MOTH AND BUTTERFLY TOUR

Transcription

1 MOTH AND BUTTERFLY TOUR July 2016 (Tour code: BT3) Leaders: Nick Greatorex-Davies and Mitko Petrakiev Price: 1,300 (Based on a group of 10 or more. A smaller group will incur a supplement). Following the success of our first Moth and Butterfly Tour in June 2015, this tour s primary focus will again be moths rather than butterflies. It will be nearly three weeks later than the 2015 tour in order to include later flying species. After dealing with the moth trap catches during the first part of the day, we expect to spend the afternoons looking for butterflies and day-flying moths at some of the excellent sites near to our hotels. Our time will be divided between three separate beautiful and unspoilt locations: the Arda Valley in the low Eastern Rhodopes, the

2 region of the Chepelare valley in the higher Western Rhodopes, and on the high northern slopes of the Rila mountains. Moth trapping at or near these locations has proved very productive for a wide range of species on previous tours and we expect to see many that are only rarely seen in the UK as well as others that do not occur in the UK. We shall run a 125w MV Skinner trap each night but additional traps can be run for those who want to bring their own. Well over 3000 species of moth have been recorded in Bulgaria and many species undoubtedly remain to be added (especially microlepidoptera), as the country is so under-recorded. Among the many macro-moth species that we have recorded on previous tours (that have English names, but are rare, extinct, or not recorded, in the UK) include: Ground Lackey, Pine-tree Lappet, Aspen Lappet, Plum Lappet, Oak Hawk-moth, Willowherb Hawkmoth, Spurge Hawk-moth, Striped Hawk-moth, The Argentine, Rest Harrow, Sussex Emerald, Essex Emerald, Blair s Mocha, Lewes Wave, Dusky-brown Wave, Sub-angled Wave, Middle Lace Border, Tawny Wave, Bright Wave, Portland Riband Wave, Dusky Bordered Wave, Chequered Wave, Purple-barred Yellow, Giant Looper, Blackveined Moth, Purple Tiger, Brown Tiger, Feathered Footman, Ninespotted, The Handmaid, Jersey Black Arches, Silurian, Pale Shining Brown, Feathered Ear, Bordered Gothic, Pale-shouldered Cloud, Purple Cloud, Guernsey Underwing, Orache Moth, The Latin, Heart Moth, Union Rustic, Brighton Wainscot, Clancy s Rustic, Sprinkled Rustic, Marbled Clover, Spotted Clover, Beautiful Marbled, Spotted Sulphar, Pale Shoulder, Dewick s Plusia, Purple-shaded Gem, Light Crimson Underwing, Rosy Underwing, Oak Yellow Underwing, Druid, Passenger, Geometrician, The Alchymist, Eastern Alchymist, Scarce Blackneck, Flattered Turntail, Jubilee Fan-foot and Plumed Fan-foot. We see many micro-moth species, many familiar, many unfamiliar and try to identify these where possible. The many butterfly species we expect to see (110 species on the moth tour in 2015) should include many of the following: European and Scarce Swallowtails, Apollo, Mountain Small White, Eastern Wood White, Large, Purple-shot, Lesser Fiery and Balkan Coppers, Little Tiger Blue, Osiris Blue, Eastern Baton Blue, Escher s Blue,

3 Turquoise Blue, Eros Blue, Large and Alcon Blue, Camberwell Beauty, Large Tortoiseshell, Freyer s Purple Emperor, Poplar Admiral, Southern White Admiral, Common Glider, Hungarian Glider, Cardinal, Cynthia s Fritillary, Balkan and Shepherd s Fritillaries, Twinspot Fritillary, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, Nickerl s Fritillary, Eastern Rock Grayling, Hermit, Woodland Ringlet, Bright-eyed, Bulgarian and Dewy Ringlets, Eastern Large and Chestnut Heaths, Northern Wall Brown, Lattice Brown, Sandy Grizzled, Yellow-banded, Safflower, Hungarian and Tufted Marbled Skipper. All confirmed records of moths and butterflies will be passed on to the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia. Nick Greatorex-Davies has led butterfly and moth tours for the B-BS since From 1995 to 2006 Nick was co-ordinator of the Butterfly Monitoring Scheme based at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire, where he worked for 36 years. From a young age his main natural history interest has been British Lepidoptera (including more recently microlepidoptera), and more recently European butterflies and moths, supplemented by a strong interest in botany. Mitko Petrakiev is a tour leader and mountain guide with over ten years experience. He is also qualified as a climbing instructor and for cave rescue and first aid. He is also a good birder. Butterfly nets and pots for the temporary retention of moths and butterflies are highly recommended. There will be plenty of time and opportunity for photographing moths and butterflies. To reduce the risk of losing your pots, initial them with a fine pointed permanent marker. Bulgaria's beautiful scenery, friendly people and excellent wine and food are additional highlights. The B-BS offers you the benefits of its nearly forty years' experience of organizing tours to Bulgaria. Our tour price includes a donation to a Bulgarian conservation organization. For your financial protection our tour operators for twenty years, Balkania Travel Ltd. are licensed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, ATOL 4465 and bonded by the International Air Transport Association, IATA number

4 Hotels are comfortable (and conveniently situated!) but not luxurious. Final details and butterfly and moth lists will be sent to participants approximately two weeks before departure. Projected Itinerary (Sites visited for butterflies may be subject to adjustment from the following outline depending on the time available each day after sorting overnight moth catches, weather conditions, or to make the best of good opportunities presented at the time). Sunday 3 July Flight from Heathrow to Sofia. Drive south-east to the Arda valley in the eastern Rhodope mountains for a four night stay. Short stops for Lepidoptera on the way. Monday 4 July Afternoon exploring the area near the hotel including the Oreshari Gorge. Tuesday 5 July Second part of the day spent near Madzharovo. Wednesday 6 July Madzharovo. A second afternoon exploring sites near Thursday 7 July Drive to the Chepelare valley in the western Rhodope mountains south of Assenovgrad for a three night stay. Short stops on the way. Friday 8 July Afternoon exploring sites not far from the hotel where there are varied and rich habitats for Lepidoptera. Saturday 9 July Afternoon in the marble limestone area of Zabardo, a very rich area for butterflies. Sunday 10 July Drive to near Borovets on northern slopes of the Rila mountains for a three-night stay. Stops to include Besapara Hills. Monday 11 July Around midday take the gondola to the alpine zone to look for high altitude species in the shadow of Musala peak (2925m), the highest mountain in the Balkans. Tuesday 12 July Explore some of the ski run meadows in the area for butterflies and moths.

5 Wednesday 13 July Drive to Sofia for the flight back to the UK, after sorting moth trap catches. OUR PRICE INCLUDES: Return scheduled flights from Heathrow to Sofia. Airport taxes. Accommodation in small (often family-run) hotels with en suite facilities on a twin bedded shared occupancy basis. Half board. Coach for transfers and excursions. Specialist British and Bulgarian leaders. NOT INCLUDED: Travel Insurance (Compulsory). Balkania Travel can advise. Drinks and personal expenses such as gratuities. Lunches (picnics purchased locally at start of the day) 3-4. Single room supplement ( 100). NOTE: Butterfly nets may be used to help identify butterflies, all of which are released where found. Published August 2015