2009 Retrospective II: The Dryad.

The Dryad, (Minois dryas) not to be confused with the Droad who is more of a water nymph than a forest nymph, is a butterfly superficially resembling a large meadow brown but with double spots each of which contains an exquisite dash of mauve. This year it was seen in vinyards near a dry hayfield, in pine woodland on the hills above Sarlat and in an alfafa field in the Ouisse Valley, in the field at Le Port as well as a number of other places. As I had not really had a good view of this butterfly in previous years, it just seems to have done very well this year. It proved difficult to photograph as the cameras would not focus on it, but I did get a video of it, which although not quite in focus gives some impression of this strange butterfly.