www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Anyone willing to suggest the nearest accessable place to Chipping Sodbury to see Chalkhill Blues. Possible trip coming on. SSS & BH would be a bonus!!

Hi Paul,
I don't know your area, but Midger Wood (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) apparently has some grassland with Chalkhill Blue and other interesting butterflies such as DoB and DGF amongst others.

You'll find this website useful if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.gloucestershire-butterflies.org.uk/

Alexander

m_galathea wrote:Hi Paul,
I don't know your area, but Midger Wood (Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust) apparently has some grassland with Chalkhill Blue and other interesting butterflies such as DoB and DGF amongst others.

You'll find this website useful if you haven't already seen it:
http://www.gloucestershire-butterflies.org.uk/

Alexander

Paul,

I hope you find this information useful!

Alexander, I'm at a loss to reconcile your response here with your protestations in this other recent thread:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB2/v ... php?t=1581



Bryan

Hi Bryan,
I don't think you understood my post the other day, or at least I didn't explain it very well. I was just saying that I was of the opinion that some people were obsessed with going to only the best sites, when there are many others to choose from. Paul asked for

the nearest accessable place to Chipping Sodbury to see Chalkhill Blues

and wasn't being obsessed with only the best sites.

Alexander

Thanks very much Alexander,

I am not interested in ticking boxes, I've seen CHBs before, but never in that area, although I know they are supposed to be around.
I know how to behave in a sensitive way though I admit Bryan H has no way of knowing that, and I suspect from his response he would rather you had not replied.
Most of the "best" sites are well enough known anyway, if one can use the internet.
It does seem as though it is difficult to know whether to "hide" sites for the knowledge of the chosen few or to encourage public interest in the plight of our butterflies wrt their general decline.

Regards,

Paul K

Paul Kipling wrote:It does seem as though it is difficult to know whether to "hide" sites for the knowledge of the chosen few or to encourage public interest in the plight of our butterflies wrt their general decline.

I think that is the crunch question - which Bryan (and myself) is really asking. It seems we have no agreed-upon answer to that!

I must admit, I'm torn between making as many (public) sites as possible known, thereby raising awareness, and keeping quiet about them, so that they don't get invaded. I suspect we've all met people who are more interested in getting a good photo, than protecting the habitat that contains the very critters they're photographing! I find that particularly annoying, and have (now and again) pointed out the trampling going on.

Anyway - the bigger question (for me) is what we should do on the UK Butterflies website. More sites? Less sites? No sites? Hmmm.

Cheers,

- Pete

Paul Kipling wrote: I know how to behave in a sensitive way though I admit Bryan H has no way of knowing that, and I suspect from his response he would rather you had not replied.

Not sure how you got this impression, Paul! My response was meant as a friendly dig at Alexander, which, I trust has been taken in good part.
Alexander, you have made yourself clearer.

Pete, I think the sites format as it is gives ample choice for one who is determined to see even the more elusive critter, notwithstanding the usual vagaries of timing and luck, and the need for patience! The BC regional sites appear to me to be pretty open about sightings and there is of course an excellent exchange of information on this very forum.

I have a feeling that if you were to see something really unique or exciting which you felt was privileged knowledge, it wouldn't be too long before you read about it in one or other of these sources!

Bryan

Pete Eeles wrote:Anyway - the bigger question (for me) is what we should do on the UK Butterflies website. More sites? Less sites? No sites? Hmmm.

I think this is probably a question that can't be answered purely theoretically. Perhaps members of this group who live near sites listed here could report back on how the publicity affects the habitats, bearing in mind other animals and plants as well as just butterflies. If all is well, then we should continue with the present system. On the other hand, if the feedback is that these sites in particular are getting trashed by irresponsible tiwtchers then we should probably reconsider the policy of sharing them publicly (which wouldn't preclude group members sharing them privately, of course).

As a scientist, I go for empirical method over speculation every time!

Guy