Noar Hill - Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina L.)

Having noted a window of opportunity in the weather forecast this afternoon - we headed to Noar Hill, where Duke of Norfolk butterfly have been reported since the 18th of April.

Hitting the briefest of sunny patches between 13:00 and 15:00 we were lucky to find up to 8 individuals, a fine showing in comparison to the singles of orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines), brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) and holly blue (Celastrina argiolus). Also of note was a common purple and gold moth (Pyrausta purpuralis), and a common or dark bordered bee-fly (Bombylius major).

Burton Mill Pond - damsels on the wing

I first got sight of a damselfly on the wing at Burton Mill Pond, on the 15th of this month it was dark and very flighty and defied a positive ID. Returning today with camera in tow, I found Ca. 8 - 10 individual large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) hugging the waterside vegetation and hedgerow along the dam crest.