Sunny intervals

Despite the slightly cool and unpromising sky when we started Wednesday's count, the sun soon started to make occasional appearances, lifting the temperature and the butterflies along with it. 
 
The 74 butterflies we recorded were half the number of last week's total, but on the plus side we counted 12 species, our best score since early August. Among these were several 'exotic' species: 3 Brown Hairstreaks on Hill Wood Field, a Painted Lady in Fames Rough, a Comma while negotiating the thorns, brambles and nettles between Fames Rough and Harholt Plantation, and a Red Admiral in Harholt P. Two of the Brown Hairstreaks were flying in the oaks on the top edge of Hill Wood Field where only a few weeks previously there had been Purple Hairstreaks. The third Brown Hairstreak was flying in the blackthorn bushes on the lower edge of the field – spotted just as GH commented that he'd never seen one on its blackthorn food plant! 

Summary:
41 Meadow Brown
  7 Small White
  6 Common Blue
  5 Small Heath
  4 Brown Argus
  3 Brown Hairstreak
  3 Speckled Wood
  1 Comma
  1 Green-veined White
  1 Painted Lady
  1 Red Admiral
  1 Small Copper
 Click on butterfly names for more info.
Total: 74 butterflies from 12 species.

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

Painted Lady, Fames Rough

Brown Hairstreak, Hill Wood Field

Comma on Blackberry, Harholt Plantation

Brown Hairstreak upperside, Hill Wood Field

Green-veined White on Field Scabious, Fames Rough

Red Admiral, Harholt Plantation

Sun Fly and Common Blue, Fames Rough

Common Darter, Fames Rough

Increasing scrub in the sadly neglected Fames Rough (and Coneyboro Hill) is making life difficult for butterflies and the volunteers who count them. The access path used by our team is rapidly disappearing under the rampant growth. Unfortunately, these areas do not fall under our remit, so we cannot currently maintain them.