...and suddenly Spring bursts in

 

Yellow

Pallenis spinosa is a beautiful herbaceous biennial plant of  the Mediterranean region that bears bright yellow daisy-like flowers with hard spiny bracts, and is the only member of the small genus Pallenis in Menorca. The large yellow flowers are surrounded by sharply pointed bracts.

Colias croceus is a small butterfly of the Pieridae family, that is, the Yellows and Whites.

The upperside is golden to orange yellow with a broad black margin on all four wings and a black spot near the centre forewing. The underside lacks the black borders and is lighter, with a more greenish tint, particularly on the forewings. In the forewing underside is the same dark spot as on the upperside, but often with a light centre; the hindwing underside has a white centre spot, often with a smaller white or dark dot immediately above it. Sometimes, a row of black dots occurs on the underwings' outer margins, corresponding to where the black border ends on the upperside.

Females differ from the males in having yellow spots along the black borders on the upperside. In a small proportion of females the golden upperside colouration is replaced by a pale cream colour.

Butterflies in May.

Lasiommata megera. Wall.

The Wall gets its name from the characteristic behaviour of resting with wings two-thirds open on any bare surface, including bare ground and, of course, walls! Many people will have come across this butterfly on footpaths, especially in coastal areas, where the butterfly flies up when disturbed, before setting again a few metres ahead.

The basking behaviour of this butterfly allows it to benefit from the full warmth of the sun whose rays shine directly on the butterfly, but also get reflected back onto the butterfly from whichever surface it is resting on. This habit allows the butterfly to raise its body temperature sufficiently high for it to fly. In particularly hot weather, however, such basking is avoided and the butterfly may even retreat to a suitably-shaded spot to avoid overheating.

This species was once found throughout England, Wales, Ireland and parts of Scotland. Today, however, is a very different picture, with this species suffering severe declines over the last several decades. It is now confined to primarily-coastal regions and has been lost from many sites in central, eastern and south-east England. It is more common in north Africa and Southern Europe.

This butterfly is found in relatively small colonies that are self-contained although some individuals will wander, allowing the species to quickly colonise suitable nearby sites. In Menorca there are 3 generations each year, the first one emer in May.

Pictures were takien at S'Argossam.

A Summer butterfly, a cool restaurant and some charming guests

The Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina, is a butterfly found in the Paleartic Ecozone. Its range includes Europe south of 62 N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. 

Adults are nectar- feeding on a wide spectrum of plant. In Menorca is very common in July and August, their habitats are either cultivated lands, gardens, parks and wasteland. 

A suggested Restaurant. "Es Grill"

Es Grill Website

The restaurant is located in an old "menorquin" farmhouse just beside to the Airport, it's got a cozy atmosphere and they do "show cooking". There is also a nice fresh garden terrace with live music show.

Our Guests

Although the correct way should be to call clients, I like to call them Our Guests.

 

Mr. & Mrs. Davies, and Mrs. Fortune.

Papilio Machaon

The Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. 

This butterfly is widespread in Europe. There usually are two to three broods in a year, and in Menorca is very common in September, but it can be seen all along the Summer.

 In the United Kingdom, it is limited to a few areas in the Norfolk Broads of East Anglia. It is the UK's largest resident butterfly.

Summer is here to stay.

 Es Lloc d'en Caules at Sant Lluis. 

One of the richest agricultural estates in Menorca during the nineteenth century

Gonepteryx cleopatra is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 50-70 mm (2.0-2.8 inch). It is a sexually dimorphic species - the female has pale yellow or greenish wings, the male is darker yellow with an orange patch on the forewing. Both sexes have a forewing apical hook and brown dots in the center of each wing, and the underside of wings is light greenish yellow. The greenish colour, the shape and the pronounced venation on the hindwings give to these butterflies a good camouflage, making them resemble just leaves.

 The Cleopatra butterfly inhabits open woodland and scrub. The flight period is from May to August in most parts of its range, except Spain, where it is double-brooded and may fly almost all year. The adult hibernates in evergreen trees and shrubs.

 The first apricots we have collected this year.

Spring Colours

And the beauty of the day: Cacyreus Marshalli. (Geranium Bronze) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Presumed to have arrived from South Africa on imported Pelargonium plants. Frequently found around habitations. Rarely opens its wings when taking nectar, but will show its uppersides when basking in sunshine, usually on leaves or grasses.

Binixems to Subaida.

It was a beautiful morning. Sunny and warm. The route outlined below is about six miles and runs along rural tracks through meadows and woods.

 

The road here is quite narrow, so the cars should be left at the shrine of Binixems. From here, leaving the little church on the right and keep walking until you find on the right hand side a track with the name "Cami den Rossi". From this point up to Subaida the route passes through an area with very diverse wildlife.

Asparagus acutifolius, common name Wild Asparagus, is an evergreen perennial plant belonging to the genus Asparagus of the Liliaceae family. The Latin name acutifolius of this species, meaning "thorny leaves", derives from the characteristics shape of the leaves, a quite common feature in the typical plants of the Mediterranean.

Each spring many people in the island collect them on tracks and sidewalks. The next step is a homemade quiche with wild asparagus.

A new chapter in my (photographic) Menorcan Orchid Hunting.

 

Ophrys tenthredinifera is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean.  This orchid has rose coloured sepals that contrast with the exterior labellum, which is yellow in colour and trapezoidal in form. This labellum is necked with a small raised protuberance.

 Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis; also known as red pimpernel, red chickweed, poorman's barometer, poor man's weather-glass, shepherd's weather glass or shepherd's clock) is a low-growing annual plant. The native range of the species is Europe and Western and North Africa. The species has been distributed widely by humans, either deliberately as an ornamental flower or accidentally.

 Blue-flowered plants (A. arvensis Forma azurea) are common in Menorca.

 Subaida. One of the most extensive farming estates of the island and well known for the quality of the cheese they make, very appreciated by restaurants and cheesemongers.

The Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in the borders of woodland throughout much of the Paleartic ecozone. In North Europe, Central Europe, Asia Minor, Syria, Russia and Central Asia.

The speckled wood occupies a diversity of grassy, flowery habitats in forest, meadow steppe, forest, woods, glades, alongside hedges and and in wooded urban parks. It is found up to 1500 m. above sea level.