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Butterfly Blog

A warmer day

27/5/2024

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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
Small Copper, Great Parson's Field
Common Blue, Fames Rough
Dingy Skipper, Hill Wood Field
Small Heath, Hill Wood Field
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Numbers down

18/5/2024

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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:
17 Brimstone 
  7 Dingy Skipper
  5 Green Hairstreak
  5 Peacock
  5 Small Heath
  3 Grizzled Skipper
  1 Small White
 
Summary:
43 butterflies from 7 species.
Survey by Brian G and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). 
​ 
​​Report and pics by Brian Gardner and Graham Kenward.
Grizzled Skipper, Fames Rough -GK
Male Brimstone, Fames Rough -GK
Green Hairstreak, Fames Rough -BG
Small Heath, Fames Rough -GK
Picture
Peacock on a path, Fames Rough -BG
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Ideal weather

11/5/2024

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At last some proper weather for butterflies. And very pleasant for humans too. Benefiting from ideal conditions – warm sunshine with little or no breeze throughout – this transect saw a doubling of butterfly species (10) and higher numbers (104) in contrast to last week’s outing.

While Brimstones were once again in the majority, notable firsts of the season included Green Hairstreaks and Skippers (both Dingy and Grizzled), most of which occurred in Fames Rough. A more unexpected surprise was the Painted Lady we met in Hill Wood Field.
​
As you’ll see from the photos, on our transect travels we often come across other remarkable creatures, like the carefully camouflaged Sawfly (Rhogogaster viridis), and the bewitching Red-tailed Mason Bee (Osmia bicolor) which, while nest building, can look as if it is riding a broomstick. Both species were found in Fames Rough.


​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.

Survey by Graham H,  Graham K and Liz North submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). 
​ 
​​Report by Graham Kenward 
​Pics by Liz North and Graham Kenward
Grizzled Skipper, Fames Rough -LN
Holly Blue female, Coneyboro Hill -GK
Sawfly (Rhogogaster viridis), Fames Rough -LN
Red-tailed Mason Bee and nest, Fames Rough -LN
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A small break in the weather

3/5/2024

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The weather was reasonable for Tuesday afternoon's transect – we had some warm sun but with a strong headwind over Hither Field and Coneyboro Hill. 
 
The count was very similar to our last transect (no. 2) in that it consisted largely of Brimstones, (28) and Peacocks, (9) plus a single Holly Blue, an Orange Tip and our first Small White of the season.
​The total was 40 butterflies from 5 species. 
Picture
`Glamorous ewe on Stagbury:: "Today I'll be mostly wearing white."
Survey by Graham H,  Graham K, Liz North, Duncan Jennings and Brian Gardner submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). 
​ 
​
​Report by Brian Gardner. 
​Pic by Graham Kenward.
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • The area we cover
  • Featured creatures
  • Our Butterflies
    • Butterfly Blog
  • Bird Count
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