Lulworth Skipper-Lulworth-Dorset 03/08/2024

Jenna and I went to Lulworth, Dorset, today in an attempt to see the Lulworth skipper, another butterfly that we both needed. One of our tiniest butterflies, the Lulworth Skipper, is only found in the far south of Dorset, where it is abundant along a section of coastline that is centred on the village of Lulworth, where the species was initially identified in 1832.

As soon as we arrived, we made a beeline for the location and quickly located our first Lulworth Skipper.

A corn bunting appeared at the top of a thicket and began to sing as we were leaving the Lulworth skipper.

I haven't seen a corn bunting in a few years, and this one showed well. Other noteworthy insects and butterflies found there were:

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Jenna found this little monster!

Great green bush cricket

Common Blue

GateKeeper

Marbled White

Red Admiral

AFTERNOON OF DRAGONFLIES-BEN'S YARD-ELY-CAMBRIDGESHIRE

On the way to Norfolk news broke that two Lesser Emperor Dragonflies and a Vagrant Emperor had been seen near Ely in Cambridgeshire,so I called in on the way.When I pulled up in the car park two lads had also called in to see them,so I stuck with them around the reserve.

Ben's Yard

The following Dragonflies were seen as we walked around the reserve:

Common Darter

Black Tailed Skimmer

Broad-Bodied Chaser

Emperor Dragonfly

When we reached the north end of the reserve a Lesser Emperor Dragonfly emerged from the long grass and landed not far from us 

The Dragonfly Hunters

Lesser Emperor Dragonfly 

As you can see the Lesser Emperor showed really well and as we carried on walking the second one showed up flying around with the Vagrant but they just wouldn't settle and only flight views were obtained,they then flew high over the reedbed and after a frustrating hour they could't be found again even though other people were now turning up on site.

I had had enough now and still had a good two hours drive ahead of me so I started to walk back to the car.A Common Blue Damselfly and Common Blue Butterfly were seen on the way back.

 Common Blue Damselfly

Common Blue

Bent's yard is a really nice reserve and I got great views of Ely cathedral on the way back to the car.

IRON AGE HILL FORT WARHAM CAMP-NORFOLK

I visited the Iron Age Fort at Warham Camp today to try and see my first Chalkhill Blue Butterfly.

After a good walk around the site, it didn't take long before I saw my first one. 

I only saw three individual Chalk Hill blues on site, probably due to being a few weeks early. In Norfolk, this is the sole colony of Chalkhill Blue butterflies. They were ‘introduced’ here some years ago, much to the displeasure of the ‘authorities’. However, they are doing well and have had no adverse impact on other species; it's 65 miles to their nearest kin at Devil’s Dyke near Newmarket.

Anyway, I was happy seeing this species of butterfly, and it was a beautiful sight for an evening walk.