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GH, GK and BG walked transect 26, the final one for 2022, on Sunday afternoon. It was good to have GK back in the team after a few weeks' absence. The forecast sunny weather didn't quite materialise and we had to make do with a hazy sun trying to penetrate varying amounts of high cloud – pretty much the same as we've had for several recent transect walks. The autumn decline continues and our butterfly sightings were similar to those reported over the past few weeks. We recorded 5 Meadow Brown, and 1 Brown Argus,, 1 Common Blue and 1 Speckled Wood. This was the poorest year for butterfly numbers since we started recording back in 2016. The spring figures were on the poor side of average and then the severe summer drought made the situation worse as the butterflies' food plants died in the extreme heat. There's a possibility that, with the plants being drought-distressed, this year's caterpillars may not have been able to find the food plants they rely on to build themselves up for over-winter pupation, resulting in fewer butterflies in 2023. We'll find out in 6 months' time when we start the next transect season. Survey by Graham H, Graham K and Brian Gardner submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report by Brian Gardner. Pics by Graham K and Brian G. Click pics to enlarge.  Transect section 1, the recently mown Hither Field -GK  The transectuals (Graham H & Treacle, Graham K and Brian G) in section 7, Hill Wood Field -GK
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The sky was cloudy and unpromising as GH and BG began the first four sections of Wednesday morning's penultimate transect but, as we entered Fames Rough, the sun appeared, raising the temperature nicely for the remainder of our walk. As anticipated, this week's count was lower than last week's despite the ideal conditions – we recorded a total of 11 butterflies from 4 species (4 Meadow Brown, 3 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blue and brief glimpse of our only Brown Hairstreak of the season). Next week marks the end of the transect season. In section 8 and 9 (Hill Wood Field and Barn Field) we were treated to a 'Raptor Fest' that began with a good view of pair of red kites circling over HWF and then, in BF, we looked up to see a Hobby, 2 Sparrowhawks and a Buzzard, all in view at the same time. Among these was another hobby-shaped bird, but larger, that BG suggested might even have been a peregrine – GH said he wasn't able to confirm this with such a brief sighting. GH suspected that all of these birds of prey may have been drawn in to feed on flying insects disturbed by the extensive grass mowing taking place in the Chipstead Valley fields. Survey by Graham H and Brian Gardner submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report and pics by Brian Gardner. Click pics to enlarge.  Brown Argus, Fames Rough  Can anyone identify this mushroom found by the line of beeches between Fames Rough and Harholt Plantation?
Survey by Brian Gardner
submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report and pics by Brian Gardner. Click pics to enlarge. GH, GK and BG walked this week's transect on Monday afternoon. The weather was suitably warm but cloudy (except for a brief interlude when the sun put in an appearance) with a stiff breeze. The downward trend in numbers reported last week has accelerated rapidly, so although we saw butterflies from six species, the total number of individuals has plummeted to only 24, whereas last week's count was 97. With this decline rate it's feasible that we may run out of butterflies to count before the end of the transect season in four weeks' time. That would be a first!
Goats outnumber butterflies on Coneyboro Hill
The five species that we recorded were in low but not unusual numbers: it was the missing species (that have boosted other years' week 21 counts) that have so reduced this week's figures. In previous years we've seen Brimstones, Small Coppers, Silver-washed Fritillaries, Dark Green Fritillaries, Brown Arguses, Large Whites and Gatekeepers. As I write this report we've had a few hours of the first heavy rain from several months but this will probably will not benefit our butterfly population. Survey by Brian Gardner, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report by Brian Gardner. Pics by Graham K and Brian G. Click to enlarge.  Brown grass in Harholt Plantation -BG  Artificial grass left at Holly Lane Car Park -GK
 Close up on our clipboard: the Meadow Brown we hoped was a Grayling -BG  Prevailing conditions: parched grass on Stagbury Field -BG
Next Wednesday, 17th August, it's hoped that as many WoodChippers as possible will join the Surrey Wildlife Trust/Butterfly Conservation Trust work party with an aim of taking out an area of encroaching thorn scrub in Fames Rough. As reported regularly in our blog in recent years, the scrub is steadily taking over what was until recently a butterfly-rich flower meadow. See recent emails from Andy, Graham K and Richard C for more details of the work. Or contact Graham K direct: smilingnicely@me.com Survey by Brian Gardner, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report by Brian Gardner. Pic by Graham K. Click to enlarge.  Common Blue, Hill Wood Field
Survey by Brian Gardner and Graham H submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report and pics by Brian Gardner. Click on pics to enlarge.
Survey by Brian Gardner and Graham H submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). Report by Brian Gardner. Pics by Brian G. Click on pics to enlarge. |
The TransectualsHere you'll find details and pictures from the team carrying out our regular butterfly surveys (known as transects) over 26 weeks during Spring and Summer. Archives
September 2022
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