Butterfly Blog - WOODCHIPS

And finally ...

30/9/2024

Following a week of frequent torrential rain, Saturday afternoon's weather was sunny but cool (a couple of degrees below the minimum temperature for butterflies to be flying) but, as this was the 26th transect of the 26-week counting season, GH and BG decided to go for it. At this time of year, butterfly numbers are in rapid decline: their food flowers are becoming scarce, the increasing cold saps their energy, wind and rain prevent them from flying to find the remaining flowers.

However, surviving butterflies were out enjoying Saturday's better conditions, especially in south-facing Fames Rough and Coneyboro Hill. We recorded 6 Meadow Browns, 2 Common Blues, 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Copper and 1 Speckled Wood. Our total count was 11 butterflies from 6 species.

Despite the news reports of a severe crash in the UK's butterfly population, this year's total count for our transects compares fairly well with previous years. This year's count of 4,588 is the 4th highest of the 8 complete seasons we have worked on: our highest count was 5,763 in 2019 (with 2018's 5,758 a close second) and our lowest count of 2022's 2,912. The Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers regularly provide the large numbers per season, while this year's count for Common Blues, Brown Argus, Chalkhill Blues, Red Admirals and Ringlets was low. We hope they will surge up again next year. It should also be noted that this year no Small Tortoiseshells were seen.

For further information see this spreadsheet detailing this season's and previous years' counts.

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

One more transect to go

22/9/2024

The afternoon of Thursday the19th proved to be a perfect choice for the penultimate transect of the 2024 season. We had continuous warm sun all the way round our 4 km walk, and the surviving butterflies were up and flying.

Just for a change, the Meadow Browns failed to provide the highest count, they were beaten this time by a surprising total of 29 Brown Argus. Our overall count of 56 butterflies from 9 species considered as reasonable for so late in the year.

There are frequent news reports at the moment of 2024 being a disastrous year for butterfly sightings in the UK, but with still one week left of our counting season, we have recorded our third highest annual total of the eight complete seasons for which we have provided data. This appears to be due to the strong showing of our Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites and Gatekeepers, but a more detailed study of the figures is required to identify population trends.

Count details:
29 Brown Argus
12 Meadow Brown
4 Small White
3 Common Blue
2 Small Heath
2 Brimstone
2 Speckled Wood
1 Large White
1 Small Copper
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Liz North, Duncan Jennings, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward.

Speckled Wood, Coneyboro Hill

Female Common Blue, Fames Rough

Declining numbers

17/9/2024

Week 24's transect was on the afternnon of Saturday, the 14th. The weather improved as we proceeded around the transect's route and the clouds soon gave way to full clear warm sun. The butterfly numbers were much reduced by the recent rain and colder nights. All of this week's count, except for a single Brimstone seen in section 12 (Stagbury Field), were recorded in our first six sections (Hither Field to Hill Wood Field – these receive more of the afternoon sun). Despite the terminal decline in numbers having set in, we had two exceptions – we saw more Speckled Woods and Small Whites on this transect than in any other transect this season.

Count details:
16 Meadow Brown
11 Brown Argus
7 Small White
6 Common Blue
5 Speckled Wood
3 Small Heath
2 Brimstone
Summary:
50 butterflies from 7 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Liz North, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward.

Worn Common Blue, Fames Rough

Speckled Wood, Fames Rough

Brown Argus, Fames Rough

Reasonable numbers for late season

9/9/2024

Saturday, 7th September, was forecast to have the driest warm weather of the week, especially when compared to the heavy rain and gloomy conditions of the preceding days. It was therefore chosen for transect 23 and proved to be mildly warm and overcast with a couple of brief but light drizzly showers.

Fortunately the butterflies didn't seem to be too unhappy and were seen in reasonable numbers considering the less than perfect conditions and the lateness of the season. There were some gaps in this week's cast list, namely the Purple Hairstreaks, Brown Hairstreaks, Small Heaths and Brimstones, but the Meadow Browns, Brown Argus and Common Blues continue to be fairly well represented. There was a Small White and one worn-looking female Chalkhill Blue remaining.

The number of butterflies seen at this time of year is entirely dependent upon having favourable weather so that they are warm enough to fly, and the availability of their food flowers – without these they will soon succumb.

Count details:
52 Meadow Brown
10 Brown Argus
5 Common Blue
1 Chalkhill Blue
1 Small White

Count summary:
69 Butterflies from 5 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward and Brian Gardner.

Chalkhill Blue on Scabious - GK

Brown Argus, Fames Rough -BG

Fames Rough from Coneyboro Hill -BG

Timely weather

31/8/2024

GH, GK and BG chose Friday, 30th August, for transect 22. The weather was fine, warm with only a light NE wind: just right for seeing late-season butterflies. We were relieved that the numbers counted had recovered following last week's cold weather plummet.

The Meadow Browns, Brown Argus, Common Blues and Small Heaths were still quite numerous and our Chalkhill Blues were just about holding on. Hill Wood Field's Purple Hairstreaks, which we've seen over the 5 weeks, seem to have finished but we had a single Brown Hairstreak pose nicely for us, only to disappear as soon we tried to get a photo. We also had our first sighting this year of a Green-veined White, in Stagbury Field. Speckled Woods have been seen singly this season but on transect 22 we recorded four.

Count details:
101 Meadow Brown
30 Brown Argus
11 Common Blue
7 Small Heath
4 Brimstone
4 Speckled Wood
3 Large White
2 Chalkhill Blue
1 Brown Hairstreak
1 Green-veined White
1 Small Copper
Count summary:
165 butterflies from 11 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward and Brian Gardner.

Green-veined Whiite -GK

Meadow Brown, Fames Rough -BG

Large White -GK

Speckled Wood, Coneyboro Hill -GK

Devil's Bit Scabious, Coneyboro HIll -BG

First Brown Hairstreaks of the season

28/8/2024

GH and BG walked transect 21 (only 5 more to the season's end) on Sunday afternoon in a mix of warm sun and cloud, with a gusting SW wind. This followed on from the previous day's long stretch of rain, which would have greatly reduced the number of butterflies seen on the transect. So that where we saw, for example, 290 Meadow Browns and 41 Common Blues last week, on Sunday these species were down to 64 MBs and 4 CBs. The Chalkhill Blues were still around on Stagbury Field. The highlight of the day was the season's first sighting of 2 Brown Hairstreaks flying around Hill Wood Field's oak trees, where we also saw 2 Purple Hairstreaks.

Count details:
64 Meadow Brown
6 Chalkhill Blue
4 Common Blue
3 Small Heath
2 Brown Argus
2 Brown Hairstreak
2 Purple Hairstreak
1 Gatekeeper
1 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
86 butterflies from 10 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

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

Brown Argus, Fames Rough

Common Blue, HIll Wood Field

Mating Chalkhill Blues, Stagbury

Meadow Browns still high

20/8/2024

Saturday (17th) was another transect walked in perfect warm and calm butterfly weather. Although the summer is nearing its close the butterfly numbers are holding up pretty well, helped largely by the unusually high Meadow Brown figures for this point in the season (they've normally already begun their decline by week 20). Gatekeeper numbers have dipped suddenly this week to 18 from last week's 102, Brimstones are down from 16 to 3, and the Skippers seem to have finished. On the plus side, 18 long-awaited Chalkhill Blues were seen on Stagbury Field, 41 second-brood Common Blues were counted on several of our sections, and the Brown Argus (second brood) count increased from 2 last week to 13 on this transect. For the fourth week flitty Purple Hairstreaks were still flying around the oak trees on Hill Wood Field.

Count details:
290 Meadow Brown
41 Common Blue
18 Gatekeeper
13 Brown Argus
10 Chalkhill Blue
4 Small Heath
4 Purple Hairstreak
3 Brimstone
3 Small White
2 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
389 butterflies from 11 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H, Liz N and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Liz North, Graham Kenward and Brian Gardner.

Brown Argus, Fames Rough -LN

Common Blue, Stagbury -BG

Mating Common Blues, Fames Rough -LN

Chalkhill Blue, Stagbury -GK

Silver-washed Fritillary, Fames Rough -GK

Teazels, Hill Wood Field -BG

Numbers still high

12/8/2024

This week's transect was walked on Friday morning in fine, warm weather that was perfect for maintaining butterfly numbers: rain, strong winds or cold at this time of the year could bring about an early close to the butterflies' flight season.

In Friday's favourable conditions, the Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers once again provided three-figure numbers to boost our count total, and we also had a slight rise in the second-brood Brimstones, Common Blues and Brown Argus. The Small/Essex Skipper, Marbled White and Small Heath numbers are now in decline, while Silver-washed Fritillaries and Purple Hairstreaks are holding steady. This week was the final week of the normal high point for sighting Chalkhill Blues and, at last, we found them, but sadly only four – two on Stagbury Field's Horseshoe Vetch patch and a single on each of Hither and Coneyboro Fields.

Count details:
265 Meadow Brown
102 Gatekeeper
18 Common Blue
16 Brimstone
4 Silver-washed Fritillary
6 Small/Essex Skipper (incl. 1 confirmed Small Skipper)
5 Purple Hairstreak
4 Chalkhill Blue
2 Brown Argus
2 Dark Green Fritillary
2 Marbled White
2 Small Heath
2 Small White
1 Peacock
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
432 butterflies from 14 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward and Brian Gardner.

Chalkhill Blue, Stagbury -GK

Brown Argus, Fames Rough -GK

Dark Green Fritillary, Coneyboro Hill -GK

Worn Dark Green Fritillary -GK

Male Common Blue -GK

Female Common Blue -GK

Purple Hairstreak, HIll Wood Field - BG

Small Skipper, Fames Rough -GK

Record number of Meadow Browns

4/8/2024

We chose the morning of Friday 3rd August for transect 18 as it was forecast to be cooler than the previous sweltering days. It followed the heavy downpour and thunderstorm of the evening before and, as we started our walk, the early mist was starting to thin. Fortunately, it was warm enough for butterflies to be flying. As the sun slowly broke through the cloud the warmth increased, so that eventually it was hot and humid, but the butterflies seemed to like it. This was one of the rare occasions that we saw butterflies (in this case Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers) in all 12 transect sections: we counted 363 MBs (our highest ever) and 130 GKs. We also saw second-broods of Brown Argus, Common Blue, Brimstone and Red Admiral. The Purple Hairstreaks were flying around Hill Wood Field's oak trees – just as difficult to spot as last week but fortunately sociable enough to pose for photographs. According to BCT's records the peak of the Chalkhill Blues' flight period is between 22nd July and 12th August each year but, with little more than a week remaining of this period, we are still waiting for our first sighting.

Count details:
363 Meadow Brown
130 Gatekeeper
7 Common Blue
7 Small/Essex Skipper (incl. confirmed 1 Essex and 2 Small Skipper)
6 Marbled White
5 Purple Hairstreak
5 Brimstone
2 Small Heath
2 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Brown Argus
1 Large White
1 Red Admiral
1 Small White
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
531 Butterflies from 14 species.

Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

Survey by Brian G, Graham H, Graham K and Liz N submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward.

Brown Argus, Fames Rough

Common Blue, Hither Field

Purple Hairstreak, Hill Wood Field

Damaged Speckled Wood

Gatekeeper, HIll Wood Field

Meadow Brown on Marjoram

Hornet Mimic Hover Fly, Hill Wood Field

Ideal for butterflies

28/7/2024

GH, GK LN and BG walked transect 17 (of 26) in the morning of Friday 26th. The weather was warm with occasional sunny spells to help maintain the temperature. It was ideal for butterflies, who were seen in high numbers across most of our 12 sections. As per last week we followed the revised route, entering Fames Rough from the downhill path beside Coneyboro Hill Field and crossing Coneyboro on our return.

Once again the most prominent in our count were Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Marbled Whites and Small/Essex Skippers. Over the last couple of transects we have craned our necks looking high into the oak trees along the top of Hill Wood Field for Purple Hairstreaks and on Friday afternoon there they were – difficult to spot at first but after a few patient minutes we saw them flittering high in the branches and then coming down, giving us close-up views for our cameras. We're still awaiting our first Chalkhill Blues on Stagbury Field's Horseshoe Vetch patch, their emergence due about now. We also had our first Silver-washed Fritillary and a Painted Lady, plus possible second-brood Brimstones and one each of a Common Blue, and a Small Copper. Our total count for this transect was 495, our second highest of this season, from 16 species.

Count Details:
225 Meadow Brown
157 Gatekeeper
35 Marbled White
34 Small/Essex Skipper (incl. 8 Essex and 3 Small confirmed)
10 Brimstone
9 Small Heath
5 Purple Hairstreak
5 Small White
4 Ringlet
4 Large White
2 Peacock
1 Comma
1 Common Blue
1 Painted Lady
1 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Small Copper

Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation..

Survey by Brian G, Graham H, Graham K and Liz N submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward, Liz North and Brian Gardner.

Common Blue -LN

Brimstone, Hill Wood Field -GK

Essex Skipper -GK

Small Skipper -BG

Painted Lady, Stagbury -GK

Purple Hairstreak, Hill Wood Field -LN

Scorpion Fly -LN

Small White, Hill Wood Field -GK

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