Totternhoe Knolls and Quarry and Knocking Hoe 21.5.14

Another fine spring day and a trip down to Bedfordshire for a variety of rare Butterflies and Orchids. First was Totternhoe, which has a good population of Small Blue Butterflies and also Duke of Burgundy in the old quarry, as well as lots of Orchids and is really one of the best grassland habitats in the area. Next was Knocking Hoe, a new site for me which has some lovely views, as well as a fine colony of Burnt Orchids and White Helleborine. 

Small Blues Cupido minimus

Common Twayblade Neottia ovate and Beetle

Mother Shipton Moth Callistege mi

Duke of Burgundy Hamearis lucina

A fairly well marked Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus Malvae

A nice pale Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii

White Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium

Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis

 Brown Argus Aricia agestis

Burnt Orchids Neotinea ustulata

Common Blue m Polyommatus icarus