Ideal for butterflies

28/7/2024

GH, GK LN and BG walked transect 17 (of 26) in the morning of Friday 26th. The weather was warm with occasional sunny spells to help maintain the temperature. It was ideal for butterflies, who were seen in high numbers across most of our 12 sections. As per last week we followed the revised route, entering Fames Rough from the downhill path beside Coneyboro Hill Field and crossing Coneyboro on our return.

Once again the most prominent in our count were Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Marbled Whites and Small/Essex Skippers. Over the last couple of transects we have craned our necks looking high into the oak trees along the top of Hill Wood Field for Purple Hairstreaks and on Friday afternoon there they were – difficult to spot at first but after a few patient minutes we saw them flittering high in the branches and then coming down, giving us close-up views for our cameras. We're still awaiting our first Chalkhill Blues on Stagbury Field's Horseshoe Vetch patch, their emergence due about now. We also had our first Silver-washed Fritillary and a Painted Lady, plus possible second-brood Brimstones and one each of a Common Blue, and a Small Copper. Our total count for this transect was 495, our second highest of this season, from 16 species.

Count Details:
225 Meadow Brown
157 Gatekeeper
35 Marbled White
34 Small/Essex Skipper (incl. 8 Essex and 3 Small confirmed)
10 Brimstone
9 Small Heath
5 Purple Hairstreak
5 Small White
4 Ringlet
4 Large White
2 Peacock
1 Comma
1 Common Blue
1 Painted Lady
1 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Small Copper

Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation..

Survey by Brian G, Graham H, Graham K and Liz N submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report by Brian Gardner.
Pics by Graham Kenward, Liz North and Brian Gardner.