The Suffolk Argus
North Downs 11th August 2012 Richard Stewart encounters ‘clouds of butterflies’ There have been very few days, in my many years of British butterfly recording, when I have been unable to count accurately, because of the large numbers involved. One such day occurred at Ranmore Common and Denbies. The actual target species, second brood of Adonis Blue and Dingy Skipper, weren’t found and Ranmore initially was poor, with vast swathes of long and rank grasses, reducing nectar sources. As I moved downhill the habitat improved and I soon realised this was going to be a day when one species dominated: Chalkhill Blues. Both males and females were everywhere, a cloud of silvery blue and chocolate brown butterflies all around me, against a background of multi-coloured chalkland flora. It was a veritable ballet, with up to seven males pursuing one female in flight and others chasing Meadow Browns and one Comma out of their territory. I observed both courtship and mating but, unable to make any effective count, I decided at two points, near the bottom of Ranmore and halfway up Denbies, to adopt a different strategy. I initially stood still, then slowly revolved my body for 360 degrees, trying to count the Chalkhill Blues all around me; as I turned full circle the first count was approximately 150, the second around 200. I spent most of the day on these two stretches of the Downs and would calculate a total of at least 2,000, possibly nearer 3,000 Chalkhill Blues. Not all were active, allowing me to look at the subtleties of texture, colour and pattern through my close
focus Papilio binoculars, adding another dimension of beauty to the day. On a memorable visit back in May 2005, I counted over 30 first brood Adonis Blues on just one fox dropping, along the Carriageway path. With no second brood Adonis seen, these droppings were monopolised by Chalkhill Blue males, jostling so closely that at two of the six places where I witnessedthis behaviour, I also discovered a dead Chalkhill male. The maximum number around one dropping was 17. I walked back along the Carriageway to Dorking station and the banks either side of the path offered better opportunities for counting, though there are also long stretches of deep shadow beneath trees. My count here was 108. I have heard many elderly naturalists talk of frequent ‘clouds of butterflies’ encountered in their youth- this was certainly comparable and an unforgettable experience.
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