The heat goes on


The grassy fields look more of a burnt caramel in colour than a lush green, and what vegetation is in flower is crisping and looking quite weedy - this heatwave is not doing them any favours at all, and we really could do with some rain. I'm pretty sure that here in Banstead there has been just one wet day in the past five weeks.

Anyhow, hot weather normally means something interesting turning up in the garden MV, and the garden's 10th record of Festoon (top) just about creeps into that category. Afterwards I walked the glades of Banstead Woods and, after many years of failure, finally saw a Purple Emperor there. Up until this morning the closest to home that I had recorded the species was Ashtead Common. Also seen were White-letter Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak (below).

Comments

Derek Faulkner said…
Certainly drying everywhere to a crisp at the moment, the eastern of Sheppey looks more like Dungeness in summer than a grazing marsh.
2 July 2018 at 14:16
Steve Gale said…
And it's only just July Derek. Imagine what a further dry month will do to the vegetation.
2 July 2018 at 15:31
John said…
The butterflies are going mad, WLH on Park Downs now and this morning I had a White Admiral on Banstead Downs! Another month..............
3 July 2018 at 11:53
Steve Gale said…
Excellent records John. There seem to be Purple Emperors cropping up in new places, wouldn't be surprised to bump into one even closer to home!
3 July 2018 at 12:36
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