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I'm hoping to get up to Rodborough Common tomorrow to look for dukes if the weather looks promising. But temperatures are not forecast to be all that brilliant. Does anyone know what sort of temperatures are needed for these to fly, assuming we'll have sunshine? Also, if anyone knows of this site, some pointers where to look would be most appreciated.
Thanks..

Hi Dan - you should be OK since my "rule of thumb" is that 13 degrees is enough for most critters to get flying (although Mountain Ringlet are pretty annoying in this regard - they obviously haven't read the rule books).

Furthermore, since the critters will be less mobile than if it were 22 degrees, say, then you're more likely to get a decent photo

Cheers,

- Pete

Thanks Pete. Denise persuaded me to travel south instead, to Thurlbear Quarrylands. We wandered around for a couple of hours, and during that time saw no dukes at all, but then thanks to Denise's little book of butterfly walks that pointed us to the most likely spot, and a guy called Pete that we met there, we saw two, a male and a female. Both were sufficiently docile in the cool weather to allow easy photos. We also saw a single dingy skipper plus two or three grizzled skippers. These were easy to approach for photos as well. We're well pleased.

I realise the question was specific for Dukes but other species have different requirements.

If there is bright sun, then lower temperatures suffice. But earlier this week in total overcast at 17 degrees (in a prime location, Bentley Wood) the only things flying were a few Speckled Woods. The most extreme case of "hardiness" I have experienced was an active Red Admiral with an air temperature of just 2 degrees C and frost on the ground in the shadows. But it was a sparklingly bright November morning.

Jack