I have seen a few butterflies during the January to March period, mostly Brimstones and Peacocks, but for me the butterfly season does not really start until I see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary. That usually means a trip over to Rewell Wood at the end of April.
This year, with a cold and wet spring, everything seemed to be two to three weeks late. I made trips to Rewell Wood in the last week of April and also the first week of May but there was no sign of the Pearl-bordered. Even on the 13th May I was not having much luck. Four hours walking around the wood had not given me any sightings and it was only late afternoon walking back to the car that I took a detour down a previously unvisited track and came across some signs of Spring beginning to happen.
Three Pearl-bordered seen, only one of which I managed to photograph.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXXXIpTP7MV9qaRljkd9LnlJ2d68ad5sSDgasrJvxQGsDsbkc1Zpt5RQyg21byOUVP3rYtw3EfsfLZVkogAzO44BLxy2s9SFKLBGvTURI6lW2-xnLKKhoCEh3c_0an94huaPCVd-IDiVTA8s5UXL1OPNmh0xsrAy9nxZPwXU4OUo8BSVY8LA8DVbD/w640-h426/Pearl-bordered%20Fritillary%20a.jpg) |
Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
The track also gave me views of a couple of moths, the Speckled Yellow which had shown at various places in the wood and the Treble-bar with about a dozen flying in one small area.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlUfarXzyLaeuq4JztYf0YtAhQGxfMfhS1Z7B0GXnrTZSreUdaQkBFeC8eRndJ5MTtqAd7ge9SNmwVYTRHt_0ThIytQsgugWE2lYxYuUr6554RVfnNeZ-PCOEwmvMZ3vEBAXjfkf2pYP6iGxpxdahDuDdbNmfcUG2tJYo5NNalNz0NROYpA8RnoZf/w640-h480/Speckled%20Yellow%20a.jpg) |
Speckled Yellow |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvyUNnTZLAlU9i8fHSWEVMnAblliP7JA7_TTlvdAfVgPlPgR338CtF23GGZgX0kPE6bOWuKt8z4tzq_inUIz70q8BXNftou9X6TZcMZQEbC0UJao6tl_MPCq_UtEem4S4IEUmVHGxA7Vy9eBc19HH6GEmjJ-KOUGf6CNh7p0SH9qkNMv2Ut3ly-jY/w640-h480/Treble-bar%20-%20Aplocera%20efformata%20a.jpg) |
Treble-bar |
Also seen whilst searching for the Pearl-borders were Painted Lady and Orange Tips
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf31aHyXOiq5JIBngOOdn--ZdQuVMSlZYrJisr7e6O2pv3OxuSXT4u5fNiLYMu019QZAOLrtdgk9YHFBboMxVkm4hWClO0Zp5xDkgE_WC_7xt4XVsEIqJDUbvNR8ScL-M9PUYGL83-MiARUEP2ayDg9gpfmaEt8Dp0RHq9lqOLtyMzBVqZC4Du7ee/w640-h426/Painted%20Lady.jpg) |
Painted Lady |
No Duke of Burgundy butterflies in the glades or in Fairmile Bottom but they are usually a week later than the Pearl-bordered. I will have to give Kithurst Meadow a visit.