It’s 8am, the sun is pushing weakly through cloud cover. All is quiet at Hutchinson's Bank, a nature reserve situated on the Croydon/Kent borders, about 8 miles from where I live. I don’t typically travel far to get my nature fix - preferring to walk in and around my immediate neighbourhood, but this is a special place, worth jumping in the car for.

I begin my walk, making my way into the reserve, heading for and wandering slowly through a cutting, covered in pollinator friendly plants. The cloud is burning off fast, and this area is still largely in shade, so I press on. As I prepare to leave the cutting, I discover three Small Blues. Prior to this the most I'd seen in any one day was two - so I felt off to a good, gentle start.

Wandering slowly past sheep in the fields, I hear an engine growling up above and briefly, see a Spitfire crossing the sky. Not the kind of flying object I was primarily seeking, but a nice surprise nonetheless.

The plane engine noise subsides, and peace in the valley returns. The sounds of song thrushes, blackbirds, and chaffinches gently fills the air. I walk on, passing through a gate into Slimming’s Down, and everything begins to change. Almost immediately I become aware of a handful of Small Blues. They’re tiny butterflies, and their fluttering is almost ghost like. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and more. I’ve never seen anything like this before. It really hits me that I’m the only human around, and I’m delighting in my solo adventure. Truly I feel speechless, so if anyone else had been there - I probably would have remained silent, in awe of what I am seeing.

I cross a barren patch of ground, keeping close to a chalk bank full of flowering wild plants. Everywhere there is fluttering movement. The Small Blues keep coming, and I keep counting, in amazement. I slowly cross the field, spotting the pale orange and brown of Small Heath butterflies, and a vivid Small Tortoiseshell - which leads me a merry dance across scrubby ground before putting its foot down and leaving me for dust.

I carry on, disappearing into woodland, and the Comma and Speckled Wood butterflies dance around in dappled shade. I get lost a couple of times in the woods before arriving at a roadside gap in the trees. This narrow lane can get quite busy, so I look out carefully, and the peace remains intact. I cross the road, and find myself in Chapel Bank, an adjoining nature reserve.

Through the woods and out into a clearing, planted with dogwood. I pause and receive a delightful surprise. The Duke of Burgundy pays me a visit. This is a rare butterfly - I know of nowhere else around here where you’ll find one - and we’re close to the end of their short annual season, so I stop a while to spend time in this exquisite company. As we sit together, Common Blues flutter around choosing not to disturb us.

Beyond the clearing, and through a gate, a field opens up, and the proliferation of Small Blues continues. I eventually stop counting at over 150 sightings. I literally pinch myself - what a time and place to be alive. In the same field I also find the Green Hairstreak and the Dingy Skipper. This walk just gets better and better.

I begin my return leg, leaving the field, and crossing the clearing. There, right in front of me on the path, is a Painted Lady. Another unexpected beauty. A strong flyer, and not in the mood to hang around, I’m lucky to grab a photo as it briefly alights at eye level before flying away.

I carry on, slowly making my way back - not really wanting this to end. As I arrive back to the cutting in Hutchinson’s Bank, I bump into two people, and we briefly chat about our different discoveries. I leave the cutting and make my way back to the car.

Walking along the final section of pathway before leaving the reserve, a small brown and orange flash zips by. I stop, and wait. Not one, not two, but three Glanville Fritillaries appear. Without a doubt the rarest beast I’ve seen today.

To end this walk in such beautiful company is so much more than I could wish for, but here I am, and there they are. Stunning.

I drift back to the car, and check my notes.

I saw:

Small Blue - I stopped counting at 150 - never seen anything like it!!

Small Heath - 5

Small Tortoiseshell - 3

Comma - 3

Speckled Wood - 3

Common Blue - 12

Duke of Burgundy - 1

Green Hairstreak - 2

Dingy Skipper - 1

Painted Lady - 1

Holly Blue - 1

Glanville Fritillary - 3

A truly rare and special morning walk.

A Rare And Special Day

Out For The Count

Wandering and Wondering