An hour at Mill Hill NR on the 25th had got the butterfly list off to a good start with ten species recorded in just over an hour. I didn't manage to photograph them all but at least I got plenty of exercise chasing the Brimstones and Orange tips on the steep slopes.
Best finds of the day, Small Copper and Green Hairstreak. Unexpected were a couple of Wall which I had not recorded at this site before. More worrying was the lack of Grizzled Skippers, usually guaranteed at Mill Hill. Perhaps it was just too cold for them.
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| Dingy Skipper |
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| Green Hairstreak |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Wall |
We followed this up with our annual pilgrimage to Rewell Wood to see the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Somehow this always feels like the start of the butterflying season.
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| Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
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| Underwing view of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
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| Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
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| Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
We also had a supporting cast of Grizzled Skipper, a butterfly I had missed at Mill Hill, and a good number of Orange-tips. Picture below is of a female, I don't think I saw a male stationary all day.
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| Grizzled Skipper |
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| Female Orange-tip |
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| Underside of the female Orange-tip |
Although Duke of Burgundy have been reported from some locations I haven't seen any on the local patch. Heyshott Down always seems to be a week in front of other sites. No Blues seen yet either.
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