May (Part 2)
With the Butterfly season finally getting going, it meant that, having racked up all the usual common species in my area, it was time to look further afield. I don't get many Butterflying trips away from home, so I have to pick carefully to make the most of my limited 'quota'. With an increasing interest in Orchids, this has been made all the harder, but the trips far more enjoyable. Having a new interest always adds a second dimension to a familar site.
Picking my first trip of the year though, is never difficult, one site always comes out on top. It's a small brownfield site which, behind the likes of Collard Hill, I think is the real jewel in Somerset's butterflying crown. BC lost the lease for the site a couple of years ago, and since, scrub has begun to encroach on the pristine close cropped grassland, and much of the hard work has been lost - a great tragedy.
The impact on the butterfly populations has been visible stratight away, in 2011, I saw 5 beautiful Green Hairstreaks, in 2012 just 1, and this year, none. Nevertheless, my 2013 visit still proved to be thoroughly enjoyable and productive.
I arrived initially, to blazing sun, and as I entered the site through the adjoining woodland (where White Admiral and Pearl - Bordered Fritillary once flew), I was treated to a wonderful display of stitchwort, woodruff and Bluebells. Above and around me, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Garden Warblers were singing.
Sadly though, as I entered the main body of the reserve, it began to cloud over, but not before I had found several Grizzled Skippers, skimming over the Buttercups and Salad Burnet.
![UKB 133.JPG (2.04 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Grizzled Skipper](./files/thumb_13033_8559e41074599cc91b5200dcfd130e8b)
- Grizzled Skipper
I managed to follow one to roost, and spent a short time playing around with the camera. It was great to be able to inspect this charismatic butterfly up close, previously I've only ever visited in hot sun, and never got any underside photos.
![UKB 130.JPG (1.39 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Grizzled Skipper](./files/thumb_13033_f2e00f47fe21b3aa7da9c0062f88bb14)
- Grizzled Skipper
For the rest of the morning, I enjoyed the kind of intermittent sun that is perfect for photography, and managed to catch up with several Dingy Skippers as well.
![UKB 138.JPG (1.52 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Dingy Skipper](./files/thumb_13033_ca8c56a530af3d0d3cdcefcb1030a2d0)
- Dingy Skipper
I am a huge fan of the two spring skippers, there are few butterflies that are more enjoyable to watch. But it took me the better part of the morning for me to track down my stunning target, undoubtedly one of my favourite species.
![UKB 136.JPG (1.47 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Duke of Burgundy](./files/thumb_13033_304999a36eb4084253a6cafde4c93e1a)
- Duke of Burgundy
I've never seen more than 5 or 6 Dukes at this site, but they inevitably put on a good show. They normally take some tracking down too, as they fly in discreet hot spots, normally a sheltered indent in the tree line. However, once I've found them, the males will perch happily on grass stems and buttercups - resulting in an enjoyable morning's watching.
![UKB 3.jpg (943.36 KiB) Viewed 1574 times Duke of Burgundy](./files/thumb_13033_a746cc87c745b836efc9013e8ae34d02)
- Duke of Burgundy
After the Duke activity died down a little during a cloudy spell, I decided to explore the rest of the reserve. It was a real delight to do so, serenaded by the Nightingales which love the dense thickets and woodland at this spot. This location is also good for the commoner spring butterflies, and I was pleased to capture to male Orange Tips sparring as they blasted by.
![UKB 140.JPG (604.17 KiB) Viewed 1574 times Orange Tips](./files/thumb_13033_bcc58ea61bf2180262ae9c106853b66c)
- Orange Tips
I mentioned earlier my growing interest in Orchids, and as such, I was overjoyed to stumble across a small group of Bird's Nest Orchids. These bizzare orchids were mostly still in Bud, but even so, an amazing sight, growing in the deep shade of a stand of hazels.
![UKB 142.JPG (1.97 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Bird's Nest Orchids](./files/thumb_13033_069ccd28cbb687f83aea54b669c260f2)
- Bird's Nest Orchids
Finally, having taken my fill of the Orchids, I headed back the way I came (past the Dukes), before heading home, a big smile on my face.
![UKB 141.JPG (1.42 MiB) Viewed 1574 times Duke of Burgundy](./files/thumb_13033_6eebce727450c601797126b5e692cdde)
- Duke of Burgundy