1999 Field Trips

August 6th to 8th 1999 Three days in Surrey

by Richard Stewart

Although heavy rain led to the abandoning of the intended North Downs walk on the last day, the rest of the trip was a great success. Ten members stayed at Bulmer Farm, Holmsbury St. Peter, near Dorking, a lovely area with a site that included woodland, meadows and lakes. The first site visited, the celebrated Bookham Common, didn't give us a repeat of the incredible close-up view of a mud-puddling Purple Emperor in July 1994 - we had to be content with more distant neck-aching views high up in the master tree area. The White Admirals were over but other species seen were Silverwashed Fritillary, Large, Small and Essex Skipper, Small and Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Speckled Wood, Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue and what.was for some their first Painted Lady of the year. Close inspection of the elm hedge failed to locate any White-letter Hairstreaks. The meadows at !field, near Crawley, were the venue the next day. This was a return visit after failure to previously locate the Brown Hairstreak. Initially the abundant thick blackthorn hedges gave us a frustrating time since Purple Hairstreaks, Gatekeepers and Speckled Wood all gave

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Purple Emperor by Beryl Johnson

false alarms. On our way to the best area a few in front had a magnificent view of an antlered Roe deer, with a russet red coat, which was a few yards out in a field and stayed long enough for good views before it seemed alarmed by a dog bark behind it and ran back into the camouflage of the hedge. While we had lunch some wandered off to continue the search and Geoff Hayes was successful in locating a lovely female which was at low level, in pristine condition, and allowed everyone to get good close-up views and photos. The thoughts of a person with a dog, approaching our group, would have been interesting. Initially a quiet, seated clump of people, eating and drinking, someone shouting to them from a distant hedge, and an almost instantaneous mass race across the field, in some cases leaving bags and other items behind! Still it was worth it and everyone was particularly pleased for Paul Johnson, after several previous detailed searches had been unfruitful. Other site species were: Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Large White, Small Heath, Small Copper, Essex Skipper and Common Blue.

The second day bonus was a clay pit near Holme Wood Common. This could have been an anti-climax bur ir turned ouc co be a sunny, sheltered habitat with an incredible amount of flowering fleabane. The actual numbers of butterflies didn't match the habitat: Holly Blue by the entrance hedge, Comma, Essex and Small Skipper, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large White, Speckled Wood and Small Heath (see following article). Our thanks go to the J ohnsons for all their work, beforehand and during the trip.

Brown Hairstreaks by Beryl Johnson

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Small Heath Aberration

by Jim Foster

Having seen Brown Hairstreak earlier in the day, after discussion with our leader, Paul Johnson, it was decided to visit Holm Wood clay pit. We were not expecting to see any unusual butterflies - how wrong we were! We descended into the pit, which resembled a vegetated 'moon crater' and a 'white' butterfly was soon spotted. le was eventually agreed char ir was an aberrant Small Heath. In flight it appeared co have • significantly reduced orange/brown pigmentation. I was fortunate co obtain a number of photographs. My book on aberrations, Howarth, did nor illustrate a suitable example so a visit co Ipswich Museum was arranged. They had no Small Heath aberrant specimens but their book, Russworm, did illustrate an aberrant Alba. The problem with both books is chat the illustrations are of mounted specimens showing the upper side. However my photographs were of the underside, as rhe Small Heath at rest always has closed wings. Coincidentally we were due co spend a short break with our daughter in London. We rook rhe opportunity co visit the Natural History Museum and received excellent service. We spoke ro Mr. David Career (cop butterfly man: ed.) and were able co see numerous specimens of aberrant Small Heath. He kindly removed a likely specimen so we could check the underside and this marched our photographs. The aberration appears to have numerous names (about 18) but the earliest name, we were informed, should be used, which was Albescens. Having seen and photographed my first brown Hairscreak as well this was certainly a day to remember.