Although the sky flirted with cloud cover now and then, the temperature climbed a few notches this week – enough to send butterfly activity soaring once again. It’s a rare treat to spot 14 species on a single transect, but that’s exactly what we recorded. Once again among them was the enigmatic Painted Lady of Fames Rough (surely the title of a Victorian novel!), joined by another appearing next door in Coneyboro Hill.
But the real surprise? A tiny marvel no larger than your thumbnail – the Small Blue. Making a seasonally early appearance, this dainty butterfly is typically seen in ones and twos, hugging the few flowering clumps of its sole food plant, Kidney Vetch, which we've been carefully encouraging in Chipstead Valley, particularly around the Lagoon near Outwood Lane.
So imagine our astonishment when, for the first time ever, seven Small Blues were spotted together in Hill Wood Field (Section 7) – nowhere near any Kidney Vetch, but instead fluttering calmly in a small patch of brambles and long grass beside the path. What drew them to this unexpected hangout? The butterflies aren’t telling, but they did pose obligingly for our photos.

We recorded:
101 Common Blue
31 Dingy Skipper
22 Brimstone
21 Small Heath
13 Green Hairstreak
  7 Small Blue (previously seen
​     early June to July)
  3 Peacock
  2 Holly Blue
  2 Painted Lady
  2 Small White
  1 Brown Argus
  1 Grizzled Skipper
  1 Orange Tip
  1 Speckled Wood
Total: 208 butterflies from 14 species (it’s not often we reach 14 species).

For more info on these species visit butterfly-conservation.org ​

Small Blue (Cupido minimus) – tiny in size, mighty in charm.

• It’s the UK’s smallest resident butterfly, with a wingspan of just 16–27mm  –  easily mistaken for a flying speck of ash.
• Despite its name, the Small Blue is mostly brown-grey on top; the blue is limited to a subtle dusting on the male’s wings.
• It lays its eggs on just one plant: Kidney Vetch, making conservation of this wildflower vital for its survival.

A cool northerly breeze drifted through several parts of the transect this week, dialling down the temperature – but not the butterfly activity. Generous helpings of sunshine more than made up for the chill, giving our survey another boost.
Hot on the heels of last week’s record-breaking total, this week’s count reached 187 butterflies across 13 species – our second-highest total ever for Week 7.
The Green Hairstreak also had a strong showing, with 12 individuals spotted in a single section – just shy of our record of 13 from Week 6 in 2018, and matching tallies from 2019’s Weeks 5 and 7. Clearly, this little green gem enjoys making history.
But the real showstopper came courtesy of Fames Rough, where we were treated to a surprise visit from a Painted Lady – a glamorous globe-trotter that had travelled a very long way for a brief encounter in the sun (see below).
What to call the male of this species? Perhaps a Tattooed Gentleman!

​We recorded:
69 Common Blues
30 Brimstones
29 Dingy Skipper
26 Small Heath
12 Green Hairstreak
  5 Small Copper
  4 Peacock
  3 Brown Argus
  3 Grizzled Skipper
  3 Speckled Wood
  1 Holly Blue
  1 Orange Tip
  1 Painted Lady
Total: 187 butterflies from 13 species.

For more info on these species visit butterfly-conservation.org 

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) – the globe-trotting marvel of the butterfly world.

• Painted Ladies migrate thousands of miles – from North Africa to the UK – without a map, compass, or satellite navigation.
• They’re the most widespread butterfly on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica.
• Unlike many UK butterflies, they don’t hibernate – each generation keeps the migration going, like a relay race across continents.

As Shakespeare once mused:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d.
That 16th-century weather report still holds true for British summers – although today we’d probably call it 'sunny intervals with a chance of poetic reflection.' And sure enough, this week’s butterfly survey enjoyed just such weather: warm, bright, and butterfly-approved.
The mild temperatures triggered a fluttering boom across the transect, with 221 butterflies recorded—roughly three times our average for Week 6. The stars of the show? Common Blues, Dingy Skippers, Small Heaths, and Brimstones, all out in force. Once again, Fames Rough lived up to its reputation as a butterfly hotspot, contributing a whopping 114 to the total.
As cooler conditions creep in, we’ll be watching with interest to see if next week’s numbers continue to soar – or take a turn for the verse!

Count details:
88 Common Blue
42 Dingy Skipper
34 Small Heath
24 Brimstone
10 Brown Argus
  8 Green Hairstreak
  6 Peacock
  2 Grizzled Skipper
  2 Holly Blue
  2 Orange Tip
  2 Small Copper
  1 Green-veined White
​Total: 221 butterflies from 12 species.

​For more info on these species visit butterfly-conservation.org     

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) – a master of subtlety and survival.

• This butterfly rarely opens its wings when resting, making it easy to overlook despite being widespread.
• It can be active in cooler, breezy conditions when other species stay grounded – thanks to its ability to absorb heat quickly.
• The Small Heath may have up to three generations a year, adapting its life cycle to fit local weather conditions and habitats.

Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillars (Yponomeuta cagnagella) – Nature’s spooky silk-spinners.

• These caterpillars create massive communal webs that can completely shroud spindle trees, giving them a ghostly, haunted look.
• Despite their eerie appearance, they don’t usually kill the tree – most bounce back after the caterpillars pupate and move on.
• Each web can house hundreds of caterpillars, all working together like a tiny silken city of leaf-munching roommates.

Mating Brown Argus Butterflies (Aricia agestis) – a close encounter of the butterfly kind.

• Brown Argus butterflies are often mistaken for female Common Blues, since both sexes are have brown with orange spots on the underside.
• They have two broods a year, and mating usually takes place soon after the butterflies emerge – no time wasted!
• Their courtship is a delicate dance, with males using subtle wing flicks and scent scales to attract a mate.

The hottest May Day on record didn’t just have humans reaching for the sun cream – it sent our butterfly count soaring too. Unsurprisingly, the blazing sunshine gave our sun-worshipping species a major boost, resulting in a record-breaking 151 butterflies spotted on this transect – the highest ever for week 5 of the season.
A remarkable 128 of those were found in just the first five sections –Stagbury, Great Parsons, Coneyboro, and Fames Rough – clearly the prime destination for nectar-hunters and basking beauties.
We were delighted to see Speckled Woods make a surprise return to their usual shady hangouts, a first appearance here in some time and a hopeful sign for this woodland-loving species. Also spotted was the dashing Red Admiral, a familiar favourite that often migrates from the continent and seems equally at home flitting through gardens or sunning itself on paths.
Butterflies love a heatwave – and apparently, so do the record books!

Count details:
41 Dingy Skipper
36 Small Heath
32 Brimstone
14 Grizzled Skipper
  6 Common Blue
  6 Peacock
  5 Brown Argus
  4 Green Hairstreak
  3 Holly Blue
  2 Speckled Wood
  1 Orange Tip
  1 Red Admiral
Total:151 butterflies from 12 species.
​For more info on these species visit butterfly-conservation.org

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) – a high-flying beauty with seasonal tastes.

• It's one of the earliest blues to emerge in spring, often seen flitting high around holly bushes (hence the name).
• The caterpillars are picky eaters, feeding on holly in spring and switching to ivy in late summer – two broods, two diets.
• Unlike many butterflies that stay close to the ground, Holly Blues often fly high among trees and shrubs, making them easy to miss unless you're looking up.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) – the shady woodland specialist with a twist.

• Unlike most butterflies, it prefers dappled shade over open sun, often seen dancing in sunlit glades and woodland rides.
• Males are fiercely territorial, spiralling into mid-air battles to defend their favourite sunspots.
• It can overwinter either as a caterpillar or chrysalis, giving it flexibility to cope with the UK's unpredictable seasons.

Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) – a springtime splash of colour with hidden talents.

• Only the males have the bright orange wingtips – females are white and often mistaken for other white butterflies.
• It’s one of the first butterflies to appear in spring, often seen darting through hedgerows and along woodland edges.
• Its caterpillars are cannibalistic and will sometimes eat their own kind to eliminate competition for food.