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Duke of Burgundy - Favourite Photo of 2024

Week 5

So we’re an 12th of the way through…feels like we’ve hardly started ! Mind you the recent days have all passed by feeling the same; a blanket of grey…

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos as then it will be easier to keep track of things? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As in previous years details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Some Duke photos taken from the 18th April at Chapel Bank Surrey

As one of the first newly emerging species to appear each year, seeing that initial fresh Duke of Burgundy is a special moment. It came for me in 2024 on 14th April up at Incombe Hole on the Chilterns. A typical day for the time of year, with strong sun but chilly if you were not out of the wind - and this spot affords some excellent shelter. Here is that first Duke of the year. Dave

A planned trip to Bison Hill on the 12th May to see this species. Weather was perfect as was company. This was a first for 3 of us and what a beautiful butterfly this is. We managed to see a freshly emerged female being courted before pairing.
Julian

A species that I don't always see every year but in 2024 managed to see at three different locations.

On the way down for a few days to see our daughter in Emsworth in May, we stopped off at Old Winchester Hill in cool drizzly conditions in which I was surprised to find a couple of Duke of Burgundy. These were the only two butterflies that I saw there on that occasion.
A visit to Butser Hill in May gave me the impression that Duke of Burgundy were doing quite well there with 12-15 seen along the bottom of the valley at Rake Bottom on the other side of the hill.
Later in May a trip down to Prestbury Hill produced some DoB still flying. Most were worn and faded by then but a couple were looking quite good still.
Cheers,

Neil

Duke of Burgundy

I couldn’t make my mind up when it came to selecting my Favourite Duke shots this season and so I plumbed for two in the end. The first came from the start of their flight just over the border in Dorset. It was one of those days when sensible butterfly photographers would have stayed in and sorted out recent images or picked up a few Brownie points ready for later in the season. It was also one of those days when the forecasters definitely hedged their bets when it came to the ‘%chance of rain’. Luckily for me I arrived just as one shower band was clearing and before the next one swept in but it was still very hard going as the rain had put a literal damper on activity. As I was about to start back home from the furthest reaches of the site I spotted something just up ahead and I couldn’t believe my eyes nor luck when it materialized into a Duke. I spent a considerable amount of time with it getting shots after shots after shot but of all of them this was my Favourite. I love the way that it shows the double underside but also how some of the pattern is reflected in the single bed of rain travelling down the grass blade.
The second comes from Sidbury during a recce visit after work. I’d found Marshies and various Blues as well as already spotting a couple of Dukes so I was heading back extremely happy with my haul when this little beauty appeared in place of a Small Copper, the species I was expecting to see in this particular locale. Because of the band of lighter spots at first I wasn’t even sure that it was a Duke/Duchess and thought it was just another ‘Moff’. However when I got closer I quickly saw my identification error and eagerly started clicking as knew it was something a little different from the norm. What a stunner!
Have a goodun

Wurzel

12th May was the only opportunity I got domestically, at Rodborough Common, Glos:

A couple of Dukes from mid-Kent. Dukes had an excellent year here in Kent in 24' and re-surfaced at what was once my go to sites for them ,but I haven't seen any on site for nearly 20 years .When they were around at this site my best count was around 40 (late 80's) I,ve looked every year (give or take!) since and not seen a one.So imagine my surprise ,when this year I had a count of around 60 !!...........Curious !
Allan.W.

Allan.W. wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:21 pm A couple of Dukes from mid-Kent. Dukes had an excellent year here in Kent in 24' and re-surfaced at what was once my go to sites for them ,but I haven't seen any on site for nearly 20 years .When they were around at this site my best count was around 40 (late 80's) I,ve looked every year (give or take!) since and not seen a one.So imagine my surprise ,when this year I had a count of around 60 !!...........Curious !
Allan.W.
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Very fascinating Allan! Perhaps a gravid female found its way there last year from any nearby sites.. would that be reasonable? I didn't know dukes were in kent, nice to know!

Zayed

Hello Zayed,
Yes possible ,but the closest colony is probably a mile + away .I have heard people say that they've seen the odd one or two there over the years ,so as you say possible . They have had a very good season at some of the closest sights as well.My initial thought on seeing such numbers ,was arrived with assistance but who knows ............but no matter ! good to see them!
The Dukes Kent stronghold ,and probably the best known site is in Denge Wood (Bonsai Bank ) near Chartham ,and a lot of work has been done on this site over the last year or two ,and I found Dukes in several new areas........very encouraging .There are probably around another dozen mainly downland sites around the Crundale area inc one or two on private land .Things are looking pretty positive for Kent Dukes at present.
Allan.W.

I suspect this male from the 14th April is the same one as Millerd posted above, I seem to remember us wandering along Incombe Hole when one whizzed past us. As Millerd states, the first of the year is always special. Three weeks later though, this fresh female does take some beating!

Only half of a Duke of Burgundy, but this goes down as my favourite due to the importance of the find. This is Bedfordshires second rarest butterfly, and this photo was taken in a previously un-recorded location in Houghton Regis quarry. The quarry is massive, but the area where it was found is only small, but this small area has the right habitat, so it could be suitable for supporting a small colony. This Duke could however have been a wanderer from the main Colony that exists only 1 mile away at Totternhoe. Only visits to this new location over the next two or three years will determine if we have small new Duke colonisation.