Scorchio!

12/7/2022

With temperatures set to set rise sharply during the day, GK, GH and BG started Monday's transect earlier than usual, at 10am, but even at that time it was already 28 degrees in the brilliant sushine. During the transect the temperature topped 34 degrees and we should consider whether we want or need to do future transects in such extreme conditions.

Once again we started Monday's walk at Section 11, proceeding to 12, then on to Section 1 and so on, ending at 10. The high temperature and the light breeze brought out a a total of 346 butterflies, replacing last week's total of 305 as the highest this year. We recorded plenty of high-season Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Gatekeepers and Small/Essex Skippers, especially on Hill Wood Field (Section 7) which is now where we see the most butterflies. Although Fames Rough (Sections 2 & 3) is, sadly, poorer in butterflies than in previous years, it is still favoured by the spectacular Silver-washed Fritillaries and while there we were treated to a high-speed formation fly-past of three SwFs.

We also had the first sightings of the second-brood Common Blues and Brown Argus and Small Coppers. Here's hoping they have a good season.

There is now a herd of goats on Coneyboro Hill (Section 2) with the task of eating the overgrowth of scrub. Pics below.

Count details:
123 Meadow Brown
72 Marbled White
47 Gatekeeper
40 Small/Essex Skipper
(1 confirmed Essex)
32 Ringlet
7 Silver-washed Fritillary
6 Small White
4 Large White
3 Brimstone
3 Comma
3 Small Copper
1 Large Skipper
1 Brown Argus
1 Common Blue
1 Peacock
1 Red Admiral
1 Speckled Wood

Summary:
346 butterflies from 17 species.
Click on butterfly names for more info.

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