Dukes Aplenty
Yesterday (16 May) I covered many (but not all) of the scattered Duke of Burgundy colonies on the Downs near Storrington, some of which are on private land. My final tally of 104 individuals sounds very good, but the cold wind blowing directly onto the escarpment (Dukes hate northerly and easterly winds) undoubtedly kept the numbers down, particularly under increasing cloud cover. However, I saw enough to know that there is much better to come, and that this species is having a very good year in Sussex. Even under these adverse conditions I found half-a-dozen mating pairs.
During a previous visit, on a much warmer day, I had my highest ever count of Dukes at Kithurst Hill, where they are far more widespread than in previous years. My thanks go to all those who are doing their best to keep to the existing pathways across the meadow, as this helps reduce the trampling of foodplants.
As always, I'm struggling to monitor all Sussex Duke sites, so any records from Harting Down, Washington chalk pits and Fairmile Bottom (searches required along the scrub-line at the base of the slope) would be most welcome.
In the evening I visited my local site for Field Cricket, where the air was filled with the exotic sound of their chirruping.