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Albomaculata Again!

Yesterday (20 May) I arrived at Kithurst Hill with a view to starting a landscape scale count of Duke of Burgundy, but the changeable weather soon convinced me that it would be difficult to make progress under the stop-start conditions. I decided to stay put for the day, in the hope that I might be able to find another of the beautiful aberrant forms which have cropped up here in recent years; this is the only site at which I've ever seen ab. albomaculata.

Throughout my long stay I saw a total of 17 individual Duke of Burgundy, some of which are now looking tired, although several recently emerged females were seen. Soon after meeting Andrew Burns in the meadow, I located a Duchess and was following her when another caught my eye. Fortunately, I picked the right one to pursue and was delighted to find she was a perfect specimen of ab. albomaculata - my second for the site this year. We spent more than an hour waiting for her to reopen her wings after a cool, cloudy spell, but the wait was worthwhile.

Throughout the day many other species were seen, including Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus and Small Blue. However, the most important sighting was made by Beryl Greenaway and her party, who spotted a female Pearl-bordered Fritillary, about 10km away from its Rewell Wood birthplace. Unsurprisingly, given the explosion of PBF numbers there this year, the species has clearly dispersed into the wider countryside, giving hope of colonisations.

The day also provided the chance to catch up with or meet some very nice butterfly people, so in retrospect I was pleased that I never moved on from this wonderful location.

Your patience is why your rewards are so great, Neil. Again, that is a beautiful specimen.

BC Fritillaries For The Future Update

I'm pleased to report that a reintroduction of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary to the Rowland Wood reserve, conducted in compliance with the ‘BC Code on Introductions and Re-introductions 2010’ (involving the necessary research, thorough preparations and implementation of a sustainable management plan, as part of a landscape scale programme), has now been completed.

We haven't posted any of the reports sent in by those who have noticed the appearance of PBF on the Sussex reserves (some have already found their way into Park Corner Heath), in order to let the butterflies get on with the job of establishing a new population, unhindered by too much attention - thank you for your patience. We will welcome any reports from next year onward.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are now emerging on the reserves, so you now have the happy problem of differentiating between these species (a good book on The Butterflies of Sussex will help). I would like to thank the project's captive-breeding team of Theresa Turner, Gary Norman and Mike Mullis for all their hard work, and everyone else who has supported the project in any way.

SPBF And PBF Flying Together Again

This afternoon (21 May) I performed a thorough search of both the BC Rowland Wood and Park Corner Heath reserves for the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, which started to emerge a few days ago. My tally of four and eight individuals respectively, at such an early stage in the flight season, suggests we may see good numbers this year. The highlights were a chase of four SPBF males over the area in front of the PCH hut, and the sight of SPBF and PBF nectaring together; it was like stepping back in time.

It was nice to bump into you at Park Corner Heath yesterday afternoon and thanks for showing me where most of the SPBF were flying. I eventually got some nice shots when the sun went in later in the afternoon.
It is certainly a delight to see PBF and SPBF flying together, and thanks for all your efforts to make it happen.

Hi Neil, there was a Duke of Burgundy ab. gracilans photographed at Cerne Abbas in Dorset recently. Photograph on the Dorset BC website.


Regards
Mike

Neil,

Lovely photos of the Frits. I'm getting very excited about my holiday in Sussex next week and will be staying close to Park Corner Heath. Is there a particular place I should be looking, or will a thorough sweep of the area be sufficient?

Regards
Kev

A pleasure, Andy. Plenty more now emerging!

Thanks, Mike. We see a few ab. gracilens in Sussex most years, but I don't recall seeing a good one in 2019.

Hi Kev. Don't worry - you won't be able to miss SPBF on either Park Corner Heath or Rowland Wood by next week.

BWs, Neil

Neil Hulme wrote:BC Fritillaries For The Future Update

I'm pleased to report that a reintroduction of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary to the Rowland Wood reserve, conducted in compliance with the ‘BC Code on Introductions and Re-introductions 2010’ (involving the necessary research, thorough preparations and implementation of a sustainable management plan, as part of a landscape scale programme), has now been completed.

That first paragraph gave me so much pleasure that I read it twice more!

The sustainable management plan should ensure that both Pearl and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries gain a permanent foothold in the area. What a delight for all butterfly lovers. You and your team deserve medals.

Thanks, David. We are now really beginning to see the rewards of the huge team effort over recent years, with the fortunes of both PBF and SPBF looking much better in Sussex. It's very satisfying to see both species flying together on the BC reserves.
BWs, Neil

Small Pearls Going Large

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (SPBF) numbers are now building rapidly on the BC Park Corner Heath (PCH) and Rowland Wood reserves, with the best count to date being 19 over the entire area. The highest numbers are currently being seen on PCH, where they emerge slightly earlier than in the cooler rides of Rowland Wood. We are always keen to hear of any SPBF sightings (numbers and locations helpful), both here and at Abbot's Wood, so please post any reports to the BC Sussex Sightings Page.

A small but beautifully marked aberrant male SPBF (ab. infraclara + trans. ab. vanescens: silvery-white cells over the basal and central hindwing underside; heavy, streaked upperside borders and reduced central spotting) has been causing much excitement over recent days.

Those wishing to photograph the SPBF will get better opportunities after 6pm on warm sunny days, or on partially cloudy days. Please note that chasing them around in the heat of the day will only cause unnecessary trampling of their breeding habitat - and you'll never catch up with them!

No wonder it's caused much excitement Neil - i's a cracking looking butterfly

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Glad you got the shots you were waiting for, Neil (terrific photographs too!) - it really was a delightful little thing and never strayed very far.

Cheers,

Dave

Thanks, Wurzel and Dave. When Gary returned early the next day, the aberrant SPBF was lying dead below his perch, minus legs and antennae. Cause of death unknown, but probably dismembered by ants. Blink, and these beautiful things are gone!
BWs, Neil

Spring Bonk Holiday

Yesterday (25 May) the weather finally held out for me to complete an extensive survey of the Downs near Storrington, primarily to count Duke of Burgundy numbers. My final tally of 163 individuals, over six colonies, included 3 mating pairs and many females in fresh condition; this species is having a very good year in Sussex and should fly until mid June on late sites.

During my travels it became clear that many other species were making hay; I found mating pairs of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Small Copper and Small Blue. With so much bonking going on, it's clear that many spring butterflies are still emerging - there won't be much of a 'June gap' this year.

Neil Hulme wrote:When Gary returned early the next day, the aberrant SPBF was lying dead below his perch, minus legs and antennae. Cause of death unknown, but probably dismembered by ants. Blink, and these beautiful things are gone!

Profound but true, Neil. Still, you got to see it alive and we were all able to take a look at what is quite some aberration.

Record Duke Count

Today (26 May) I was joined by Mathilda Whittle, who is gaining some experience of conservation work for butterflies, by assisting with the monitoring of Duke of Burgundy numbers. I also invited Theresa Turner and Gary Norman along, to show them some of the more remote locations where the species now flies in good numbers. This was a suitable way of showing my appreciation of all they have done for the Fritillaries for the Future project.

With the sunshine gone before we set off, I suspected that we might struggle, but I'm pleased to report that we were in for a nice surprise. For most of the day the weather remained warm enough to keep the Dukes on the field of play, but largely inactive, making counting them very easy, especially with the extra eyes to help.

By the time Mathilda departed we were on the impressive total of 185 individuals. Theresa and Gary came along to Kithurst Hill, where another 13 Dukes were added. I then left them to photograph the Small Blues and headed to my final destination on private land.

The final tally of 216 Duke of Burgundy, including 6 mating pairs, is a record for this landscape, in which it is still spreading. It is very rewarding to see a species which was once on the point of extinction in Sussex, as the most common butterfly on the slopes today.

Neil Hulme wrote:
The final tally of 216 Duke of Burgundy, including 6 mating pairs, is a record for this landscape, in which it is still spreading. It is very rewarding to see a species which was once on the point of extinction in Sussex, as the most common butterfly on the slopes today.

That's a fabulous tally, Neil. As you say, this was quite recently a species many feared might be lost.

Wonderful to see it about in such numbers, and equally good to know it's future seems in safe hands.

Small Pearls Still Emerging Strongly

The emergence of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary on the Sussex reserves is still gathering pace, with the numbers in Rowland Wood now overhauling those on Park Corner Heath (where they appeared earlier). Yesterday (28 May), good numbers showed in Wide Ride (TQ51441487) and Christmas Tree Glade/east end Beech Ride (TQ515150) for the first time this year. Numbers are also good at the top of Rushy Meadow and Birch Meadow (TQ51591496).

The best count for the entire reserves now stands at 54, but I suspect we are still a few days short of peak emergence. Cream-spot Tiger moths are now flying and Adder was seen on both reserves, including a pair coiled on a tree stump. Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak made up the best of the rest.

Neil Hulme wrote:..The best count for the entire reserves now stands at 54, but I suspect we are still a few days short of peak emergence.

Very encouraging, Neil. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you can hit three figures at some point!