Today, Jen and I spent the morning at Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve in Lancashire, eager to catch our first glimpse of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
Natural England had designated a viewing area, and it wasn’t long before we were treated to our very first sighting—a truly memorable moment.
The Duke of Burgundy is a species of real conservation concern. Its long-term distribution and population trends are in serious decline, making it a priority for conservation efforts. The butterfly struggles to survive in areas with intensive grazing on chalk and limestone grasslands, and its food plants often suffer when overgrown by shrubs or tall grasses. Careful site management is therefore essential to maintain the delicate balance required for this charming species to thrive.
After lingering over excellent views of the Duke of Burgundy, we returned to the car, where Jen spotted her first Dingy Skipper—a wonderful bonus.
Just as the morning was drawing to a close, I received news of a Black Tern at nearby Leighton Moss RSPB. We made a quick detour and were rewarded with fantastic views of this elegant bird.
All in all, it was a fantastic day in north Lancashire, adding another butterfly to our life list and creating memories to treasure.
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