Today, I tried some butterflying at Dourbes nature reserve, to the north of Couvin, but the weather forecast was totally wrong so I arrived to overcast skies and lots of showers; the worst conditions for observing butterflies! A singing Turtle Dove was a nice surprise and I thought that was going to have to be my consolation for the lack of butterfly activity. Eventually, though, the sun managed to break through the clouds for just twenty minutes or so, but that was enough for a few butterflies to become active, including this unflatteringly named Dingy Skipper. I ended the day with just five species of butterfly before the heavens opened and I got drenched walking back to the train station. One can't complain, though, when one of them is a fritillary, my first of the year, and allows you to get a picture like this.
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| Heath Fritillary |
