Tour Itinerary
Arrive at Santander, Santander to Boca de Huérgano.
Transfer to Hotel Tierra de la Reina in Boca de Huérgano. If time allows, a local walk for butterflies such as Provençal and Heath Fritillary, Chestnut and Pearly Heath among others.
Mountain pass near Uña (1625 m.a.s.l.).
Alpine meadows and small pools, with Dusky Large Blue and Purple-edged Copper as primary targets. Dusky Large is extremely scarce, but when found, is usually very confiding, so good views are likely. Many other species are likely, and should give the chance to sharpen our identification skills – for example, comparing the differences between Spotted and Lesser Spotted Fritillary.
Valle de Valdeón.
Alpine mountain pass, then a wet meadow with butterflies such as Chapman’s Ringlet, Damon Blue, Black-veined White, Scarce Swallowtail, etc. Chapman’s Ringlet is endemic to only this part of Spain, but can be common when found, and is the largest Erebia species in Europe.
Cremenes and La Encina.
Mediterranean habitat near Cremenes. Butterflies will include Knapweed, Meadow, Glanville, Spotted, and Dark Green Fritillaries. Our final stop of the day will be in an area of abandoned terraces, featuring Small and Long-tailed Blue, Berger’s Clouded Yellow and Oberthur’s Grizzled Skipper.
Fuente De.
One of the particular highlights of the week is a trip up in the Fuente Dé cable car, taking us to 1800m in the Central Massif. The views from the cable car are impressive, and the mountain scenery at the top is stunning. Butterflies such as Mountain Clouded Yellow, Gavarnie Blue, Lefebvre’s Ringlet, Piedmont Ringlet and Safflower Skipper are likely. Mountain Dappled White is also a possibility. For those interested in birds, one of the most sought after species in Europe, Wallcreeper, also breeds here, and has been seen on this trip in previous years.
Las Salas, Lois and Crémenes.
Butterflies should include Spanish Purple Hairstreak, Scarce Copper, Turquoise Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Brown Argus, Chapman’s Ringlet, Amanda’s Blue and Mallow Skipper, among many others. The variety of species in this area is quite incredible, with 55 to 60 species possible in one day, more than the entire total of native UK species.
Agroviejo and Crémenes.
The orchards of Agroviejo, looking for puddling butterflies such as Idas and Silver-studded Blue, and different species of skippers. In addition, we will look for Large Tortoiseshell, Southern White Admiral, Niobe Fritillary, various Grayling species and Apollo.
Boca de Huérgamo to Santander airport.
En route to the airport, we will stop in Palencia province to add some final butterflies such as Iberian Marbled White, Ripart’s Anomalous Blue, Twin-spot Fritillary, Great Banded Grayling and Black-veined White.
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