Blog Archives

The last of the season

27/9/2019

We knew that this week's weather was set to be changeable and selected Friday for our last transect of 2019. A noticeably cool SW wind was blowing in our faces and the sky looked threatening as we were crossing Section 1 (Hither Field). Towards the end of this section we were checking on the Kidney Vetch (surprisingly, one plant was still in flower) when the first heavy shower hit and through this heavy rain we saw a fast-flying Red Admiral crossing our path, heading for shelter in the bordering trees. The rain eased off and we continued our walk in the hope that that downpour was just a 'clearing shower'. In Section 3 (Fames Rough) it started again but it was there that we saw our second and last butterfly of the day: a Meadow Brown. By this time we were quite wet and after sheltering under trees for a some time we decided to abandon as the conditions were unsuitable for any further butterfly sightings.

Predictably, as we drove out of the Ramblers Rest car park the sun came out!

The last butterfly to be recorded this season: a Meadow Brown in Fames Rough.

Survey on 27-9-19 by Brian G, Graham K and Graham H, submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Info by Brian G.

Pics by Graham K. Click pics to enlarge.

Fruits of the season

Still blooming: Viper's Bugloss in Fames Rough.

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They're still out there

19/9/2019

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Despite the cooler autumn nights, the week's warm and calm days have enabled our butterflies to continue, so that on yesterday's transect we recorded 50 butterflies (an increase of four over last week's count) across nine species. The most numerous were the Brown Arguses, with 16 counted, followed by 14 Meadow Browns and 9 Small Heaths.

Count Details:

16 Brown Argus
14 Meadow Brown
9 Small Heath
3 Small White
3 Speckled Wood
2 Red Admiral
1 Brimstone
1 Common Blue
1 Large White

Click on butterfly names for more info.

Section 10 of the transect: Stagbury, after recent mowing that removed large amounts of scrub.

Survey on 18-9-19 by Brian G, Graham K and Graham H, submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Info by Brian G.

Pics by Graham K.
Click pics to enlarge.

A fresh-looking Ash that's lost its companion to die-back in Fames Rough.

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Shorter days, fewer butterflies

13/9/2019

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The fine weather forecast for yesterday was slow arriving and we started our walk around in overcast, breezy conditions and even had a few minutes of a rain shower which once cleared gave way to a steady improvement.

With the onset of the autumn's shorter days and cooler nights, the number of butterflies seen is falling away rapidly. Two weeks ago our count was 209, last week it was 112 and this week it was down to 46 (from 7 species).

Count Details:

15 Meadow Brown
9 Small White
8 Brown Argus
6 Small Heath
6 Speckled Wood
1 Common Blue
1 Painted Lady

Click on butterfly names for more info.

Speckled Wood, Barn Field

Survey on 12-9-19 by Brian G, Graham K and Graham H, submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Info by Brian G.

Pics by Graham K.
Click pics to enlarge.

Field Scabious above Devil's BIt Scabious

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Temperature and butterflies down

3/9/2019

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Today's weather was fine, sunny and pleasantly warm – certainly an easier temperature than last week's unseasonable heat. The number of butterflies has approximately halved since last Tuesday's transect. The most numerous species were the Meadow Browns, Common Blues and Brown Arguses.

Count details:

57 Meadow Brown
20 Common Blue
13 Brown Argus
6 Small Heath
6 Small White
5 Chalkhill Blue
1 Large White
3 Brimstone
1 Green-veined White

Total: 112 butterflies across 9 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.

Survey on 2-9-19 by Brian G and Andy K, submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Info by Brian G.

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Butterfly Blog

The last of the season

Fruits of the season

They're still out there

Shorter days, fewer butterflies

Temperature and butterflies down

The Transect Team

Archives

Categories

Send us an email*

Butterfly Blog

The last of the season

Fruits of the season

They're still out there

Shorter days, fewer butterflies

Temperature and butterflies down

The Transect Team

Archives

Categories

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Send us an email*