After a breeding bird survey near to Havant I headed to
Noar Hill National Nature Reserve to see if I could connect with Duke of Burgundy. This 20 hectare reserve was was formerly a medieval chalk working is owned and managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT). The reserve consists of a mosaic of scrub and species rich grassland which has a high diversity of invertebrates, many of which are rare and scarce. The population of Duke of Burgundy at the site is one of the strongest in Hampshire and, while towards the end of the flight season, I was keen to see this rare and localised species which is on the wing for only a few weeks in a year. On arrival at the site the first butterfly I saw was indeed a Duke of Burgundy but it was a very tatty individual with worn wings and a missing antennae. The next butterfly was a stunning and pristine Small Blue and then a Dingy Skipper. I began to encounter more Duke's and through the hour or so I was at the site I encountered around 15 specimens, mostly they were fairly worn, but I came across at least three fresher individuals.
It was still a little early for the vegetation to be in full bloom but there were hundreds of Common Twayblade and Cowslip as well as around 10 Early Purple Orchid which were far past there best. It was a very enjoyable stop but the pressure was on to get back to my desk.
Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Small Heath - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Common Blue - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Common Blue - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Small Blue - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Dingy Skipper - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
The micromoth Pyrausta purpurea - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Common Twayblade - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Eyebright - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
Common Milkwort - Noar Hill NNR, Selbourne
