Two Tunnels Butterfly Count

  Species: Meadow Brown (1) Small White (1) Speckled Wood (2) Common Darter Dragonfly - Tucking Mill 26-09-21 My last trip along the path this year was on the 26th September. Just three species of butterfly, and four individuals counted.  The weather was fine with broken cloud and a temperature of around 19c when I arrived by bike. It wasn't a butterfly that greeted me though, but a late dragonfly. A Common Darter perched on a fence post to bask in the sunshine. Meadow Brown - Tucking Mill 26-09-21 Away from the path itself, a faded female Meadow Brown was seen, wings wide open in a grassy area near the footpath. Devil's-bit scabious - Tucking Mill 26-09-21 As I headed back home it was interesting to see many Devil's Bit Scabious flowers still in Bloom. It tends to grow in the shadier parts of the landscape here but is quite plentiful in places. This is the main foodplant of the rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly which I have previously seen close to the cycle path. It's ...

Species:  Small Copper (1) Green-veined White (1) Painted Lady (1) Small Tortoiseshell (1) Red Admiral (3) Meadow Brown (1) Speckled Wood (2) Green-veined White - Midford 11-09-21 Another late afternoon visit on the 11th and fewer butterflies on the wing. The sun is lower in the sky now and the cycle path is much shadier than during a midsummer afternoon. The weather was fine though with the temperature hovering around 18c. Painted Lady - Midford 11-09-21 I decided to head towards the Buddleia bushes that grow on the viaduct at Midford. These shrubs usually attract butterflies, and at this time of day the viaduct is still in direct sunshine. This proved a good move as there were Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshell and a fresh looking Painted Lady. Small Copper - Tucking Mill 11-09-21 Returning to Tucking Mill and departing from the cycle path, I headed for the grassy slopes that adjoin the path. Here I spotted a lone Small Copper. This is a species I only occasionally see even...