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It was a very hot walk around that yielded a drop-off in numbers of Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Small/Essex Skippers, Small Heaths and Ringlets than we've recorded over recent weeks, but a rise in sightings of Chalkhill Blues, Gatekeepers, Brimstones and Peacocks. Still very few Common Blues, when in previous seasons we've seen large numbers of them.
 Southern Hawker, Coneyboro Hill Although the weather was borderline hot and calm, we didn't get the high butterfly numbers that might have been expected, however we recorded the highest number of species this year: 561 butterflies across 17 species. Although less numerous than recent weeks, the Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites still provided our highest counts with the newly emerged Gatekeepers as the third highest count. We also saw the first of this season's Chalkhill Blues close to our nurtured Horseshoe Vetch area in Stagbury Field and Purple Hairstreaks along the line of oaks in Hill Wood Field. The complete absence of Common Blues was worrying as in previous years they have been seen in high numbers at this point in the season. Our count figures have been entered on the BCT website.
Hover over pics for captions. Click on pics to enlarge. All pics © Graham Kenward 2019.
Hover over pics for captions. Click on pics to enlarge.
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The TransectualsHere you'll find details and pictures from the team carrying out our regular butterfly surveys (known as transects) over 26 weeks during Spring and Summer. Archives
May 2023
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