Spring 2014
Suffolk Argus The
The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation The enigmatic Clouded Yellow Colias crocea f. helice ab. nigra Aigner (page 8)
Photographed by Paul Rusher at Bawdsey
Spring 2014
1
Volume 59
Suffolk Butterflies 2013
The SuffolkSuffolk Argus Butterflies 2013
Suffolk Butterflies 2013 (see page 7)
Clouded Yellow
Clouded Yellow
Silver-washed Fritillary
Silver-washed Fritillary
Wall
Wall
Wall
Wall 2
Spring 2014
Contents Branch Contacts Editorial Events 2014 Suffolk Butterflies 2013 An Enigmatic Variation Ipswich Heaths Project WCBS A View from the Bridge Chalkhill Blue Returns The Dinghy Skipper Blaxhall Silver-studded Blue Update The Wall in 2013 Garden Buddleja The Clouded Yellow Event Report Greenwings Balkan Holiday
4 5 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 18 18 19 20
New Members We welcome the following new members and look forward to meeting them at our events this year.
Ms S Bennetts
Saxmundham
Mr K Ling
Ipswich
Mr A Bimpson
Ipswich
Mrs H Macleod
Hollesley
Ipswich
Mrs A Newcombe
Woolpit
,SVZLFK
Mrs N & M Nickerson & Family
Lowestoft
Mrs J Bridger
Brandon
Mr J & Ms G Owen
Dalham
Miss D Broom
Hornchurch
Mrs J Piper
Halesworth
Mrs S Collinson
Woodbridge
Mr J Rankin
Bury St Edmunds
Mr A Craven
Nowton
Mr A & Mrs C Sadler
Brome
Ms D Edwards
Earl Soham
Mr A Smuk & Mrs Y Westley
Ipswich
Miss R Garnett
Hacheston
Mr D Sweeting
Martlesham Heath
Mr J Harper
Rendlesham
Miss L Summer & Mr N King
Brandon
Miss Harris
Great Cornard
Mr B Taylor
Bury St Edmunds
Ms H Hepburn
Thrandestone
Miss G Teoli-Kendall
Trimley St Mary
Mr E Hopkins
Saxmundham
Dr S Tucker
Woodbridge
Rev’d P Ind
Woodbridge
Mrs E Walling
Ipswich
Miss R Knight
Haverhill
Mr P & Mrs S Wilmouth
Glemsford
Mr M & Mrs G Bladi 0UV - %ORÀHOG
3
The Suffolk Argus
Suffolk Branch Contacts President Howard Mendel c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD Tel: 0207 938 8782
&RQVHUYDWLRQ 2IÀFHU %XWWHUÁLHV Rob Parker &RUQÀHOG 5G Bury St Edmunds IP33 3BN Tel: 01284 705476 email: robparker@waitrose.com
Chairman Mike Dean Coach House, Ixworth, Bury St Edmunds IP31 2HL Tel: 01359 230292 email: Michael.Dean2@ virginmedia.com
&RQVHUYDWLRQ 2IÀFHU 0RWKV Tony Prichard 3, Powling Rd., Ipswich IP3 9JR Tel: 01473 270047 email: tony.prichard@btinternet.com
Membership Secretary Susan Sidle Five Gables, The Ling, Wortham, Diss, Norfolk IP22 1ST Tel: 01379 643665 email: susansidle361@gmail.com
Programme and Publicity Matt Berry Tel: 07599 243026 email: matt.berry1@sky.com Newsletter Editor Peter Maddison Barnmead, Fishpond Rd, :DOGULQJÀHOG Woodbridge IP12 4QX Tel: 01473 736607 email: prmaddison@yahoo.co.uk
Treasurer Dominic Hill Tel: 01359 269855 email: domhill25@gmail.com Secretary Julian Dowding 84, Clapgate Lane, Ipswich IP3 0RE Tel: 01473 436096 email: julian.dowding@ntlworld.com
5HJLRQDO 2IÀFHU (DVWHUQ (QJODQG Sharon Hearle 216, The Street, Kirtling, Newmarket CB8 9PD Tel: 01638 731648 HPDLO VKHDUOH#EXWWHUÁ\ FRQVHUYDWLRQ RUJ
&RXQW\ %XWWHUÁ\ 5HFRUGHU Bill Stone 27 Draymans Way Ipswich IP3 0QU HPDLO EXWWHUÁLHV#VQV RUJ XN
Website Richard Perryman email: richard.perryman@ntlworld.com WCBS Co-ordinator Twm Wade email: twm.wade@ yahoo.com
Committee Member Helen Saunders email: helens919@gmail.com
7KH 6XIIRON $UJXV LV SXEOLVKHG E\ WKH 6XIIRON %UDQFK RI %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ 7KH RSLQLRQV H[SUHVVHG LQ WKLV QHZVOHWWHU DUH QRW QHFHVVDULO\ WKRVH RI %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ RU WKH %UDQFK $OO ULJKWV UHVHUYHG )RU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ VHH ZZZ VXIIRONEXWWHUÁLHV RUJ XN %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ &RPSDQ\ OLPLWHG E\ JXDUDQWHH UHJLVWHUHG LQ (QJODQG 5HJLVWHUHG 2IÀFH 0DQRU <DUG (DVW /XOZRUWK :DUHKDP 'RUVHW %+ 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)
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Spring 2014
Editorial
Peter Maddison In 2013 our Branch membership leapt. Now we have members in over 400 households, that’s a 22% increase on our 2012 membership! New members you are most welcome! No doubt you joined because you believe in the conservation of EXWWHUÁLHV PRWKV DQG RXU HQYLURQPHQW and no doubt you want to be involved.
5HFRUGLQJ EXWWHUÁLHV LV RI SULPH importance: if we don’t know what we’ve got how do we know what we are losing or, hopefully, gaining. Bill Stone, our county recorder received over 18,000 records in 2013, but he wants more in 2014! Recording sheets are available on the website ZZZ VXIIRONEXWWHUÁLHV RUJ XN ZKHUH D regularly updated county ‘Sightings’ We have an extensive Events programme page can be found. DQG LQ WKH ÀUVW DUWLFOH RI WKH QHZVOHWWHU Twm Wade has become the new coMatt Berry writes to invite you to join ordinator for the Wider Countryside us at any or all of the events and he %XWWHUÁ\ 6XUYH\ DQG KH ZULWHV WR notes particularly the New Members’ encourage you to join in with this none Days in both the east and west of the too onerous survey. county. Julian Dowding updates us on the Ipswich Heaths Project, and you may Read here about the Chalkhill Blue wish to become involved in some of the colony that has recently been discovered conservation work parties that are held in Suffolk, read about the observations of throughout the winter months. EXWWHUÁLHV WKDW PHPEHUV KDYH PDGH DQG in the coming months make your own observations. Enjoy!
Events for 2014 Matt Berry
You will have found your 2014 event programme card with this issue of the Argus. I’d just like to point out some of the highlights of the year and explain the focus of one or two newer style of event that you may not be familiar with.
you become more familiar with how the Suffolk Branch works and meet members of the committee, turning us from names on a page into real people! The format for these events is as follows. We start with an indoor session and presentations along WKH OLQHV RI ¶:K\ 5HFRUG %XWWHUÁLHV"· ‘Habitat & Ecology’ and ‘The Status & ,GHQWLÀFDWLRQ RI 6SHFLHV· 7KLV OHDGV RQ to heading outside to do some practical ÀHOGZRUN DQG UHFRUGLQJ ZLWK KHOS RQ REVHUYDWLRQ VNLOOV LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ RI VSHFLHV and habitat and larval host plants. I encourage you to try these events this year as I’m sure you’d get a lot out of them,
There are two dates this year for what are being called ‘New Members’ Days’. The idea behind them is to help recently joined members (of which there have been many in the past few years!) learn more about Suffolk and its Lepidoptera and to learn practical skills for identifying DQG UHFRUGLQJ EXWWHUÁLHV ,W FDQ DOVR KHOS 5
The Suffolk Argus particularly if all of this is rather new or daunting to you. We’re here to help and support you in becoming even more informed and interested (or obsessed) ZLWK EXWWHUÁLHV DQG PRWKV %XW SOHDVH GR register in advance as places are limited.
If your passport allows you to travel even IXUWKHU DÀHOG WKDQ 1RUIRON WKHQ WKHUH DUH EXWWHUÁ\ ZDWFKLQJ ZHHNV DYDLODEOH in France and Greece, being offered by Greenwings Wildlife Holidays. These are the sole responsibility of Greenwings, but %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ GRHV UHFHLYH D GRQDWLRQ IURP WKH SURÀWV 7KH OHDGHUV LQFOXGH ZHOO NQRZQ DXWKRU DQG EXWWHUÁ\ ÁRZHU H[SHUW 7ULVWDQ /DIUDQFKLV DQG 5RJHU *LEERQV DQ H[SHUW RQ )UHQFK EXWWHUÁLHV Not only are these holidays in beautiful and sunny places but there are often 100 RU PRUH EXWWHUÁ\ VSHFLHV WR VHH VRPH LQ large numbers. This kind of spectacle can be quite different and awe inspiring if you’re more used to the modest numbers RI EXWWHUÁLHV ZH JHQHUDOO\ VHH LQ WKH 8.
We also have a focus on our heathland sites in the east of the county. The Ipswich Heaths Project is a big deal for us as a branch and we want to share what we’ve been doing to improve sites for wildlife and to come together and UHFRUG EXWWHUÁLHV DQG PRWKV DV SDUW RI our monitoring programme. So starting RII ZH·YH JRW WKH ÀUVW 1HZ 0HPEHUV 'D\ event at Martlesham Heath in the spring, as outlined above. Then, during National Insect Week, we’re running a moth night at 3LSHUV 9DOH LQ ,SVZLFK :H ÀQLVK WKH VHDVRQ with a summer walk at Purdis Heath SSSI in Ipswich, looking for Grayling and other interesting heathland wildlife. The vast majority of work in the heaths project has been on this site so we’re very keen to monitor how wildlife responds to the habitat management we’re undertaking – recording during such events is a valuable way of contributing to this.
Finally, if you would like to get more involved in the running of events then we’d love to hear from you! We depend on volunteers to make them happen and one can never have enough help! You GRQ·W KDYH WR EH DQ H[SHUW RQ EXWWHUÁLHV or moths, a friendly disposition and an interest in the subject are more than DGHTXDWH TXDOLÀFDWLRQV RQ PRVW RFFDVLRQV Quite often we need more people willing to be at a stand to speak to people and give RXW OHDÁHWV DQG PHPEHUVKLS IRUPV RU WR help with craft and children’s activities. If that sounds like you, then please do get in touch with us!
Heading out of the county (as we tend to do occasionally!) we’ve got an interesting day planned looking for Wood Whites LQ -XQH 2XU 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFHU 6KDURQ Hearle, will lead the event and she knows the area well so I’m sure that will be well worthwhile attending, especially if you haven’t seen Wood Whites before. We are also venturing north, over the border into Norfolk. Our neighbours have very kindly invited us to visit Kelling Heath with them, to look for Silver-studded Blues and ÀQG RXW PRUH DERXW WKH PDQDJHPHQW DQG history of the site.
Comma by Beryl Johnson
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Spring 2014
Suffolk Butterflies 2013 Bill Stone I had hoped to be able to provide a thorough overview of the 2013 Suffolk %XWWHUÁ\ \HDU EXW , DP VWLOO WU\LQJ WR ÀQDOLVH WKH EXWWHUÁ\ UHFRUGV UHFHLYHG 6R far over 18,000 records have been added to the record database and I am still receiving more each week. Unfortunately, working full time means that I can only number crunch the records in the evenings and weekends so please bear with me. I have instead picked three species to provide brief comment on as they highlight some interesting and worrying developments.
also been made with several recorders noting pairing and egg laying taking place. A total of 89 records have been received with some being recorded in urban gardens, near railway lines along with some records of this species being VHHQ Á\LQJ RYHU RSHQ ÀHOGV FORVH WR known woodland strongholds (Pakenham Woods). As can be seen in the map (page WKH EXWWHUÁLHV KDYH VSUHDG RXW IURP WKH known woodland strongholds. The Wall, in 2012 was seen to have its range reduced even further with the Suffolk population being squeezed into several pockets along a narrow strip on the east coast. Sadly, 2013 has shown no real positive development in this situation. In 2012 the Wall was recorded in 23 tetrads, in 2013 it has been recorded in 24. Again as in 2012, the vast majority of records come from the known strongholds of East Lane/ Shingle Street, Orford and the Lowestoft/ Waveney Valley. The most westerly record in east Suffolk was at Sutton Hoo. There were no accepted records of Wall in the west of the County. The map (page 2) shows the dire situation of this species in Suffolk.
Firstly, 2013 will be remembered as a brilliant Clouded Yellow year. This immigrant to the UK from North Africa DQG VRXWKHUQ (XURSH ZDV ÀUVW VHHQ LQ Suffolk in April this year. It was then seen in each month through to November with peak numbers being seen in July and August. Several counts in excess of 20 have been received and several records of the female form helice were also recorded (see Rob Parker’s article). The map (page 2) shows the location of the 325 records UHFHLYHG DQG LW LV FOHDU WKDW WKH EXWWHUÁ\ penetrated well into Suffolk through the river valleys but with most records, as expected, along the coast. It is also worth mentioning that several observers recorded evidence of pairing and egg laying. In 2012, the Silver Washed Fritillary in Suffolk was seen to increase its numbers within known woods and expand its range into suitable surrounding woodlands and habitats. In 2013, this SDWWHUQ KDV FRQWLQXHG ZLWK WKH EXWWHUÁ\ being recorded in 32 squares. Some very KLJK FRXQWV LQ H[FHVV RI EXWWHUÁLHV KDYH
Clouded Yellow by Beryl Johnson
7
The Suffolk Argus
An Enigmatic Variation Rob Parker 2013 was “A Clouded Yellow Year”, and many observers delighted in watching them LQ WKH ÀHOGV ZKHUH WKH\ OLQJHUHG )RUWXQDWHO\ they took photos, which I did not, although I did enjoy the sight of them at various inland sites. Colias crocea, the Clouded Yellow, lays LWV HJJV RQ OXFHUQH DOIDOID LI LW FDQ ÀQG LW but will settle for clover if it has to. So the best ORFDOLWLHV IRU VHHLQJ WKHP ZHUH WKH ÁRZHU ULFK FRDVWDO VSRWV ZKHUH WKH\ PDGH WKHLU ÀUVW landfall for refreshment. If there was clover, they stayed on, eggs were laid, and a second JHQHUDWLRQ HPHUJHG LQ 6HSWHPEHU DQG ÁHZ well into October.
form of the female, properly known as Colias crocea form helice. On 20th August, Paul Rusher visited East Lane at Bawdsey and managed to get some nice photos, and I got the helice story out again. Later, taking a second look at one of his underside photos (cover photo Page 1) a penny dropped and I realised that I was looking at solid black forewing markings - shouting male at me. Since f.helice occurs only in the female, I knew there was a problem. After a good deal of searching for accurate descriptions of the forms and aberrations of the various species, I made an enquiry with Alec Harmer, the author of 9DULDWLRQ LQ %ULWLVK %XWWHUÁLHV, and he was able to tell me that a solid black submarginal marking does not always mean male. There is an uncommon aberration in which some female crocea lack the normal yellow blotches, and this has been named pseudomas Cockerell when it occurs in the otherwise normal Clouded Yellow. However, a similar aberration can also occur in form helice (the white form of the female), and this has been named ab. nigra Aigner.
&DQ \RX WHOO D PDOH IURP D IHPDOH" *HQHUDOO\ this is quite easy if you get a view of the upper surface - as the black margins to the forewings are solid black on the males, but disrupted by a string of yellow blotches in the females. Take a look at the photos on Page 24 and you can see the difference. When they settle, they rarely bask, but generally clamp WKHLU ZLQJV WLJKWO\ FORVHG PDNLQJ LW GLIÀFXOW to differentiate between the sexes - unless you get close up and the light is falling through the wings towards you. The fresh female generally has a rich orange-yellow ground colour, but a small proportion (about 5%) appear with an almost white ground FRORXU ,Q ÁLJKW WKHVH FDQ EH PLVWDNHQ IRU D “White” by an unimaginative observer, or, by an optimist, for a Pale Clouded Yellow. , OHW RQH Á\ E\ DW &DYHQKDP DQG SRLQWHG it out to my companion as the pale female form.
6R WKH EXWWHUÁ\ 3DXO SKRWRJUDSKHG LV Colias crocea f. helice ab. nigra Aigner - a female Clouded Yellow of the “white” female form and the aberration with black borders suppressing the pale spots normally RFFXUULQJ LQ IHPDOHV , ÀQG LW GLIÀFXOW WR VD\ how rare this might be, but let’s just say that it is so rare that it took a real specialist to identify it.
So, it came as no surprise when several people asked whether these were Colias hyale - the Pale Clouded Yellow. I had to disappoint a couple of observers with an explanation that they were helice - the white
, WKLQN WKDW LV SUREDEO\ VXIÀFLHQW WULFN\ taxonomy for one article!
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Spring 2014
Ipswich Heaths Project - Purdis Heath SSSI update for the Silver-studded Blue Julian Dowding
Efforts have continued over the winter months, often in spite of gloomy w e a t h e r predictions, with regular work parties RQ WKH ÀUVW Saturday of the month of between 16 and 19 volunteers clearing gorse and birch scrub from the heath. These along with more informal sessions accomplished much habitat work.
During the winter period we are also aiming to scrape back other areas, where heather has become old and degenerate, to the underlying sand, by using a JCB. By judiciously strewing these scraped areas with heather clippings, containing Bell Heather seeds, we hope to encourage new heathers to germinate. Scraping also removes much of the decomposing heather and gorse litter, which if left on site would eventually add unwanted nutrients to the site, which is already a SUREOHP IRU 3XUGLV DQG LWV KHDWKODQG ÁRUD and fauna. Work has also started to create suitable FRQGLWLRQV WR KHOS WKH EXWWHUÁ\ LQFUHDVH both the size and range of its colony on a section of the heath north of Purdis Farm Lane. This has been achieved with additional help from Greenways Project and Ipswich Wildlife Group. The work will also provide a habitat link from Purdis to Ipswich Golf Course, where, in WKH QRW WRR GLVWDQW SDVW WKH EXWWHUÁ\ ZDV recorded on suitable habitat. The map highlights the area with an obvious white arrow showing the direction we hope the EXWWHUÁLHV ZLOO WDNH JLYHQ WKH SUHYDLOLQJ south-westerlies.
This work will allow a follow up machine cut of mature heather by a technique known as forage harvesting. By choosing where we cut we can encourage the growth of early stage or pioneer and building heathers, interwoven with areas of mature heather. This will create a mosaic of different age structures of heather suitable for the Silver-studded %OXH EXWWHUÁ\ DQG WKH DQW XSRQ ZKLFK it depends. The interface between tall DQG VKRUW KHDWKHU ZLOO FUHDWH D EHQHÀFLDO micro-climate providing shelter for the EXWWHUÁ\ DQG ZDUP SODFHV IRU WKH IHPDOH EXWWHUÁ\ WR OD\ KHU HJJV ,W VKRXOG DOVR increase the abundance of Bell Heather, WKH EXWWHUÁ\·V SULQFLSDO QHFWDU SODQW which is in short supply. In the not too distant past, livestock grazing would have created this structure, but today our only recourse is by human intervention.
With the current level of interest in the site, we are constantly learning of other VSHFLHV ZKLFK VHHP WR EH EHQHÀWLQJ IURP KDELWDW ZRUN /DVW VXPPHU ÀYH *UD\OLQJV were recorded on just one day and Small Heaths were also present. Both of these are noteworthy BAP species. The heath is also a good place for Small Coppers, Green Hairstreaks and Common Blues. 9
The Suffolk Argus The management of the woodland edge, with the removal of scrub and invasive species such as Birch, has extended and improved the woodland - heathland interface. This is an important zone particularly for birds and reptiles. A number of Woodcock have been observed here and although probably only wintering birds, they are very welcome. For those of you with an ornithological interest, it might be worth searching the site for roding Woodcock at dusk and dawn in early spring, just in case they are in fact breeding.
The east and south facing edges, particularly where dead hedges and habitat piles have been created using scrub removed from the heathland, have also been brilliant in providing habitat for Viviparous Lizards and Slow Worms. Again, these are BAP species. Hopefully, some of you will visit the site over the coming weeks and months and enjoy this rare fragment of what was once an extensive tract of heathland stretching from Ipswich all the way to Lowestoft. If you see anything interesting, please let us know. There are a number of ways of keeping up to date with what’s going on. Please see contact details page.
The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) :KDW LW LV DERXW $ VLPSOH ZD\ WR EHFRPH LQYROYHG LQ %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ
Twm Wade Are you like me six months ago, not knowing what “WCBS” stood for or ZKDW LW ZDV DERXW" :RXOG \RX OLNH WR EH involved with Citizen Science (the use of DPDWHXUV WR DVVLVW ZLWK VFLHQWLÀF SURMHFWV " Can you spare two dry, sunny summer days a year in your local area to identify DQG FRXQW EXWWHUÁLHV" So what is it about? The purpose of the WCBS is to provide evidence about the abundance of common DQG ZLGHVSUHDG EXWWHUÁLHV $ VHFRQGDU\ outcome can be to identify areas where WKHUH LV D GHDUWK RU DEVHQFH RI EXWWHUÁLHV ZKLFK LV DV LPSRUWDQW DV ÀQGLQJ D FRORQ\ of a rare, specialist species.
What does it involve? A standard method has been set out which is both practical and provides statistics ZLWK VFLHQWLÀF PHULW ZHEVLWH ZZZ ukbms.org/wcbs.aspx). The commitment of time is much less than surveying a transect, and developing or average LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ VNLOOV DUH DFFHSWDEOH 7KH scheme requires 2 surveys to be done, one each in July and August in a local kilometre grid square, at a gentle walking pace along a route you have chosen being about 1.5 miles long; enjoy. The square is allocated to one person (but there is nothing to stop you taking friends or family). :KDW LV WKH VFLHQWLÀF RXWFRPH" Each year BC produces a report giving the immediately available statistics about
10
Spring 2014 species, numbers, ups & downs, squares surveyed and a general roundup so that each surveyor knows what they have been part of. In time, it will become DSSDUHQW ZKDW LV KDSSHQLQJ WR EXWWHUÁ\ populations across the UK and help inform government and environmental organisations about this beautiful insect. In truth, we do not know how important the survey will be as time progresses. 6FLHQWLÀFDOO\ JRRG GDWD FROOHFWHG RYHU time can be used in a wide range of studies by students and professors alike and is so much better than hearsay. How do I get involved? I have been asked to take on the role of WCBS Co-ordinator for the Suffolk Branch. You may choose a square from the
schedule in a location that is convenient to where you live. When you contact me I will provide you with a plan of the square, guidance, H&S advice, the standard letter to a landowner whose land you wish to cross, electronic forms for recording your work, and as much help to get you started as I can. Finally This is meant to be fun I hope you will IHHO \RX DUH FRQWULEXWLQJ WR EXWWHUÁ\ conservation in Suffolk and across the UK in a practical way. To get started please contact me on:- email twm.wade@yahoo.com or post Northbrook, North End, Exning, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7JT.
WCBS Squares Available to New Participants Grid Ref TL6545 TL7779 TL8381 TL8482 TL9859 TM0057 TM0058 TM2975 TM3180 TM3183 TM3568 TM4069 TM5195
Town Parish of Grid Haverhill Eriswell Thetford (west) Thetford (west) Rattlesden Buxhall Buxhall Cratfield St James, South Elmham and Metfield St Margaret, South Elmham Peasenhall Darsham Flixton, Lowestoft
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Post Code of Grid CB9 9PP IP24 3TX IP24 3ST IP24 3QP IP30 0RR IP14 3DL IP14 3DH IP19 0DP IP19 0HT IP20 0PJ IP17 2NQ IP17 3PH NR32 5PB
The Suffolk Argus
A View from the Bridge?
Mike Dean Chair of Suffolk Branch and BC Trustee I’m sure that almost all of you who are reading this at the moment know all DERXW EXWWHUÁLHV HVSHFLDOO\ WKRVH WKDW we are lucky enough to see in Suffolk, and probably know quite a lot about moths as well. However, you might not EH VR DZDUH RI RXU RZQ VRFLHW\ %XWWHUÁ\ Conservation (BC); I say that with a little certainty, as before I became a Trustee for BC at the 2012 AGM, my own knowledge was certainly a little hazy! BC was formed by a small group of dedicated naturalists in 1968 following the alarming decline of many beautiful EXWWHUÁLHV DFURVV WKH QDWLRQ DQG DW WKDW WLPH it was sited in Quorn in Leicestershire, run I believe, from the then Chairman’s living room! Its raison d’être is very simple: the FRQVHUYDWLRQ RI EXWWHUÁLHV PRWKV DQG RXU environment but, as we all appreciate, the practice is much, much more complicated. 7RGD\ %& +HDG 2IÀFH FDQ EH IRXQG DW East Lulworth in Dorset which is a lovely corner of rural England but a devil to get to either by road or public transport; it’s set up as a charity, which means that it has to abide by very strict and complicated regulations laid down, like other charities, by the Charity Commission, especially in the way the society behaves and how it allocates it’s spending. Our society has paying membership (us) and local Branches which implies that Branches & members all fall under the same rules and regulations that BC itself does, which means that Branch autonomy can only go so far and there can sometimes be tensions. BC is headed by a long-standing Chief Executive (Martin Warren) who is charged with running the operational side of the organisation along with his staff. The overall strategy and governance of the society (in conjunction with Martin) is
overseen by a Board of Trustees (the BC Council). Currently there are 15 Trustees who come from all walks of life and all different types of background from ÀQDQFH DQG PDUNHWLQJ WR HGXFDWLRQ DV D balance of skills is essential as many of the issues that face BC as a charity are pretty complicated. The Council is chaired by a Trustee (currently David Dennis, with vice chair Jim Asher) and the Council meets formally 4 times a year to keep on top of business. All this may seem a far cry from the joy of most members, which is to get out in the summer sunshine hunting and watching lepidoptera! However, driving the strategy of BC at the highest level is really important because BC needs to manoeuvre within the national conservation and political landscape so as to have as much FORXW DV SRVVLEOH ZKLOVW FDUU\LQJ WKH ÁDJ for lepidoptera conservation. In this sense that position is recognised by the current BC 2020 Vision; numbers of members is very important when talking to politicians and national funding bodies. You will hear more of all of this over forthcoming years.
Orange-tip (f) on garlic mustard by Beryl Johnson
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Spring 2014
The Chalkhill Blue Returns Rob Parker
The Chalkhill Blue is back in Suffolk after a 90 years’ absence. Well, it is not quite as simple as that, as readers of ´7KH %XWWHUÁLHV RI 6XIIRONµ 0HQGHO Piotrowski, 1986) will know. In the 19th century it was known from the chalk-pits at Little Blakenham and Blakenham Parva, Creeting Hills and lesser chalky outcrops at Moulton, Eriswell, Dalham in the west, and even at Felixtowe and Lowestoft in the east. However, it began to thin out, and was last known to be breeding in Suffolk from a series of 16 specimens taken in Barton Mills in August 1923. Even then, a healthy colony continued to breed on the Devil’s Dyke – along the border with Cambridgeshire. It is well known that the Cambs/Suffolk administrative boundary lies along the top RI WKDW ÁRUDOO\ ULFK FKDON\ DUFKDHRORJLFDO feature. It is less well understood that the present administrative county boundaries are not relevant to biological recording. For that purpose, the Victorian Vice-county boundary divides VC26 (Suffolk) from VC29 (Cambs); it crosses Newmarket Heath a couple of hundred yards to the Newmarket side of the Devil’s Dyke, leaving the Chalkhill Blues in the Cambridgeshire recorder’s domain. The ORQJ VWDQGLQJ 6XIIRON EXWWHUÁ\ UHFRUGLQJ sheet does not list the species, and VRPHKRZ WKH EXWWHUÁLHV VHHPHG FRQWHQW to keep it that way. Over the past 10 years, volunteers of the Cambs Wildlife Trust and the Cambs & (VVH[ %UDQFK RI %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ have been working hard to extend the suitable habitat along the dyke by clearing scrub on the southern side, and encouraging the spread of horseshoe vetch – the larval host plant for Lysandra 13
coridon WR JLYH WKH EXWWHUÁ\ LWV VFLHQWLÀF QDPH $ EXWWHUÁ\ WUDQVHFW ZDONHG HYHU\ week in the 26 week season by our very own Sharon Hearle allows us to measure the progress of the colony from year to year. In recent years, the numbers have risen back towards the “boundless profusion” in which they were said to Á\ WKHUH LQ 2YHU WKH VDPH GHFDGH coridon has been doing rather well in the south of England too, straying away from its established colonies in particularly hot weather. Just south of the Devil’s Dyke, lies another similar, but smaller line feature – the Fleam Dyke, where the chalkland was also receiving the attention of conservationists, and in the past 5 years coridon has established a second stronghold there. Further south still, lies the Roman Road, and when it reached there, perhaps we should have sent out search parties along the Suffolk border – but we did not. We were taken by surprise. An entry on the Sightings page of the Branch website ZZZ VXIIRONEXWWHUÁLHV RUJ XN in August 2013 made us sit up though. A visitor from London claimed to have seen 30 coridon on a chalky site near Cavenham. 6R QDWXUDOO\ \RXU FRXQW\ EXWWHUÁ\ recorder shot out there to see whether this could possibly be true. Although it was a JORRP\ GD\ LW GLG QRW WDNH ORQJ WR FRQÀUP that at least 7 were indeed present. A few days later, on 20th Aug, I returned to the site in good weather, in the company of Twm Wade and the Estate gamekeepers. We counted 50 coridon, some settled, some Á\LQJ VRPH SDLULQJ VRPH IUHVK RWKHUV worn. This was no gaggle of vagrants, but an established colony. By now, I was in touch with Rupert Kaye,
The Suffolk Argus WKH YLVLWRU ZKR PDGH WKH ÀUVW VLJKWLQJ DQG he told me they had been there for several years. He checked his diaries and found that he had noted some on 18th August 2010, but had not appreciated at the time, that we believed that we did not have coridon in Suffolk. My impression is that they are properly established, and had not just covered the 14 km from the Devil’s Dyke during the extremely hot weather of August 2013. It seems quite likely that there were other touchdowns at points between the Cambridgeshire colonies and Cavenham, so a quick search of likely chalk outcrops and quarries was made by a small bunch of enthusiasts, but we were DSSURDFKLQJ WKH HQG RI WKH ÁLJKW SHULRG and only one single coridon was seen at a different site, on the railway embankment
close to Higham, by Tim Wesley. It would be helpful if others wish to join in a search of that area next year. As for the breeding site, I need to make it clear that it is on privately owned land, and that whilst I had the landowner’s consent, his approval does not extend to unauthorized visitors. An August search for chalky outcrops with public access, for example the protected roadside verges astride the Cavenham – Lackford road at TL770698, or the historic sites mentioned in Mendel & Piotrowski would be a better use of resources. Bear in mind that the last thing we want is to upset the landowner. 9LVLW WKH 'HYLO·V '\NH ÀUVW WR JHW \RXU H\H in for coridon and for the horseshoe vetch.
The Dingy Skipper – Suffolk’s rarest breeding butterfly Rob Parker Judged by the number of tetrads in which it is found, the Dingy Skipper has become Suffolk’s rarest breeding species in recent years, and by 2010 it was restricted to one healthy colony in the (FC) King’s Forest, and an ongoing search at the sites from which it had disappeared over the previous 6 years was optimistically kept up. There were a couple of small rays of light during the 2012 season, but the counts at the King’s Forest site were on the low side, so my expectations for 2013 were low.
sites on the 2nd & 7th June produced nice surprises with a total of 11 seen on Thetford Heath and its immediate vicinity, and the ÀUVW VLJKWLQJ DW 5$) %DUQKDP VLQFH In the meantime, the staff at Center Parcs DOVR KDG WKHLU ÀUVW VLJKWLQJ VLQFH
It actually turned out much better than I had ever hoped. The deferred spring of 2013 may have suited the species in some way. Although they were late on the wing E\ D FRXSOH RI ZHHNV ÀUVW VLJKWLQJ ZDV RQ 19th May and the annual count on 26th 0D\ IRXQG D WRWDO RI Á\LQJ RYHU D PXFK wider area than usual. Visits to outlying 14
The King’s Forest is a large site; usually it is seen in 2 tetrads, but this year it was in 4, and the spread is partly down to conservation work done (at our suggestion) by the Forestry Commission rides were widened about 4 years ago to let more sunlight in. This seems to have paid off, and elsewhere the bird’s-foot trefoil has spread naturally, extending WKH ÁLJKW DUHD HDVWZDUGV ,W VHHPV WKDW they bred well and dispersed somewhat - confounding our gloomy expectations. Let’s hope the unexpected surge continues in 2014.
Spring 2014
An Update on the Population of Silver-studded Blue over the 6 years since its Translocation to Blaxhall Common. Rob Parker The translocation in 2007 of 60 adult Silver-studded Blues to Blaxhall Common in 2 batches from 2 different donor sites ZDV QRWLÀHG WR WKH -RLQW &RPPLWWHH IRU the Conservation of British Insects, and followed up with a detailed account of the re-establishment attempt in a special edition of the Suffolk Argus (2008). The consents required us to accept the obligation to maintain the habitat and to monitor the health of the colony over a minimum period of 5 years. What follows is a progress report on what appears to have been a successful establishment. A longer version has been submitted to Invertebrate Link and to %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ·V KHDG RIÀFH
have cleared areas of gorse and other scrub. A single-species transect was established in time for the emergence of the 2008 generation, and has just completed its 6th year of monitoring. This too has been organized by the volunteer team, with the UHVXOWV IHG EDFN WR WKH &RXQW\ %XWWHUÁ\ Recorder and to UKBMS. Transect results have been the prime means of monitoring the health of the colony. The table below provides 4 different elements of results, 3 of them entirely transect derived: 1. 2.
The code of conservation practice for the translocation of invertebrates (JCCBI, 2010) and the International guidelines for reintroductions and translocations (IUCN, 2013) both stress the need for responsible post-release monitoring, outcome assessment and continuing management of the release site. The importance of disseminating information on establishment attempts is also stressed.
3.
4.
The Common is owned by Blaxhall Parish Council and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust is responsible for the management of the site, both professionally and with the assistance of a team of local volunteers led by Terry Peake. Over the period since the translocation, the common has been forage harvested in such a way as to create patches of pioneer heather, extending the area of suitable habitat for the Silver-studded Blue. The volunteer work parties have kept the silver birch encroachment under control and
A progressively rising single day peak count for each year. The total count for the whole transect season. This also rose progressively, apart from a slight dip in 2012 (a poor season for most species). The number of consecutive transect weeks in which P. argus was recorded. 7KLV LV D FRDUVH UHÁHFWLRQ RI WKH WRWDO ÁLJKW SHULRG IRU WKH VHDVRQ 7KH H[SDQVLRQ RI WKH ÁLJKW DUHD ÀUVWO\ within the 8 sections of the transect, and latterly beyond the boundaries of the transect. The observations were made mostly by the local volunteers, and some by casual recorders on occasional YLVLWV WR WKH VLWH 7KH PRVW VLJQLÀFDQW expansion has been to a triangle of pioneer heather to the south west of Section 1. On two occasions, singletons have been seen to the south of the B1069.
One additional element became available in 2013, through the co-operation of Dr Neil Ravenscroft, a professional ecologist living in Blaxhall. He conducted an independent 15
The Suffolk Argus DVVHVVPHQW RI WKH ÁLJKW DUHDV ZDONHG mini transects and extrapolated the likely population of the entire site to something in the order of 900. (Ravenscroft, N., 2013,). This is materially higher than the sum of the
peak one-day transect count and the highest off-transect count (160 + 51 = 211), and may be optimistic. It caters for the incomplete GHWHFWDELOLW\ RI EXWWHUÁLHV LQ WKH KHDWKHU habitat not visited by the transect route.
It is clear from the table that the establishment attempt got off to a very satisfactory start and this was featured in the journal of the Royal Entomological Society “Antenna” (Parker, 2012). The two donor sites have also been monitored, and show no evidence of damage following the donation. The receiving site passed the fragile three WR ÀYH \HDU GDQJHU ]RQH DQG WKH UHVXOWV for 2013 look re-assuring by every measure. However, there is no cause for complacency; regular habitat management remains a key requirement if this colony is to continue 16
to thrive. Fortunately the motivation of everyone involved remains strong. References: IUCN, 2013, Guidelines for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations. JCCBI, 2010, Invertebrate Translocation – a code of conservation practice. Parker, R., 2008. Report on Translocation of Silverstudded Blue, Plebejus argus to Blaxhall Common, Suffolk. In Suffolk Argus Special Edition, Summer 2008 Parker, R., 2012. Monitoring a translocation of Silverstudded Blue in Suffolk. In Antenna 36 (1). Ravenscroft, N., 2013 (unpublished email) Silver-studded Blue Counts.
Spring 2014
The Wall in 2013 Richard Stewart
In recent issues of the Argus Rob Parker has given detailed analysis of the Wall’s national and county decline. In the past few years I have only located it on the coast, previously having recorded it from several inland sites, including the Fynn Valley transect walk. In 2013 I went to four locations on a Wall search, all previously having held this VSHFLHV 7KH ÀUVW RQ WK -XO\ ZDV WKH river walk from Slaughden back to the far side of Aldeburgh, using the lower, more sheltered path, which has more nectar sources. None was found, but I did count a welcome 49 Small Tortoiseshell, virtually all of them nectaring on thistles and almost certainly migrants. East Lane Bawdsey on 24th July also was unsuccessful and I noted that the area cleared of vegetation, for pipes/cables to come ashore, was just in the area where I had seen them previously. The day’s highlight was a close view of a hare, VORZO\ DPEOLQJ DFURVV D VWXEEOH ÀHOG DV , VDW HDWLQJ P\ OXQFK FDPRXÁDJHG E\ WKH nearby Martello tower. A much longer walk from Boyton to Hollesley produced four Clouded Yellow ZKLFK ZHUH P\ ÀUVW LQ 6XIIRON VLQFH one a deep saffron colour. Right at the end of the river section, where a footpath heads inland to the Hollesley Bay colony, I at last found just one Wall. The date was 14th August. The best was still to come, on 29th August at Orford. By sheer coincidence I had 17
contacted our editor the previous date, on a different matter, and when I mentioned my forthcoming visit he told me he had been there that day, recording six Wall, and giving me their location. My visit SURGXFHG ÀYH IRXU RI ZKLFK ZHUH ZHOO apart from his sightings. Subsequent correspondence has revealed that others saw the Wall in this area in 2013, including Beryl and Alan Johnson, Chris Strachan and Debbie Broom. Peter’s comments included: ‘All the Walls were well separated except for two that were performing courtship spirals that went on and on. Two of the RWKHU IHPDOHV ZHUH Á\LQJ ORZ RYHU WKH long grasses and descending every few metres into the grass, working their way deep into the base of the grass, then emerging within 30 secs or so. Egg laying I presume, but the chosen places were not particularly hot, dry tussocks on the path edge. All very fascinating to watch. But I dread what the people of Orford must have thought about the loiterer on the river wall. I won’t go back ‘till next year!’ Several sightings were well away from the river path, along the surrounding lanes. I have sent Bill Stone all the relevant notes and marked locations on a large scale map. Perhaps in 2014 we can organise a one day comprehensive survey of the whole area. This is obviously, at present, a valuable hotspot for this threatened species.
The Suffolk Argus
Garden Buddleja Richard Stewart
As a follow up to Bill Stone’s article in volume 57, here are observations on our garden buddlejas in 2013. We have an HDUO\ ÁRZHULQJ B. alternifolia which over the years has attracted six feeding species: Small and Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Meadow Brown. It is, anyway, worth having just for its long cascades of light SXUSOLVK ÁRZHUV 7KH ODWH ÁRZHULQJ \HOORZ B. weyeriana has attracted seven: Large and Greenveined White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Speckled Wood and Gatekeeper. 7KH ODWH ÁRZHUV SDUWLFXODUO\ DWWUDFW 5HG Admirals and with constant deadheading LW ÁRZHUHG WKURXJK WR PLG 'HFHPEHU The other three are B. davidii varieties, one
in a pot and the other two having attracted sixteen species so far: all three whites, Brimstone, Large Skipper, Holly Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and the two rarest, Purple Hairstreak and Grayling. 7KH ODWWHU LQ ZDV RXU ÀUVW JDUGHQ record for over ten years. Twenty species were recorded in the garden this year, helped by good views from our kitchen window of the main buddleja. On some GD\V LW ZDV GLIÀFXOW WR FRXQW QXPEHUV accurately, with a maximum on one day of 21 Small Tortoiseshells (what a contrast to previous years) and 26 Peacocks. The ÁRZHULQJ SHULRG ZDV H[WHQGHG E\ VL[ separate deadheadings and the main B. davidii ZDV VWLOO ÁRZHULQJ XS WR WKH WK October.
Clouded Yellow - Field Note Bill Stone
On the 12th October 2013, I visited East /DQH LQ WKH KRSH RI ÀQGLQJ VRPH &ORXGHG Yellows and to have a good look around IRU RWKHU EXWWHUÁLHV 2Q DUULYLQJ DW WKH FDU park I immediately saw a male Clouded <HOORZ Á\LQJ DZD\ VWURQJO\ RYHU WKH EDQN HGJH RI WKH ÀUVW ODJRRQ , ZDLWHG RQ WKH lagoon corner for it to return in the hope that it may stop long enough for me to photograph it. After a few minutes, the EXWWHUÁ\ UHWXUQHG EXW LW VKRZHG QR VLJQ RI settling, instead it seemed to be patrolling the bank area and the path that runs between the lagoons and the sea wall.
18
I watched it for a while and then was quite VXUSULVHG ZKHQ LW ÁHZ VWUDLJKW DW D SDLU of Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum WKDW ZHUH Á\LQJ LQ WDQGHP 7KH EXWWHUÁ\ appeared to try and break the pairing. ,W IDLOHG DQG WKHQ ÁHZ DZD\ UHVXPLQJ D VWURQJ SDWUROOLQJ ÁLJKW :DWFKLQJ LW at close range through binoculars I saw LW DJDLQ Á\ DW DQRWKHU SDLU RI &RPPRQ 'DUWHUV 7KLV WLPH WKH GDUWHUV ZHUH Á\LQJ low over wet ground in the centre of the SDWK $JDLQ WKH EXWWHUÁ\ ZDV VHHQ WR SK\VLFDOO\ Á\ LQWR WKH GDUWHUV DQG WKLV time succeeded in breaking the pairing. +RZHYHU DIWHU DFKLHYLQJ WKLV WKH EXWWHUÁ\ MXVW ÁHZ RQ , ZDWFKHG WKLV SDUWLFXODU PDOH
Spring 2014 Clouded Yellow do this to two more pairs RI &RPPRQ 'DUWHUV EHIRUH LW ÁHZ VWURQJO\ north along the path and out of sight. I saw at least three other Clouded Yellows PDOH ²D PXFK WDWWLHU EXWWHUÁ\ WKDQ WKH ÀUVW RQH DQG WZR IHPDOHV GXULQJ P\ YLVLW but none showed any similar behaviour.
, KDYH VHHQ D QXPEHU RI EXWWHUÁ\ VSHFLHV acting aggressively towards each other, IRU H[DPSOH PDOH *UHHQ +DLUVWUHDNV Á\LQJ out from perches on Broom. However, I KDYH QHYHU FRPH DFURVV D EXWWHUÁ\ ZKLFK appeared to deliberately go out of its way to disrupt other insects in such a way as seen with this Clouded Yellow. It would be interesting to hear from anyone else that has come across this behaviour.
Great Glemham Farms and Pound Wood, 3rd August 2013
Rob Parker
By kind invitation of Lord Cranbrook, (President of SWT and a Vice President of %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ ZH PDGH D VXUYH\ RI $LUÀHOG )DUP VLWHG RQ WKH ROG 3DUKDP DLUÀHOG RQ UG $XJXVW
patchwork of scrub was expanding across the site in places. Many of the trees were now mature and sheltered the site from the wind, but the impression was that the site was becoming too overgrown.
A party of 14 members were met by Lord Cranbrook’s son Argus and escorted to a most unusual County Wildlife Site - the disused runway, alongside a half-built VRODU IDUP :KHQ WKH ZDUWLPH DLUÀHOG was returned to agriculture, the concrete runway was smashed up and most of the rubble was removed from the site, at which point the contractor went bankrupt and the site was abandoned. The limerich runway shaped recess that remained ZDV QRW ÀW IRU DJULFXOWXUH DQG ZDV OHIW WR natural regeneration. Many years later, WKH TXDOLW\ RI LWV ÁRUD ZDV UHFRJQL]HG DQG CWS status was awarded. Occasional VXUYH\V RI WKH ÁRUD DQG VRPH RI WKH IDXQD have been conducted, but until this visit, the lepidoptera had not been properly examined. The site we found was deeply ULFK ZLWK ÁRZHULQJ NQDSZHHG DQG SOHQW\ RI FRPPRQ EXWWHUÁLHV ZHUH HQMR\LQJ WKH nectar. As we walked, we appreciated that there were plenty of other, less evident, plants beneath the knapweed, and a
7KH HQRUPRXV ÀHOG DORQJVLGH WKH &:6 was a work-in-progress, having almost ÀOOHG XS ZLWK VXUIDFH PRXQWHG VRODU panels. Our host explained that the LQWHQWLRQ LV WR VRZ ZLOGÁRZHU ULFK VHHG mixes under the panels, including nectar DQG SROOHQ ULFK SODQWV IRU WKH EHQHÀW RI bees and lepidoptera - and to graze the sward with sheep. It had been necessary to UDLVH WKH SDQHOV WR JLYH VXIÀFLHQW FOHDUDQFH for the sheep, and then to adjust the angle of the panels downwards to minimize visual impact from the surrounding countryside. A boundary hedge will be planted to obscure the view as well. This ZDV DOO RI JUHDW LQWHUHVW DQG ZH ÀQLVKHG with an appreciation that a great deal of thought has gone into ecological aspects of managing the land for electricity generation, farming for sheep, and conserving habitat for wildlife too.
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The third element of interest was a pleasing DUHD VXUURXQGLQJ D VWULQJ RI ÀVKLQJ
The Suffolk Argus lakes. These are used by the local angling club, and for general recreation, being accessible to local people too. There were nice areas of mixed scrub, attractive to ERWK ELUGV DQG EXWWHUÁLHV DQG WKH VXEVRLO extracted during the digging of the ponds KDV SURGXFHG D ÀQH FURS RI RUFKLGV :H added Painted Lady and Brown Argus, EULQJLQJ WKH WRWDO IRU $LUÀHOG )DUP WR species (see table below). For the afternoon, we moved on to Pound Wood, a Woodland Trust site that was WKHLU ÀUVW ODUJH VFDOH ZRRGODQG FUHDWLRQ planting on previously agricultural land. After a picnic lunch, we took a stroll through the woodland and meadows, seeing 16 species in the tetrad north of
Great Glemham - 3 whites, 3 skippers, Peacock, 2 Painted Lady, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue female, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, one Purple Hairstreak, and Comma. The lacewing that landed on Twm Wade’s monocular was admired close-up by everyone and the ‘spot of the afternoon’ award went to Beryl Johnson who, without binoculars, VDZ D ORZ Á\LQJ 3XUSOH +DLUVWUHDN We also recorded Southern and Brown Hawker. My thanks to Richard Stewart who kindly took the lead for the afternoon. Species List AM. - CY, SS, ES, LS, LW, SW, GVW, BA, CB, PL, P, C, GK, MB, R. PM. - SS, ES, LS, LW, SW, GVW, PH, BA, CB, PL, P, C, GK, MB, R, SH.
Greenwings’ Balkan Butterfly Holiday, 15-22 June 2013
Bill Stone and Julian Dowding
Our base was the little town of Kalavryta, situated in the foothills of Mount Chelmos, in the Peloponnese region of Greece. The area is a wilderness of pine forested slopes, PHUJLQJ LQWR ÁRZHU\ JUDVVODQGV DQG URFN at around 800 metres and is renowned IRU LWV HQGHPLF ÁRUD DQG IDXQD %XWWHUÁ\ species such as the rare, beautifully coloured Chelmos Blue, found in Europe only on Mt Chelmos, are not only a delight to behold, but creatures which must be preserved. It’s a very peaceful place too, often with only the hum of bees or the tinkling of goat bells to punctuate the silence. To be out on this vast magical mountain, which is sometimes known as ‘Aroania’, will always engage the mind and lift the spirits. The group of ten guests was guided by celebrated author and naturalist Tristan Lafranchis and Suffolk’s own Julian 20
Dowding and Bill Stone. The holiday was run by Greenwings Wildlife Holidays. Day 1: Chelmos. 7KH ÀUVW GD\ IROORZLQJ our arrival. The weather was perfect with blue skies interspersed with light cloud cover as we headed out onto the mountain exploring different habitats ranging from gullies to scree and meadows. All around XV LQ KXJH QXPEHUV ÁHZ %ODFN YHLQHG Whites, Cleopatras, Large Tortoiseshells, Greek Clouded Yellows Powdered Brimstones and Amanda’s Blues. The group was thrilled that we found all of our key target species: Pontic, Chelmos, and Odd-spot Blue and Southern Swallowtail. Day 2: The coast. Search for the Two-tailed Pasha. We stopped en route at a meadow by a stream, to see curious looking Nettle7UHH %XWWHUÁLHV DORQJ ZLWK 6RXWKHUQ :KLWH Admirals, and good numbers of Escher’s
Spring 2014 Blues. Great Banded Graylings were ubiquitous among the many other species there. At a gorge, beautiful pink Crepis rubra ÁRZHUV DGGHG D VSODVK RI FRORXU WR the impressive geological feature rising up high above and around us. Tristan had prepared a bait for the Pashas, and with his hand held out of the window, Pashas were soon following the car. Equally impressive were the swathes of wild ROHDQGHU WKHLU SLQN ÁRZHUV VHHPLQJ WR touch the deep azure sky. Our third site was a walk back along the gorge walls in a successful search for new brood Southern &RPPD EXWWHUÁLHV Day 3: Undisclosed location. Tristan had spent a few years studying the 3 regional Anomalous Blues and took us to a secret spot high in the mountains to see them all WRJHWKHU :H ZHUH GHOLJKWHG WR ÀQG DOO Grecian, Ripart’s, Anomalous. We lunched at the top of the mountain overlooking the Gulfs of Patra and Corinth whilst Scarce Swallowtails, Ilex and Sloe Hairstreaks ÁXWWHUHG DOO DURXQG XV 2Q UHWXUQLQJ towards Kalavryta we encountered innumerable Balkan Marbled Whites, imbibing nectar from Echium italicum and DOVR RXU ÀUVW *UHFLDQ &RSSHUV Day 4: Hidden glades. Greenwings had visited the area in 2010, thus it was a treat this day to lead Tristan to a new spot. A ÁRZHU\ PHDGRZ ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK D KXJH YDULHW\ RI EXWWHUÁLHV )ODVKHV RI YLROHW DQG metallic orange Purple-shot Coppers took our breath away, Queen of Spain Fritillaries JLOGHG HYHU\ RWKHU ÁRZHU ZKLOVW EHDXWLIXO Marbled Fritillaries dabbed their eggs onto Brambles. Ambling up the mountain track we watched Pearl-bordered and Dark Green Fritillaries with Grizzled Skippers nectaring on the many clovers and sages, whilst we paused occasionally to take photographs or sample the delicious wild strawberries growing 21
there. Wood Whites in this part of Greece choose Dorycnium hirsutum on which to lay eggs. We saw plenty of these. At the glade we picnicked by a babbling stream, frequented by nesting Grey Wagtails, picking their food from the small boulders and stones. Clumps of the beautiful pink valerian species, &HQWUDQWKXV ORQJLÁRUXV SURYLGHG D EDQTXHW IRU PDQ\ EXWWHUÁLHV including Cleopatras and Brimstones. The JODGH ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK VR PDQ\ EXWWHUÁLHV but the most exciting and interesting discovery was that of the Blue Argus. We all watched spellbound as the male settled, rubbing his hindwings back and forth, while the female buzzed him 6 inches or so overhead. Day 5: The road south. By steep banks above a stream shaded with overhanging oriental planes all sounds were drowned out by a chorus of freshly hatched singing Cicadas. We followed the stream, meeting Camberwell Beauties, Balkan Marbled Whites, Mallow Skippers and Chapman’s Blues along the way. A short walk after OXQFK VDZ RXU ÀUVW 2ULHQWDO 0HDGRZ Browns nectaring on an abundance of SLQN ÁRZHUHG EUDPEOH 2XU ODVW VWRS of the day by a rushing stream full of half submerged waterside vegetation ZDV DOLYH ZLWK EXWWHUÁLHV 7ULVWDQ KDG LPSORUHG XV WR FKHFN HYHU\ EXWWHUÁ\ particularly the blues. And so it was that ZH REVHUYHG RXU ÀUVW 0HOHDJHU·V %OXH mud-puddling in a mixed group which also included Chapman’s and Common Blues, Grecian and Sooty Coppers. Flying above the water, Silver-washed Fritillaries performed their courtship and all around, &OHRSDWUDV ÀOOHG WKH DLU /DWWLFH %URZQV perched on half submerged branches and an interesting skipper proved to be our ÀUVW 6DJH 6NLSSHU RI WKH KROLGD\ :H ZHUH also added Oberthur’s Grizzled Skipper to our list whilst being serenaded by purring Turtle Doves.
The Suffolk Argus Day 6: Chapel meadow and ridge. The alpine terrain above the snow line promised a very different selection of ZLOGOLIH SDUWLFXODUO\ ÁRZHUV DQG ELUGV and the opportunity to watch hill-topping EXWWHUÁLHV ORRNLQJ IRU PDWHV $ 'HODWWLQ·V *UD\OLQJ ÁHZ XS WKH VORSH ZKLOVW D ÀQH PDOH 3HORSRQQHVH :DOO /L]DUG DQ endemic species) basked on a rock to warm up. Silver-Studded, Common, Escher’s and Balkan Zephyr Blues were DOO Á\LQJ DV WKH VXQ ZDUPHG WKH ORZHU VORSHV 2Q 0W $YJR ZH VWRSSHG EULHÁ\ for Woodlarks singing their beautiful song IURP WKH SLQHV DQG ÀUV ZKLOVW D :KHDWHDU perched on the buildings. As we began the ascent, Queen of Spain Fritillaries and Large Tortoiseshells seemed to be following us. When the vehicles could go no further, we parked and carried on upwards, passing a huge patch of melting snow. Here we watched Alpine Accentors and one of the true alpine specialists, Clouded Apollo, which was out in force, Á\LQJ RYHU WKH YHJHWDWLRQ ORRNLQJ HLWKHU for mates, nectar, or Corydalis blanda on which to lay eggs. Mountain Small Whites involved in courtship activity appeared in huge numbers, along with Spotted Fritillaries, Eastern Zephyr and Adonis Blues. We were well above the tree line now at around 2,000 metres and in a truly alpine setting with patches of snow still on the ground in the middle of summer. Tristan pointed out 5DQXQFXOXV ÀFDULRLGHV, and then Verbascum acaule, a small stemless variety of Verbascum. He uttered his surprise at seeing Grecian Coppers which had never before been recorded there above 800m. At the ridge we observed at least 20 Camberwell Beauties hilltopping, along with Swallowtails, Large Tortoiseshells and Painted Ladies. It was a real privilege to witness such a wonderful QDWXUDO VSHFWDFOH +HUH ZH ÀQDOO\ HQMR\HG a number of Blue Argus females egglaying on Erodium chrysanthemum in the sward. After such excitement we rested 22
for lunch and headed back down to a spot that Tristan had noted earlier. Upon arrival we were amazed at the spectacle of Crocus sieberi, growing in purple profusion all around the damp patches left by the receding snow. Day 7: Floriferous meadow outside Kalavryta. 2XU ÀQDO GD\ LQ WKLV EHDXWLIXO corner of Greece. We had an afternoon ÁLJKW EDFN WR WKH 8. VR WLPH ZDV OLPLWHG +RZHYHU ZH PDGH RQH ÀQDO H[FXUVLRQ WR D meadow close to Kalavryta. This lush area ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK HFKLXPV DQG WKLVWOHV ZKLFK provided plenty of nectar for myriad Eastern Bath Whites and Cleopatras. A VPDOO WUDFN OLQHG ZLWK ÁRZHULQJ PLQWV attracted both Lesser Fiery and Sooty Coppers. A pair of Malacosoma franconica, moths (members of the Eggars and Lappet IDPLO\ KDG XQLWHG RQ D ÁRZHU VWHP providing a good chance to observe the sexual dimorphism of the species with the females being possibly twice the size of the males. In total we recorded 97 different EXWWHUÁ\ VSHFLHV GXULQJ RXU KROLGD\ DQG much other wildlife. If all this has all whetted your appetite, you might like to know that Julian will be running the trip himself this June with a 10% discount for branch members. The services of a local botanical guide will also be enlisted in order to take an LQWHUHVW LQ WKH ULFK ÁRUD RI WKH DUHD )RU WKH full report and more about Greenwings and their conservation ethos visit www. greenwings.co
Summer copy date Sunday 18th May 2014
The Suffolk Argus Purdis Heath Megabash January 2014
Matt & Dave
Bonfire Building
Photos by Helen Saunders
Anne & Susanne
Greenwings‘ Balkan Holiday 2013
Purple-shot Copper Photo Julian Dowding
Balkan Zephyr Blue Plebejus ‘brethertoni” Photo Tim Norris
Lesser Fiery Copper
Chelmos Blue
Photo Bill Stone
Photo Julian Dowding
The Suffolk Argus 2013 A Clouded Yellow Year
Clouded Yellow female
Clouded Yellow
Helice Form
Photos Tim Bagworth
Clouded Yellow male
Suffolk’s Chalkhill Blues Chalkhill Blue pair Photo Twm Wade
Chalkhill Blue male Photo Rob Parker
Chalkhill Blue male Photo Rob Parker
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