Garden Notes

A NewTetrad

Perhaps your own square is already well covered, but another square that you visit regularly - your work place perhaps, can be seen from "The Millennium Atlas of Suffolk Butterflies" to be under recorded. Why not devote this season's effort to such a neglected square? It can be quite easy to obtain a new record for, say an Orange-tip, on your way to visit a friend - especially if you scour the atlas for voids before travelling.

Transect Walking

The ultimate solution for detailed monitoring at your favourite sire is to walk a transect. At present, we have less in Suffolk than our "share" of the National total, and analysis shows that very few of them are on farmland. Starting a transect is a significant commitment in time and effort, yet makes a very worthwhile contribution to Butterfly Conservation's objective analysis of the strength and fluctuations of butterfly populations. Perhaps you have a regular farmland walk that would be suitable. Ring the Transect Co-ordinator (Rob again) to discuss the possibilities.

Discovering Moths

With a thousand moths out there, the challenge of moth-ing offers plenty of opportunities to bring in new records. The best way to experience trapping with a mercury vapour light, to search for rare larvae by torchlight, even to pursue day-flying moths - is with the Suffolk Moth Group. Contact Tony for details of the activities planned for 2003.

New to Suffolk or Butterfly Conservation?

Welcome to all new arrivals. Don't delay - start today, by making a pledge to observe, record and contribute. Here are the contacts:

Butterfly Recording: Rob Parker 01284 705476, robparker@waitrose.com

Moth Recording: Tony Prichard 01473 270047, tony. prichard@btinternet.com

by Nigel Smart

Looking back I can remember the Buddleia

bush in our Dartford garden, with fat furry bumble bees and beautiful Peacock butterflies.

A little older I cycled on the heath and there

were lots of "blues" and orangey brown ones (Small Heath).

Since I came to Suffolk I have taken lots of photographs and made many records of butterflies and for the last few years have a daily list of our garden visitors. Even over this relatively short period there have been many changes. The most noticeable of these has been the pretty little Small Tortoiseshell. I have slides of Michaelmas Daisies covered in dozens of them, and in 1994 besides the early ones in March and April, they were to be seen throughout July, August, September and well into October, and this pattern continued until 1999. Since then they have been rare - I have only seen five in the whole of 2002 and six in the year before. Similarly that great favourite, the Peacock, has diminished: they used to be with us all of August, sometimes ten at a time on the Buddleia, bur in 2002 I had only two sightings. On the other hand in 1994 I had one glimpse of the rare Speckled Wood - now it is a regular in the garden, and the Comma's presence has increased from four to fourteen days. Red Admirals too are much more frequent and while I saw my first ever Painted Lady in 1992 I now see them most seasons; but I haven't seen a Ringlet, Small Heath, or a Wall Brown for a long time. I am puzzled by these changes. We never use insecticides and have grown all the right plants to attract and feed them. Whilst the new varieties are very welcome where have the spectacular Peacocks and Tortoiseshells gone?