I did a bit better finding new butterflies during 2025, starting with Reverdin's Blue at a German nature reserve close to Basel. From there, I took the train down to Barcelona for a few days, seeing Iberian Scarce Swallowtail and photographing both False Ilex Hairstreak and Spanish Gatekeeper. My favourite spot in Berlin again turned up trumps with a repeat sighting of Large Chequered Skipper, first seen there in 2024, as well as my lifer Chestnut Heath. Despite returning to Modane for the fourth time, my July visit there still provided another 5 lifers - Alpine Blue, Mountain Fritillary, Grison's Fritillary, Silky Ringlet and Dewy Ringlet, meaning I have now photographed over 100 species in the area! I then got a Woodland Grayling in Fontainebleau Forest, before trying some Pyrenean butterflying near Luchon, succesfully finding three more ringlets - the local form of Yellow-spotted, a single Water, and the endemic Pyrenees Brassy. My 15th and final new species of the year was this Astaut's Blue, the southern equivalent of Common Blue, in the Algarve. With all this butterflying around Europe, I didn't find any new ones in Belgium, although a trip to a butterfly reserve in the province of Luxembourg did get me my lifer Dainty Damselfly. Finally, I didn't realise it at the time, but documenting the seals in Ostend harbour, I managed to get a picture of two species together - Grey Seal and Harbour Seal.
