To the Moon and back – twice!

Astronauts are not the only ones setting distance records. UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) volunteers have collectively walked around 950,000 miles since 1976 – equivalent to roughly twice the distance to the Moon and back. In recent years, their annual survey effort is estimated at 120,000–160,000 miles, or about 140,000 miles per year, reflecting thousands of weekly transect walks carried out across the UK each butterfly season.
For our latest contribution to that remarkable total, on Walk 2 of our season LN and BG were joined by GK, making a welcome return to butterfly counting. Although the afternoon began warm with a brisk south-easterly wind, conditions soon deteriorated into cloud and a cold, unpleasant breeze. 
While the weather was still just about butterfly-friendly, we recorded 8 Peacocks (in Hither Field and Fames Rough), 7 Brimstones (all in Hither Field), and a single Comma (in Fames Rough). After leaving Fames Rough the temperature dropped further, and no additional butterflies were seen – bringing a modest but meaningful addition to the millions of steps that underpin this extraordinary long-term record.

A reliable early flyer
Peacock Butterfly (Aglais io) – pictured above.

• Its striking ‘eye-spot’ markings are used to scare off predators like birds.
• Despite its delicate looks, it hibernates through winter and is often one of the first butterflies seen in early spring.
• When threatened, it can make a hissing sound by rubbing its wings together.
• Flight times: Seen from early spring (March) after hibernation, again in summer (July–August) as a new generation emerges, and into autumn (September–October) before returning to hibernation.

This week'survey by Brian Gardner, Liz North and Graham Kenward
​​submitted to Butterfly Conservation (UKBMS).
​ ​Report by GK, BG & AI.
Header photo by Brian Gardner.
​
​For more info on the species mentioned, visit
​​butterfly-conservation.org

Clouds gathering over Fames Rough - Graham Kenward