Blog Archives

Summer's here!

28/6/2024

That's what the butterflies think. Thursday's butterfly count rocketed up to 411 individuals (from 10 species). This is due to the emergence of the high summer Marbled Whites (207 counted), Meadow Browns (158), helped along by 23 Small Heaths and 9 Ringlets.

The week's high temperatures and strong sunshine were obviously responsible for the rapid increase in numbers. The fields were bright with a carpet of flowers – plenty of food for our butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Seven Small Blues were seen in last week's transect but this week we saw only 2 but, for the first time, one of these was on the small Kidney Vetch patch on the left (Outwood Lane) side of the main path.

We recorded our first Small/Essex Skippers of the year. The stroke (slash) in their name is used to cover two Skipper species with minute differences that are impossible to spot when the butterfly is in flight. We can usually make a positive identification if we get a sharp close-up photo that enables inspection of the antenna and wing markings.

In addition. we also had two Dark Green Fritillaries (first sightings of this year) zooming past, one in Hither Field and the other in Stagbury Field.

Count details:
207 Marbled White
158 Meadow Brown
23 Small Heath
9 Ringlet
4 Large Skipper
3 Common Blue
2 Dark Green Fritillary
2 Small/Essex Skipper
2 Small Blue
1 Red Admiral
Click on butterfly names for more info.

Small Blue on Kidney Vetch, Hither Field

Survey by Graham H and Brian G submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report and pics by Brian Gardner

Butterfly banquet: the rich display of flowers in Hither Field.

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Numbers double

22/6/2024

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Bad weather and the 'June drop' has affected butterfly counts on recent outings but this week's transect saw a significant change, helped by a milder temperature on a partially overcast day.

Although fewer species were observed, overall numbers doubled, and included first showings of Meadow Brown, Marbled White and Large Skipper.

The Small Blue continues to appear in larger numbers on the patches of Kidney Vetch which we have created and looked after over the years. These included Barn Field (section 12) and Hither Field (section 1), where a total of 7 were seen.

While not part of the transect, Small Blues have also featured strongly at the Lagoon, although on this day it was foxes who stole the show (pic below). Maybe not such good news for this year's Moorhen chicks!

Count details:
65 Meadow Brown
33 Small Heath
19 Marbled White
11 Common Blue
11 Ringlet
7 Small Blue
2 Brown Argus
2 Large Skipper
1 Brimstone
Summary:
151 butterflies from 9 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.

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

Small Blue on Kidney Vetch, Hither Field

Large Skipper, Fames Rough

Two young foxes at ease inside the Lagoon fence.

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First Small Blues

4/6/2024

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We'd had several cool windy and dull days, but Sunday 2nd June, the final day of transect week 9, was forecast to be a warm sunny day and so we chose it for our butterfly count – we were not disappointed. We counted a reasonable total number of butterflies from thirteen species, including the season's first Small Blues and Red Admirals. The two SBs were seen on Hither Field, where the Kidney Vetch (their specific food plant) that we seeded several years ago has once again flowered over a wide area of the field. We also noted that the sizeable Horseshoe Vetch patch (food plant of Chalkhill Blues) on Stagbury Field is looking plentiful and healthy and we hope that this indicates a successful season for the CHBs, which usually emerge in about 6 weeks' time.