Meadow Browns still high

20/8/2024

Saturday (17th) was another transect walked in perfect warm and calm butterfly weather. Although the summer is nearing its close the butterfly numbers are holding up pretty well, helped largely by the unusually high Meadow Brown figures for this point in the season (they've normally already begun their decline by week 20). Gatekeeper numbers have dipped suddenly this week to 18 from last week's 102, Brimstones are down from 16 to 3, and the Skippers seem to have finished. On the plus side, 18 long-awaited Chalkhill Blues were seen on Stagbury Field, 41 second-brood Common Blues were counted on several of our sections, and the Brown Argus (second brood) count increased from 2 last week to 13 on this transect. For the fourth week flitty Purple Hairstreaks were still flying around the oak trees on Hill Wood Field.

Count details:
290 Meadow Brown
41 Common Blue
18 Gatekeeper
13 Brown Argus
10 Chalkhill Blue
4 Small Heath
4 Purple Hairstreak
3 Brimstone
3 Small White
2 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
389 butterflies from 11 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info from Butterfly Conservation.

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