Graham Hart has lived in Ariege since May 1998 and has known the area since 1991. He has a life-long interest in natural history, which started with butterflies and birds and now includes other insects (especially moths) and flowers. He leads butterfly watching holidays in the region and is writing a book on the butterflies of Ariège. When not out chasing butterflies Graham works as a vet in Ax-les-Thermes.
The weather started very wintery, with lots of snow in the first week, followed by milder weather and some lovely sunny mild days. By the end of the month the weather was rather mild and there was not a lot of snow left at the ski stations and none at all at lower altitudes.
BUTTERFLIES
Well I saw nothing at all, some days I was hopeful of seeing at least a Small Tortoishell or Speckled Wood, but no. However Tim Nash had more luck! He saw no less than ten species: 1 Large White (06-12), at least 36 sightings of Clouded Yellow (05-12 to 16-12) one Bergers Clouded Yellow (06-12), 5 Small Coppers (05-12 to 14-12), at least 19 Red Admirals (02-12 to 17-12), 1 Painted Lady (06-12) after a heavy fall of snow!! 2 Small Tortoishells (09-12 & 17-12), 1 Comma (10-12), 9 Speckled Woods (02-12 to 16-12) and at least 14 Wall Browns (02-12 to 20-12) some of which were very pale looking like the “semi species” Lassiommata paramegaera which is found on Mediterranean islands.
The most amazing of these sightings was again the Painted Lady. Where did it come from after such cold weather, which is supposed to kill them off (under 5°C)? Did it come over in a warm southerly current of air or had it been hanging on here in a state of torpor somewhere that did not get too cold such as in a wall or barn perhaps?
After December last year (2002) I was rather surprised that I saw nothing at all, some days it was so mild I was absolutely convinced I would find something but no, seems I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I did however spot one or two moths, of the Geometridae, probably Winter Moth, on the window of the surgery one morning and in car headlights.
FLOWERS
There were the occasional examples of a number of flowers, Field Scabious, Knapweeds, Dandelions and Hawksbits, Common Storks Bill and Wild Carrot. The Stinking Hellebore is growing well, with buds growing well and there are lots of rosettes of leaves of Cowslips in evidence.
BIRDS
The Lammergeiers continue to be seen actively building their nest so everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that they will be successful this year. The garden birds continue to eat us out of house and home, we are putting up six fat balls every two days and refilling the nut feeder every three or so days. The other day when there were no fat balls left I counted six Great Tits at the same time on the nut feeder!!