Today was a planned Marsh Fritillary day in Dorset. The morning started off a little duller than hoped but by the time SW Dorset was reached the sun had burnt off any morning cloud, but the wind was strong and quite cooling. A walk across Fontwell Down was desperately short of butterflies apart from a few Small Heaths and a family party of five Ravens frequenting the only tree at the Down head. This did not bode well, but a walk down the bridleway towards Compton Down, being in the lee of the wind, started to produce common butterflies in an old small chalk quarry, with Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large White, Dingy Skipper and Small Blue. A walk across the upper slope of the down and very little was showing but as I dropped down lower the first Marsh Fritillary showed and walking along the lower slope eventually around thirty had been seen along with more Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. On leaving the down a couple, of Adonis Blue were seen.
Hod Hill was the next visit and eventually finding the right bit where most of the Marsh Fritillaries were located, another twenty odd were seen along with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Small Blue and a single Adonis Blue.
One the way back Martin Down was paid a late afternoon visit which only produced one tatty Marsh Fritillary, a few Small Blues and about six Adonis Blues.
Just as I got back to the car park, a Hobby was hawking over the grass.
Marsh Fritillary
Marsh Fritillary
Adonis Blue
Hod Hill was the next visit and eventually finding the right bit where most of the Marsh Fritillaries were located, another twenty odd were seen along with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Small Blue and a single Adonis Blue.
Grizzled Skipper
Marsh Fritillary
Dingy Skipper
One the way back Martin Down was paid a late afternoon visit which only produced one tatty Marsh Fritillary, a few Small Blues and about six Adonis Blues.
Just as I got back to the car park, a Hobby was hawking over the grass.
Adonis Blue