#lulworth skipper

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The eleventh and final post of my 2022 wildlife and photography highlights blogs: My bird and butterfly year in numbers

I wanted to end this year’s highlights blog thread by doing something I did enjoy doing from my old style highlights posts before I ended them, say a bit about the numbers of my year for my two most seriously taken year lists birds and butterflies which are always going to be a big factor of any assessment of the success of my wildlife watching year. And 2022 has been a hugely successful year for me, with my bird year list currently on 206 making it my highest ever bird year list which is something I am incredibly proud of. It has been a year of wonderful birding adventures and I have taken immense joy in building up this bird year list, really competing and ultimately beating my past year lists. For butterflies I saw 45 species making it my joint highest ever year list alongside 2021 and 2019. Repeating this was a delicate task as there’s only so many species I can afford not to see before it becomes not doable such is how much I saw in previous years and I had such fun getting everything lined up with species seen throughout the spring and summer months.

For my bird year list similarly to previous years it was a strong start, I saw my second highest ever amount of species after one day on New Year’s Day and I ended January on 125 species seen, my highest ever after a month of the year and level with my 2011 total which I was pleased with. It kept pace with my highest past year lists after that but the big moment to look back on was our April Pembrokeshire holiday where with the star seabird species targets of that week mixed in with migrant species we picked up it made my year list race ahead of where all of my others had been on those dates and it kept this position throughout my year after that which felt like something so special.

My butterfly year list kept pace with where my previous year lists had been on given dates and it was another year of butterflies for species seen I was over the moon with. For my three other year lists I keep; my dragonfly/damselfly year list this year is my joint second highest ever total alongside last year, my mammal year list is my joint highest ever total alongside 2019 and whilst I only began doing these again/seriously last year my moth year list this year is my highest ever with 40 species seen as in my amazing year of seeing moths this year they really came to the core of my interest. Of course it’s so much more than species names on a list, each entry represents a strong moment of connection to nature in seeing a species and a lot when considering every species of course I saw more than once. I love doing year lists and when I look back throughout my hobby in 2011 when I decided to start year lists mostly a birdwatching thing but I did it for the others too, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. The lists this year help paint the picture of why 2022 has been a phenomenal year of wildlife watching and photos for me and one of my best ever.

Finally, building on my other highlights posts the past few weeks; I have seen some sensational bird and butterfly species this year. From notable for patch Shoveler and Snipe at Lakeside, to Black-browed Albatross and Bee-eaters in Yorkshire and Norfolk, with Honey Buzzard, Bittern and Black-necked Grebe other highlights in between I have seen so many fantastic species. Purple Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Hobby, Black-throated Diver, Glossy Ibis, my 100th bird of the year Common Crane and 200th Wryneck, Brambling, Slavonian Grebe, Woodlark, Whooper Swan, Temminck’s Stint and Garganey were some of the many other standout species I saw this year. For butterflies ten key species I saw were Duke of Burgundy, my first ever Essex Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Lulworth Skipper, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Clouded Yellow, Purple Hairstreak, Purple Emperor, White Admiral and Marsh Fritillary. I took the first five pictures in this photoset of Wryneck at Lepe in September, Pied Flycatcher at Portland that month too, Water Rail at Rutland Water in July, Lapwing at Pig Bush in the New Forest in April and Black-headed Gull at Lakeside Country Park in October. I also took the final five pictures in this photoset of Grizzled Skipper at Martin Down in May, Speckled Wood at Lakeside in September, Holly Blue at Lakeside in May, Chalkhill Blue at Stockbridge Down in July and Dingy Skipper at Stackpole in April.

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27/07/19-My first ever Lulworth Skippers make 2019 my highest ever butterfly year list and more at Durlston 

We made our second visit of the year to this special place, mostly to see butterflies and it was great to see the place alive with mostly summer species compared to the spring ones we normally see on our annual April visit here. The one we were after seeing were Lulworth Skippers which we were told were here. After not too long walking through grassland just along from the visitor centre we spotted one! 

This was my first ever, but we saw many this afternoon probably well into double figures. I took the first, third and fourth pictures in this photoset of them, with the second picture the sun coming out from behind clouds. We got to see what a stunning and precious species they are. Both the female and male are very beautiful and I loved seeing them whizz about in front of us. I found them pretty distinctive to the Small Skippers too with the much smaller size and markings. I felt I was seeing one of the rarest butterflies in the country but this area is so good for them which I am proud of. 

It was my 46th butterfly species I had ever seen, and this year my all important 43rd species of my year making 2019 my highest ever butterfly year list ahead of last year’s 42 now. I indicated when a Common Grayling year tick levelled my record on Sunday at Whitefield Moor in the New Forest how much this meant to me. Interestingly a year ago today seeing the grayling at that same place made 2018 my highest ever butterfly year list. It felt written in the stars for me to break my record today then and to do it with a new species which I had done when my (now surpassed by 2018) bird year list record was broken in 2017 felt so sweet.

Every single butterfly; plain and colourful, rare and common played a big role in this achievement for me. The Purple Emperor and White-letter Hairstreak being seen again the newbies for me last year was crucial. But so important too was seeing two more newbies this year this and Northern Brown Argus and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary which I didn’t see last year as it gave it the edge over and differences to 2018 to beat it which I knew would always be a big task for me. 

Later on I took the fifth picture in this photoset of a lovely burnet moth. As we walked round the country park also it was lovely to see two Green Woodpeckers and a Roe Deer bounding through the wonderful blooming meadow habitat which is was fantastic to explore here deeper today. I took the sixth picture in this photoset of this area, the seventh of a Linnet and eighth of a view out to sea. Two Peregrines flying over and a Gannet out to sea were highlights too. 

As I said on Monday I was only doing additional big butterfly counts to ones I have already done so far in the three weeks the survey is one if I could see one of the target species I had not yet counted in one. One I knew I had the chance to see today was Wall Browns by the coastal wall and dry areas as I had the last three years in the April visits. It turns out Wall Brown isn’t a target species in the count or at least not this year so I made a bit of a mistake there but I need no excuse really to do a sixth count. This was not near to where I’d seen the Lulworth Skippers so I couldn’t include both in another 15 minutes of counting but after seeing the 3 Wall Browns I did do another count. In it I saw 3 Large Whites, 7 Marbled Whites a big star of the afternoon and 10 Gatekeeper. 

This was a great cross section of what was a wonderful afternoon outside where I saw so many butterflies of different kinds. It continues a great run of quality summer weekends for me and I had so much fun creating a great bit of personal year list history. I also took the last two pictures in this photoset a view and one of our dogs Missy.

Wildlife Sightings Summary: My first ever Lulworth Skippers, one of my favourite butterflies the Red Admiral, three of my favourite birds the Gannet, Green Woodpecker and Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Linnet, House Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, House Martin, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Small Skipper, Marbled White, Large White, Small Heath, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Wall Brown, Six Spot Burnet Moth, Emperor Dragonfly and Roe Deer. 

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Global Bird Fair 2026 and time in Rutland Water Lyndon and Egleton nature reserves 10th-12th July 2026, Durlston and a search for a Hampshire rare bird 13th July 2026 and lunch time and evening walks at Lakeside Country Park 14th July 2026

The photos in this set from a busy long weekend and today are of; Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lakeside Country Park today, Ruddy Darter dragonfly at Rutland Water's Egleton Nature Reserve on Friday, Yellow-legged Gull at the Lyndon Nature Reserve on Saturday, Marbled White and Lulworth Skipper at Durlston in Dorset yesterday, Great Crested Grebe and view at Lakeside this lunch time and a photo of me and my Mum with Megan McCubbin at the Bird Fair on Saturday.

One of my favourite times of the year arrived between Friday and Sunday as we went to the East Midlands for Rutland Water’s Global Bird Fair. As ever it was a socially stimulating, engaging and inspirational few days all for a good cause, this year raising money for “Preventing Island Extinctions” in São Tomé and Príncipe. Across the weekend it was lovely to speak to and hear talks from a diverse array of nice and passionate people, some whom we knew already others who we’d never met. Some of the famous faces it was a pleasure to chat to and see talks from and/or involved in a quiz or panel discussions were Megan McCubbin, Simon King, David Lindo, Mike and Zachary Dilger, Lira Valencia, Lucy Lapwing, Dr Sean McCormack, Robert Fuller, Indy Greene and Dr Erica McAlister. All of the talks were moving and thought-provoking and the Bird Brain of Britain, Room 101 and Merlin (app) vs human quizzes were hilarious and fun to watch. The latter which Megan and Indy were playing in this year was amazing to watch and the lady from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology was able to offer some fascinating insights into how the famous avian identification app works. I enjoyed wandering around the various stands in the fair and seeing Goldfinches being ringed at the ringing demonstration.

To compliment the hustle and bustle of the fair we had some fantastic time released into nature with some sensational bird and insect watching. Headline species included splendid views of the Osprey pair and their three recently fledged chicks at Manton Bay, I enjoyed wholesome views of this species which is one my favourites and I get so much out of seeing always with great in flight views where it was funny to see a Woodpigeon take off in a panic as one moved towards it as well as them in the nest. It was unique to see the chicks on the bank and a low perch which I’d rarely seen before, joyful time spent with one of the standout birds of my year. Another of my key birds of the year also shone as we enjoyed excellent views of a smart Yellow-legged Gull at Lyndon. Lyndon on Saturday evening was also as it was two years ago at a similar time of day the place where I saw my milestone 200th bird of the year, and it was exactly the same species as 2024, a dashing Green Sandpiper. Last year was our big year reaching 238 species so I knew it was be a tough act to follow but we have had some incredible birding experiences this year and I’m so pleased to reach the 200s for a sixth time.

There were moments of absolute euphoria at Egleton on Friday as we spotted a Lesser Emperor dragonfly and enjoyed it parading in front of a hide for a bit with its distinctive and gemstone like small patch of blue compared to the also seen Emperor. Quite a rare species I had only really heard of/looked them up in the last year or so, so I knew what it was when I saw it and was delighted. It’s another massive moment in what’s becoming my greatest odanata year and that day I saw eight other dragonfly and damselfly species which must be a record for me. Brown Hawker with their charming rusty looking wings was one and a highlight across the weekend seeing them drift across clearings above paths with my first Southern Hawker of the year seen too. There were a great load of butterflies about and I enjoyed fine views of Painted Ladies in the hot sun at Egleton in a ninth county this year as it’s turning into a big year for them.

Red Kites were a constant on the trip and Kingfisher, bronze Black-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Great White Egrets, Teal, Swift and Sand Martins were other bird highlights. Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and Large, Small and Green-veined Whites were other super butterflies seen. Other highlights were moths Vapourer, Swallow-tailed, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Drinker and Elephant hawk-moth caught from a trap at the Butterfly Conservation stand at the Bird Fair, my first Field Vole of the year at Lyndon, Common Red Soldier beetle, Seven-spotted Ladybird, Marmalade hoverfly, bee, wasps including a Potter Spider wasp, cricket or grasshopper seen quickly, Grey Cross spider and Leiobunum rotundum Harvestman. The other of the nine dragonfly and damselfly species seen across the weekend were radiant ruby male and cheerful female Ruddy Darters, Black-tailed Skimmer, Broad-bodied Chaser, Common Blue Damselfly and Blue-tailed Damselfly.

There were some splendid summer flowers seen across the weekend including one of my favourites tansy, nettle-leaved bellflower, fox-and-cubs, upright hedge-parsley, wild carrot, marsh woundwort, tufted vetch, scabious, viper’s-bugloss and scentless mayweed with sloes and guelder rose berries also interesting to see. It was also lovely to be immersed in the picturesque Rutland Water and take in the postcode image-esque local villages including Rockingham and Caldecott on the way in and out from the hotel each day which I always enjoy in bright weather. An unforgettable trip as ever.

Yesterday on a day of leave I take off as a post-Bird Fair buffer to going back to work as we travel home after the fair closes on the Sunday since we didn't manage to do it the weekend before last as planned we made a trip that is a massive part of our summer in itself, going to Durlston in Dorset in a quest for localised and minute Lulworth Skipper butterflies and we did get some excellent views of crescent-branded females and dusky mini males. Another astounding insect surprise this long weekend was seeing a couple of Clouded Yellow butterflies, always fantastic to see these unmistakeable sun-coloured butterflies. After the joy of adding Lulworth Skipper to my year list it was one of our next targets so it felt amazing to get that seen, in what is also one of my best ever years of butterflies I'm up to forty three seen for the year levelling the totals of my last two years and making my year list my joint third highest ever. I also loved seeing Six-spot Burnet, Hummingbird hawk-moth, Stonechat and restharrow on precious time by the sea at Durlston. It would've been rude not to pop into Miller's Pond in Southampton on the way home yesterday close to my sister's house where a rare Black-crowned Night Heron is currently present, I was delighted we caught some thrilling glimpses of it, only my second ever seen. In my sister's garden, on the way to the pond and at Lakeside today another big migratory insect trend for me alongside the Painted Ladies, Clouded Yellow and the fair few Hummingbird Hawk-moths I've seen in good conditions for insects arriving in the UK got underway seeing flamboyant Jersey Tiger moths.

Also good to see at Lakeside today were Moorhen, Common Blue butterfly, Meadow Browns, Black-tailed Skimmer, purple loosestrife and dock.

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What a cutie! Thymelicus acteon (pol. Karłątek akteon)

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Knapweed full of insects - Durlston Country Park 24th June 2023 

As sea mist began to lift and reveal the intense and hot June sun beating down on the emerald landscape, we were fixated by a patch of deep purple knapweed. These flowers acted like a nectar petrol station, hosting a vibrant array of summer insect life. Marbled White and Small Skipper butterflies, dazzling Six-spot Burnet moths and shiny Swollen-thighed beetle. The jewel of the crown, what most captured our attention, were Lulworth Skippers. Numerous Lulworth Skippers. It was a pleasure to spot several on these plants, a real wealth of this rare and localised butterfly species. A mark of identification, the gorgeous crescent of the females was a sight for sore eyes as these miniature butterflies glowed golden in the sunlight. A luxurious and thrilling wildlife encounter. 

The tranquil scene would be somewhat shattered as upon one knapweed up the stem did climb a giant. An enormous cricket which was striking to see and an instant attention grabber, a Great Green Bush-cricket. It commanded the purple flower head when it emerged, snapping at a Lulworth Skipper as if to hunt. A captivating few minutes watching this colossal insect which we had never seen before. These few minutes immersed in the wonders of summertime grassland was exceptional. 

All of the pictures in this photoset are ones I took yesterday of the species mentioned, however not all of them were at this particular patch of knapweed. The photos in order of appearance are of; knapweed, Marbled White, Marbled White and Six-spot Burnet together, Great Green Bush-cricket, five consecutive images of Lulworth Skippers and Lulworth Skipper and Six-spot Burnet. 

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24/06/2023-Durlston 

Wildlife photos taken in this set: 1. Great Green Bush-cricket, a stunning and giant insect that was a surprise star of this annual summer trip of ours today, the first I’d ever seen it was fascinating to. 2. Carrot with an ichneumon wasp on. 3. Stunning centaury. 4. A dazzling Lulworth Skipper, glowing golden in the sunshine. It was a true honour to see these rare butterflies again today, and the grasses were teeming with them. It topped a strong showing for them when we were here last summer I think for how many we saw, the earliest in a year we’d seen them. It was just so joyful to see the luminous crescents on the wings of the females and dinky dusky males. They are exceptional butterflies and I felt so lucky to see them, a big moment in my year. 5. A lovely Roe Deer. 6. A Peregrine, it was wonderful to see two adults and two chicks on the cliffs. The family featured on Springwatch recently, it was brilliant to enjoy these birds I love so much in a different setting and see this family that are doing well. 7. A red bit of bird’s-foot trefoil among beautiful thyme which I enjoyed a lot again today. 8. Stonechat which I enjoyed seeing today, like Peregrine this is where I first ever saw one in 2007 so it felt special to photograph these two today. 9. Three Six-spot Burnets with a skipper behind on knapweed. This precious flower hosted insect fests today alongside the thyme with Lulworth Skippers, Marbled White, Small Skipper, Swollen-thighed beetle, Six-spot Burnet and the cricket creeping up on one patch of knapweed and loads of Meadow Browns and Lulworths on some thyme key moments. A takeaway from this key trip of our year was how insect rich the meadows were. 10. A Small Skipper on scabious, I saw my first wild scabious this year here today. 

Also of note today were my first Gatekeepers of the year on bramble on arrival my earliest ever sighting of one in a year which was great, Large Skipper, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Heath (I can’t have often seen them, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown on a day species that look alike who’s seasons don’t always overlap for me), my first Common Red Soldier beetle of the year, Dartford Warblers including probable young in dense vegetation near the sea I’d not seen these here before, Whitethroat a key bird here, Guillemots and Razorbills on the sea and flying, Shag, Kestrels seen very well too, Skylark and Dunnock seen and heard, Goldfinch, Swift, Great Black-backed Gull, Painted Lady, stunning Hummingbird hawk-moth I’m doing well for these this year, Silver Y, my first ever Large Yellow Underwing moth, Emperor dragonfly, bees, Common Field Grasshopper and Chiffchaff and Blackcap heard. Grey Heron on the way back and young Starlings, Magpie and Woodpigeon on a plant pot were highlights at home today. Other great flowers to see at Durlston were as I often do on this trip my first red bartsia of the year, flax, thistle including musk thistle, bee and pyramidal orchid seen well again, restharrow, bindweed, agrimony, oxeye daisy, mallow, lady’s bedstraw and cinquefoil. 

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30th July 2022: Durlston: Post 1 of 2: The butterflies, moths and other wildlife

It was time for another of our big day trips that we like to do every year today, visit Durlston to look for Lulworth Skipper butterflies and more. It was a fantastic day out of walking and wildlife watching. We didn’t come in April this year as we usually do as well due to the Pembrokeshire holiday that month taking us to similar habitat and seeing similar species that we target on that April trip the seabirds and others so it was nice to be back. We had two butterfly targets today, the Lulworth Skippers and Wall Brown that we had not yet seen this year. And we saw them both not long after arrival in a precious field we explored quite far up the country park which we hadn’t been in before but had seen Wall Brown flying in from behind the gate in the next field last year. We first saw the exotic Wall Brown flitting along fighting with Gatekeepers at times showing glimpses of its orange colour and settling down nicely seeing its beautiful patterned underwings too which was great. I took the first picture in this photoset of this butterfly. We possibly saw a few more of this butterfly I really admire one of my favourites on a big walk round this afternoon.

In terms of Lulworth Skippers we saw a few dusty looking males in the initial field which was great. The females are the more obvious for this species for me with their distinctive crescent on their wings so it then became about could we see one of them too having got lucky for this last year. We did see one walking round and it’s unmistakable seeing this beacon of light of the crescent on its wings. Then it became a phenomenal afternoon as we saw loads of Lulworth Skippers male and largely female. We saw well into the double figures of them a positive contrast to the handful we have saw doing this trip in 2019, 2020 and 2021 albeit the 2020 trip was in late June in a year many butterflies emerged early so their season may not have really got going at that stage. All three were incredible experiences just to see some of this rare species and today was sensational. It was an honour see these remarkable butterflies so intimately and well today, seeing pairs together, one really flapping its wings and seeing them land and their wings peel open to reveal the crescent on the females was amazing. I really cherished seeing this golden butterfly today and it’s so good to see them doing well here. I took the second, fourth, sixth and seventh pictures in this photoset of Lulworth Skippers here today. 

As butterfly species forty two and forty three of my year it takes my butterfly year list current number beyond my 2018 total and level with my 2020 total to be my joint second highest ever butterfly year list behind my 2019 and 2021’s tied total of 45. Of the only five other butterflies seen in my life there’s two I geographically cannot see this year now and we’ll try to see the other three so I could still make this year my highest butterfly year list ever. It’s such a delicate balance to try for that as one missed and it all tumbles if we didn’t succeed in seeing these two species today we would not have necessarily seen them this year especially true for the Lulworth Skippers as its only these parts in Dorset they’re around which makes it even more special to be able to see them so it felt even more precious to see them both today.

It was a circus of other glorious butterflies seen this afternoon with many Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Common Blues seen and some beautiful views of dashing Marbled Whites a decent amount still around here different to home where I’ve stopped seeing them pretty much now. There were a fair few Small Heath about too. It was perfect to do a Big Butterfly Count here as I always enjoy doing when we come in the summer.

Moths played a big part in a top trip today too as we spotted a sensational, bright, beautiful and colossal couple of Oak eggars, stunning moths to see one of the best I’ve ever seen and another key new one in an amazing year of moths for me this year I felt so lucky to see it. I also saw my first Silver Y of the year one I have been hoping for I took the tenth and final picture in this photoset of this, my twenty sixth moth species of the year I am proud of how my moth year list is going the second year I’ve been doing them again.

There was a strong cast of other wildlife dominated by insects and other precious little things today; including a Common Green grasshopper that landed on my Mum’s leg and me at one point and was great to see intimately I took the fifth picture in this photoset of this, my first Common Lizard for a couple of years I believe always great to see dashing across the path, a splendid looking hoverfly, a striking Bloody-nosed beetle and possibly a second one too I identified the one in the ninth picture in this photoset as this using the Seek from iNaturalist app, Common Red Soldier beetle, Seven-spot ladybird which the eighth picture in this photoset shows on some wild carrot and Southern Hawker dragonflies with a good showing of bees this afternoon I saw some looking nice on woolly thistle and took a photo of this which I tweeted on Dans_Pictures tonight. I was also spoiled by another brilliant Roe Deer sighting this week with one staring out from a well vegetated back of field. There was another good mammal moment seeing a herd of cattle old and young well including a big bull I took the third picture in this photoset of two cows. My full wildlife sightings summary for today is in my next post about the birds, flowers and landscape today.

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One of my butterfly pictures from each month I have photographed butterflies in 2019 so far and note about my Keyhaven Redshank picture

Last weekend I trawled through my photos and found that I had taken over 100 butterfly pictures this season. This is definitely more than I have ever done in a year before in a year which also saw me see my highest ever amount of species so has definitely earned the title of my greatest butterfly year. 

On top of that I have so far photographed butterflies in February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September. I’m sure I’ve never done this in a year before either. Interestingly other than those months there are only three other months of the year that I have ever seen butterflies in, and of those only an October has seen me take a butterfly picture in during a freak hot snap in that month in 2011. I very often see the odd Red Admiral, Brimstone, white, Speckled Wood ect. in October so it would be interesting if I managed a photo of one if I see any this year to add to my run. 

I therefore thought why not bring 8 of my photos together in a photoset, one for each month which I have done above. I timed this to go out on Sunday and knew the plan for today was we were off on a football trip so no photos or trip so I might as well post this now. I was limited for choice with the photos for February and March with only one and two taken each I believe so we’ve ended up with a lesser quality one and one I know I have reposted a lot since taking it already. The photos are (in order of appearance in this photoset): 

1. Brimstone at Martin Down in February 

2. Peacock at Lakeside Country Park in March 

3. Duke of Burgundy at Noar Hill in April 

4. Marsh Fritillary at Martin Down in May 

5. One of my favourites the Large Skipper at Standing Hat, New Forest in June 

6. One of my first ever Lulworth Skippers at Durlston Country Park in July 

7. A Painted Lady in our garden in August 

8. A Small Copper by Lizard Point, Cornwall in September 

Stepping away from butterflies for a bit and I know I mentioned this on Twitter earlier in the week, but tomorrow one of my trusted local haunts Lymington-Keyhaven nature reserve have their open day. One of the activities there is a photography competition exhibition in which my photo from late last year there of a Redshank (the eighth picture in this photoset) has been shortlisted to be in. Details of the event can be found here: https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/events/2019-09-15-lymington-keyhaven-nature-reserve-open-day If you’re in the area or at a loose end tomorrow I would definitely recommend going, I’m sure it will be a brilliant chance to get to see a thriving and important local nature reserve at close quarters.