The Duke of Burgundy is quite a scarce butterfly, having declined substantially over recent decades. There are now just a few small colonies scattered around England and even within those sties they are very elusive and difficult to find. They are also tiny, with a wingspan of just 3cm and I only found this mating pair through the enthusiast's mobile phone grapevine. It was still quite a thrill to see them and especially to see that they are reproducing.

Hampshire Selborne Noar Hill Nature Reserve Butterfly reserve Duke of Burgundy Wildlife in England

This image is available to purchase and is part of our Wildlife in England Stock Photos Collection.