Hot stuff

With temperatures rising above the 30 degree mark, yesterday's transect was an exceptionally hot one. This unusual late season heat has encouraged the flowers on which the butterflies feed to carry on producing nectar and correspondingly our butterflies are still around in reasonable numbers (albeit in fewer species), especially the Meadow Browns, Common Blues and Brown Arguses and Small Heaths. 
 
We recorded a total of 249 butterflies across 9 species. For the equivalent week's transect in 2016 our count was 165 from 11 species, in 2017 it was139 from 12, and last year it was 60 from 9. There's quite a difference between 2018 and this year.
 
Count details:
 
115 Meadow Brown
  49 Common Blue
  28 Brown Argus
  26 Small Heath
    8  Large White
    4 Chalkhill Blue
    2  Small White
    1  Brimstone
    2  Gatekeeper

​Click on butterfly names for more info.

Male Common Blue, Stagbury

​Survey on 28-8-19 by Brian G, Graham H and Graham K, submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). 
Info by Brian G.​ Pics by Graham K.

Click on pics to enlarge.