Observed in 2023 but the Observation was only just now added (second date), which is impressive to remember having seen it and be able to locate the photos.
The challenge either sharpens the eyes or the memory but the end result is the same, no matter how or when achieved:
Good luck! The Swallowtail (interestingly it has the same name in English) is probably my arch nemesis. I saw it once, fleetingly. It flew by when I (of course) didnāt have my camera with me.
Iāve been on āthe huntā ever since, unsuccessfully. Iāve even spotted its bigger cousin, Iphiclides podalirius, Segelfalter (Scarce Swallowtail). But the āāCommonāā Swallowtail continues to elude me.
@ItsMeLucy if you have the time and feel like doing so, Iād love a challenge too! :D
I should have more opportunities to go outside during the next few weeks/months. Iām basically limited to NRW, Germany unless something unforeseen (such as winning the lottery despite not even playing) happens, and generally interested in everything. (Just please no Swallowtail haha)
I am already planning for my challenge bird. It is nothing one can observe here just like that but requires a trip, as they only occur above 1700m altitude.. but I know where I will be able to see them nearby and will probably be able to do so in the next few weeks.
The butterfly is a different thing. Read up on this species and the caterpillars are apparently very polyphagous, so it comes down to luck in the end.
(other then the swallowtail btw.. rarely observed the butterfly but one can find the caterpillars once you know where they are .. hilltop with Daucus carota is the best place to look for them.. not the worst place to look for your challenge beetle as well, blooms of Apiaceae )..
Yes, I read about carrots meanwhile as for the swallowtail. - I had a Daucus carota subsp. carota in my garden last year. Donāt know, maybe it comes back.
And I had some insects friendly flower seeds, which I have planted a while ago⦠Maybe something grows, what they like. Butterfly and caterpillar.
Actually, I still have some seeds for eatable carrots⦠- I havenāt made up my mind yet, if and where I plant themā¦
I know, carrots take like forever and canāt remember how and when I saw a bloom on themā¦
I just remembered a place nearby, where I have seen a lot of āwilde Mƶhreā last year.
So they seem to flower in Juliā¦
As for your challenge: Oh cool, you go for an āAlpendohleā! - I donāt know, if I ever have seen one. And of course they arenāt around in my area, so that wonāt change easily.
Yes, I saw two butterflies. - One, which I upload very often and⦠a different one.
I agree, I could have looked at them a bit closer and decide, if I could upload them.
Missed that chanceā¦
But I will be together with family probably on Sunday and at that place, where I have seen the swallowtail so many years ago and my father has seen one last year!
It seems to get a sunny day and hopefully I feel a bit better, and who knowsā¦
Well, the first oneās done: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/279743333 :D
I thought Iād better get the flowers sooner rather than later since I donāt know how long their flowering season isā¦
I knew that they had been observed in my city, so I included the area where they have been found in my walk. Sadly, there were only very few (7 or 8 in total). Apparently their population is declining throughout Germany. :(
The other ones will take significantly more time, though. I look forward to finding them, I expect I will find loads of new stuff, since Iāll have to go to places where I havenāt been before. (Even today I found many new lifers despite being very close to my usual iNat-Area. :D
Saludos @emjtheartist ! Birds are tricky for me since many migrate, so itās possible some of these are less calendar-friendly to where you are. (Just save those for the appropriate months.)