First Brown Hairstreaks of the season

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