Heyshott Escarpment, 14 May 2016
Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina)
Despite the early forecast of variable and cloudy conditions we need not have worried as the coats were soon off as I led a party of 20 members of the Haslemere Natural History Society around the fabulous Heyshott Escarpment reserve earlier today, Saturday, 14th May. Located due east of the village of Cocking and just south of the village of Heyshott in West Sussex, this wonderful downland reserve is the jewel in the crown of the Murray Downland Trust; its riches being revealed in some plentitude today.
In descending order of abundance we recorded 9 species of butterfly including Duke of Burgundy, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Red Admiral, Green-veined White and singletons of Peacock, Small Heath and Orange-tip. In addition and further to Neil Hulme’s walk on Sunday, 8th May when, referring to the Duke of Burgundy at Heyshott, he reported, “following several false starts, it appears that this species might now be colonising the western flank”, we too found a single female prospecting this area of the reserve. This is excellent news and long may this advance continue …
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