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Large Blue by Lars Karlsson |
On this holiday we will look at the butterflies of central Sweden during high summer, hoping to encounter a fascinating mixture of both Scandinavian and Eastern European species, some of which have become increasingly rare during recent years, notably such species as Reverdin’s Blue and Assmann’s Fritillary. Several species are found here at their southern-most limits and, in this part of Scandinavia where north meets south, there might even still be new discoveries to make, for only recently have populations of Large Blue, Chequered Blue and Duke of Burgundy Fritillary been discovered here. Amongst the well-established species, highlights will include such charismatic butterflies as Apollo, Clouded Apollo, Camberwell Beauty, Poplar Admiral and Woodland Brown. We also hope to see an abundance of blues — up to eleven species! Additionally, although Sweden’s moths are not well known, we will run a moth trap on some nights to see what we can find.
We begin our holiday with a direct flight to Västerås, and an hour’s drive north to Svartådalen (The Black River Valley), in the county of Västmanland. Svartådalen is an open, agricultural landscape well endowed with lakes, woodlands and wetlands that lie either side of the meandering Black River. Well known for its birds (such species as Common Crane, White-tailed Eagle, Honey Buzzard and Common Rosefinch may all be seen here), Svartådalen is also home to a wealth of butterflies. Around its wetlands we will look for Purple-edged Coppers and a variety of fritillaries, including False Heath, Lesser Marbled and Small Pearlbordered Fritillary. These, and such other species of fritillary as Cranberry, Silverwashed, High Brown and Dark Green, may also be found amongst the area’s coniferous forests and along the flowerfilled verges of traffic-free, gravelled roads. Here the beautiful Poplar Admiral, attracted to wayside puddles, may oblige the photographers amongst us, and we will look out for Scarce Copper, Arran Brown and Moorland Clouded Yellow, amongst others.
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Scarce Copper by Daniel Green |
On one day we will drive to the adjacent coastal region of Uppland, on the Baltic coast, some two hours away. Here an impressive diversity of Scandinavian butterfly species may be found, including Large Grizzled Skipper, whilst up to ten species of ‘blue’ can be seen in one day, including Geranium and Silvery Blue and Northern Brown Argus. We also have the chance of seeing Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoths hovering like tiny hummingbirds above the flowers around us. This should be a rewarding day for identifying, photographing and enjoying butterflies.
Next we will drive to Strängnäs in Södermanland, a rewarding site in a lovely position where we will picnic at an Iron-age Viking burial site that sits atop a ridge, commanding fine views of the rolling countryside round about. Formerly a major tourist attraction, this all changed recently when entomologists discovered previously unknown populations of Large Blue and other species here. We will look for the blues, and such other species as Purpleedged and Scarce Copper, plus some of the burnett moth species, before driving on to the small and picturesque town of Trosa, a splendid community of colourful wooden houses built along a seaside canal in the early 1900s. The region, and an offshore Baltic island which we may visit, are the stronghold in Sweden of the Apollo butterfly. We will look for these fine butterflies during our stay, plus such species as Silver-spotted Skipper.
Moving on, we next visit the ancient, open oak forests of Östergötland, to the west of Trosa, where the endangered Woodland Brown butterfly has its mainland stronghold. We will spend the night at a unique forest eco-lodge, The Eremitage, a tranquil setting from which we can explore the slopes of Omberg, a hill that stands above Lake Vättern and supports an abundance of flowers, including some orchids, and plenty of butterflies.
Finally, we return to Svartådalen; to its forests, mires and bogs, where we will look for any species we may previously have missed, whilst based at an interesting 300- year-old spa hotel in Sätra Brunn.