This week, on one of our 'almost weekly' butterfly transects, we found two Grayling butterfly (Hipparchia semele). It is the second year in a row we have found Grayling out on our wildflower walk. The Grayling is a cryptically marked butterfly and spends much of its time with its wings folded back where it can be totally lost to its surroundings. It has a distinctive flight pattern and is often first noticed when disturbed from the ground.
It has a peculiar behavioural trait whereby, when basking, it angles itself toward, or away from the sun to help regulate body temperature. I have to say that it is amazing to be able to see this happen in real life on our footpaths. Thank you to Mark Stokeld for the photo which was taken at South Gare.
Ed