Mid-season numbers

29/6/2022

Tuesday's transect 13 marked the half-way point in the butterfly counting season. GH and BG set off in the teeth of a fairly strong SW wind and a sky with more dark clouds than we had expected, but fortunately it was warm enough for butterflies to be active.

The wind was most noticeable on the exposed Hither Field and Coneyboro Hill (sections 1 and 2) but, despite the less than favourable conditions, we saw Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites there. As reported last week, the density of the thorn scrub in Fames Rough has made it impossible to walk the lower path (section 3) and we decided to walk out and back to the far end of FR's upper path as the walk of sections 3 and 4. While we were in FR the clouds lessened allowing much more warm sun for the remainder of the transect.

We recorded 50 Meadow Browns (67 fewer than last week) but had higher counts for the Ringlets and Marbled Whites.

Count Details:
74 Marbled White
50 Meadow Brown
43 Ringlet
14 Small/Essex Skipper
(inc. 2 confirmed Small)
3 Dark Green Fritillary
2 Small Heath
2 Large Skipper
2 Red Admiral
1 Comma
1 Speckled Wood
Summary: 192 Butterflies from
10 species.
2018's total of 1,066 butterflies is our week 13 record.
Click on butterfly names for more info.

Survey by Brian Gardner and Graham H submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
Report and pics by Brian Gardner.
Click on pics to enlarge.