A perfect day?

Sunday should have been a perfect day both for butterflies and transectuals – warm sunshine with a gentle southerly wind. Conditions were constant through all sections of our transect, but the butterfly numbers turned out more modest than expected.
   With a reduced team this week we reverted to our original route sequence, starting out from the Ramblers Rest.
   Although most of the sightings were made as usual on the early parts of the route, we were pleasantly surprised on section 12. Until this stage of the season, there were hardly any species to be found in this final stretch of our transect, which takes us across the middle of Chipstead Valley. But within a matter of yards we came across several Common Blues (all males), Small Heaths and Grizzled Skippers, with a final flourish by two Painted Ladies.
​   Further good news for our fluttery friends: more flowers are coming into bloom across the site, including the Kidney Vetch on Barn and Hither Fields and the rare Butterfly Orchid. This once again has produced several bud-packed stems, to reach their full glory later this month.

​Count details:
17 Dingy Skipper
16 Brimstone
  8 Common Blue
  8 Small Heath
  4 Green Hairstreak 
  4 Peacock
  2 Grizzled Skipper
  2 Painted Lady
  1 Small Copper
  1 Small White
  2 Speckled Wood
Summary: 65 butterflies from 11 species. 
​Click on butterfly names for more info.

Survey by Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).  ​
​Report and pics by Graham K.
​​
​Click on pics to enlarge.

Blooming well out there

Grass Vetchling, Hill Wood Field

Budding Butterfly Orchid

Manna Ash (Fraxinus ornus), near Ramblers Rest.