by James Forster (Fozzy)
The start of the month saw a continuation of the cool and wet conditions that we’ve been plagued with for what feels like the whole of the summer, so far. Thankfully, the jet stream pulled out of its stall mid-way through the month and moved north, releasing several high pressure systems to sit over the country, that we all craved. The average temperature for the month was 14.8OC but it was definitely a tale of two halves.
The month started well, with two White-letter Hairstreaks spotted on the Elm along the path past the dipping pond on the Reserve (where the ‘kissing gate’ used to be) on the very first day of the month. They were reported intermittently until 8th, with a peak count of four on 7th. The White-Letter Hairstreaks on the Elm at the end of Flasks Lane were first reported on 4th until 22nd, with the peak count being two individuals. Pleasingly, one was located during the second butterfly walk of the year, this time on the quarry on 20th, which was a new butterfly species for many who participated. Also recorded on the walk were Large White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Green-Veined White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell.
White-letter Hairstreak Adrian Wetherill
Meadow Brown and Ringlet were a fixture during the month, albeit in lower than expected numbers. The first report was on 5th during the weekly quarry butterfly transect, whilst the sister transect on the Reserve on 7th returned 19 Meadow Brown and nine Ringlet. Peak counts on the Reserve were 32 Meadow Brown and 17 Ringlet on 18th, whilst on the quarry, the peaks were 27 Meadow Brown and 18 Ringlet on 28th. Coincidentally, it was the last sighting for Ringlet for July in the whole recording area, although Meadow Brown were still seen in good numbers on the Reserve to the month’s end.
Small Skipper were seen on 8th near the Queen’s Oak along the path to the North Hide. This peaked at three individuals on 18th, but only one seen on the quarry on 28th.
Small Skipper Adrian Wetherill
July is usually the start of emergence for butterflies that will go on to overwinter, such as Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone. However, numbers were very low throughout the month compared with previous years. Two Red Admiral were reported during the quarry transect on 5th, whilst on 7th near the North Hide, single Comma and Red Admiral were noted. Another transect at the quarry on 10th recorded only singles of Red Admiral, Small White, Green-veined White and Comma. It wasn’t until 17th that the next Red Admiral was spotted on the Reserve. The following day between the North Hide and the main car park, four Red Admiral, three Small Tortoiseshell, a Small White and two Green-veined Whites were counted. The buddleia by the dipping pond hosted just three Red Admiral on 24th (contrast this with a peak of seven Red Admiral in 2023). The first Brimstone of the summer was on the wing on the Reserve on 26th, together with three Large White, two Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma. During the last few days to the end of the month, Red Admiral numbers remained low, with peaks of five Large White and two Brimstone on 28th on the quarry. A Peacock on buddleia on 30th with another Brimstone sighting on 31st were the only notable sightings for these species in the recording area.
Peacock Gareth Jones
Despite poor migration conditions for insects leading up to the month, there were two reports of the beautiful Painted Lady - on 21st along the path to Flasks Lake and on 31st, again on the quarry.
The month finished with single reports of a Gatekeeper along Flasks Lane on 22nd, and second brood Holly Blue and Speckled Wood on the Reserve on 31st.
Speckled Wood Fozzy