2nd May - Noar Hill, Hampshire

I thought long and hard about this, but ultimately decided that I was not putting myself at harm or anyone else.  In fact we both agree that if we arrived and there were many cars parked near the footpath entrance we would turn back.  Noar Hill is approximately a 15 minute drive from home so fits with the guidelines we were intending to take longer walking around the reserve.  As we pulled up there was only two cars so we were good to go.  Walking up the footpath towards the reserve an Orange Tip flew past, not stopping and a Kestrel was sitting in the middle of the field on our left.  We walked into the old quarry, a lot of the trees and bushes have been removed and an area that was sheltered and in the shade was now open.  The first butterfly to settle was a Dingy Skipper.

This was quickly followed by the target species, the reason for coming here, the Duke of Burgundy.  This one a male as it has only four functioning legs.

As these small butterflies have a habit of doing they sprang away as I tried to get closer and completely disappeared.  We decided to walk on, but paused to take in the display of Early Purple Orchids on what was the bank of the quarry.

This one picked out by the sun with a black background.

Walking into the first pit where there were plenty of cowslips and more orchids.  More butterflies appeared with the majority being the Dingy Skipper.

Despite its name, a freshly-emerged Dingy Skipper reveals a subtle pattern of browns and greys that is quite beautiful. However, this butterfly does live up to its name as scales are lost over time, resulting in a lacklustre and drab appearance. These specimens looked in very good condition and were probably freshly emerged.

There were several Duke of Burgundy's too, although some of these were in a rather faded and tatty condition.

I then came across one that was in good condition.  The Duke of Burgundy is the sole representative of a subfamily known as the "metalmarks", since some of its cousins, particularly those found in south America, have a metallic appearance. The Duke of Burgundy was once classified as a fritillary, given the similarity with those fritillary species found in the British Isles.

A curious characteristic of this subfamily is that the female has 6 fully-functional legs, whereas the male has only 4 - the forelegs being greatly reduced.

This butterfly was, in the past, primarily known as a woodland butterfly, where it fed on Primroses growing in dappled sunlight, with a number of colonies in chalk and limestone grassland. However, the cessation of coppicing in woodlands has had a marked effect on this species, with many woodland colonies dying out as a result. Primrose is used as the larval foodplant in woodland, whereas Cowslip is used on grassland.

The Cowslips were still in good condition and are dotted over the grass, the trails weaving between them and the Early Purple Orchids.

A small moth caught my eye as it flitted amongst the grass stems.  This is a Mint Moth and it flies actively in sunshine and also at night. During the day adults are often found sitting on the leaves of Mint or related species.  In the case of Noar Hill the related species would be oregano and marjoram of which there was plenty about.

The caterpillar feeds on various plants, such as Mint  including Cat-mint, Marjoram.) and also Wild Thyme. the moth is associated with chalk and limestone grassland, quarries and woodland.

The Dingy Skippers were showing very well, allowing a good view of the intricate patterns on the upper wings

This one settled on a leaf when the sun went in and didn't move.

I wasn't able to get a photograph of the Dukes on a Cowslip, but this Dingy did cooperate.

We walked to the sheltered patch at the far end of the reserve here there were many orchids amongst the grass and cowslips and it was an opportunity to get low down for a different perspective.

It was also possible with the Cowslips too.

Here orchid and cowslip alongside each other.

A Firecrest sang from the bushes surrounding us and there was constant songs from the Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroat.  Yellowhammer were also heard.

Walking back we came across more Dukes, but sadly in a poor condition.

But a few were still looking good.

The sunshine would come and go and this would inhibit the movement of the butterflies.  We searched for sometime around the Juniper bushes for Green Hairstreak but without any luck.  As we walked back towards the car I did manage to find the first Small Heath of the year.

And then a little further along the first Common Blue of the year, a male.

It slowly opened its wings to show of a beautiful blue.

As we approached the entrance and the quarry once again I was taken by the cowslips this time against the black background.

A quick look around the quarry once again produced both Dingy Skipper and Duke but they were very mobile.  There was also a very confiding male Brimstone.

Leaving the reserve there is a wonderful view across the fields towards the Selbourne Hangar.

It was great to go somewhere different and to seem a special butterfly in the Duke of Burgundy and to find the first Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Common Blue of the year.  I needed this injection of something new and I hope that very soon we will be able to venture an little further afield.