Thanks
Neil, after a promising start OT’s seem to have vanished round here too? I’m only familiar with this part of the Chiltons but there is a lot to see (see below). The Dukes here have a prolonged emergence depending on the micro climate of each individual population. The first ones are on par with Noar Hill most years, this year the first one recorded was the 15th April, but some of the nearby populations in more exposed slopes will still be producing adults at the end of May or into June. Here's a dodgy phone image of the hillsides that support them and numerous other species.
Thanks
Max. Yes, it’s sadly the fate of many of our summer migrant birds. Not much more than 6000 Ring Ouzel pairs breed here these days. Apparently they used to breed in Surrey and Sussex in the 1900’s! They hadn't gone far when I returned at the end of the day.
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April 2022
Tuesday 26th Cont. As I said there much more than just Dukes flying. Once the day warmed up, Dingy Skippers began to turn up and were probably the most numerous butterfly of the day. I came across a curious sight of four getting some form of nutrients from a dead Fox. The Fox was nearing complete mummification but still had slight whiff about it so I didn't hang around too long
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
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Before things got too hot a passing Orange-tip settled close enough and long enough for a few shots. Curiously these seem to have dropped of the radar since this sighting, perhaps I’ve not been going to the right sites but I’ve not seen one since
Another notable sighting (for me) was my first Small Heath of the year.
Lurking in a sheltered corner I stumbled across a Green Hairstreak lekking spot
A couple of remarkably fresh hibernators caught my eye, I’d have been happy with these back in March!
I nabbed my first open wing shots of a Holly Blue, she only paused briefly, just long enough for a quick burst of distant shots. There were several others around but she was the only one I saw settle.
I had a go at catching one of the many Brimstones flying around, an unusual angle but not quite in the same league as Millerds recent epic image from these parts.
A Small Copper made it a hat-trick of season firsts for the day
Things started to turn a bit more gloomy from 2 but I still managed to find some roosting butterflies.
The day ended with more Kites, Ring Ouzels and a roosting Orange-tip.