This year's total of 1,545 butterflies seen was almost double the 2016 figure, but still over a thousand short of the 2015 total.  All 26 weeks were covered, with only one week in mid-May recording no butterflies at all.  The highest seen in one week was 255, seen in mid-July.  The season started brightly, with early emergence of several of the Spring and early Summer species, but there was a decline in late August, and, unlike in 2016, no significant surge in September.  A total of 24 different species were seen, including three species not previously seen here (Orange-tip, Brown Argus and Common Blue).   The small colony of Green Hairstreak, seen in 2016, was not found in 2017.

 

The Gatekeeper was again the most numerous, with 599 sightings (compared to 303 in the previous year),  followed by the Silver-studded Blue, with 207 seen, almost up to the 2015 levels, and sufficient to relegate Meadow Brown into third spot, with 190.  Both Speckled Wood and Small Heath recovered well, and Brimstone, Green-veined White, Large White, Red Admiral, Small Copper, and Comma all had their best year.  The discovery of Common Blue butterflies at the edge of the largest Silver-Studded Blue colony caused some confusion, and it may well be that the Common Blue had been previously overlooked.  It was a very poor year for Ringlet, although they did well elsewhere in the New Forest.   Likewise, Grayling did badly, although they were numerous elsewhere in the vicinity.

 

The Forestry Commission were perhaps over-zealous in their clearance work in Alderhill Inclosure in the Winter of 2016, which may account for the rapid decline of the Ringlet, as well as the absence of Green Hairstreak, and a less buoyant number of Silver-washed Fritillary than recorded elsewhere in the Forest.  The continued decline of Small Skipper appears to reflect a widespread trend, but much of their favoured grasses were also  trimmed back by the clearance work.