www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Well done finding those Dukes, Neil, given that none were around a few days later. Been a strange year, hasn't it? In 2020, Dukes were all but done by the end of May.

Hopefully the SPBFs will benefit from emerging in this fine weather. I look forward to learning how many are around.

Thanks, David.
I didn't get what may prove to be my peak count of Duke of Burgundy in Sussex until the very last day of May! On cooler sites, they might get into late June this year.
The change in weather has certainly come at the right time for SPBF in Sussex. Numbers should start to rise next week.
BWs, Neil

30 May - 2 June 2021

With Duke of Burgundy now at peak, on 30 May I performed a thorough survey of Heyshott Escarpment, before heading on up the hill to do some monitoring work for the national park authority. Duke numbers were disappointing, with a total of only 34 seen across the entire reserve. Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath and Common Blue were the other most commonly encountered species. These days, the place looks too neat and tidy to me; almost park-like and lacking structural/age diversity in the scrub component. The orchids did not disappoint, with plenty of Fly present. I finally managed to get an uncluttered shot of one of my favourite moths, the Mother Shipton. On the way home, I stopped to bathe in the orchestral glory of Field Cricket song at Lord's Piece.

It was the last day of May before I achieved my first three-figure day-count of Duke of Burgundy this year. My tally of 143, spread over four sites near Storrington, included three mating pairs. At last, I managed to enjoy some long hours among swarms of chalk grassland butterflies, with many spring species still hatching on the cusp of summer.

On 1 June I spent most of the day high on the remote Downs above Treyford. There were plenty of butterflies present, with the most numerous being Small Heath (108) and Dingy Skipper (92). Sadly, I failed to find Duke of Burgundy, which used to occur here, albeit in very low numbers.

Another survey was conducted on 2 June, over the seldom-visited (by butterflyers) Trundle at Goodwood. A handful of Small Blue featured in my count, but I suspect this species is only just getting going here. I've rarely seen so much Kidney Vetch on a site, so a mid-June return will prove interesting.

Interesting to read about the Field Crickets. It's quite possible I helped hand rear their ancestors back in the day for (the then named) English Nature reintroduction program (late 80's - early 90's?). If memory serves I think at the time they were thought to be reduced to just one site. Great to know they are still part of the English countryside

Hi Paul
You almost certainly did. This was the last remaining site for the Field Cricket in Britain, supporting only 60-100 individuals at its lowest point. I believe there are now about half-a-dozen sites, following captive-breeding and reintroduction projects; great conservation work!
BWs, Neil

Awwww, my babies. Fond memories of pootering freshly hatched 1st instars every morning from the breeding tubs

That's a brilliant success story They do seem a bit overburdened in the head department

Have a goodun and stay safe

Wurzel

Good to know butterfly numbers are picking up round your way, Neil, even if a few aren't reaching levels seen in previous years (unsurprising, given the dire May we've just had).

Interesting to learn about the field cricket; hopefully it will continue to thrive and increase its range.

Well done too with the Mother Shipton moth. Getting an unobscured image with this beastie is as hard as doing likewise with Large Heath!!

Yes, Wurzel, the Field Cricket appears very boffin-like. I'd like to see them put a team together for University Challenge, and beat Magdalen College Oxford.
Hi David. Pearls were certainly 'down' in Sussex, but it seems that many spring species have done OK, when measured over an extended flight season.
I was very happy with the Mother Shipton shot; the Old Hag is always a nightmare to approach.
BWs, Neil

Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood Reserves (5 June 2021)

Yesterday, I spent many hours tracking the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary on the BC reserves; I'm always keen to see precisely where the eggs are being laid, as this helps plan future management work. As with other species, the SPBF flight season is much delayed, and I only saw six individuals all day. However, an additional female was photographed by a visitor (his first ever sighting of this species).

Two friends, Louise and Andrew, both independently found a Scarce Chaser dragonfly in Rowland Wood. Fortunately, we were able to relocate it. This is the first I've ever seen on the reserves.

Seventeen Years On

On the beautiful sunny evening of 6 June, I enjoyed a few hours in the Springhead (a.k.a. Kithurst) Hill meadow, alone. To have this site to myself is a rarity these days, such is its popularity. The peace and solitude allowed me time to reflect and indulge in a little nostalgia, as I sat surrounded by an abundance of butterflies of many species.

It was seventeen years ago when I met Simon Mockford in the meadow, who at the time was working for the Sussex Downs Conservation Board, which transitioned to the South Downs Joint Committee before becoming the South Downs National Park Authority. Our meeting had been triggered by the sighting of a single Duke of Burgundy in the meadow; it took me a year or two before I located the small colony from whence it came. Simon and I have been managing the meadow and adjacent areas ever since, and much has changed.

The wonderful panorama over the Weald, shown in the image below, simply didn't exist in those days. The view was completely obscured by a dense wall of scrub and secondary woodland, and access to the well-hidden and seldom-visited meadow was through a dark tunnel, which concealed the treasures beyond.

The scrub and trees were removed over the winter of 2013/14, revealing a series of pits and hollows. ‘Green hay’, rich in the seeds of chalk grassland plants, was cut from the meadow below and strewn over the bare chalk scree, which is now blanketed in a dense carpet of Cowslips. However, it has taken many years of strimming and removing the cuttings (a laborious task) to achieve the results seen today.

In February 2016, many large trees were removed from the road bank adjacent to the meadow, with further clearances around the plateau and along the woodland edge to the west. With the kind permission of the Springhead Estate, the meadow was also extended to the east. It has been a case of making the most of every square metre available, and we may not be done yet.

When we started, neither Simon nor I could have possibly predicted just how good this site would become. This small area of little more than a hectare has now hosted a total of 42 different species of butterfly, when exotics and vagrants are included. Nor could we have predicted just how popular the site would become with visitors. This brings its own challenges in terms of wear & tear, with ever-increasing footfall requiring constant adjustments to the management. I’m glad that the site is enjoyed by so many people, but there are now more than sufficient paths cut into the sward to hopefully prevent any further trampling of food-plants.

As I sat watching the butterflies, I noticed that many of the numerous Small Blues now present (numbers had increased spectacularly since my last visit) were congregating on a small bush at the base of the meadow, to enjoy the last rays of sunshine; I counted 26 at one point. Many more were heading for the treetops to roost, while others settled down in the long grasses in sheltered gullies.

As always, it was difficult to leave for home. As I turned to drink in the views for the last time, I wondered what the meadow will look like seventeen years from now.

Day Of The Orchids

On 8 June I spent much of the day on a remote area of chalk grassland near the West Sussex village of Cocking, monitoring butterflies for the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). Over the years, this site had fallen into very poor condition, despite being a SSSI. Following a campaign by local residents, the landowner reinstated a suitable grazing regime and SDNPA, supporting by its Volunteer Ranger Service, set to work to improve matters. My visit soon revealed what a great job has been done, by all parties concerned.

The butterfly fauna is rapidly improving, but still has some way to go; these things take time. However, it is the orchids, for which the site was once well-known, which have made a spectacular comeback. I was surprised, and delighted, to count 87 Greater Butterfly Orchids without looking specifically for them; I'm sure there were many more present. I've never seen so many in one place.

Common Spotted-orchids were abundant, but I was particularly pleased to see three of the pure white var. alba. Common Twayblade was super-abundant and formed mini 'forests'. The first couple of Bee and Pyramidal Orchids were showing, and on the way back down through a wooded section I counted more than 30 White Helleborines.

Just for once, the day was not all about butterflies.

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Sat Jun 12, 2021 7:44 pm..However, it is the orchids, for which the site was once well-known, which have made a spectacular comeback. I was surprised, and delighted, to count 87 Greater Butterfly Orchids without looking specifically for them; I'm sure there were many more present. I've never seen so many in one place.

That is indeed a staggering figure, Neil. What a spectacle for the eyes and yes, sometimes one's attention is drawn away from the butterflies and for good reason.

Thanks, David. I saw plenty of nice butterflies that day, but they were rather overshadowed on this occasion.
BWs, Neil

9 & 12 June 2021

On 9 June, I spent most of the day monitoring butterflies on various sites, including the south-facing chalk grassland slopes to the south of Ditchling Beacon. Among the commoner species I was expecting to see, were a few Small Blue; probably the first records for this under-visited site. Healthy numbers of Fragrant Orchid were just coming into flower.

In the evening, I visited Anchor Bottom where good, but far from spectacular, numbers of Adonis Blue were preparing to roost. Like many spring species, they haven't done particularly well this year. However, I was impressed by the large proportion of very blue females present.

On 12 June I performed another butterfly survey on a private site near Upper Beeding. The floor of this remote U-shaped valley is occupied by a motocross circuit, so it wasn't the most peaceful of visits. That said, it was interesting to watch the impressive riding skills of the instructor, who spent much of the time airborne.

Cut into the steep slope at the apex of the valley are some large loops of sparsely vegetated chalk scree, while the main part of the area is unfortunately smothered in Tor-grass. These features were apparently first cut into the slope in the 1950s by the owners' father (both father and sons being top notch motocross riders), with more two-wheeled forays up this 'wall of death' by the brothers in the 1970s and 80s. One of the plants clinging on in abundance is Horseshoe Vetch, so these chalky scars proved to support one of the more unusual colonies of Adonis Blue I have encountered; there were more than 50 present. The stunningly beautiful Forester moth was also here in good numbers.

This will be an interesting site to write-up; you can probably guess my suggestions for future management.

That Upper Beeding site makes for some unusual butterflying indeed! I can’t remember how I ended up there a few years ago, or if I was even at the site (quite possible - the occasional fence doesn’t normally keep me from good looking habitat), or merely on a public footpath that runs close by, but I do have a lasting memory of the usual serenity of butterfly filled downland being replaced by the high octane din that ripped through the air all around me! Different I guess.

Interesting reports and top notch photos as ever Neil.

Thanks, Ben. I do admire your liberal interpretation of 'right to roam'; on more than one occasion you've magically appeared from behind a 'keep out' sign!
BWs, Neil

Ditchling Common

Against my better judgement (80 degrees and strong sunshine are far from ideal for a Black Hairstreak hunt!), I visited Ditchling Common this morning (16 June), but it was my first opportunity for some while to go butterflying purely for fun. I only saw seven, the majority of which were making short flights above the blackthorn canopy. One male sat quite low in an oak, feeding on honeydew, while a female rested about ten feet up in the blackthorn, doing very little in the heat. However, she kept a small crowd of enthusiasts happy.

A nice display of Bee Orchids near the main car park, an obliging female Beautiful Demoiselle and the chance to catch up with a few butterfly buddies made the trip well worthwhile.

A wonderfully nostalgic memory from Springhead, Neil.

You and your team deserve enormous credit for what has been achieved over those 16 years.

And how nature responds, when given the chance. Rich rewards for all that effort and hard work.

Sometimes you have to look back, in order to look foreword!

I like the idea of off-road motorcycles as a grazing tool - they'd be excellent at creating the bare ground that some of our rare downland butterflies need - trying to get permission for their use on SSSIs would be an interesting conversation though!