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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 1d

"If I were to set out to create my perfect butterfly tour then this would be it"

"I have never personally seen so many butterflies in such a short time"

"An absolutely fabulous experience"

Wonderful guest feedback for Butterflies of the Italian Alps & French Mercantour! (1/2)

#butterflies

Guest feedback for Butterflies of the Italian Alps & French Mercantour

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Dave @sylvatica2024.bsky.social · 1d

This seems to be a female Ichneumon extensorius wasp that I found in my back garden today in Wadebridge. There's only 1 prior record for it in Cornwall from 1906, so any knowledgable insect person's input would be most welcome.

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Andy Rogers @withylake.bsky.social · 3d

Goodyera macrophylla @860m in the Parque Florestal do Fanal, Madeira today, 5/10/2025 🇵🇹 😃

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 3d

Your guides to a feast of fritillaries and a bonanza of blues will be our popular, knowledgeable, and friendly team of Paul Selby & Michele Viganò.

Importantly, like ALL of our butterfly tours, this one generates a donation to support the great work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (2/2)

Scarce Fritillary (Euphydryas maturna) © Jon Dunn

Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion) © Clive Burrows

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 3d

Good morning, and welcome to a new week!

Our featured tour this week is Butterflies of the Italian Alps & French Mercantour, a guaranteed departure tour in June 2026 that offers the best of both butterfly worlds on either flank of the mighty Alps. (1/2)

mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Southern Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor) © Clive Burrows

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 4d

Super cool guys.

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 6d

Do tell please Jon??

Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 6d

I think it’s time for an adventure…

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 8d

Every one of our butterfly holidays generates a donation to support the superb butterfly conservation work undertaken by @europebutterfly.bsky.social. That matters to us, and we know it matters to our guests too.

Our full range of 2026 tours is on our website: (2/2)

www.mariposanature.com/calendar

Tour Calender | Mariposa Nature Tours

Our tour calender has all upcoming tour dates in one place, making it easier than ever to plan your holiday.

www.mariposanature.com

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 7d

Fancy a relaxing #orchid holiday in 2026, with lots of photographic opportunities, led by friendly & dedicated guides?

Two months remain to take advantage of our early bird booking deal, offering £150 off the list price of any week-long tour booked before 1 Dec 2025. (1/2)

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 11d

That's us heading for home now after a resoundingly successful Autumn Exotica in Andalusia tour, with all the butterfly targets (and a huge bonus!) found, plus some fine dragonflies and birds too. We can't wait to return next year - and hope you might join us.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius) © Jon Dunn

Desert Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus) © Jon Dunn

Desert Orange Tip (Colotis evagore) © Jon Dunn

Zeller's Skipper (Borbo borbonica) © Jon Dunn

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 11d

Brilliant find Jon 👏 👌

Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 11d

An unforgettable day with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group.

I found Desert Babul Blue on the European mainland!

There are a mere handful of past claims of it - this is an African species that's an ultra-rarity in Europe. I'm in a state of some shock.

#butterflies @europebutterfly.bsky.social

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 12d

Just three places remain available now to join us next year for our Late Spring Orchids of Sicily tour, led by 'Orchid Summer' author Jon Dunn, and local Sicilian naturalist legend Andrea Corso. As the Sicilians say, amuninni!

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 17d

I can't wait to return to Sicily next spring with my good friend Andrea Corso - the mythical Ophrys lacaitae awaits!

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 17d

Good morning and welcome to a new week!

Our featured tour this week is a special orchid quest - Late Spring Orchids of Sicily offers the opportunity to see the uniquely yellow, late-flowering Ophrys lacaitae, and some other special bee orchids. (1/2)

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 18d

Congrats Ian

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 22d

Like ALL our butterfly tours, our current featured tour, Butterflies of North Greece, generates a donation to support @europebutterfly.bsky.social's superb conservation work.

Butterfly Conservation Europe have a new website - have a look, and please follow them on here.

www.bc-europe.eu/index.php

Butterfly Conservation Europe

www.bc-europe.eu

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 21d

The "Eye" does it again

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Liz Downey @lizlouise.bsky.social · 23d

The beautiful & rare white Penny Bun - Boletus edulis var. alba, in Somerset 🤍🤩 #Fungi #Mushrooms #MushroomMonday @britmycolsoc.org.uk

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Sarah @sarahfaulkner.bsky.social · 24d

In 2nd place, for my #FavouritePlant is Lady Orchid, seen for the first time in Kent in May with @mariposanature.bsky.social.

It was such a wonderful day, with fellow guests and leaders proving to be great company. And the orchids were fabulous, but the Lady Orchid stole my heart.

#wildflowerhour

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 24d

Our orchid-hunting tour leaders Jon Dunn, Richard Bate, David Gibbs, Miki Vigano & Andrea Corso have some of the sharpest eyes in the game, and a track record of finding unusual as well as rare orchids in the areas we visit.

And you could join them in 2026!

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 24d

My #favouriteplant for #wildflowerhour is probably this Water Germander on Braunton Burrows.

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Roger Harding @rogercharding.bsky.social · 25d

Now, that is more than a bit good!

Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 25d

One last shot for #SundayPixPerfection :

Ophrys apifera var. dubrisii

#Orchid

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 26d

If pressed to choose our favourite non-British or Irish plant of 2025, we'd certainly have the richly yellow and tall orchid Orchis punctulata of Cyprus on our shortlist. A real crowd-pleaser, among many floral highlights, for our Orchids of Cyprus guests.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Guest testimonials for the Mariposa Nature Tours 'Orchids of Cyprus' tour, in front of a tall yellow orchid, Orchis punctulata

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Stevie P @stevieparsons.bsky.social · 26d

Very pretty, very tiny, growing on rotting Beech, and I have no idea what it is 😁 #fungi #NewForest #FungiFriends

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Reposted by Roger Harding

Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 28d

For #AnOrchidADay:

There's always time for some Late Spider #Orchid action

From the 2017 season.

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