Cool and cloudy

Tuesday's transect, by Graham H and Brian, was done in minimal weather conditions. We got off to a poor start with only three Meadow Browns recorded in Section 1 (Hither Field) and nothing at all in the usually reliable Section 2 (Coneyboro Hill) but from Fames Rough onwards we saw a reasonable spread of species, albeit with reduced butterfly numbers because of the cool and cloudy conditions. Some of the butterflies were looking decidedly ragged: the photos below are obviously of a newly emerged, pristine second-brood Blue while the Small Copper looks like it's been around for a few weeks.

Count details:
   
61 Meadow Brown
14 Gatekeeper
  4 Brown Argus
  3 Common Blue
  3 Chalk Hill Blue
  3 Silver-washed Fritillary
  3 Small Copper
  1 Peacock
  1 Small White
 Click on butterfly names for more info.
Summary: 93 butterflies from 9 species.

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

Common Blue, wings closed

Not so pristine Small Copper

Common Blue, wings open