps at 2,700masl - some fine, fresh Silky Ringlet.

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