One that got away

GH and BG walked the transect on Monday in warm but frequently cloudy weather. The day's total count was a reasonable one in what is proving to a generally poor year for butterflies. 
 
On the plus side, we recorded our second highest week 18 counts of 42 Chalkhill Blues and 154 Meadow Browns while, on the minus side, Brown Arguses remain mainly absent (with only two seen this year).
 
In Section 9 (Great Parson's Field) a medium sized dark brown butterfly with pale patches on its hind wings crossed our path then dropped down into the grass. Our initial thought was that it was a Meadow Brown but its flight was not not typical of an MB and neither were the pale patches. Although it allowed us to approach fairly close, it then flew off when I raised my camera. This was a pity because, upon reflection, GH strongly suspects it was a Grayling, a rare visitor for our area – the proverbial one that got away.

​Count details:
154 Meadow Brown
  42 Chalkhill Blue
  37 Gatekeeper
  17 Common Blue
    2 Small Heath
    2 Speckled Wood
    1 Brimstone
    1 Clouded Yellow
    1 Silver-washed Fritillary
    1 Small Copper
    1 Small White
 
Count Summary:
 259 Butterflies from 11 species.
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.

Chalkhill Blue on Marjoram, Stagbury Field

Silver-washed Fritillary on Marjoram, Coneyboro Hill.