Late-season shifts on transect 21

29/8/2025

Butterfly numbers on this week’s walk were a little below the late-season average, reflecting the natural slowdown as summer draws on.
Despite the decline, Meadow Browns still dominated with 139 recorded. Interestingly, the usually modest Small Copper took second place with 14 individuals – an unusual and welcome rise for this fiery little butterfly. In third place were the hardy Small Heaths, holding on with 11 sightings.
Our hoped-for Silver-spotted Skippers were absent this time, after their exciting appearances on the past two transects. Fortunately, they had already shown themselves just days earlier, when UKBMS experts Bill Downey and Gail Jeffcoate joined us on Stagbury Field and successfully located their eggs – a promising sign for the future of this rare species on our patch.

Count details:
139 Meadow Brown
14 Small Copper
11 Small Heath
10 Common Blue
8 Brown Argus
8 Chalkhill Blue
8 Large White
5 Small White
5 Speckled Wood
Count summary:
208 butterflies from 9 species.

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