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.

GK and BG did this week's transect on Wednesday afternoon. The weather was cloudy and slightly cool for the first sections of our walk but from Fames Rough onwards the very warm sun broke through more often.
 
Although a couple of species short of last week's list, week 7's list was pretty much a repeat of week 6. However, the numbers seen were much reduced: 43 butterflies, 61 fewer than last week.

​Count details:
41 Brimstone 
21 Dingy Skipper
10 Green Hairstreak 
  8 Peacock
  6 Grizzled Skipper
  6 Small White
   5 Holly Blue
   4 Small Heath
   2 Orange Tip 
   1 Painted Lady

Summary:
104 butterflies from 10 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.