First Small Blue

We thought that our Week 15 species count was a special one, but yesterday's topped it by three with a massive total of 22 species. The species count was boosted by finding a single Small Blue (our first one of the year) on the scattered Kidney Vetch in Hither Field,  two Clouded Yellows (our first sightings for two years), three newly emerged Chalkhill Blues and two second-brood Holly Blues. We saw a higher number of Gatekeepers but the Ringlet numbers have plummeted in only four days since our last transect.  
Here you can find the butterfly count spreadsheet detailing the season so far, along with the details of previous years' figures.

Today's very favourable weather brought out a total of  293 butterflies:
103 Meadow Brown
  43 Gatekeeper
  36 Marbled White
  32 Small/Essex Skipper
  14 Small White
  13 Common Blue
  10 Brimstone
    7 Ringlet 
    6 Large White
    4 Peacock
    3 Red Admiral
    3 Chalkhill Blue
    3 Comma
    3 Dark Green Fritillary
    3 Purple Hairstreak
    2 Clouded Yellow
    2 Holly Blue
    2 Small Copper
    1 Large Skipper
    1 Small Blue
    1 Small Tortoiseshell
    1 Silver-washed Fritillary

Small Blue, Hither Field

Butterfly moon: the rear end of a Silver-washed Fritillary

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

Common Blue?

Gatekeeper, Fames Rough

Silver-washed Fritillary on Blackberry, Fames Rough