After failing to photograph the Pearl Bordered Fritillaries yesterday, I was up at the crack of dawn this morning to return to Pignal enclosure (SU316041) before the temperature got up too much and the butterflies got too lively.

This time, I followed the instructions on Alan Thornbury’s excellent Hampshire Butterfly site.

The clearing that this leads you to is massive, and I didn’t think that I had a clue about where to start, but I soon saw a single PBF sunning itself on a bramble bush, and then saw loads more.

I managed to get some really good photographs (well I’m pleased with them anyway), which can be seen here

Took a trip to Martin Down (SU050187) today in search of Orchids and Butterflies.

I was a bit early for the Burnt Tip orchids, but saw a few Early Purple orchids, and managed to get some good photographs of Small Copper, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Brimstone butterflies.

Later in the afternoon, I went in search of Pearl Bordered Fritillary at Pignal Enclosure in the New Forest (SU316041)
I was a bit late in the afternoon, but saw 3x PBF’s, some Brimstone, a Large White and a single Holly Blue. The PBF’s were a bit lively to get good shots of, so I’m going to try again tomorrow.

After that I went to Hatchet Pond just outside Beaulieu in search of Bog Bean. There was plenty there in flower, but as I didn’t have any wellington boots, I couldn’t get a picture.