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Duke of Burgundy - Favourite Photo 2019

Week 5

At this time of year it always feels like I’m counting down; 3 weeks until the Social (bit of a plug there) and Advent, 6 and a bit weeks until Christmas and far too many weeks it feels like until the 2020 season starts in earnest. Luckily the Favourites thread can keep us going and stave off any moments of SAD or even that even worse condition LOBD.

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Every year, in May, Badger Bob and I spend a day in Kent visiting several sites. The trip has become a bit of an annual ritual. Denge Wood is usually the first port of call to see the Duke of Burgundy and to look for other rare insects. The day continues at other sites looking for wild orchids.
My favourite image of the day was this underside shot of a female.



http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

A trio of images from my annual pilgrimage to find these delightful critters in the Chiltons. I enjoyed watching this males determination despite the female completely ignoring him (he didn't get anywhere) and a couple of portraits of fresh males

One of each sex spring to mind amongst those I saw this year. Firstly there was a very new female as well as a couple of males at Noar Hill on 17th April. Always an early site, this.The memorable male was another really new individual, seen at Wurzel's Wiltshire Hill, and first spotted by Wurzel himself - part of a small population along this series of downs near Warminster. This was a month later, on 19th May. These two butterflies clearly show the difference in the appearance of the sexes - without having to count the legs!

Dave

downland boy wrote:..My favourite image of the day was this underside shot of a female.

A lovely shot indeed. She looks extremely gravid too.

I did see a handful of DoBs at Rodborough Common on the unusually early date of 22nd April.

My favourite, however, is this female encountered in the Italian Alps in mid-June:

My one and only occasion of seeing DoB in 2019 was when I spent an afternoon at Prestbury Hill after a visit to Strawberry Banks for Marsh Fritillary in the morning.
By the time I arrived at Prestbury Hill it was a hot afternoon (for May) and although there were plenty of Butterflies flying there were not as many DOB flying as I have seen here in the past nor as many as I had seen reported from here a few days earlier.
Nevertheless, I found half a dozen in varying condition and got a few shots although none of them were amongst my best ever of this species.
Cheers,

Neil

Duke of Burgundy

I was really lucky this year with this species in that I found them at four different sites. It was going to be a tough choice at first as I saw some brilliantly fresh Dukes at Noar Hill and an almost immaculate one at the Hill. As I was ‘umming and ahhing’ which one from this multitude to choose I took a trip to what had formerly been known as my Duke Site. After a couple of cracking years the numbers had dwindled here and then in 2018 I didn’t see one and there were no records from other observers either. At one point I actually changed the name . But this year upon chancing to check out the little corner which Dukes have frequented, Joy! There was a Duke waiting for me and posing for all it was worth. So there was only one choice really!
Have a goodun

Wurzel