Butterflies @ Chiang Dao Part 1

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We checked out Dome Residence on 16 March and headed to Chiang Dao. About an hour smooth journey, we arrived at the "Chiang Dao Square" - a parking area at the entrance to Chiang Dao Wild Life Reserve. Let me start with some bigger and more noticeable butterflies. 

The Common Gaudy Baron (Euthalia lubentina lubentina) caught my attention when it flew past me and landed on the ground. 

Look at this Red-Based Jezebel (Delias pasithoe) appeared to be "floating" on the water.

The wing shape of the Common Tailed Sulfur (Dercas verhuelli.) is quite unique and  the positions of the "tails" are rather unusual. 

The Common Tree-Brown (Lethe confusa confusa) seemed to be a permanent resident of Chiang Dao.

At around 2 pm on 16 March, a few of us went up the hill. Unlike last October, there were not many butterflies this time, instead there many irritating bees buzzing around me and I got stung twice.

This pristine Popinjay (Stibochiona nicea subucula) changed its perch a few times before it got used to our presence.

At a sunlit spot, a few black-and-white butterflies were fluttering and puddling on the gravel road. The Long-stick Sailor (Neptis nashona aagaardi ) was one of them - a very alert fellow which did not give me any chance getting  a closer shot

This looks like a Plain Sailor (Neptis cartica burmana) which was more cooperative.

Another look-alike, the Yerbury's Sailor (Neptis yerburii pandoces) (Correction this is Neptis soma shania) was found along the same stretch of road where the car was parked.

Another Yerbury's Sailor (Neptis-yerburii-pandoces) -

I managed to snap a quick shot of its undersides. 

The Short-banded Sailor (Phaedyma columella martabana ) was hanging around the water basin in the late afternoon at Chiang Dao "Square".

Its black-and-white  uppersides look very similar to other Neptis species.

The Spotted Palmfly (Elymnias malelas malelas) was quite skittish but it kept coming back to the same puddling ground where many bees were found on the ground.

I like the undersides of the Indian Fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius hyperbius). When this solitary beauty appeared on the puddling ground, it created a lot of fun and excitement for us.

It was quite skittish at first but once it got used to our presence, we were free to snap as many shots as we wanted

The iridescent blue uppersides of this female Courtesan (Euripus nyctelius nyctelius) attracted our attention. 

Her undersides were less sparkling though.

In the late afternoon on 16 March, we checked in Nest2 - a nice resort about 10-minute drive away from our shooting ground.

To be continued.