The decline continues

GH, GK and BG walked this week's transect on Monday afternoon. The weather was suitably warm but cloudy (except for a brief interlude when the sun put in an appearance) with a stiff breeze. 
 
The downward trend in numbers reported last week has accelerated rapidly, so although we saw butterflies from six species, the total number of individuals has plummeted to only 24, whereas last week's count was 97.  With this decline rate it's feasible that we may run out of butterflies to count before the end of the transect season in four weeks' time. That would be a first!

Count details:
 11 Meadow Brown
    5 Chalkhill Blue
    4 Common Blue
    2 Small Heath
    1 Small White
    1 Speckled Wood
​Click on butterfly names for more info.

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

Speckled Wood, Hill Wood Field -BG

Worn Female Chalkhill Blue, Stagbury -GK

Goats outnumber butterflies on Coneyboro Hill

GK and friends