Thanks Mark. I only discovered Fontmell Down last year and up until then had not realised how close we had been passing it on our trips to Dorset. Even better, this year I realised that by taking the 'alternative' route to Blandford from Shaftsbury, we would actually be going right past so stopping off was a no brainer.
Dorset - August 30th to September 4th Part 2.
Adonis Blues.
One of my targets for our late season trips to Dorset is to see Adonis Blues. I usually miss the first brood as they emerge around the same time as so many other species and I am often looking elsewhere at the time, although of course this year the travel restrictions also came into play. The second brood in Dorset usually reach their peak in early September and have always provided a good reason to spend a few days down there, along with a good supporting cast of butterflies and other attractions.
I have already mentioned the Adonis Blues seen at Fontmell Down when we stopped there on the way down and the next few days produced varying numbers at all the usual sites.
Osmington.
The first full day down there was Bank Holiday Monday (31st August) and we had already decided that we would keep away from the more 'touristy' areas. A reasonably pleasant morning with 50/50 cloud and sun and a temperature varying from around 16 to about 19 degrees when the sun was out, tempted me to drive around to Osmington for a walk up the bridle path to White Horse Hill. This has always proved to be a good spot for butterflies in the past, although it has to be said that last year a persistent cold wind had kept numbers down a bit. Conditions were not dissimilar this time with a cool breeze once again being felt once you came out of the shelter of the lower path.
I spent around an hour and a half here this morning and saw a couple of dozen Adonis Blues, similar to last years numbers and still well down on the hundreds that could be seen here just a few year ago. The cool breeze meant that I had to work the slope for them but the occasional sunny spell would quickly bring them out from their hiding places down in the grass. The condition of the males varied considerably with many of them showing considerable wear, probably from the high winds and heavy rain just prior to our going down. Nevertheless, there were some nice fresh looking examples to be found that would have emerged more recently.
- Adonis Blue - Osmington 31.08.2020
A few females were seen, all of which looked to be in much better condition.
- Adonis Blue female - Osmington 31.08.2020
I also returned to Osmington on the morning of the Wednesday (2nd September) in similar conditions and with much the same results.
- Adonis Blue female - Osmington 02.09.2020
Purbeck Ridge west of Church Knowle.
Last year I had visited Stonehill Down, a Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve up on the Purbeck Ridge not far from our B&B, where I had found a small colony of Adonis Blue. Later on Monday afternoon I went up to have a look and found it to have been very heavily grazed and apart from a scattering of Meadow Browns and Small Heath and a couple of G.V. Whites along the lower hedgerow, the site was practically devoid of butterflies. I didn't waste much time here but set off for a wander back along the ridge in the direction of Church Knowle. There is some likely looking habitat along here but with much of the path crossing through farmland a lot of it also heavily grazed. I remember thinking last year that Adonis Blues could probably be found scattered all along the Purbeck Ridge and was therefore pleased to find further confirmation this afternoon with a couple of males spotted along here.
- The Purbeck Ridge behind Church Knowle, view from the lane outside our B&B.
- Adonis Blue - just west of Church Knowle 31.08.2020
Durlston Country Park.
Tuesday (1st September) looked to be the warmest day of the week and we decided to head for Durlston County Park first so that Jane could have a wander around the better paths there. We arrived at around 10.00am under a clear blue sky and warm sun but at first saw very few butterflies, just a scattering of Meadow Browns and Small Whites in the upper meadows. As Jane continued along towards the lighthouse, I diverted down the gully and found where the butterflies were all hiding. In a fairly short space of time, just long enough to wander down to the bottom of the gully and back up, I reckon I saw 25+ Adonis Blue males, all of them in the higher half of the gully. Although not exactly high numbers, this was double what I had seen here last year and as at Osmington, their condition varied from well worn to nearly fresh.
- Adonis Blue - Durlston Country Park 01.09.2020
- Adonis Blue - Durlston Country Park 01.09.2020
Just one female was seen here, although given a bit longer I may well have found more.
- Adonis Blue female - Durlston Country Park 01.09.2020
Some may remember that I posted some photos last year showing how dry it was here compared with earlier years. This year, despite the more recent wet weather, it still looked practically the same as last year, no doubt due to the hot and dry first half to the year.
- View up the gully at Durston 01.09.2020
Ballard Down.
After spending the morning at Durlston, we popped into Swanage for a coffee and then continued out the other side to the lay by at Ulwell so that I could have a look on Ballard Down. I only spent about 45 minutes here and during that time saw around a dozen Adonis Blues, mostly males in a mix of conditions and a couple of nice fresh females.
- Adonis Blue - Ballard Down 01.09.2020
- Adonis Blue male - Ballard Down 01.09.2020
- Adonis Blue female - Ballard Down 01.09.2020
- Adonis Blue female - Ballard Down 01.09.2020
Bindon Hill.
The final site that I visited for butterflies was Bindon Hill at Lulworth, on the afternoon of the Wednesday (2nd September). It had turned quite cloudy and with a cool breeze up on the hill I concentrated on the more sheltered lower part of the slopes around where the old blocked off path comes out. At first I didn't see much but a thinning of the cloud allowed the sun through to warm things up for about twenty minutes and butterflies started appearing around me. These included half a dozen male Adonis Blues plus a couple of females. As at everywhere else I had seen them, the males were in a mix of conditions with the females looking fresh or nearly so.
- Adonis Blue - Bindon Hill 02.09.2020
- Adonis Blue female - Bindon Hill 02.09.2020
If the weather had held, I would probably have braved the walk over to Durdle Door, but a thick grey overcast settled in for the rest of the afternoon so we went and had a cream tea instead.
My overall impression at most sites was that Adonis Blue numbers were similar to last year, apart from at Durlston where they were definitely higher, albeit still not in the kind of numbers that could be seen there just a few years ago. The cool, breezy conditions on the Monday and Wednesday made it a bit of work to find them and they would often be settled with wings closed. Conversely, Tuesday was warm and sunny all day which meant that they were often settling and closing up immediately on landing.
In previous years I have noticed that Durlston and Ballard Down seem to be slightly earlier sites than those at Lulworth, Bindon Hill, Durdle Door and Osmington with a higher proportion of worn individuals. This year, all the sites I visited seemed to be around the same level with the butterflies being in a very similar proportion of conditions, all varying from well worn to nice and fresh.
I have concentrated on the Adonis Blues in this report but of course there were also other butterflies at all of the sites visited...
To be continued,
Neil.
Looking forward to the other reports that are following 
The Small Copper fest was also a terrific set of images! 