Tuesday 27th
Another Gatekeeper was at the Chequers whilst it was clear there had been a good emergence of Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals, plus a few Peacocks.
Monday 26th
With just over 350 butterflies it was the busiest transect of the year so far. It included 127 Small/Essex Skippers, 48 Marbled Whites, and 103 Meadow Browns. There was also an impressive 21 Small Coppers (after a very poor start to the season) and the first Gatekeeper of the year in The Elms. At least 14 Small Tortoiseshells were seen on Worth marshes.
Thursday 22nd
Four Large Skippers were in the Oasis.
Wednesday 21st
A SWALLOWTAIL was photographed on Prince's Beach (as predicted on the 5th).
Monday 12th
Butterflies are still not abundant on the BMS Transect. The prolonged north-easterlies last month and the dry landscape due to lack of rain, coupled with the effects of the drought last summer, has made grassland butterflies particularly low in number. The next emergence of Small Tortoiseshell has begun and the first four Meadow Browns were in Restharrow Dunes. Another four Meadow Browns were on New Downs and our first Small/Essex Skipper of the year.
Sunday 10th
A rare sighting for this spring with a Small Copper on Worth marshes.
Friday 9th
The Jubilee Field was really active in the morning with at least eight Holly Blues and our first Large Skipper of the year.
Monday 5th
The strong north-easterlies continue to play havoc with the BMS Transect and even ad-hoc sightings of butterflies. However, there was a small arrival of Swallowtails into East Kent in the last day or so. Do keep your eyes open. They are presumably wild-bred individuals from continental Europe but unfortunately someone has released a lot of Black-veined Whites into the South-east which has muddied the waters somewhat.
