Shall I compare this to a summer’s day?

As Shakespeare once mused:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm’d.
That 16th-century weather report still holds true for British summers – although today we’d probably call it 'sunny intervals with a chance of poetic reflection.' And sure enough, this week’s butterfly survey enjoyed just such weather: warm, bright, and butterfly-approved.
The mild temperatures triggered a fluttering boom across the transect, with 221 butterflies recorded—roughly three times our average for Week 6. The stars of the show? Common Blues, Dingy Skippers, Small Heaths, and Brimstones, all out in force. Once again, Fames Rough lived up to its reputation as a butterfly hotspot, contributing a whopping 114 to the total.
As cooler conditions creep in, we’ll be watching with interest to see if next week’s numbers continue to soar – or take a turn for the verse!

Count details:
88 Common Blue
42 Dingy Skipper
34 Small Heath
24 Brimstone
10 Brown Argus
  8 Green Hairstreak
  6 Peacock
  2 Grizzled Skipper
  2 Holly Blue
  2 Orange Tip
  2 Small Copper
  1 Green-veined White
​Total: 221 butterflies from 12 species.

​For more info on these species visit butterfly-conservation.org     

Active this week

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) – a master of subtlety and survival.

• This butterfly rarely opens its wings when resting, making it easy to overlook despite being widespread.
• It can be active in cooler, breezy conditions when other species stay grounded – thanks to its ability to absorb heat quickly.
• The Small Heath may have up to three generations a year, adapting its life cycle to fit local weather conditions and habitats.

Small Heath, Fames Rough - Duncan Jennings

Spindle Ermine Moth Caterpillars (Yponomeuta cagnagella) – Nature’s spooky silk-spinners.

• These caterpillars create massive communal webs that can completely shroud spindle trees, giving them a ghostly, haunted look.
• Despite their eerie appearance, they don’t usually kill the tree – most bounce back after the caterpillars pupate and move on.
• Each web can house hundreds of caterpillars, all working together like a tiny silken city of leaf-munching roommates.

Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars, Hill Wood Field - Graham Kenward

Mating Brown Argus Butterflies (Aricia agestis) – a close encounter of the butterfly kind.

• Brown Argus butterflies are often mistaken for female Common Blues, since both sexes are have brown with orange spots on the underside.
• They have two broods a year, and mating usually takes place soon after the butterflies emerge – no time wasted!
• Their courtship is a delicate dance, with males using subtle wing flicks and scent scales to attract a mate.

Brown Argus mating, Fames Rough - Liz North

Survey by Brian G, Graham Harris, Liz North and Graham K submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS). ​Report by GK & AI.