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Final transect for 2023

28/9/2023

GH, GK and BG's last butterfly transect of 2023 was walked in Monday's fine warm weather, which brought out butterflies in good numbers for so late in the year. Our total count of 34 butterflies from 7 species boosted our grand total for the season to 4,481, a marked improvement over the scores for the past two years – our best results were those of 2018 and 2019 which both topped 5,700.

This year's 26-week season got off to a rather poor start when unfavourable weather caused us to miss 4 weeks of counting in April and May. This poor early season weather also held back our butterflies, so that our sightings were down on the usual for the time of year, but in June the count numbers rose satisfyingly when the right combination of rain, sun and warmth brought ideal conditions for the butterflies and continued until the end of August. It should be noted that this year's high count total was partly due to the higher than normal numbers of Meadow Browns and Brown Argus but, on the other hand, it was a poor year for Ringlets and Chalkhill Blues. In summary, after last year's record heat and drought we were concerned that there may have been a detrimental effect on the butterflies' success in breeding and the availabilty of their feeding plants in 2023 but it appears that we need not have worried.

Count details:
11 Meadow Brown
6 Brown Argus
6 Small Copper
6 Small White
2 Common Blue
2 Brimstone
1 Red Admiral
Click on butterfly names for more info.

The transect team on the last section of the last transect of the year.

Survey by Graham H, Brian Gardner and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner. Pics by Graham K.
Click pics to enlarge.

Brown Argus, Fames Rough

Female Common Blue, Fames Rough

Small Copper, Fames Rough

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Late season high

17/9/2023

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GH and BG walked this week's butterfly transect on Friday in warm, calm mid-September weather.

Despite the fine conditions, the end of season die-back in butterfly numbers was soon noticeable. Most of the butterflies in the day's count were seen between Hither Field, Coneyboro Hill and Fames Rough, with only a handful recorded in the other eight sections. 41 Meadow Browns, 12 Brown Argus and 10 Small Heaths made up the majority of our count. The day's total was 73 from 8 species, which is approximately half of last week's number, however 73 is still comparatively high number for so late in the season.

Count details:
41 Meadow Brown
12 Brown Argus
10 Small Heath
5 Small Copper
2 Common Blue
1 Brown Hairstreak
1 Peacock
1 Small White

Survey by Graham H and Brian Gardner submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report and pic by Brian Gardner.
Click pic to enlarge.

Small Copper, HIll Wood Field - BG

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Hot stuff

10/9/2023

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On Friday, we started this week's transect at 10am, an hour earlier than usual, to avoid the highest of the day's expected high temperatures. Despite this precaution, the heat soon soared to a very humid 31 degrees – fine for the butterflies but not so comfortable for us. This hot late summer is enabling the butterfiles to keep going longer than usual. We recorded 137 butterflies, whereas for last year's transect 23 we counted only 24, our lowest Week 23 number compared with 141 for 2021. Of course, as soon as the weather cools and/or the rain starts this butterfly season will be over.
Although declining slowly, the Meadow Browns were still the most numerous that we saw on the day, and they were well supported by good numbers of Brown Argus and Small Heaths. Unexpectedly, two Brown Hairstreaks were seen in Great Parson's Field and Barn Field – we usually see them in oaks facing onto Hill Wood Field.

Count details:
67 Meadow Brown
36 Brown Argus
18 Small Heath
6 Common Blue
4 Speckled Wood
2 Brown Hairstreak
2 Small White
1 Green-veined White
1 Small Copper

Count summary:
137 butterflies from 9 species.

Survey by Graham H, Brian Gardner and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner. Pics by Graham K and Brian Gardner.
Click pics to enlarge.