For those who weren't around in the Long Hot Summer of 1976, it was like this - day after day - only this July we've got 10% of 76's butterflies, 0.1% of its aphids and 0.01% of its ladybirds...
Today, at Knepp, His Gloriousity didn't rise before 11.43 but was then fairly active, at least locally. Many of them, males and females, conked out in the mid-afternoon heat. This female spent at least 90 minutes shading in an oak tree -
As yesterday, the younger males - and there are still a good number of fairly fresh-looking males around - were active all afternoon. The older males and many a female conked out, like this sow -
The evening flight never really materialised as the Light to Moderate Northerly wind didn't die down until after 7.30, too late.
A new Large Tortoiseshell was seen today, briefly. No others, and no Brown Hairstreaks yet.
If you can't cope with this heat, the magic word to say is 'January'...
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