A warmer day

27/5/2024

GH, GK, LN and BG walked transect 8 in the fine weather of Saturday afternoon.

South-facing Coneyboro Hill and Fames Rough were warm and quite active with butterflies. In these two areas we counted 17 of the 18 Dingy Skippers, and 6 of the 8 Small Heaths, plus we also had this year's first sightings of Common Blues and a single Brown Argus. (Furthermore, we spotted the season’s first Small Copper in Great Parson’s Field.) In Fames Rough, we also had a good view of a Roe Deer as it crossed and 30 minutes later re-crossed our path (was it the same deer?).

Other points of interest: While in Hill Wood Field we noticed that many of the newly formed sloes in the blackthorn hedge were deformed into yellowy-brown elongated growths. Liz researched this blight and advised that it's a fungal infection named Pocket Plum to which blackthorn is susceptible. Apparently, the blighted fruit is inedible – not good news for both wildlife and human foragers. Also, just after we had finished our transect, Liz found a large and healthy looking glow-worm on the footpath on Stagbury Field.

Butterfly count details:
18 Dingy Skipper
16 Brimstone
12 Small Heath
8 Common Blue
4 Holly Blue
3 Green Hairstreak
3 Peacock
2 Grizzled Skipper
2 Small White
1 Brown Argus
1 Small Copper

Summary:
Total of 70 butterflies from 11 species.

Click on butterfly names for more info.

Survey by Brian Gardner, Graham H, Graham K and Liz North submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner
Pics by Graham Kenward