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Carpet Of Sapphires

I spent the earlier part of the day (18 May) with my father, looking at Pearl-bordered Fritillary in Rewell Wood and Duke of Burgundy at Springhead Hill. With very little wind and only hazy sunshine, I then decided that the place to be was Mill Hill, as it is under these conditions that the fabulous Adonis Blue sometimes forms large communal roosts, after sunbathing for a while on grasses and other taller vegetation.

When I arrived they were still active, but what surprised me was how many there were; there had clearly been a very substantial hatch. Numbers are difficult to estimate while they are so active, but I guessed that there were in the region of 80 on the wing. However, as the air cooled, many started to drop down the slope to join those which had been active on the lower level, and a large congregation rapidly formed.

The sight of so many in close proximity, all with wings open, was simply breathtaking. I stopped counting at 125, but that was probably the majority. There were a few females in the mix, but they are yet to really get going. Among them were small clusters of Common Blue, in groups of about half-a-dozen, good numbers of Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and a few Small Copper.

This is a really good showing for the spring brood of Adonis at Mill Hill and bodes well for the late summer flight. I'll be going back, very soon!

When Dave (Millerd) and I were there on Tuesday the Adonis were literally emerging before our eyes Neil. We started the morning with just a handful on the wing and when I left around 1 there were dozens. I saw lots still expelling meconium. With this fine weather set to go on for at least another week I can only imagine how things are set to develop down there! It really is a fabulous site (and sight)

Yes, glorious images Neil from a glorious site. Your report has come at a good time actually, because guess where I’m heading tomorrow...

You have captured the shade of blue to perfection.

What's next this stunning May? Continental Swallowtail invasion?

Jack

Thanks, all.
"Stunning May" continued to stun today.
BWs, Neil

50 Years Of Dukes And Pearls

Today (19 May) I was joined by Will Langdon, to help Matthew Oates celebrate the 50th anniversary of him first seeing both the Duke of Burgundy and Pearl-bordered Fritillary. I had promised that Sussex would deliver, and it did in style.

Before meeting Matthew, Will and I headed to the Steyning Downland Scheme, where we opened the score-sheet with Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Green Hairstreak and 3 Scarce Chaser dragonflies. The three of us then set off on a long walk across the Downs at Storrington, visiting a number of sites. We didn't cover every colony before targeting Pearls at 3pm, but we managed an impressive total of 142 Dukes.

We then moved to Rewell Wood, where we counted 57 Pearl-bordered Fritillary and a further 8 Grizzled Skipper. Matthew went home happy, as did Will and I; a truly memorable day.

Fantastic stuff, Neil. It's exploding all around you!

What a great thing for those lovely Adonis Blues to be entering the world to weather conditions like these.

I'm sure there'll be hundreds (if not thousands) more over the next fortnight or so.

Those Dukes are in mint condish Neil and 142 in one sitting

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Neil.

You have done a splendid job in saving the Duke of Burgundy in Sussex (does anyone really know why it is called the Duke of Burgundy?) You seem to be repeating that success with the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

Butterfly names have always changed. Half-Mourner >>> Marbled White (actually a brown not a white but be that as it may). So I suggest that Pearl-bordered Fritillaries (male and female respectively) be re-named Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

I can’t for the life of me think what prompted that train of thought.

PS. I am a closet fan of the “Royals”. They seem to be doing a better job than our elected political so-called “leaders”.

PPS. Prince Charles asked that his son should be called Harry and not Henry, I trust that Prince Harry will – as a compliment to his father - call any son he has “Charlie” and not Charles.

Jack

Thanks, Jack.

The species was named after the 2014 S&M cinematic classic The Duke of Burgundy. According to Wikipedia: In his initial review for The A.V. Club, Mike D'Angelo called the film "a beautiful love story disguised as stylish smut".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are titles already gifted to Hamearis lucina.

BWs, Neil

Rare Species Landscape Walk

Fifteen intrepid explorers turned up for today's (20 May) BC Sussex 'Rare Species Landscape Walk', involving the ascent of Mount Heyshott (good views were had by all), a dip into Charlton Forest, and a circuit of the beautiful Graffham Down Trust reserves. We were out from 10.30 am until 4.30 pm and probably lost a few pounds, but the effort was well worthwhile. I know that others enjoyed it immensely, and for me this was the third in a sequence of truly memorable days out butterflying; already this is a May I'll cherish for a very long time.

My thanks to all who attended, and to Will Langdon for keeping the tally (which once listed will go into our database), and for giving up his lunch break to help with the frenetic counting of Dukes! The highlights were undoubtedly 86 Duke of Burgundy and 19 Pearl-bordered Fritillary (we saw both species laying eggs). Other species included Dingy Skipper (very many), Grizzled Skipper (many), Orange-tip, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Brown Argus and Common Blue; a total of 18 species.

The impressive flora included Fly Orchid (several dozen), White Helleborine (including a whopper) and a few Greater Butterfly Orchid. Will and I later returned to the slopes, to drink in the magic that Heyshott Escarpment provides at this time of year. Most of the Dukes had turned in for the night, but the Duchesses were now out in force.

Hi! Neil, when I read about all the Duke's your seeing it seems unbelievable, only one or two have been seen so far at Gait Barrow
and no pearl's have been seen there yet, this is inspite of a lot of bushes etc having been cleared, I'm hoping to visit there on Wednesday so I'm hoping they're just that bit later coming out because of the cold Winter we had . Goldie

Neil:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are titles already gifted to Hamearis lucina.

Are you going to inform their human counterparts? I suppose your friend Eddie Norfolk might have a hot line to them

Seriously for a moment: renaming Duke of Burgundy the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would I am sure be popular.
Harry and Meghan might be quite ticked by the idea.

Jack

Hi Goldie. It certainly shows that the efforts of Butterfly Conservation (and partners such as the South Downs National Park Authority) really do work. In 2003 only eight Duke of Burgundy (Sussex) were recorded in the whole of the county. On Saturday, William (UKB), Matthew Oates and I counted 62 in one location which is only 0.75 hectare in size.

Hi Jack. Leave this one to me. I'll leave the happy couple to enjoy their honeymoon for now.

BWs, Neil

Return Of The Small Pearl

After spending this morning (21 May) in the beautiful New Forest, it was after 4 pm before I reached our Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood reserves, where I was keen to monitor the initial stages of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary emergence. I was later joined by Theresa Turner, Gary Norman and Mike Mullis, who all played key parts in last year's BC Fritillaries For The Future reintroduction programme.

Early signs are encouraging, with six different males seen; four in Rowland Wood and two on Park Corner Heath. I may be biased, but I think that the habitat for this species, over both reserves, looks spot-on. Theresa and Mike had earlier been to Abbot's Wood, where two Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary were flying.

Lovely photo's Neil, there's been lots of reports from Warton on the Pearls but nothing yet from Gait Barrow so I'm hoping some will be seen soon.
Gait Barrow used to be the place to definitely see both Dukes and Pearls in good numbers but not any more it seems.Goldie

Thanks, Goldie. I hope they turn up soon.
BWs, Neil

Dukes On The Move

I was pleased to see that Paul Day recorded two male Duke of Burgundy in Washington chalk pits yesterday (22 May). I also visited this site, after leading a large group of Natural England ecologists around Chantry Hill, so arrived much later. I also saw two Duke of Burgundy, but mine were both female, suggesting that the species may be gaining a firmer foothold here.

All your news seems to be very encouraging, Neil. I'm so glad that after all the graft throughout the winter, weather conditions during the flight period for your target species have been extremely kind in the main. Let's hope this leads to more eggs being laid and further consolidation/expansion next year.

Thanks, David. There's plenty more good news to come in time, but things are moving so fast on the fritillary (and Duke) front that it will take time to catch up on the reporting.
BWs, Neil