A visit to Lincolnshire at the turn of the month gave us an opportunity to see one of the largest hatches of Marsh Fritillary Butterflies since Victorian times. I counted 2500 or more in one single small meadow. Beautiful living stained glass windows.
As colourful as a stained glass window; this remnant of an introduction just looks like a butterfly should look. It’s such a shame these Marsh Fritillaries never did make a proper viable population.
A look for some Orchids the other morning turned up a bonus.
Warming itself in the sunshine and keeping low out of the wind was a Marsh Fritillary. This is a butterfly that became extinct in Norfolk some years ago. No doubt the individual we saw is part of some impromptu reintroduction scheme. Given the biology of the species demands interaction between a number of close colonies, I’m sceptical the Frit is here in Norfolk for good … but I hope I’m wrong. It’s a cracking butterfly!
Letter From Norfolk 