Embracing the cosy season, I can’t wait for autumnal walks and warming up with a good book. However, the new season also brings with it the end of one of my favourite parts of working for the AWT…my weekly butterfly survey.

Self-admittedly, I am a little butterfly mad so heading to the Community Woodland once a week to count butterflies is certainly my kind of fun! The type of survey method being used to do this is a transect, where I walk a set route and tally the number and species of butterflies seen within 2.5 metres either side and 5 metres ahead. This is done once a week between April and September and there are five transect routes across the island. It is with the help of AWT staff and volunteers that we have been able to collect this invaluable data since 2005 and pass it onto the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS).

While the best time of year to see butterflies has passed, the Speckled Wood (photo below), a common dark brown butterfly with yellow spots, can still be seen around wooded areas and gardens. Behaviorally, male Speckled Woods are highly territorial, and you might get a chance to see their entrancing fighting displays as they swirl into the air with one another. It’s worth mentioning that Red Admirals are still also flying high and will likely continue to do so until November.

While I am sad this year’s butterfly survey season is ending, I can’t wait to see what wildlife the autumn and winter will bring!