In the company of Dukes

Having only seen Duke of Burgundy once before - almost a decade ago at Noar Hill - when I discovered there were sites near Pulborough for this scarce species I was keen to get out and look for them in my first spring living in this part of the world.

After a failed attempt at the start of the month (evidently I was in slightly the wrong location) I returned to Kithurst Hill mid-morning on the 13th and was rewarded with excellent views of perhaps at least half a dozen individuals, plus my first Dingy Skippers of the year, as a bonus. All to a soundtrack of Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer and Marsh Tit - a perfect morning!

Dingy Skipper