Higher heat, higher numbers

16/6/2022

Wednesday's transect was the first hot and calm day of the summer and the butterflies responded to these ideal conditions.

We've reported low counts for the ten transects walked so far this year but on this week 11 walk the numbers rocketed to 172, helped up by 109 Meadow Browns. This week's total of 172 beats 2017's week 11 count record by two.

The large number of Meadow Browns, together with the arrival of the first Marbled Whites, hopefully signal the start of the high season. We also saw our first Dark Green Fritillaries and more of the Common Blues. Small Blues were seen in reasonable numbers on the Kidney Vetch flowers at Stagbury Lagoon (not on our transect route) in recent weeks and we're pleased to report having seen one single Small Blue on the sparse KV on Hither Field.

Count details:
109 Meadow Brown
15 Common Blue
13 Marbled White
8 Small/Essex Skipper
7 Large Skipper
5 Dark Green Fritillary
4 Small Heath
3 Small Tortoiseshell
3 Speckled Wood
2 Brimstone
1 Large White
1 Small Blue
1 Small White
Total: 172 butterflies from 13 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.

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 on pics to enlarge.