Small Heaths stand out as Meadow Browns fade

GH and BG did this week’s transect on Monday 7th September. The weather was mainly cloudy with an occasional glimpse of the sun, but it was surprisingly warm and humid. The count of 47 butterflies was one short of last week’s tally, but with one less species. 
With the once-mighty numbers of Meadow Browns reduced to single figures, it was the 24 Small Heaths who provided the bulk of week 23’s count. 
​The numbers were helped along by 8 Brown Argus and 7 Small Coppers. We may have seen only a single Clouded Yellow this time but it was the rarer helice, a paler female-only variant of the Clouded Yellow. Even more remarkably, this was the second helice we’ve seen this season (the first was recorded on week 19’s transect of 7th August.

Count details:
​24 Small Heath
8 Brown Argus
7 Small Copper
3 Common Blue
3 Meadow Brown
1 Clouded Yellow
1 Small White

Count summary:
47 butterflies from 7 species.

Equal scores this  week

Female Common Blue - Graham Kenward

Meadow Brown - Brian Gardner

If you would like to know more about any of the butterfly species mentioned, 
​visit ​butterfly-conservation.org

​This week's survey by Graham Harris and Brian Gardner submitted to 
​Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
​Report by GK, BG & AI. Header photo of Small Heath by Duncan Jennings.