Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia)

Rio Tuela, PN Montesinho, Portugal

I looked for the Lesser Purple Emperor for some time and only found it last July. Aesthetically, I find this to be one of the most beautiful butterflies in our fauna, with violet hues on the upper sides of the wings, not visible from this angle. It occurs only in the north of the country, where towards the interior it is confined to the Natural Park of Montesinho.

Nikon D300 + Nikon 300mm f4

iso 800, 1/1600, f5.6, -1.7 Ev

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês 

In several western cultures, toads are seen as symbols of ugliness and evil incarnation, being the protagonists in numerous superstitions related to the night, death and witchcraft. This has won them a widespread loathing throughout their vast area of European distribution. In other cultural and geographic contexts, however, toads appear linked to the gift of rain and hence of renovation and abundance. Unmindful of both blessings and curses, toads come out of their shelters every night and wander long and wide in their slow stepping.

Nikon D3s + Nikon 14-24mm(14mm) f2.8 + 2x Nikon SB-26 + 2x Nikon SB-28

iso 1600, 1/125, f11

Note: This text was written by my friend Renato Neves – to whom thanks – who kindly accepted my challenge to prepare a caption for this photo.

Penha Garcia's mountain

Penha Garcia, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal

I had not visited the mountain range of Penha Garcia for more than 15 years. The region, almost abandoned as agriculture ground, is currently dominated by Maritime Pines and Eucalyptuses. Big game is plentiful: Red Deers, Fallow Deers and recently introduced Mouflons. On their slopes, Griffon Vultures, Golden and Bonelli’s Eagles, Peregrines and Black Storks nest. Lynxes used to inhabit the area, but they did not resist the devastation of the Rabbit population.

Nikon D3s + Nikon 20mm f2.8 + 2x Nikon SB-26 + Lee Filter ND .9 (soft)

iso 200, 1/60, f16