Two Tunnels Butterfly Count

Butterfly Species:  Comma (1) Green Veined White (1) Large White (1) Meadow Brown (1) Red Admiral (1) Small White (3) Speckled Wood (2) Red Admiral - Midford 31-08-2018 The last day of August and a quiet day along the path. The weather was pleasant with broken cloud and spells of warm sunshine (20c). There are now very few butterflies to be seen along the path. The most common species today was Small White. They could still be seen fluttering along the embankments when the sun shone. As I entered the Devonshire Tunnel a solitary Peacock butterfly was flying gently into the tunnel ahead of me. These butterflies, along with several other 'Vanessid' species hibernate in the adult stage. This made me wonder just how many of our overwintering butterflies have already entered hibernation despite the warm conditions and how they would fare over the winter. The Buddleja bushes were still showing some flowers and this is where I met a freshly emerged Red Admiral. These are ...

Butterfly Species: Brown Argus (1) Common Blue (2) Green Veined White (1) Red Admiral (1) Small Copper (1) Small White (11) Speckled Wood (7) Small Copper - Tucking Mill 24-08-2018 A much cooler and cloudier day today with temperatures peaking at around 16c. This is quite cool and falling short of ideal temperatures for butterfly spotting. The weather has entered a generally cooler and cloudier period with occasional rainfall. The grass in urban areas are showing their resilience by greening rapidly after the long summer drought. But despite the weather there was one welcome surprise along the path near Tucking Mill. A freshly emerged Small Copper butterfly busying itself on the steep embankment. This is the first of this species I have spotted this summer and brings the species total this year to a pleasing 26! Bumblebee - Near Tucking Mill 24-08-2018 The Buddleja is still blooming in patches along the path and this is attracting a number of bumblebees. Interestingly th...

Butterfly Species:  Brown Argus (1) Common Blue (4) Green Veined White (5) Holly Blue (2) Large White (1) Meadow Brown (3) Small White (5) Brown Argus - 13-08-2018 The long drought of the summer had finally past as I headed off along the path. The weather was warm at 21c but with a lot of cloud there were few butterflies to be seen. Following the weeks of hot sunny weather the insects seemed exhausted and lethargic. There is definitely a sense that the butterfly days of summer are beginning to draw to a close. Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Tucking Mill As I passed over the Tucking Mill viaduct it was nice to catch a glimpse of a migratory Humming-bird Hawkmoth nectaring of the last of the Buddleja flowers. Further along the path I saw the first of two Holly Blue butterflies and the first of five Common Blues.  The 'Whites' (Small, Green-veined, and Large) were still relatively common. As I have said before on this blog, these species are frustrating to count. T...

Butterfly Species:  Comma (1) Common Blue (16) Gatekeeper (3) Green Veined White (6) Meadow Brown (5) Painted Lady (1) Red Admiral (1) Silver-washed Fritillary (2) Small White (2) Speckled Wood (5) Painted Lady butterfly - Midford Viaduct Another sunny ride along the path today. Although the temperature has now cooled to a 'modest' 24c I was expecting a good number of butterflies to be on the wing. But alas no. The Buddleja bushes along the Tucking Mill section of the path were weirdly quiet with barely a butterfly (or bee) to be seen. This was mid-afternoon but even so! Common Blue Butterfly - Tucking Mill The most common butterfly of this walk was appropriately the Common Blue. These are now in full flight and can be seen almost anywhere along the path where flowers are still providing nectar. A total of were 16 spotted along the way. This included the wooded sections which are completely unlike their normal open, grassy habitats. Meadow Brown Butterf...

Butterfly Species:  Brimstone (1) Small Tortoiseshell (1) Comma (1) Holly Blue (1) Small White (4) Green Veined White (7) Large White (1) Common Blue (7) Meadow Brown (6) Red Admiral (2) Silver Washed Fritillary (4) Gatekeeper (11) Clouded Yellow (1) Brown Argus (2) Silver-washed Fritillary (var. Valezina) - Midford Viaduct 01-08-2018 Today's Trip did not get off to a promising start. As I set off the clouds were filling in the blue sky and the temperature was hovering around 20c. The overcast sky meant I did not see a single butterfly by the time I entered the two tunnels. Holly Blue - Tucking Mill 01-08-2018 Happily, although the clouds did not disperse significantly, things began to improve once I got to the Tucking Mill section of path. Here I spotted a solitary Holly Blue butterfly nectaring on a tall flower. This is only the third of this species I have managed to positively identify here this year. Small Tortoiseshell - Midford Viaduct 01- 08-2018 The...