Summer species take centre stage

We had intended to do the transect on Friday but, as the weather that day looked unfavourable, we made a last-minute decision in favour of the more promising Saturday. This proved to be a good choice as we were able to walk around in continuous warm sunshine – just the sort of weather to encourage butterflies.
Although the numbers recorded have dropped back from the record highs of the early season, the day’s count of 151 from 14 species was pretty well average for the time of year. The figures were helped along by seeing the summer’s first Small/Essex Skippers, Dark Green Fritillaries, Marbled Whites and Ringlets. These new arrivals helped compensate for our recording fewer Common and Holly Blues, Brimstones, Small Coppers and Dingy Skippers, many of which are now past their peak flight period.
We also had two rare sightings of 2 separate
Roe Deer, one on the top edge of Stagbury Field and the other at the Burgh Heath end of Fames Rough.

Count details:
​ 64 Meadow Brown
24 Marbled White
23 Small Heath
10 Brimstone
8 Small/Essex Skipper (5 identified as Essex, 1 identified as Small and 2 unconfirmed)
6 Large Skipper
5 Common Blue
3 Ringlet
2 Comma
2 Red Admiral
2 Dark Green Fritillary
1 Dingy Skipper
1 Speckled Wood

​Count Summary:
151 butterflies from 14 species.

This week's summer butterfly

Dark Green Fritillary - Brian Gardner

Dark Green Fritillary (Speyeria aglaja) – pictured above and at top.

• One of Britain's largest fritillaries, it is a powerful flyer, often racing across open countryside so quickly that it can be difficult to follow with binoculars.
• Despite its name, the butterfly isn't dark green above – the 'green' refers to the beautiful greenish-silver markings on the underside of its hindwings.
• Females lay eggs near violets, but the caterpillars don't feed immediately. Instead, they overwinter as tiny newly hatched larvae before emerging to feed the following spring.
• When to see them in the UK: Typically June–August, with peak numbers usually occurring in July on flower-rich grasslands, coastal dunes and heathland.

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

This week's survey by  Brian Gardner and Liz North submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
​Report by GK, BG & AI.
Dark Green Fritillary header photo: Graham Kenward.