Up to the middle of May it has been generally cool and overcast and not good for butterflies however last Thursday was forecast to be brighter and warm so I arranged to go up to Pickering with Ricky to check a new site for Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t too good early and on reaching Appleton Le Moors it was mild but dull. Quickly got Small Tortoiseshell and Orange-tip as well as Brown Silver-line moth but no sign of Pearl Bordered Fritillary for which this site is the best known in Yorkshire.
Brown Silver-line-a moth and male Orange-tip butterfly
Had my first orchid of the year.
Early Purple Orchid-likely my first.
Wasn’t looking to brighten anytime soon so headed for the Pickering. Took some time, with some help, to find the site and had some rain as we parked up but soldiered on up the track but again only had a few commoner butterflies. However it did brighten for a while which brought out the Common Lizards. These were to skittish but Slow Worm lived up their name only slowly burrowing into the vegetation.
Slow Worm-a first for both of us.
It clouded over as we walked back but kept looking for the Cowslip on which the “duke” was supposed to feed but they seemed to have gone over. Eventually I found one and while Ricky was checking out a Bee-fly he saw a Duke of Burgundy Fritillary on a nearby flower. Eventually had four and few good shots.
Duke of Burgundy Fritillary
We headed back to Appleton Le Moors and met a couple of blokes who had just seen a few fritillaries.
The dell at Appleton Le Moors where the fritillaries are best looked for.
After a while we connected although saw only one or two.
Pearl Bordered Fritillaries-a new one for me
Yellowhammer-have to one bird but nothing unusual seen today.
Erich's birding and biking blog 