More species this week

Following last week's record heat and the subsequent downpours, we counted fewer numbers overall but we recorded 18 species, one more than the season's previous best of a fortnight ago. We saw more Common Blues than last week, the Chalkhill Blues were out in good numbers and we saw our first Brown Arguses. In addition, we had higher than usual counts of Brimstone, Silver-washed Fritillary and Peacock.
 
Although we didn't see any cattle in Section 1 of the transect it looked as though they had singled out our Kidney Vetch patch as the best spot in Hither Field to have a roll. There were cowpats around to indicate they were the culprit(s).


Survey on 30-7-19 by Brian G and Graham H.
​submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). 
Info by Brian G.

Here are this week's details:
124  Meadow Brown
115 Gatekeeper
  27 Chalkhill Blue
  23 Marbled White
  19 Brimstone
  14 Common Blue
  12 Brown Argus
  10 Peacock
    7 Silver-washed Fritillary
    5 Ringlet
    4 Dark Green Fritillary
    3 Small/Essex Skipper
    3 Large White
    3 Small White
    3 Small Copper
    2 Small Heath
    2 Red Admiral
    2 Speckled Wood

Total: 376 butterflies across 18 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.