Small heath?

yellowhammer · Post by **yellowhammer** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:35 pm

Hi everyone, I took this today and I think it's a small heath. Am I right? Sorry, it's the only shot I got.

Thanks for your help

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:51 pm

I'd agree, but that's reallllly early!

yellowhammer · Post by **yellowhammer** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:54 pm

That's what I thought, but here in north Kent everything is. I'm sure I saw a large skipper as well today but I'm not going to go on the record with that one!

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:35 pm

Very early indeed! Please report to your local BC branch immediately

Or let me know the location and I'll do it for you.

Cheers,

- Pete

yellowhammer · Post by **yellowhammer** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:04 pm

Thanks Peter. What are the chances of my large skipper being kosher as well? is it not a bit early for them as well?

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:15 pm

I think the chances are slim, I'm afraid. It would be the earliest sighting by 4 or 5 weeks over the last few years! (2006 was 30th May).

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/flighttimes_earliest.php

Cheers,

- Pete

yellowhammer · Post by **yellowhammer** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:01 pm

Ah well, I thought that one was a bit suspect! Small heath reported to Kent BC. Thanks for your help Pete.

alex mclennan · Post by **alex mclennan** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:41 am

I had a small heath on my local nature reserve in Bedford yesterday morning which I reported to my local recorder. I saw it sitting on the ground and as I moved forward to get a photograph it flew off not to be seen again.
Alex

Cotswold Cockney · Post by **Cotswold Cockney** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:43 pm

That is VERY early.

Is the Small Heath in decline?

It certainly appears less numerous locally (Glos/Cotswolds) than I remember it a few decades back.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:02 pm

Unfortunately, like many butterflies, this *is* in decline. From "The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland" ...

Long-term trend: -52% (1976 - 2004)

10-year trend: -29% (1995 - 2004)

Cheers,

- Pete

Matsukaze · Post by **Matsukaze** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:18 pm

I found a butterfly book dating back to about 1970 once in my local library, which described the Small Heath as perhaps our most numerous butterfly.

It is scarce around here - I know of only two reliable sites between the Mendips and Bath.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:35 pm

still common as muck in Shropshire!

it tends to favour altitude in my experience.

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:46 pm

I saw second brood small heath in good numbers last summer in the East Poldens reserves and Crook Peak in Somerset.