For the first time this year, on the 15th June, I recorded butterflies on all ten sections of my butterfly transect. This runs from Crosstown in Morwenstow down into the Tidna Valley to the Altantic then climbs the cliff before returning along a Cornish hedge to the start.
Last year it was 23rd June when I recorded butterflies on all sections.
Despite seeing butterflies in each sector, the abundance was low with only 25 specimens but a good range of species; ten in all. In 2020 I recorded 64 specimens again of 10 species.
Large Skipper and Meadown Brown made their first appearance this year but it was the guest appearance of the second brood of Speckled Woods in the wooded sections that made a 100% record possible.
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| Large Skipper |
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| Meadow Brown |
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| Speckled Wood |
In contrast, there were over 100 newly emerged 7-spot Ladybirds. All along the open section in the Tidna Valley, were some quite yellow ladybirds. There were one or two larvae and pupae, but it appeared that there had been a mass emergence and they had not quite managed to achieve their normal red colour.
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| Newly-emerged 7-spot Ladybird |
Blogs I follow
https://downgatebatman.blogspot.com/
https://maryatkinsonwildonline.blogspot.com/
