Sunday 5.5.2013 Oxenbourne Down
Today I woke up to overcast skies, this was not a surprise of course. The forecast had already warned me that today was not the best day of the weekend, but I had to make the most of it. I fancied meeting the Duke today for the first time, my best bet probably was to head for Noar Hill, but in an effort to avoid the crowd I thought I would try Oxenbourne Down. I believe there is a colony of Dukes there and after my success with the Silver Spotted Skipper at this site last summer, I thought I would try my luck
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
.
I had told my wife I would be going out midmorning and would return sometime after lunch. Unfortunately our communication had gone wrong somewhere, she went shopping at 10am and did not return till 12.30
![Crying or Very sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
Just to rub salt into the wound, the sun came out and stayed out whilst I twiddled my thumbs and waited
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
I had now missed the best part of the day
![Mad :x](./images/smilies/icon_mad.gif)
. On her return I rapidly drove off in the direction of Oxenbourne Down, slightly miffed
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
. I took the quick route down the motorway, rather than the scenic route cross country. The sun was out all along the coast, but by the time I had arrived at Oxenbourne Down the sun had given way to cloud.
A couple of male Brimstone and a male Orange Tip flew by as walked from the car. The sun briefly showed itself before disappearing again. I was now feeling quite wound up and needed to relax a little. As I entered the site through the area that was alive with butterflies last time I visited last August, I was surprised not to see any butterflies at all. I searched everywhere and found nothing. Through the the broken gate at the top, I made my way left along the track at the top of the ridge. This area too had been alive with butterflies last August but today nothing.
![DSCN6890 - Copy.JPG (252.67 KiB) Viewed 1827 times Oxenbourne Down](./files/thumb_11661_0f4fbd79f6a48fe574558123f9acda04)
- Oxenbourne Down
Thankfully a male Brimstone then appeared over the treeline
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
, he kept me company for some time. Seemingly not interested in feeding, but keen to investigate any light coloured object in the vicinity. Stones, leaves and clumps of dry grass were all fluttered around for a few moments before he moved on in search of his female. I pressed on along the track further than I had explored last summer. The further along the track I got I started to see more and more Cowslips as well as lots of Gorse and Buckthorn. I also came face to face with someones wildlife camera, hopefully they had more luck
![DSCN6895 - Copy.JPG (289.24 KiB) Viewed 1827 times Whos watching Who!](./files/thumb_11661_29c545d085299085eddeef5a9ced643d)
- Whos watching Who!
![DSCN6889 - Copy.JPG (308.55 KiB) Viewed 1827 times Cowslips at Oxenbourne Down](./files/thumb_11661_586610e10551608e87599751dc303646)
- Cowslips at Oxenbourne Down
![DSCN6884 - Copy.JPG (289.69 KiB) Viewed 1827 times Female Brimstone Oxenbourne Down 5.5.2013](./files/thumb_11661_fefd7c91aefb15a16326a508a11f5e5c)
- Female Brimstone Oxenbourne Down 5.5.2013
A female Brimstone then appeared, briefly flying and then sinking down into the undergrowth, where it stayed for some time. I thoroughly searched the area and found Cowslips quite abundant in several locations, but no Dukes. I saw at least one more female Brimstone, a couple of males and another male Orange Tip flew through, but that was all despite lots of searching. What a difference a few months makes
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
. The sun was now starting to make an impression but still hardly any butterflies. Although this is a lovely site, I started to make my way back to the car feeling mildly disappointed
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
. I got almost within site of the exit when something small zoomed in, settled a little way ahead and stayed just long enough for a photo. My first Grizzled Skipper of the year
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.
![DSCN6896 - Copy.JPG (284.95 KiB) Viewed 1827 times Grizzled Skipper Oxenbourne Down 5.5.2013](./files/thumb_11661_df0c282518bf9cd39204cc727647660a)
- Grizzled Skipper Oxenbourne Down 5.5.2013
I hunted a while longer but did not see any more. I will perhaps try again in a week or so but think I should probably visit Noar Hill to have any reasonable hope of meeting the Duke.
Tomorrow I have to spend the day at Chessington World Of Adventures, so no chance of any butterfly spotting
Total count for the day:
Orange Tip (male) 2
Grizzled Skipper 1
Brimstone (female) 2 (male) 5