www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

21 May 2022

On Saturday 21 May I joined a large group of biological recorders, led by Bob Foreman of the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre, for a day on the BC Sussex reserves. Butterflies, moths, bees, reptiles, dragons & damsels and anything else that moves, or doesn't (plants), were recorded. I spent the entire day there and it was great to bump into so many familiar faces, including some I haven't seen for far too long.

I recognised seven different Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary on Park Corner Heath (four male, three female) and, after several hours searching the much larger Rowland Wood, three more (two male, one female). A further two were found in another, private area of Vert Wood (searched with permission). For those wishing to see this species, pick your weather carefully - they can become inactive for long periods if it gets too hot. It was good to see that a few Pearl-bordered Fritillary were still laying eggs around the reserves, particularly in Rowland Wood.

The biggest surprise of the day was provided by the once-scarce Scarce Chaser dragonfly. I've seen the odd one on the reserves in recent years, but on Saturday I ended up with a tally of seven on the reserves and a further five in other parts of the Vert complex.

That fox cub is positively cherubic, Neil.

Good to see the SPBFs thriving down your way, as well as the scarce dragonfly that doesn't seem to live up to its name at that location!

Here in Somerset the dragonfly needs a name change. Unknown 40 years ago, it's now probably the commonest of the chasers.

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Thu May 19, 2022 8:24 am 14-16 May 2022

On 14 May I performed a butterfly survey in a private part of Rewell Wood, confirming the presence of a long-standing but very small population of Duke of Burgundy. However, the star of the show was the diminutive, unspectacular but much-loved (at least by me!) Drab Looper moth. I associate this rarity with the best time to be out in the British countryside, in habitats which often also support the Duke and Pearl-bordered Fritillary. It flies erratically over extensive beds of Wood Spurge, a plant that flushes for a few years following woodland clearances. My tally of 20 was the best I've ever achieved here, and nationally important. I also found the characteristic larval feeding pattern of the highly localised (mainly the East Anglian brecklands) Spotted White Plume moth; large holes in Burdock leaves.

On 16 May I visited Anchor Bottom, where a large number of cattle were present, including an impressive bull. This site is a bit of a 'one-trick pony', as the very high grazing pressure only really suits the large population of Adonis Blue here, and the small but beautifully marked Green-winged Orchid. For the first time ever, I managed to combine the two!

UKB Drab Looper (1) Rewell Wood 14.5.22.jpgUKB Drab Looper habitat.jpgUKB Drab Looper (2) Rewell Wood 14.5.22.jpgUKB Porrittia galactodactyla larval feeding damage.jpgSDNPA Anchor Bottom cattle 16.5.22.jpgUKB Adonis Blue pair on Green-winged Orchid, Anchor Bottom 16.5.22.jpg

Hi that is a wonderful total of Drab Looper. I also visited the area on 14 May covered quite extensive areas of the wood over a few hours but I drew a blank! An area of Wood Spurge in the North East part of the wood not far from Rewell House looked good and certainly held reasonable numbers of Pearl -bordered Fritillary. In other parts had nice Micros including the localised Glyphipterix Forsterella. Of course I'm not expecting specific location but I am wondering if the Drab Looper can be seen in the public areas of the wood ? As hoping to maybe have another go. Thanks Anthony Bennett

Hi David and Matsukaze. Scarce Chaser will remain one of my favourites, despite losing that valued attribute of rarity, although its placing within my top three 'dragons' has fallen, due to the rise of Southern Migrant Hawker. Perversely, the fabulous Common Clubtail is much rarer!

Anthony, you're in luck! Firstly, I'm glad to hear that you're appreciative of this little beauty; I have the original Richard Lewington painting of it here on my office desk! Coincidentally, I've just returned from Rewell Wood, following up a report of a possible Pearl-bordered Fritillary ab. pallida - no joy, and the species appears to be almost finished for the year here. However, I did see a few Drab Looper, in a publicly accessible area. Aim for the public bridleway between SU979079 and SU981078, where I saw them fluttering over the ride margins in the vicinty of Wood Spurge. I haven't noticed them in this area before and those I got close to looked to be in fresh condition. If the weather collapses, use a long stick to gently disturb the foodplants to get the Drabs moving; this is a better option than walking along the bank at the west end, as we now have Duke of Burgundy breeding here, and it would be good to avoid footfall over the Primula. Good luck - go soon.

BWs, Neil

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 6:30 pm Hi David and Matsukaze. Scarce Chaser will remain one of my favourites, despite losing that valued attribute of rarity, although its placing within my top three 'dragons' has fallen, due to the rise of Southern Migrant Hawker. Perversely, the fabulous Common Clubtail is much rarer!

Anthony, you're in luck! Firstly, I'm glad to hear that you're appreciative of this little beauty; I have the original Richard Lewington painting of it here on my office desk! Coincidentally, I've just returned from Rewell Wood, following up a report of a possible Pearl-bordered Fritillary ab. pallida - no joy, and the species appears to be almost finished for the year here. However, I did see a few Drab Looper, in a publicly accessible area. Aim for the public bridleway between SU979079 and SU981078, where I saw them fluttering over the ride margins in the vicinty of Wood Spurge. I haven't noticed them in this area before and those I got close to looked to be in fresh condition. If the weather collapses, use a long stick to gently disturb the foodplants to get the Drabs moving; this is a better option than walking along the bank at the west end, as we now have Duke of Burgundy breeding here, and it would be good to avoid footfall over the Primula. Good luck - go soon.

BWs, Neil

Thank you Neil that is much appreciated, I hope to try Thursday or Friday as weather looks good.

27 May 2022

I spent the first part of the day in East Sussex, catching up with friends I haven't see since Covid struck; it was great to see Bob Eade, James Arnott and Jon Curson after so long. I was particularly interested in seeing a couple of species of rare moth that Bob has been monitoring over the last couple of years. Top of the list was the beautiful Lace Border and I photographed three of the probable four specimens we encountered. Next, we looked at some of the spectacular larval webs of the Small Eggar. I then moved on to a site I'm surveying for the South Downs National Park Authority, finding 20 species.

On the way home, I dropped in at the Park Corner Heath & Rowland Wood reserves, fearing that the hail storm reported (BC Sussex website) by Paul Atkin during his 24 May visit might have curtailed the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary flight season. I was pleasantly surprised, as Gary Norman and I (later joined by John Williams) proved the presence (by photography) of three freshly emerged females on PCH plateau, although one had picked up some early damage. I also found a fourth female and a male in Rowland Wood, although it soon became clear that the Pearl-bordered Fritillary season is now over here, following a strong five-week flight period. Yesterday (28 May), Bob Eade found a male (and a female) SPBF on PCH, so I'm confident that our three fresh females will all have been mated.

In relatively few visits I've now photographed 13 different SPBF females within the Vert complex. The recovery of this species from last year's weather-related dip in numbers can be credited to all the hard work performed by the brilliant volunteer force, creating such extensive high quality breeding habitat. I'm hoping that numbers will continue to build next year.

Well ,What a coincidence Neil,i too found Lace border (just the one !), yesterday morning ..........the first i,ve seen ,whilst on an Orchid hunt
beautiful little moth ! was very pleased to find it .
Out at 5.30 am this morning ,to re-aquaint myself with some Kentish Monkey Orchids ,plenty in flower + some stunning Greater Butterflys as well .
Great shots of the moth Neil ,the little B*****r I found just wouldn,t settle ,where i could get a clear shot ..............but no matter .....just pleased to see it .

Glad to read the hail storm didn't hold them back

Neil Hulme wrote: ↑Sun May 29, 2022 7:57 am....In relatively few visits I've now photographed 13 different SPBF females within the Vert complex. The recovery of this species from last year's weather-related dip in numbers can be credited to all the hard work performed by the brilliant volunteer force, creating such extensive high quality breeding habitat. I'm hoping that numbers will continue to build next year.

So good to know this, Neil. It's been a major effort and if SPBFs were able to get through last year's weather debacle, then they can surely make good progress going forward.

Good luck to you all.

That is a coicidence, Allan. They do give you the runaround though - I think they know they're rare and beautiful!

Good news, Paul, although I think they're now winding up for the year.

Thanks, David. Some punters were spreading doom & gloom about their imminent extirpation last year; I'm pleased to say they got it wrong!

BWs, Neil

Wilding Waterhall

On Sunday (29 May) I teamed up with Brighton & Hove City Ranger Paul Gorringe and Kim Greaves of the National Trust-led Changing Chalk partnership, to lead a butterfly walk on the old Waterhall Golf Course. Wilding Waterhall is one of 18 interconnected Changing Chalk projects and aims to give the course, which sits on the urban fringe, back to nature.

There's plenty of potential here and we saw species including Green Hairstreak, Grizzled skipper, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and a scattering of Emperor Moth caterpillars. A later walk around the more remote parts of the site produced a couple of lovely Adders.

Once the grazing with a mix of cattle, sheep and ponies starts to reshape the landscape, I suspect this will become a top wildlife site, with easy access for the people of Brighton & Hove and beyond.

Great to read through the last few pages of posts, giving me a nice view of a spring that I've not been able to get out and see very much of this year. Some stunning photos in there too. Particularly liked some of the pearls, the ovipositing duchess and of course, the 'Padfield' dukes shot. Wasn't able to catch any pearls or dukes this year, but I also worry for the state of Kithurst, which may benefit from being closed off for a year or two, to alleviate the problems caused by the 'off piste' footfall. Delighted to hear that the Dukes at Fairmile are doing well.

Very interested to see what Paul et al. achieve at Waterfall - Lots of potential there for moths and butterflies. I located a number of brown hairstreak eggs there in Nov last year by the rugby clubhouse.

Thanks, Max, and welcome back. Best of luck with your PhD, although I'm sure you won't need luck; it'll be worth the price of one spring!

I'm already working on protective measures for Kithurst. Whatever we decide, I doubt that it will be popular, but many people probably don't even recognise the damage that's being done, or realise that this is part of a SSSI and that access is discretionary (private, not access land). Initially, it will probably involve marking out restricted paths, but if some people still can't behave, tougher measures will become unavoidable.

BWs, Neil

Closing Time For The Duke

It's that time of year again when I reluctantly make a trip specifically to say farewell to the Duke of Burgundy for another year. Today (31 May) I headed to a 'late' colony on the Downs near Storrington, where just a handful of old warriors are still taking on anything that dares venture into their territory. It's been a good year for the species in Sussex, with the discovery of two new colonies (one just via the early stages) and the spectacular increase in numbers at Fairmile Bottom. All colonies did well, sadly with just one exception, where a once vast population is now on its knees. Next year will be my twentieth looking after the Sussex Dukes, so I'm hoping to make even more time for them than usual. On the way to the site I found a beautiful pure white variety of the Common Spotted-orchid (var. alba).

With the weather looking too temperamental for monitoring work, I then headed to Ditchling Common, to see if the Black Hairstreak has started. I saw none, but did find a fresh female Grizzled Skipper, a few new Small Tortoiseshell, several Green Hairstreak and a Meadow Brown, the latter marking the official start of my summer. The first Bee Orchids near the car park are just coming into flower.

Amazing how spring (and Dukes) has passed so quickly!

Shame to know of the issues at Kithurst. Hopefully measures can be put in place to ameliorate the situation.

Those orchids are wonderful - a real delight to the eye.

Thanks, David. Some more lovely orchids to come!
BWs, Neil

1-4 June 2022

While performing a butterfly survey on the Downs at Rackham (near Amberley) on 1 June, I was surprised to find a large cluster (34 plants) of Greater Butterfly Orchid. This was the first time I've found the species in this part of West Sussex, despite knowing the landscape like the back of my hand. Bob Foreman of the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre later confirmed this as a new record for the 10-km square.

On 2 June I performed another survey for a well-known farming family in the Adur Valley. The most interesting part of Applesham Farm, from an ecological point of view, is a crescent-shaped chalk grassland slope divided into four compartments and opening onto the four fields below. A traditional seven-year crop rotation system has been employed here for many decades, with the last crop being undersown with grass and clover, before being grazed with cattle and sheep. The animals have access to the chalk grassland above, meaning that the four units have always been periodically grazed, following intervals of rest. The better butterflies found included Small Blue (large colony), Adonis Blue (a few), Common Blue (abundant) and Wall, which appears in huge numbers here during the later broods. The chalk grassland flora is superb, with Bee Orchid and Southern Marsh Orchid being highlights; not bad for farmland!

Another survey near Upper Beeding on 4 June produced a nice surprise. When I last visited (2018?), with the South Downs National Park Authority, this valley was swamped with Tor-grass, but mowing and regular cattle grazing has transformed the site. I was pleased to find both Adonis and Small Blue here, but it was the Small Tortoiseshell that stole the show, with 77 seen. Following last year's late spring and wet May, it looks likely that this species will enjoy a resurgence in the southeast, as it did in 2013 and 2014; I hope to encounter plenty more over the next couple of weeks.

8 June 2022

Today, I took time out from paid butterfly monitoring work, to spend most of the day at Ditchling Common. The target was, of course, Black Hairstreak, and after a slow start to their season here, numbers are now picking up nicely. During the morning I counted a minimum of seven individuals, but by late afternoon it was clear that there were at least a dozen flying around 'Hairstreak Alley'. There was no sign of any females, which should be on the wing before the weekend.

Other highlights included a good hatch of Meadow Brown and, while sheltering from one of several heavy showers, a 'phone call from Katrina, letting me know that she was following a terrapin along a woodland path.

9 June 2022

Another day, another butterfly survey; sometimes it's difficult to differentiate between my hobby and much of my work - a privilege I'll never take for granted. One of the many advantages I gain from this happy arrangement is that I sometimes end up counting butterflies in places I wouldn't always choose to be, meaning that I occasionally get a nice surprise. Yesterday was one such day.

I had no great expectations as I entered a valley to the NE of South Heighton (Newhaven), but as the stubborn cloud cover thinned I was suddenly surrounded by butterflies and it wasn’t long before I’d logged 22 species, including Small Tortoiseshell (another large count, this time 83), Small, Adonis and Common Blues, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Green Hairstreak, Wall, Brown Argus and Marbled White.

However, the big surprise was a veritable swarm of Dark Green Fritillary. Large bright orange butterflies were swirling around me, with chases of four or five being commonplace. When the weather cooled they would hunker down in groups of sometimes six or seven, but as almost always with this species, they were difficult to approach. Of the 234 I counted, every single one was male!