Record number of Meadow Browns

4/8/2024

We chose the morning of Friday 3rd August for transect 18 as it was forecast to be cooler than the previous sweltering days. It followed the heavy downpour and thunderstorm of the evening before and, as we started our walk, the early mist was starting to thin. Fortunately, it was warm enough for butterflies to be flying. As the sun slowly broke through the cloud the warmth increased, so that eventually it was hot and humid, but the butterflies seemed to like it. This was one of the rare occasions that we saw butterflies (in this case Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers) in all 12 transect sections: we counted 363 MBs (our highest ever) and 130 GKs. We also saw second-broods of Brown Argus, Common Blue, Brimstone and Red Admiral. The Purple Hairstreaks were flying around Hill Wood Field's oak trees – just as difficult to spot as last week but fortunately sociable enough to pose for photographs. According to BCT's records the peak of the Chalkhill Blues' flight period is between 22nd July and 12th August each year but, with little more than a week remaining of this period, we are still waiting for our first sighting.

Count details:
363 Meadow Brown
130 Gatekeeper
7 Common Blue
7 Small/Essex Skipper (incl. confirmed 1 Essex and 2 Small Skipper)
6 Marbled White
5 Purple Hairstreak
5 Brimstone
2 Small Heath
2 Silver-washed Fritillary
1 Brown Argus
1 Large White
1 Red Admiral
1 Small White
1 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
531 Butterflies from 14 species.

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.