Autumn 2012
2012 Butterfly Conservation Report Rob Parker, Conservation Officer (Butterflies)
The report was presented as a slide show at the AGM on the 22nd September 2012, using the photography and artwork of Douglas Hammersley, a talented contributor to ‘The Suffolk Argus’, who passed away earlier this year. Silver-studded Blue. Emergence dates reverted to 1990’s timing, defeating preplanned dates for the Minsmere count. As a result, the deferred first count was still too early and the second attempt was rained off in the afternoon, so an incomplete weak count was all that was achieved. Similar difficulties were encountered at most other sites, with two notable exceptions. At Walberswick NNR, three searches were mounted in decent weather but not a single Silver-studded Blue was seen; it now looks likely that this colony has been lost. Better news from Silver-studded Blue Blaxhall Common, our 2007 translocation colony, was a highest ever single walk count of 48, and an encouraging spread into the wider offtransect parts of the common.
Following two rather poor seasons, and beginning with a challenging winter, 2012 did not inherit strong populations of many species. Global weather patterns then intervened, notably irregular jetstreams, and these created chaotic weather which further depleted wild stocks of eggs, larvae, pupae and adult butterflies. The result was an awful butterfly season, typified by the results of the Spring Lane transect at Bury St Edmunds, which produced the worst results in the 13 years it has been walked. The preliminary analysis covered each of the biodiversity action plan species, the one bright spot of the year, which was the continued success of the Silver-washed Fritillary, and two other items of conservation importance. Dingy Skipper. The King’s Forest colony was found flying in all the established areas, albeit in weak numbers, and without many sightings of mating or egg-laying. The RAF Barnham and Center Parcs sites were both checked again but confirmed as defunct. Close to Barnham though, the colony on Thetford Heath nature reserve and the margin of the Thetford Forest was still present, and one mating pair was seen.
White-letter Hairstreak. Sightings were down, although this was probably attributable to poor weather reducing sighting opportunities. Where a determined search was conducted, small numbers were seen.
White-letter Hairstreak
Dingy Skipper
7
