I took advantage of a short spell of sunshine over lunch time to head to Barbury Castle Country Park where I hoped to find my first chalkhill blue butterflies of the year. The gulleys surrounding the hillfort were awash with flowers and it wasn't long before I found my first 'chalkies'. The easiest place to see them was by climbing down to the bottom of the gulley where most of the butterflies were to be found though I didn't spot any females.
I clocked up a respectable 11 butterfly species over all so was pleased with that. In addition to the chalkhill blues, there were many large whites, meadow browns and gatekeepers; also ringlets, small whites, marbled whites, small skippers, plus a small blue, peacock and brimstone. There was also a skipper which could possibly be an essex skipper
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