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Hi Mark
Just catching up on a few diaries, as rain stops play yet again. I knew I could count on you to come up with some stunning Bluebell carpets. Sadly, gone for another year.
BWs, Neil

Thanks Trevor. I still haven’t seen many Orange Tips as the weather has been so bad. Hopefully they’ll last a bit longer this year as compensation, as they have normally finished by now.

Thanks Neil F and Neil H! A carpet of British bluebells is one of my favourite sights in all the world. I’ve had a good time with them this year, and they have been some compensation for the lack of butterflies.

Last week, on one of the better days ( there was a bit of sunshine in between the rain!) I headed over to Whipsnade Downs. This is a fabulous spring site, with all the classic spring downland butterflies. Not surprisingly, numbers were lower than usual, but this was still a good day, and most of butterflies were still in good condition, including Dingy Skippers. During the showers, they would roost on dead knapweed stems. Grizzled Skippers were actually present in good numbers. More to follow...

Duke of burgundies are found here. Numbers of adults were lower than some years, suggesting a protracted emergence. But they were my first of 2021. At last, they spring season has got going!

Pictures! A couple of females were found, too.

Lovely Dukes (and Duchesses especially), Mark. They weren't out when I visited a few weeks back, so I may be tempted back.

Cheers,

Dave

Great to see the Dukes and Duchesses Essex Now the high pressure is back in control for a bit hopefully the butterflies will emerge with a bang!

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Some lovely images there, Mark. Nice to see you back out amongst the butterflies - I presume numbers are picking up for you given these last few warm, sunny days?

Thanks everyone. Yes, at last things are improving, and I’ve managed to spend some quality time with the butterflies over the last few days.

But first, to finish off Whipsnade Downs, and in the sunnier spells, several Greens were chasing each other round the hawthorn bushes, and occasionally stopping for nectar.

Our day in Kent on 29th May, started with a visit to Trosley Country Park. With warmer weather at last, there had been a good emergence of Common Blues. It was nice to see my first Adonis Blue, as I don’t always find them here.

Here is a female Common Blue. The springtime Skippers were present. Here is a Dingy. Much habitat work has been done here, including with goats. Grizzled Skippers seem to have benefitted, with good numbers seen and some nice habitat patches.

Great set of shots Essex Brill Greenstreaks and the Grizzlies are certainly having a good year

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thanks Wurzel. Yes, after a slow start, both species seem to have done quite well.

That afternoon was spent looking for Kent Orchids.

Denge Wood has an excellent number of Lady orchids, especially at the old bonsai bank reserve, but also elsewhere. This is one of our most impressive orchids. Although late this year, they were nearing their peak by the end of May. Fly Orchids also occur here. This site has the added bonus of having a colony of Duke of Burgundy. They were keeping a low profile on this very warm day. Then onto the Folkestone Downs. I wasn’t expecting to find late-spider orchids yet, given the late season. But,to my delight, the very first ones were open. Lastly, with the very long days at this time of year, there was time for an evening visit to Park Gate Down. This is the best place in the country to find monkey orchids, and visitors are welcome. Again, with things running around two weeks late, I wasn’t sure if they would be open. And sure enough, most were still at the bud stage. But we found a couple of excellent spikes, in full flower!

Sounds like heaven, Mark - an orchid paradise with a colony of Dukes of Burgundy in situ!

Yes David, late May and early June have been great for me-and a long time coming!

Next day, Sunday 30 May, we had a spare afternoon, so headed down to Mill Hill in Sussex. It’s worth visiting at this time of year to see the horseshoe vetch alone, and it didn’t disappoint on that score. However, Adonis Blue numbers were very low, with only about a dozen adults seen, compared to the hundreds seen here in good years. Still a glorious sight though! Grizzled Skippers were still present, including some nice ones still. Quite late for here, a warm south-west facing site. As well as Dingy Skippers. Glad they didn’t get swept away by the May gales!

Beautiful photos of the horseshoe vetch an butterflies - very uplifting

Lovely shots of the Vecth essex, but very envious of your Grizzled Skipper Goldie

Seeing so much Vetch is a wonderful thing Essex Love the way you've captured some of the many hues of the Adonis Blue

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Thanks Katrina. Horseshoe vetch, love the stuff! And there’s no better place to see it than Mill Hill.

Thanks Goldie. We will get you your Grizzled Skippers. Eventually!

Thanks Wurzel. Yes, the wonderful Adonis Blue shows so differently in different light conditions.

With the glorious weather of the late-spring Bank holiday continuing, we headed a bit further afield for our last day off. So, on Tuesday 1 June, we arrived at Cotley Hill just after 8.30.

Although great for many butterflies, our main target here was Marsh Fritillaries. We were hoping to photograph some before it got too warm, and that worked rather well... What a delight to see them! We saw many other species here, including an Orange Tip and Small Blue. Another sign of the late season was this grizzled Skipper, at the beginning of June.

Lovely Marsh Fritillary shots Mark. They seem to have had a good year at Cotley Hill.
The variable markings always amaze me, no two the same.

Stay well,
Trevor.

Great to see the Hill working out well again and good to see that you got a 'Blonde'

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel