Recommended sites near Lulworth Cove May 24th-31st

[tuftyhill]

Hi,
I visited Weymouth last year with my family and managed to get to a few sites for buterflies, namely Cerne Abbas where I saw Adonis Blue and Marsh Frit, Durlston CP was a little bit disappointing, it was sunny but there was a stiff breeze on the day I visited, I managed to connect with Small Blue though.
On the visit to Durdle Door (where we are staying this year) I managed to find a few Lulworth Skipper which I didn't expect on June 1st.
Are there any other sites that you would highly recommend for variety of species but especially Grizzled Skipper, a species that still eludes me.
I looked at the sites guide but there are a large number listed but none rated for Grizzled Skipper. With having the family with me it does limit me to just a handful of sites to be able to visit.
As in the title we head down on May 24th for a week hopefully with the same amount of sunshine of late

Regards

Paul Hill

[sandraandkevin]

I did see on the Durlston web site that earlier in the week they had Grizzled and Dingy skippers, also Adonis now out there.

Whilst I haven't been there this butterfly season I did see Grizzled there last year.

Hope that helps

Kevin

[Denise]

Hi Paul,

I don't know the area very well, but try these links. It might give you some ideas.

http://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/
http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/

Cheers
Denise

[tuftyhill]

Many thanks for both replies, I was going to visit Durlston again anyway, but looking at the weather forecast it doesn't look like it'll be before Monday
Hopefully it'll brighten up later in the week.

Cheers

Paul

[tuftyhill]

After a fairly wet week in Dorset I didn't manage to get many butterfly trips in. We were staying at Durdle Door campsite so I had Lulworth Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Adonis Blue within 10 mins of our camp. A visit to Durlston produced more Dingy Skipper and Adonis Blue but none of the hoped for Grizzled Skipper.
We may be staying in Dorset again next year in the Swanage area so another visit to Durlston will probably be had.

Cheers

[web4160]

Just come back from a week in Dorset staying near Swanage. Took a copy of Discovering Butterflies in Britain by D Newland and managed to visit Ballard Down, Durlston Country Park, Martin Down, Blindon Hill at Lulworth and Broadcroft Quarry on the Isle of Purbeck. In total saw 17 different species (assuming we did see a Lulworth Skipper). These were Small, Large and Green-Veined White, Brimstone, Adonis, Common, Holly and Small Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Dingy, Large and Lulworth Skipper.

[Martin]

#1 is Lulworth...without a shadow of a doubt.

Martin.

[web4160]

Thanks Martin,

I've had a recount and we actually saw 18 species. Forgot we saw a Meadow Brown at Durlston CP.

David