I had my photos of the much-loved butterflies of an English summer day all lined up to display for Denzils’ Nature Photo Challenge 13# Butterflies. Then I realised I wanted to share something else instead: a photo of a rare butterfly I first saw in the Pyrenees, ten years ago now: the Mountain Apollo.
Mountain Apollo
July 31st 2013
I just want to share a photo I took on our walk on Sunday, when we went to the Gorges de la Frau. This butterfly seduced us all with its distinctive spots and white grisaille wings. It turns out to be rare, a protected species, and known only in mountain regions, mainly in Southern Europe. The French know it as Apollon, and its Latin name is Parnassius Apollo. If your French is up to it, you can read about it here.
And here’s a small taste of the Gorges de la Frau, only a few miles from our house.
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
So delicately beautiful: it’s looks as if it’s made of glass. What a lucky sighting!
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It was. And rare or not, we saw it (or others like it) several times that day.
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What a happy day, Margaret!
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It was wonderful. And thinking about it makes me so homesick for the Pyrenees.
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I know! But you can still look forward to chasing butterflies 🦋 in Yorkshire or elsewhere 🤗💗
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Fewer and fewer, every year 😦
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Wonderful butterfly and the scenery looks serenely beautiful. It reminds me of our hiking holiday in the Spanish Pyrenees
( see my blog).
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Oooh, I’ll pop over and have a look later. Thank you.
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That’s a very pretty butterfly!
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It’s lovely – and large!
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Beautiful mountain and butterfly encounter make for beautiful memories.
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They do indeed!
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Now isn’t that the most beautiful butterfly! The sort of memory that can lift your spirits whenever you think back to your marvellous good fortune to have seen it. Not just the one, but several! Wow!
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I know. It was special. It’s rather a large butterfly, so makes an impact..
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What a beauty, opaque glass wings! I’m glad that you changed your mind.
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Yes, I thought it was an opportunity to show something different.
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Now that is a wonderful thing to have in your life and such a beautiful butterfly as well and great photo 🥰
I have one of my own. I had a Regent Honeyeater in my garden. A highly endangered bird mainly as it is losing it’s song
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2021/03/the-regent-honeyeater-is-forgetting-its-song-as-the-species-dies-out/
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That’s so interesting, and extraordinary. It had never occurred to me that birds coud lose their typical song. How very sad. Thanks for an interesting article.
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I know. It was a big surprise for everyone when the scientists worked out why the decline when Honeyeaters thrive in the bush. I have around eight different types at my place.
You are most welcome. A bit of a wow knowledge exchange is good
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Oh my, what a beauty!
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It is. And quite large too.
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That is a beautiful butterfly, I’m glad you shared it 😀 I’m also glad I’m not the only person who starts off on one topic for a post and changes tack mid stream!
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Well, I was glad to revisit an old memory that wouldn’t have been triggered but for this challenge.
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Great! And theTarn g9rge is quite dramatic
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You’re not thinking this is the Tarn are you? The Gorge de la Frau is more than 300 km. further south.
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Yes, my mistake….☹️😳
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Nevertheless, there are similarities …
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OK!
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Wow. You were truly blessed to have seen such beauty!
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Definitely. A sight that has stayed in my memory, so clearly.
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Stunning! I try to keep up with your photos. They are always amazing.
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Thanks Colleen. I intend to be back to your poetry challenges soon. Life’s been… so busy …
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You’re always welcome. It’s been a busy year!
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That butterfly picture – wow. I mean: WOW! Amazing!
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It was beautiful, and bigger than you might think.
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Beautiful, landscape and butterfly both. The wings look like stained glass.
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You’re right! They have a translucent quality.
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I just finished reading The Butterfly Isles by Patrick Barkham. I’m a little bit obsessed with butterflies and moths at the moment so your post is good timingfor me!
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And I’ve just looked up Barkham. I’ve a feeling his books have ended up on my reading list.
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Sorry! If your list is like my list there’s enough to keep you going for years already
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We’ll just have to give up on walking time … 😉
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Noooo!
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Oh, you have captured the fragile beauty of butterflies, Margaret. I am fascinated by their delicate nature and how they live boldly in their short lifespan. They are truly a symbol of transformation and the beauty of life.
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They are. And sadly, generally fewer and fewer every year.
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It is an amazing butterfly!
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It is – very noticeable when you see it too.
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I can imagine that. 😊
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A beautiful species. Rare alright, I haven’t seen anything like it
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Seemingly, you have to be in the right place at the right time!
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What a wonderful photo and what a lovely butterfly!
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It is. Quite beautiful.
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Ah, your post made me want to instantly book a flight to some destination with mountains. Walking in the mountains is such a great way to relax and reflect on things. The butterfly is gorgeous!
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It is. As is the area it calls home.
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Beautiful butterfly- marks on its wings like a fighter plane to trick birds!
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I hope the fighter-pilot analogy does not come to pass!
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Just the spots reminded me of old biplanes. I’ve heard the spots are to trick birds into thinking those are the eyes, so the butterfly can escape a bird attack.
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Good plan!
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Beautiful landscape, and it’s only a few miles from your house.
Love the butterfly capture.
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It’s a wonderful creature.
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You can’t beat the thrill of seeing a rare species, whether it’s a butterfly or whatever. Lovely to see and read these memories of your time in the Pyrenees.
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It was a particularly lovely day. Can’t beat exploring the Pyrenees!
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Mmm. I underestimated the difficulty of a hike in the Pyrenees once and ended up having to stay overnight in a mountain refuge!
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Ooops. Hope you shared with nice people.
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I was so exhausted I could have shared a bed with a mountain goat.
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Now that WOULD have been exhausting 😉
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