@mariposanature.bsky.social
Expert-led butterfly & botany tours
Proud to donate funds to help support the work of conservation organisations Butterfly Conservation Europe, Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, et al.
@mariposanature.bsky.socialAbsolutely, yes! Come to think of it, lots of dragonflies do... Violet Dropwing. Black Pennant. Not so sure about the superhero qualities of White Featherleg. 😕
@kirstyevans.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialHad a fabulous voyage of discovery here back in the Spring. Do not miss out on what Sicily has to offer! 💜💖🤩
@mariposanature.bsky.socialThank you, Robert! 🤗
@robertbohan.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialThese tours are brilliant for anyone interested in wild orchids & butterflies. They are also a very different way to visit another country & feel like you have experienced what it’s like to be authentically there. Go investigate ☘️
@dunnjons.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialA (very) small selection of the gem-like Ophrys bee orchids I've been privileged to see on my orchid-hunting forays on Sicily with my good friend and Team Mariposa co-leader, Andrea Corso. I can't wait to return soon for these and more besides.
@mariposanature.bsky.socialRinged Cascader, just one of the special dragonflies our new Among the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Sicily tour, led by Sicilian native Andrea Corso, will be targeting next year and beyond.
@henk-janvdveen.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialIndeed, last week I saw one in Nature reserve Punthuizen, in the eastern part of Twente, right on the German border (green circle).
@mariposanature.bsky.socialFascinating to see this data from Team Mariposa tour leader Chris - these elevated numbers of Queen of Spain Fritillary in the Netherlands supportive of the many UK records in 2026, and echo arrival of Large Tortoiseshell in recent years. We should keep an eye on what's happening across the water...
@mariposanature.bsky.socialNew tour alert 🚨
Yesterday we launched Among the Dragonflies & Damselflies of Sicily for 2027, led by Andrea Corso.
It quickly sold out, so we put on dates for 2028. And that tour filled too! We're delighted Andrea can do a second week in 2028 - here it is:
@mariposanature.bsky.socialTour update 🚨
A booking overnight for Orchids of Sicily means that one is off the mark. Just three more bookings will move it to guaranteed departure status, and a guaranteed donation to support @bsbibotany.bsky.social's great botanical conservation work.
@chrisvanswaay.eurosky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialThis morning in our moth-trap, Griposia aprilina, in English Merveille du jour (!), in Dutch Diana-uil. We had one last year too. I know it is not that rare, but a spectacular and beautiful moth it is. Would it be living in our oak?
@mariposanature.bsky.socialWhile we make no bones about loving finding rarities for our guests, and we're good at it too, none of our tour leaders have lost their love for the less scarce butterfly species. That joy and wonder never fades.
@europebutterfly.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialThe new (slightly revised) Red List of European Moths has been published by the EU. A summary and links to downloads can be found on our website. Moths play a vital role in ecosystems and there is also an important new document on how to plan for their conservation
www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
@mariposanature.bsky.socialTour update 🚨
The last place on the 2027 edition of Spring Butterflies of the French Pyrenees has just filled. If you'd like to join Mariposa founder David Moore and our popular naturalist leader @cach22.bsky.social there in 2028, it's now open for bookings!
@mariposanature.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.social"Richly rewarded with rare Erebias and local specialities, evidence of the extensive site research that had been done"
A lovely testimonial from a guest for our current featured tour of the week, Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees. Thank you, Harry!
@mariposanature.bsky.socialThe 2027 edition of Orchids of Cyprus is now fully booked, and will of course generate a donation to support the work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social.
We've listed the 2028 edition on our website now - it's never too soon to secure a place on this popular tour!
@dunnjons.bsky.socialReposted by @mariposanature.bsky.socialAnother lovely Colias clouded yellow species in my summer of them, this Moorland Clouded Yellow was a thoroughly obliging and decent individual, flying past me in Arctic Sweden and, the moment a cloud obscured the sun, dropping down to roost right in front of us. Sometimes a bit of cloud is good...
@mariposanature.bsky.socialPostcard from the field* from Team Mariposa leader Richard - a brilliant fungus find yesterday, one of Britain's most elusive and rarer fungi species. *a very good field too, judging by this find!
@mariposanature.bsky.socialIt goes without saying our leaders have excellent knowledge of butterfly ecology - we wouldn't be as good at finding rare species as we are otherwise!
Our Hautes Pyrenees tour is led by Chris van Swaay, BCE co-founder and European butterfly expert.
@mariposanature.bsky.socialWe make absolutely no excuse for our commitment to show our guests as many of the iconic species as possible wherever we go. In the case of the Hautes Pyrenees that includes special Erebia ringlets. Quantity *and* quality - you shouldn't have to choose between one or the other.
