Suffolk Argus 35 Summer 2005

Suffolk Branch Contacts

Butterfly Conservation

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Chairman Rob Parker, 66 Cornfield Road, Bury Sr. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editor Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AH (01449711484) Publicity Officer (Vacant) Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) County Recorder (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address as above) Regional Officer Eastern Region Sharon Hearle, c/o Busy Bee, 21 High St., Newmarket, Suffolk CBS SLX (01638 731648) sharon@butterfly-conservation.org

Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address left)

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Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047)

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County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address above) Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, I' The Street, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LP (01473 310371) Committee Members Stella Wolfe, Mike Dean President Howard Mendel, c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (01719388782)

Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on OI 473 71570 I.

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk Butterfly Conservation Limited by Guarantee Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulwonh, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Tel: (01929) 400209 © 2004 all rights reserved Reg. No. 2206468 Reg. Charity No. 254937 Editor: Jim Foster Logo: (Silver-studded Blue) Doug Hammersley Design: Stephen Ion, Cat & Mouse design Printer: 321 Printing, 25 Brookhouse Business Park, Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk 11'2 0EF

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Butterfly Conservation

Summer 2005 Volume35

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The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

Contents Editorial

Editorial

Awards for Us

3 3

Suffolk Branch Draft Rules

4

Another Ipswich Swallowtail

It Warms you Twice

7 8 13 14

A Walk in the Forest

15

South of the Border

16

Migrants at Aldeburgh

18

50 Butterfly Walks in Somerset & Bristol

19

Poetry Page

20

Photospot

21

Butterfly Report 2004 Butterflies of Suffolk, Purple Hairstreak

Bravo for Buglife Newsletter Details and General Information Suffolk Branch Contacts

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Copy Dates Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than: Spring

Christmas Eve

Summer

April Fools Day

Autumn

August Bank Holiday Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-sizc,they will last for many years.

Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design, with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

Any piece of writing chat is considered to be of interest will be published together with line drawings/prints /photographs.

The Suffolk Argus is your magazine, so please let us hear from you.

To advertise in the Suffolk Argus please contact Jim Foster on 01449 711484.

Phone or fax llfervyn Crawford on Milden/tall (01638) 71Z600for Colour brochure I Price list.

Back Cover

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For that difficult to find present, why not give a •• .. decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front • wall of someone's home ? Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-size,they will last for many years. Highly individual nameplates too, to your own desigu,with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price .

. Pltone orfax ~MervynCrawford o,i 'Mildenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure/ Price list.

2

For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterny or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ?

I

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For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ? Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-size,they will last for many years. Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design,with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Brauch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

Pltoue or Jax A1er,,yn Crawford o,i Mildenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure I Price list.

23

The SuffolkArgus

Summer 2005

Bravo for ·Buglife

Editorial

Awards for Us

by Jim Foster

by Rob Parker

by Rob Parker

On the following page you will see an item entitled Suffolk Branch Rules. This has been drafted and approved by the Committee with guidance from Head Office. It is intended to table this item at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at Alder Carr Farm on Saturday 17th September. The version here is published for consideration by the general membership, so if any members have any comments or suggested amendments, please contact Rob Parker (details on the back page) by the 31st August in order that alterations can be made to the document prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Some members may consider such a matter as rather bureaucratic, however many organisations now require to have sight of such a document in the event that the Branch has specific business with them. An example is on this page, where an award has been granted to the Branch and it was necessary to produce some rules by way of a constitution.

For the first time since I was appointed editor, way back in 200 I, I have not had sufficient material to complete the Argus, so I have 'stretched' the odd article by including more illustrations and adding a photo page of my own.

Th.is is your newsletter so please help me to help you by sending in more items for publication.

There is one new author this time and I look forward to some more new authors for the future.

I hope you enjoy your Lepidoptera this summer and if you do why not write and tell me!

We all know what the National Lottery is, but not everyone knows that ''Awardsfor All" is the arm responsible for awarding grants of Lottery cash to deserving local groups. The Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation submitted a bid in autumn last year, and it is good to be able to announce that we were successful, and have been awarded £4,337, the whole sum we had bid for.

The cash will be spent in support of our plans to reach out to a wider public involvement in a Spring Butterfly Survey. At the time we issued the 2005 programme, we were unsure whether the grant would be forthcoming, but we included one early field meeting, and two training sessions in anticipation. By the time you read this, these events will have taken place - the Haverhill training day may have recruited more recorders from an underrecorded area, and the Barnham event should have strengthened our Dingy Skipper survey team. We hope that we will also have boosted the membership of Butterfly Conservation.

The most costly expen di ture has been our new hi tech projection system, which came to almost £2000 including the laptop & supporting software. Other outlay will include publicity, printing, hall hire and travelling costs re-imbursable to survey participants. If you are out surveying in spring, even if you did not attend a training event: just keep a count of the mileage, and let Sharon have your claim by August. Existing recorders may use the usual "yellow recording form", although a special abbreviated version has been produced for new recruits to the Spring Butterfly Survey. The terms of the grant require us to spend it within one year (or to return the surplus) but we do receive the ongoing benefit of the computer/ projector, and any unused leaflets, posters and recording forms will still be of use for 2006.

It is a year or so smce the Invertebrate

FOR SALE

Conservation Trust (once ICT) assumed their new, user-friendly name "buglife". If insects (Insecta) are insects and true bugs are bugs (Hemiptera), that has not been allowed to stand in the way of the ICT adopting the term "bugs" to embrace the much wider field of all invertebrates in a spirit of fun.

Buglife has just issued a series of four excellent little pamphlets, which every field naturalist will wish to acquire (since they are free).

Each amounts to eight sides of A4 with a foldout poster on the reverse. They cover:

12 Kodak High Definition

(mighty sharp)

36 exposure 200 ISO print films unboxed (r.r.p. £69.00)

£30.00 9 Fujichrome Velvia 36 exposure 50 ISO slide films boxed (r.r.p. £49.00)

£25.00

■

Spiders Riverflies ■ Grasshoppers, Crickets, Cockroaches & Earwigs ■ and, of course, Bugs.

Contact:

■

Jonathan Tyler Tel: 01787 269204 Fax: 01787 269148

They plan to follow on in the autumn with four more on:

email: jtylerorchids@clara.co.uk

■ Beetles ■ Damselflies and Dragonflies ■ Snails ■

& Slugs

Flies

The first four may be had from buglife (they go for lower case) on 01733 2012 or info@buglife.org.uk at 170A Park Rd, Peterborough PEI 2UF.

Editor's note: I am sure this name will please our former recorder Richard Stewart! See page 32 of Suffolk Argus Spring 2005.

For more details, please contact Rob Parker or Sharon Hearle (See back cover).

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Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus BUTTERFLYCONSERVATION

where the member is judged to have behaved in a manner not consistent with the aims of the Branch, contrary to the orderly running of the Branch or at variance with the needs and aims of the conservation movement in general. Any member excluded under this section shall have the right of direct appeal to Council, whose decision shall be final.

A registered charity and company, limited by guarantee

Suffolk Branch

Rules I.

4.

MANAGEMENT

4.1

The control and management of the Branch shall be the responsibiliry of the Branch committee. The committee shall comprise of a minimum of five persons including Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The number may be increased to a maximum of fifteen by the addition of such Officers as may be appropriate from time to time. All Branch committee members must be members of Butterfly Conservation.

The Regional Officer for the East of England or other observers may be invited to attend meetings, in an advisory, non-voting capacity.

NAME

The Branch shall be called "The Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation."

2.

OBJECTS

The objects of the Branch shall be the same as the objects of Butterfly Conservation, and within these objects, the Branch shall transact such business as may be appropriate for the benefit of the Branch, and Butterfly Conservation, and the furtherance of its aims. The Branch shall operate under the guidance of the national organisation, its Council and the general rules issued through its Branch Handbook.

3.

MEMBERSHIP

3.1

Membership of the Branch is open only to members of Butterfly Conservation.

3.2

Categories of membership shall be the same as for the UK membership.

3.3

Membership may cease for the following reasons: a. resignation of the member from the UK soc1ery b. resignation of the member from the Branch element of the member's UK membership c. failure to pay the annual subscription within the required period d. by decision of the Branch committee and subsequent approval of Council,

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4.2

At each Annual General Meeting (AGM), one third of the Branch committee members in seniority totation and any members coopted onto the committee since the previous AGM shall retire and be eligible for reeleccion. Any member may propose another for election to the committee at the AGM, provided that the Secretary is advised in writing of the proposal at least twenty-one days before the meeting. The Branch committee may, at its discretion, accept proposals at a shorter notice.

4.3

Meetings of the Branch committee shall be held as frequently as the committee deems necessary. Any member of the committee may request chat a meeting be called to give a decision on any matter which they feel warrants it. le shall be on the discretion of the Chair as to whether to call such a meeting, but they shall do so if three committee members support the request.

Photos pot Vapourer Moth - Orgyia antiqua

by Jim Foster

Male and female 'in cop'

Female laying eggs on her cocoon

Cocoon

Larva

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Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus 4.4

Poetry Page

by Paul Johnson

4.5

At Nant-Yr-Arian Feeding Station

At Talsarn Feeding Station

Ten to two they cameexpectant Tothe picnic-tablestallsand compactedearth circle: Patent-leathersusheredpast thepuddles, Glovedhands claspedtight to mobiles.

Then carrionprops wereset And as the rain cloudsslowlylifted, A buzzards soliloquypassedby, unapplauded.

They comeat the helm of an upland airflow Silhouettesoutstretchedabovea postedsentry buzzard.

Then hastenedbya wind-gnawedhunger,tapering Tighteningdescentsbeginon span-widespirals Until wing beatskaleidoscope-fill our vistas And Talsarnslittle hut resonates Plaintive,shrill, insistent.

Tenpast two and the housegrown impatient: A wrapperdroppedwithout thought Or chastisement,upland air tainted syntheticsweet From chewedgum exhalation.

Thenguidebookswerereopenedand most dispersed, On to the next stage-managedattraction:the red kite Instantlyconsignedto bit-part actorsunderstudy.

Unerringlylower:tails deftly ruddering Capriciouscurrents,a deciduousautumn radiating From everyfleck and flex of leaf turningplumage, Keenbillsand candid talonsunited in sulphurousfinale.

Then away to unchartedcragsand sightlesseyries, Soaringon white underscoredwings The antithesisof persecutedsurrender.

The main playersarrivedlater,at a time unscripted And selfdetermined: Their interpretationfaultless.

And in thosemomentsI understood The red kite holidays,the dedicatedmagazineand conservationeffort Felt I understood,amazing.

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POWERSOF THE BRANCH COMMITTEE

5.1

The Branch committee shall have the power to control and manage all business of the Branch for the benefit of the Branch. The functions shall include: a. the administration of branch funds b. the maintenance of branch records c. co-opting additional members as necessary d. establishment of sub-committees e. co-operation with such organisations or individuals as is necessary and invitations to representatives of such bodies or such individuals to attend committee meetings on a non-voting • basis f. issuing periodic newsletters, principally "The Suffolk Argus" g. removal of members under 3.3 (c) h. any other lawful act for the benefit of the Branch

SUB-COMMITTEES Any sub-committee appointed by the Branch committee should have the power to act on behalf of the Branch committee, subject ro its directions. The Branch committee must approve any expenditure before it is incurred.

A quorum of che Branch committee shall be one third of its members, of whom at least one must be the Branch Chair or Branch Secretary, one of whom shall chair each meeting. Where an urgent decision is required which cannot wait until the next committee meeting, a consensus may be accepted through email/telephone discussion involving the whole committee, subject to a minimum of five members responding. Any such decision shall be ratified at the next meeting.

S.

5.2

6.

If a consensus cannot be reached, a vote shall be taken on a show of hands. In the event of a tie, the Branch Chair shall have a second, casting vote.

These powers are delegated by Council, and shall be exercised to con form ro any regulations imposed by Council, to be set down in the Branch Handbook.

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7.

GENERALMEETINGS

7.1

Annual General Meetings shall be held within 15 months of che previous AGM. The election/re-election or removal of Officers and che approval of the annual accounts shall cake place at the AGM.

7.2

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the discretion of the Branch committee upon receipt of a written request supported by at least thirty members of the Branch specifying the full reason for the request. Not less than twenty-one days notice of such a meeting, giving details of the reason for the meeting, shall be sent to all members of the Branch and only the business as is stated in the notice shall be transacted at the meeting.

7.3

The Chair or a representative appointed by him/her from the members of the Branch committee shall preside at all General Meetings at which a quorum shall be fifteen members, including members of the Branch committee. All decisions shall be on a show of hands and shall not be carried unless at least two thirds of those voting are in favour.

8.

FINANCE

8.1

The Financial Year of the Branch shall run from 1st April in each year to 31 st March in the following year.

8.2

The Branch committee shall have power to disburse the Branch's funds as it sees fit within the objects of and for the benefit of the Branch and/or its aims. Detailed accounts for the financial year must be presented for approval and adoption at the

The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

AGM. An individual with financial expertise appointed at the AGM should independently examine such accounts. The examination can be done by a retired individual with financial expertise or a neighbouring Branch Treasurer.

This individual cannot be a member of the Branch committee or a Sub-committee.

8.3

9.

appointed leader at any function and of any responsible third parry such as a landowner or reserve warden. Branch members must always conduct themselves in a manner so as ro reflect credit upon the Branch and Butterfly Conservation.

In the event of dissolution, no member shall be entitled to a refund. After discharge of any properly incurred Branch debts, any residual funds and all other assets of the Branch shall be disposed of at the discretion of Council.

MISCELLANEOUS No change ro these rules may be made other than at a General Meeting. Any proposed change from a member who is not a member of the Branch committee must be notified in writing ro the Branch Secretary at least cwenry-onc days before the relevant meeting.

10.7 No rule shall be valid if it is not in accordance with Butterfly Conservation objects, policies and regulations at national level.

September 2004

10.2 All members shall be entitled to receive a copy of these rules.

10.3 No member shall be personally liable for any loss or claim in respect of his or her involvement with the Branch, provided that he or she has acted responsibly and in good faith.

10.4 The Branch shall have no liabiliry for any loss or injury suffered by a member during any activity organised by the Branch, provided that the organisers shall cake reasonable steps ro avoid such loss or injury.

10.5

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DISSOLUTION

10.1

by BerylJohnson

10.6 The Branch shall use its best endeavours to promote Butterfly Conservation and ro maintain a recognisable identiry by using the Butterfly Conservation logo and position statement, in addition co any branch logo on letter-heads, brochures, leaflets, etc. The Branch shall also comply with any directives issued through established channels by the Council and follow any recommendations.

The Branch committee shall conform ro any regulations imposed by Council on financial administration or trading.

10.

Small Pearl-borderedFritillary

Swallowtailon Elderflower

Branch members and non-members working under the auspices of the Branch must follow any instructions of the

by BerylJohnson

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Barry supplied most of the photos of butterflies that follow the maps as thumbprints. le is not an identification book as such but some of the most rare or interesting butterflies of each habitat are shown - at least three and up ro nine for important habitats.

There is no listed index but Jo Kidd,

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a local graphic artist designed a beautiful fold-out map of the county with colour coded, index numbered circles of each walk plotted and thus evaluated by colour according ~ ro che number of cargec (rare) species.

There are innovative essays in the beginning of the book, which attempt ro take ) a fresh approach to the appreciation of butterflies, brief description of "secondary" habitats, a specially designed combined transect and casual recording form and a few major transect sample abundance tables are shown.

Only Warwickshire are known co have previously produced a walks book bur although it did describe a few habitats it was more like the general textbook that other counties seem co have copied each other in producing. Dorset has what might be described as "butterfly jewellery" of greater value than almost any area in Britain; so will they be the next counry to produce their already partly completed walks handbook? A friend in Devon asked me ro compile one for chem; it is already generating conservation acciviry and seems co be awakening a dormant interest in butterflies in all sores of people.

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or so enthusiasts were invited without preconceived ideas or rules, to describe their favourite habitat. The response also from usually reticent large organisations such as English Nature, National Trust and Counry Wildlife Trusts (two in our area) etc., has been remarkable.

Following the text is the species list. The printer (who lives just round the corner rather than Hong Kong!) has been most helpful and formulated a tinted box with green and red names (the red ,being the rare species) and flight times in black italic.

Another important function follows this, the habitat map. Transect recording sections have been shown wherever possible and Bill Vigar and Roger Sutton, both with professional cartographic experience pur their heads together to produce something informative, clear and attractive. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the Ordnance Survey I :25,000 scale series, but is quite workable with what was the old "one inch co one mile" (the I :50,000 series.)

Head Office, Keith Gould and Dr Michael

Roger Sutton, Monday 21st February 2005 16 Ashford Road, Wellington Somerset TA21 8QF Tel. 01823 663510 roger@sutton 73. fsnet.co. uk

Price £10. Send cheque made out to "Butterfly Walks Handbook" co the above address or ask for an order form, which contains a sample walk.

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The SuffolkArgus

Migrants at Aldeburgh

by RichardStewart I still have vivid memories of long recording days during the Millennium Survey years but sometimes-memorable sightings can be very easy and unexpected.

Marie had to go to Aldeburgh on 31st August 2004 to collect her quilts from the Suffolk Crafr Society exhibition and we had time for a short walk by the beach. We immediately headed for the Valerian plants bedded in the shingle, a few with white flowers but mainly the pinky red ones, not just out but also in sunlight. We walked from near the new Lifeboat Centre to the last clumps beyond the huts selling freshly caught fish and ended up with a total of three Clouded Yellows, two of them chasing each other, 24 Painted Ladies, 36 Small Whites and 96 Small Tortoiseshells, the latter being my highest ever count at one time.

They were obviously migrants and the attraction of the Valerian emphasised when we examined the Alyssum, African Marigolds, Nicotiana and a few shore Asters that comprised of the part cultivated flowers display around the nearby War Memorial. We couldn't see a single butterfly.

PaintedLady

by BerylJohnson

Summer 2005

50 Butterfly • Walks in Somerset & Bristol

Another Ipswich Swallowtail

2004 Butterfly Report

by RichardStewart

by Rob Parker

Edited by RogerSutton Maps Bill Vigar Photography Keith Gould

On 8th October 2004 I took photos of a Swallowtail caterpillar, which Len Partridge had observed on Fennel, growing in the back garden of his house on Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. The late date, and a subsequent fall onto concrete, probably explained why it didn't survive. Rob Parker examined it and found it hadn't succumbed through parasitation and he also noted Fennel in a neighbour's garden.

The egg was probably laid by the Swallowtail momentarily seen in my garden on Westerfield Road, 4th August. This was the same date as brief garden glimpses of a Swallowtail from Pat Gondris in St. Edmund's Road and Iris Maeers in Sidegate Lane, Iris having slight identification reservations because oflack of 'tails'. Ray Read also recorded one in Woodbridge Road in the first week of August.

The late dare for the caterpillar is similar to that recorded and photographed on Garden Rue further down Westerfield Road on 28th September 1998 - this also didn't survive and in the same year another caterpillar was recorded on Choisya at Nacton: these 1998 sightings coincided with eight Ipswich Swallowtail reports and locations suggesting a possible breeding and releasing somewhere on the Rivers estate in Ipswich. It is impossible to say if the 2004 sightings of what was probably the same butterfly represent a genuine migrant or local release. The three food plants mentioned strongly indicate that the sightings were of the continental form of this species.

This is a butterfly that is easy to identify bur also, regrettably, easy to breed.

Following on from the outstandingly good 2003 season, the much wetter 2004 has seemed an anticlimax, yet butterfly numbers have not been low. Indeed, some species, particularly the Whites, have produced higher counts than they did last year.

High populations at the end of 2003 carried through another mild winter to produce a good start for most of our resident species. Silver-studded Blues hit record counts at Minsmere, and had mixed results at other colonies. There was also some good news from our strongest Dingy Skipper colonies.

Migrant Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows were seen, but in much lower numbers than in 2003. A flurry of Swallowtail sightings in Ipswich and a single Camberwell Beauty added interest to the season, but may have been releases rather than genuine visitors.

The long-term decline of a few once-common species continues to cause concern, though there were no dramatic downturns, just weak turnouts of Graylings at two transect sites and reduced evidence of Wall Browns away from the coast.

Weather. Average temperatures were again up on historic averages, bur sunshine was only average, and rainfall was high, particularly in the summer months. The table below shows mean temperature, sunshine for and rainfall for East Anglia, all presented as anomalies compared to averages over the period 1961 to 1990. The frequency of wet summer days inhibited recording activity as well as restricting mating opportunities for the insects, but lush foodplanr growth may have benefited larvae to some degree.

Dudley Cheesman, national chairman of Butterfly Conservation and chair of West Country branch, who lives at Langport had the idea of 'where to see butterflies' at about the same time as Roger Sutton realised, on leading field trips that the public are largely oblivious to butterflies unless they are pointed out.

This was 18 months ago and it has taken this long to create the little pocket monster. The fact that Dorset branch had created something with remarkably similar characteristics 10 years previously but it was never completed, although it is proudly displayed on their website, just shows that even with the power of original thought, someone else got there first!

Inspiration has come from as far afield as Canada where the Toronto Entomologists' Association have a booklet on the butterflies of southern Ontario. This is ring-bound and opens easily flat for use in the field. Bob White of Acanthus Press, Wellington, arranged to have one walk on each open double page although one or two of the most important walks go to four sides. It is DL size and will fit easily in the pocket or handbag.

Each walk comprises a picture of the habitat with explanatory inscription. Then there is the text in easily readable 9 point sans serif typeface. This takes you through the habitat step by step. They are all written with a different style because the 40

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7

The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

Table 1. 2004 Weather for East Anglia Season

Mean Temp DegC

Anomaly % up

Sunshine hrs

Anomaly %

Rainfall mm

Anomaly %

Winter

5. 1

1.3

180.8

108

181.6

126

Spring

9.5

1.3

445.5

100

136.4

98

Summer

16.9

1.3

560.9

99

250.2

162

Autumn

11.4

0.9

342.8

108

163.4

100

Source: www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk Anomalies are measured against the 1961 to 1990 averages.

Monitoring the BAP Species. This year's Dingy Skipper survey eliminated a number of former sites as lacking suitable habitat, whilst confirming that the known colonies in the King's Forest, RAF Barnham and Center Pares were all in good health.

Indeed, the extenr of the Kings/Wardwell colony was found t~ be greater this year than ever before noted, and numbers were high. A couple of stray individuals were seen north and east of the Chalk Lane area, unexpectedly extending the known flight area in to two fresh tetrads.

The Silver-studded Blue again appeared early in the season, and produced good counts at most sites, including a remarkable 3,538 at all the Minsmere sites combined. This suggests that the favourable 2003 season boosted populations, although the heather at the Hollesley B site was found to be suffering from parching and dieback, with a count of only 341, less than half of the 2003 figure. The habitat at Mardesham Heath is also deteriorating, as much of the heather is now too rail, and without bare soil.

The White-letter Hairstreak was not seen nearly as frequently as during the exceptionally hot 2003 season. Although three new sites were identified, at least one isolated site fell to Durch Elm Disease, and observers had trouble finding them in the wet. This does not necessarily mean that populations suffered, but they may have done.

Derailed accounts for each of the BAP species will be published separately.

Migrants. For migrants, it was a year of variable impact, mass hoverfly movements, with some unusual moths, but for butterflies it was unexceptional. Painted Ladies were detected in sufficient numbers to identify movements, bur only over a quarter of last year's coverage, whilst 36 Oouded Yellows were seen, compared to 40 last year, with some flying through October and into November. Seven Red Admiral sightings in March provided evidence of successful overwintering, but the year's count was well down on 2003. One Camberwell Beauty was seen close to the sea at Dunwich on 7th August.

Swallowtails. An unexpected appearance occurred in the first week of June, when four independent reporrs of a Swallowtail came in from gardens in the north of Ipswich. This may have been a single butterfly, or more, but eggs were laid, as was evidenced by the discovery of a single larva on garden fennel in the same district on 8th October.

Unfortunately the larva did not survive, so it is not possible to say whether it came from Norfolk or from Continental stock. A separate sighting occurred later at Nacton Meadows, possibly a genuine migrant.

Residents. This was a strong year for some of our commoner residents, particularly the Whites and Orange-tip. Gatekeepers also did well, but their more scarce relatives, the Grayling and the Wall both fared poorly. Transect counts are a useful indicator

8

Wall Brown

by DouglasHammersley moths were feeding on the late flowers. So much for the frost north of the border.

Our first sighting of Beget was looking between our feet down a shear 200-metre drop to the village below. The path down followed many zigzags and it took a long time to descend the 200 metres. The village looks like something from a fairy tale with winding cobbled streets; a stone built church and an ancient bridge spanning the river Beger as it passes through the centre of the village. In common with Lamanere this is where the tarmac ends, or starts, depending on which direction you are heading.

Begec was almost abandoned until quite recent times when it was decided that it was worth renovation. Many of the buildings have been restored to their original state. No new villas with swimming pools and even cars banned from the renovated parts. We spent some time on the medieval bridge Trout spotting and then moved onto the square fronting the church. The huge iron reinforced church doors were locked so disappointed we turned away. One of the group of village ladies who were sitting on a wall chatting got up and approached us, drawing a large key from her apron pocket she unlocked the door and proceeded inside. She gave a potted history of the village and church in perfect Spanish Catalan which made it difficult for me to understand but I

gathered that the church is probably over I 000 years old and was originally attached to one of the network of monasteries that existed at the time. In common with many of the other churches in the area it was used as a place of refuge for the residents of the village in times of attack, thus the reinforced door.

By now hunger pains were active so we returned to the other end of Beger where the restaurant was happy to allow us to eat our packed lunches at an empty cable in exchange for buying glasses of pastis and a large bottle of the local soft red wine. Relaxing after our repas we looked up at the sheer cliff rising above us and realised we had to climb back up there and on to Col Malrems a climb of over 500 metres, not a pleasant thought after the wine and a satisfying lunch. The randonners slowly climbed on increasingly weary legs and eventually Col Malrems was reached.

Looking back down the long Autumn shadow emphasised the tiers of terraces that climbed up the mountainside above Mas Bocabartella, the last farm in Spain, now sadly abandoned apart for being a shelter for cows. All that remained now was the relaxing walk back down to Lamanere and the drive home.

One day Anne and I will drive the long way round so we can enjoy a good meal without all the exercise of the climb afterwards.

17

Summer2005

The SuffolkArgus

South of the Border byJamesMann Many of us have boasted that we have been on holiday to the South of France. To most of us this means touches of "A Year in Provence".

This is a lovely area although prone to cold winter winds but it is not the real south of France.

The southernmost Department in France is the Pyrenees Orientals and the southernmost commune (village) is Lamanere. A modest notice on the approach to the village states "Commune au plus sud de France". It is some 20 kilometres along the mountains from the sea. At the end of the village the tarmac stops, as does any vehicle access in the direction of Spain. The only way to the real southernmost point of France is to walk.

At 9 o'clock on the morning of 6 October 2003 Les Rafals, my Monday walking group, arrived at Lamanere. After our canicule (heat wave), which gave us temperatures of over 40°C, it was a vast change for the

SmallCopper

by DouglasHammersley

thermometer was reading 3°C. The altitude of the village is 750 metres. We moved off up the path through the forest making for Col de Malrems and the frontier at an altitude of 1131 metres, a climb of just over an hour. Every tiny clearing where the cold could drop in was covered with a thick white frost. About half way up as the trees thinned and eventually stopped· and gave way to grazing areas the whole valley was as white as snow and apart from the steeply rising sides was like a winters morning in Suffolk. The sun was shining brightly and we were keeping warm with the exertion of the climb and thoughts of the coffee break on the Col. On the ascent the weather was calm but directly we reached the top the wind that had missed the valley hie us from behind and the temperature plummeted. Not to be deterred we descended on the Spanish side of the mountain and within ten minutes the wind dropped off, the temperature rose and the absence of frost gave credence to the saying "It's warmer in Spain". We enjoyed the traditional coffee and cake and set off on the long winding descent to Beget, which is situated, a bit lower than Lamanere at an altitude of 600 metres.

Soon the top layers of clothing were being stripped of and we felt it might just be possible to see the odd butterfly. We soon saw what at first glance looked like a white but when it settled it proved to be a very light coloured Clouded Yellow.

When the count of similar coloured butterflies reached double figures I decided that they could not all be Pale Clouded Yellowsbut must be ordinary ones that had been faded by the sun during the canicule. This theory was soon proved wrong when ar a slightly lower altitude we began to see ordinary Clouded Yellows. On our return journey the two types were again present at different altitudes and were not seen together. At the higher altitude we had a colour contrast of many Mountain Argus intermingled with the occasional Wall or Great Banded Grayling. In the more grassy parts of the lower altitudes we came across severalBlues, a single Brown Argus and a sprinkling of Small Coppers. A couple of Whites flew over but evidently had somewhere they had to go for they did not stop to be identified. Burnets and Hummingbird Hawk-

16

Geographic Coverage. Records received for 2004 covered 530 tetrads, materially more than last year, with contributions from 155 individual recorders.

Geographic cover improved, with recorders responding well to my call to fill the gaps. The resulting cover for the 5 year period brings us up to 80% of the county; a great achievement, though some way short of the outstanding achievement of the Millennium Survey's full cover.

Millennium Plus Five. Five years on from the Millennium Survey, and Butterfly Conservation has assembled enough records to update the distribution maps compiled for the Millennium Atlas. The Suffolk contribution, when viewed at 10km square level, does cover the whole county, and er ally

Grayling

by BerylJohnson here: at Cavenham Heath only 14 Graylings were counted, compared to the previous season's 74, whilst the Fynn Valley count of Walls was down from 17 to 3. Both these species merit careful scrutiny in the coming years, as their long- ~gen term trend is also downward. At least the grassgrew well in the rain, so perhaps the young larvae entered winter in good condition.

The Holly Blue came back decisivelyfrom its poor showing in 2003, but Brown Argus sightings were made at only 65% of last year's density. Like the White-letter Hairstreak, the White Admiral was hard to find in a wet July, and yet it put in a second brood at, at least two sites, with sightings in September, and even early October. Other residents had an average year, with Commas and Peacocks typically failing to match their strong 2003 showings. The Small Tortoiseshell remained our most well reported butterfly, being noted in 63% of tetrads visited.

'-

~ -'•·

11~1'.(!@~;{fj:: II/•

f

,

Early/Late Records. Spring brought earlier than ever records for two grass-feeding species: Meadow Brown (25/5) and Ringlet (8/6), whilst latest-ever records followed for other grass-feeders: Large Skipper (18/9) & Gatekeeper (26/9). October brought second brood White Admiral (I 1/10) as well as a very late Meadow Brown (5/10). All in all, this was a significant number of early/late records, in a season extended by wet spells.

?~\1

I'

7

I\'\ \ 1

/

'".!f' , ,,

z·

;.' / S-.__

I ·-l,/ f\ \ \,i\\

r\

SmallTortoiseshell

by DouglasHammersley

9

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus masks the gentle decline, which can be detected at the 2km tetrad level. Species such as Grayling, Wall, and Small Heath are declining nationally, as well as in Suffolk. A view of the Millennium Survey plus the last five years (10 in all) does appear to show improvements for some species, but this is mainly due to return visits to underrecorded squares. The real extensions of range by the Speckled Wood and Brown Argus may now have reached high water mark; indeed, the Brown Argus may be falling back to find its proper level.

A Walk in the Forest

by Peter Vincent

Species Maps. Distribution Maps for individual species have also been prepared for our 31 regulars, and these are available for reference as required.

There are no maps for Swallowtail or Camberwell Beauty, though these bring the 2004 species count to 33.

Peacock

by BerylJohmon

Analysis. A crude assessment of relative scarcity can be deduced from a count of the number of tetrads from which each species has been recorded.

Afrer the few sightings of Camberwell Beauty & Swallowtail, our most rare butterflies are our BAP species, followed by the White Admiral. This year's league table, which foll~ws as Annex A, finds the Holly Blue much improved on last year's placing, and the migrants, particularly Painted Lady, all showing less abundant against an unchanged background of our more widespread species. To make a more fair comparison of 2004's survey of 530 tetrads with 2003's survey of just 448, an additional measure has been presented - the percentage of survey squares in which each species was found. Judged by this standard, 15 species have diminished by over 10% whilst 7 species have increased, 3 of chem by more than 10%. A straight tetrad count would have shown 11 increased and 10 decreased. Neither measure assessesa butterfly's abundance at its breeding site as accurately as a transect. A further table (Annex B) shows each species tetrad count over the past 10 years of intensive survey.

Transects. Detailed data was submitted for the transects at North Warren (Rob Macklin), Fynn Valley (Richard Stewart), RSPB Minsmere (Robin Harvey), Bradfield Woods (Steve Hunt), Center Pares (Graham Hersey-Green), ·walberswick (Adam Burrows) and Bury St Edmunds (Rob Parker). In addition, single-species transects for Silver-studded Blue were conducted at Aldringham Walks (Rob Macklin) and Martlesham Heath (Phil Smith). Special thanks are due to all those transect walkers for their regular monitoring, which provides an objective abundance count as well as site-specific observations, and flight times.

Annexes: Scarcity 2003 & 2004 Analysis of 10 Years to 2004

10

White Admirals. The day ended with a sighting of a Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth feeding on Honeysuckle, hovering in front of the flower while using its proboscis to reach the nectar.

On a note of caution, regarding the strength of the hairstreak colonies, I noticed chat the Wych Elm suckers in the area have reached the height at which they become vulnerable to Elm bark beetle attack. Indeed some have already succumbed.

Perhaps Suffolk doesn't have the butterfly spectaculars or spectacular butterflies of the Dorset downlands, Wiltshire woodlands or Lancashire limestone, but last July I experienced a display of butterflies in Suffolk equal to any outwith the county.

As I approached the forest, the weather was unpromising, moderate temperatures and quite breezy, but stepping into the sheltered ride the ambient temperature was high.

The first insect that crossed my path, literally, was a Magpie Moth, giving an impression for a moment of a Marbled White - will this striking butterfly occur again in Suffolk?

A few yards into the ride, in a small bramble fringed clearing, I observed a White-letter Hairstreak feeding on a Bramble flower, and this was joined by a second and then a third. Twenty yards on and on another large Bramble I watched another colony of hairstreaks; five feeding on one flower head and a further twelve elsewhere on the bush. In flight these dark butterflies seem to disappear only to reappear when alighting with closed wings displaying the white hairstreak and the orange and black hind wing markings.

A White Admiral glided down to feed on a Bramble· flower, then further along two more.

Along the length of the ride they appeared numerous - some observed high up amongst the canopy others feeding and basking lower down.

Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns and Ringlets were common feeding on the Bramble, the grassy areas contained, Essex, Small and Large Skippers, with Small Heath and Small Coppers in areas of sparse vegetation and Speckled Woods in dappled shade.

In a walk along two rides of about a mile, I counted about 35 White-letter Hairstreaks and 20

Ringlet

by BerylJohnson

Small Heath

by DouglasHammersley

15

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus means no Hairstreak! Large Oaks m open woodland are a good bet, but any mature specimen especially in the company of other Oaks and Ash will do nicely. I have also found them on much smaller trees associated with heath land. This butterfly spends most of its time high up in the tree crawling over and feeding on the sweet honeydew exuded by aphids and flies only in fits and bursts, often when disturbed by birds. When they do take to flight, it is usually quite short and erratic, around the tree crown or from tree to tree and they appear silvery, almost whitish in the sun - the effect once described as tossing a silver coin in the sunlight. This is where a decent pair of binoculars comes into its own in trying to track that giveaway flashing flight and then further identification when at rest or walking over the leaves.

Although I mentioned the reluctance of this little butterfly to come to ground level, they do sometimes, and more likely in the late afternoon between about 4pm and 6pm when the angle of the sun is lower and when they visit bramble blossom. It was a behaviour that I noticed many years ago on a camping holiday in France. The adults are sometimes active at this lower level earlier in the day, either because they have just emerged from their chrysalis, which spent the winter in the leaf litter, or because they are attracted by the remains of the overnight dew.

So, your plan of action needs to be in two parts really if you want to get a view of this lovely insect in your locality. Firstly, when you're out walking make a mental note oflikely sites and trees char appear to be suitable - not just in the country but in and around the more urban areas of Suffolk as well. Then, when the flight time comes around, pick your sunny day, take your 'kit' and just go along to literally stop and stare and to be astounded by some insect neighbours that you never knew you had!

Just one last thing, as you may have been wondering why you may need to have that thick skin? Well, what would you think if a complete stranger, dressed in a sun hat with dark glasses, stood for hours peering through binoculars at the top of an apparently empty Oak tree at the end of your garden? Exactly ... bur good hunting anyway!

'It warms you twice' Purdis Heath Scrub Bash January 2005

by Stella Wolfi Purdis Heath is now an isolated area of heathland just outside Ipswich. It supports a declining population of Silver-studded Blue butterflies in a habitat that is shrinking as the Silver Birch advances.

In what has become an annual January foray, local members of Butterfly Conservation joined other wildlife enthusiasts in cutting back the birch saplings to prevent rhe Ling and Bell Heather, the butterfly's food plant, from being engulfed. As we cut back we noticed that much of the growth was from the stumps of an earlier clearance, showing the need for regular conservation work if the area is·not to revert entirely to scrub.

Hopefully the cleared parches will stimulate regeneration of heather. As well as butterflies, heathland species of moth such as the Lunar Yellow Underwing will benefit.

So, what wirh the physical labour of sawing, lopping, selecting lengths to save for poles and faggots, treating the stumps, carrying the residual brushwood to the cheerful blaze of the bonfire, we certainly did get warmed twice.

Silver-studdedBlue

by DouglasHammersley

14

Annex A: A Measure of Scarcity - Tetrads per species (2003 & 2004) Species listed in sequence of scarcity in 2004. %of 448 Tetrads Species tetrads 2003 [Chalkhill Blue] 0.2 1 0.2 1 [Large Tortoiseshell] Camberwell Beauty 0.4 2 0.2 1 Swallowtail

Tetrads 2004

%of 530 tetrads

cf last See Note

2

0.2 0.4

0.42 1.69

Change See Note

1.1

5

Dingy Skipper

7

1.3

UP

4.0

18

Silver-studded Blue

11

2.1

0.52

DOWN

5.6 3.8 6.5 11.6 8.9 8.9 18.3 18.5 20.1 20.8 19.6 20.8 25.4 61.4 31.5 33.5 34.8 18.3

25 17 29 52 40 40 82 83 90 93 88 93 114 275 141 150 156 82

White-letter Hairstrk White Admiral Green Hairstreak Grayling Clouded Yellow Purple Hairstreak Brown Argus Wall Large Skipper Small Heath Essex Skipper Brimstone Small Skipper Painted Lady Small Copper Ringlet Common Blue Holly Blue

13 13 31 34 36 37 65 66 90 93 102 106 121 143 160 161 164 185

2.5 2.5 5.8 6.4 6.8 7.0 12.3 12.5 17.0 17.5 19.2 20.0 22.8 27.0 30.2 30.4 30.9 34.9

0.44 0.65 0.90 0.55 0.76 0.78 0.67 0.67 0.85 0.85 0.98 0.96 0.90 0.44 0.96 0.91 0.89 1.91

DOWN DOWN

49.3 33.7 64.3 48.9 43.3 45.3 54.7 56.0 52.5 54.7 64.5

221 151 288 219 194 203 245 251 235 245 289

Comma Orange-rip Red Admiral Peacock Gatekeeper Green-veined Wht Speckled Wood Large White Meadow Brown Small White Small Tortoiseshell

198 199 225 231 248 257 270 283 291 293 332

37.4 37.5 42.5 43.6 46.8 48.5 50.9 53.4 54.9 55.3 62.6

0.76 1.11 0.66 0.89 1.08 1.07 0.93 0.95 1.05 1.01 0.97

DOWN UP DOWN DOWN

Remarks

Strays found in adjacent rerrads Bur strong colony counts

DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN

DOWN

DOWN UP

Recovery following a poor 2003

33 species seen in Suffolk in 2004 Notes: "Change" - UP/DOWN indicates a change of over 10% records per surveyed rerrad, compared to last season. Such a count is not necessarily a valid indicator of population strength or distribution. The latest available count figures have been used. As a result 2003 figures are higher than those published in the annual report. "cflast" column indicates the proportion of last years cover achieved in current year.

11

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus Annex B. ANALYSIS- 1995 to 2004

Butterflies of Suffolk

A measure of Abundance - for residents and regular visitors.

Survey from: to:

1995 /1999

2000 /2004

1995 /2004

2002

2003

2004

Period:

5 yrs

5yrs

I 0yrs

!yr

!yr

1yr

Tetrads:-

1089

855

1090

338

448

530

Species/Terrad:

15.4

II.I

17.2

8.5

9.4

8.4

Tetrads from which recorded Small Skipper Essex Skipper Large Skipper Dingy Skipper Clouded Yellow Brimstone Large White Small White Green-veined White Orange Tip Green Hairsrreak Purple Hairsrreak White-letter Hairstreak Small Copper Silver-scudded Blue Brown Argus Common Blue Holly Blue White Admiral Red Admiral Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell Peacock Comma Speckled Wood Wall Grayling Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Ringler Small Heath

639 714 639 5 147 473 920 953 973 858 151 216 40 543 17 320 635 703 56 809 570 982 923 619 452 350 182 937 1002 669 359

261

695

66

114

121

240 228 7 192 249 579 576 520 401 83 109 43 297 20 160 327 370 36 538 410 538 468 403 535 200 107 495 582 334 195

772 688 7 267 547 979 990 1009 910 181 262 73 605 25 390 704 778 70 882 691 1014 963 712 703 409 212 985 1027 747 424

65 64 3 31 64 198 177 170 117 23 34 16 94 13 26 92 113 13 158 144 143 150 153 184 61 49 145 184 105 50

88 90 5 40 100 251 245 203 I 51 29 40 25 141 18 82 156 82 17 288 275 289 219 221 245 83 52 194 235 150 93

102 90 7 36 106 283 293 257 199 31 37 13 160 II 65 164 185 13 225 143 332 231 198 270 66 34 248 291 161 93

Notes: Chalkhill Blue, Camberwell Beauty, Large Tortoiseshell, Queen of Spain, Swallowtail all excluded. 2003 totals are slightly higher than those published in the annual report as they include some extra records.

12

The Purple Hair streak Quercusia ~· quercus L. "-:

by Mike Dean

PurpleHairstreak- adult

,I

,,

by Mike Dean

After recording butterflies 1n Suffolk for something over 40 years, I have come to the conclusion that the Purple Hairstreak is really very much more common than the current distribution maps might suggest.

The problem for most recorders is that this pretty little insect is shy and quire elusive and often only found by pure chance. Which is surprising as the county is nor short of fair sized oak trees, the larval food plant and 'home' of this species, and my experience has been that almost every decent, mature oak, harbours a colony of rhis butterfly, which gets its English name from the beautiful iridescent sheen of purple when rhe open forewings are caught by the rays of rhe sun.

So, what arc the essentials required to find rhis insect? A list, nor in priority order might be:

PurpleHairstreaklarva

by Mike Dean

■ Patience and timing ■

Location

■

A rhick skin

■

Binoculars

■

Sun har & sun glasses

■

Willingness to endure a stiff neck next day!

A little elaboration may just help. Depending on the season, the adult butterfly is on the wing from about the second week in July and throughout August and is noticeable from midday onwards.

Timing is thus crucial, especially at the start of their flight period when a fruitless search one day will be rewarded in the exact same location the next, so be especially patient as a lot of rime has to be spent, normally on a hot and sunny day (note the sun hat), simply looking up to rhe higher oak branches - hence the inevitability of that stiff neck. Secondly, location is paramount as no Oak

13

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus Annex B. ANALYSIS- 1995 to 2004

Butterflies of Suffolk

A measure of Abundance - for residents and regular visitors.

Survey from: to:

1995 /1999

2000 /2004

1995 /2004

2002

2003

2004

Period:

5 yrs

5yrs

I 0yrs

!yr

!yr

1yr

Tetrads:-

1089

855

1090

338

448

530

Species/Terrad:

15.4

II.I

17.2

8.5

9.4

8.4

Tetrads from which recorded Small Skipper Essex Skipper Large Skipper Dingy Skipper Clouded Yellow Brimstone Large White Small White Green-veined White Orange Tip Green Hairsrreak Purple Hairsrreak White-letter Hairstreak Small Copper Silver-scudded Blue Brown Argus Common Blue Holly Blue White Admiral Red Admiral Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell Peacock Comma Speckled Wood Wall Grayling Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Ringler Small Heath

639 714 639 5 147 473 920 953 973 858 151 216 40 543 17 320 635 703 56 809 570 982 923 619 452 350 182 937 1002 669 359

261

695

66

114

121

240 228 7 192 249 579 576 520 401 83 109 43 297 20 160 327 370 36 538 410 538 468 403 535 200 107 495 582 334 195

772 688 7 267 547 979 990 1009 910 181 262 73 605 25 390 704 778 70 882 691 1014 963 712 703 409 212 985 1027 747 424

65 64 3 31 64 198 177 170 117 23 34 16 94 13 26 92 113 13 158 144 143 150 153 184 61 49 145 184 105 50

88 90 5 40 100 251 245 203 I 51 29 40 25 141 18 82 156 82 17 288 275 289 219 221 245 83 52 194 235 150 93

102 90 7 36 106 283 293 257 199 31 37 13 160 II 65 164 185 13 225 143 332 231 198 270 66 34 248 291 161 93

Notes: Chalkhill Blue, Camberwell Beauty, Large Tortoiseshell, Queen of Spain, Swallowtail all excluded. 2003 totals are slightly higher than those published in the annual report as they include some extra records.

12

The Purple Hair streak Quercusia ~· quercus L. "-:

by Mike Dean

PurpleHairstreak- adult

,I

,,

by Mike Dean

After recording butterflies 1n Suffolk for something over 40 years, I have come to the conclusion that the Purple Hairstreak is really very much more common than the current distribution maps might suggest.

The problem for most recorders is that this pretty little insect is shy and quire elusive and often only found by pure chance. Which is surprising as the county is nor short of fair sized oak trees, the larval food plant and 'home' of this species, and my experience has been that almost every decent, mature oak, harbours a colony of rhis butterfly, which gets its English name from the beautiful iridescent sheen of purple when rhe open forewings are caught by the rays of rhe sun.

So, what arc the essentials required to find rhis insect? A list, nor in priority order might be:

PurpleHairstreaklarva

by Mike Dean

■ Patience and timing ■

Location

■

A rhick skin

■

Binoculars

■

Sun har & sun glasses

■

Willingness to endure a stiff neck next day!

A little elaboration may just help. Depending on the season, the adult butterfly is on the wing from about the second week in July and throughout August and is noticeable from midday onwards.

Timing is thus crucial, especially at the start of their flight period when a fruitless search one day will be rewarded in the exact same location the next, so be especially patient as a lot of rime has to be spent, normally on a hot and sunny day (note the sun hat), simply looking up to rhe higher oak branches - hence the inevitability of that stiff neck. Secondly, location is paramount as no Oak

13

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus means no Hairstreak! Large Oaks m open woodland are a good bet, but any mature specimen especially in the company of other Oaks and Ash will do nicely. I have also found them on much smaller trees associated with heath land. This butterfly spends most of its time high up in the tree crawling over and feeding on the sweet honeydew exuded by aphids and flies only in fits and bursts, often when disturbed by birds. When they do take to flight, it is usually quite short and erratic, around the tree crown or from tree to tree and they appear silvery, almost whitish in the sun - the effect once described as tossing a silver coin in the sunlight. This is where a decent pair of binoculars comes into its own in trying to track that giveaway flashing flight and then further identification when at rest or walking over the leaves.

Although I mentioned the reluctance of this little butterfly to come to ground level, they do sometimes, and more likely in the late afternoon between about 4pm and 6pm when the angle of the sun is lower and when they visit bramble blossom. It was a behaviour that I noticed many years ago on a camping holiday in France. The adults are sometimes active at this lower level earlier in the day, either because they have just emerged from their chrysalis, which spent the winter in the leaf litter, or because they are attracted by the remains of the overnight dew.

So, your plan of action needs to be in two parts really if you want to get a view of this lovely insect in your locality. Firstly, when you're out walking make a mental note oflikely sites and trees char appear to be suitable - not just in the country but in and around the more urban areas of Suffolk as well. Then, when the flight time comes around, pick your sunny day, take your 'kit' and just go along to literally stop and stare and to be astounded by some insect neighbours that you never knew you had!

Just one last thing, as you may have been wondering why you may need to have that thick skin? Well, what would you think if a complete stranger, dressed in a sun hat with dark glasses, stood for hours peering through binoculars at the top of an apparently empty Oak tree at the end of your garden? Exactly ... bur good hunting anyway!

'It warms you twice' Purdis Heath Scrub Bash January 2005

by Stella Wolfi Purdis Heath is now an isolated area of heathland just outside Ipswich. It supports a declining population of Silver-studded Blue butterflies in a habitat that is shrinking as the Silver Birch advances.

In what has become an annual January foray, local members of Butterfly Conservation joined other wildlife enthusiasts in cutting back the birch saplings to prevent rhe Ling and Bell Heather, the butterfly's food plant, from being engulfed. As we cut back we noticed that much of the growth was from the stumps of an earlier clearance, showing the need for regular conservation work if the area is·not to revert entirely to scrub.

Hopefully the cleared parches will stimulate regeneration of heather. As well as butterflies, heathland species of moth such as the Lunar Yellow Underwing will benefit.

So, what wirh the physical labour of sawing, lopping, selecting lengths to save for poles and faggots, treating the stumps, carrying the residual brushwood to the cheerful blaze of the bonfire, we certainly did get warmed twice.

Silver-studdedBlue

by DouglasHammersley

14

Annex A: A Measure of Scarcity - Tetrads per species (2003 & 2004) Species listed in sequence of scarcity in 2004. %of 448 Tetrads Species tetrads 2003 [Chalkhill Blue] 0.2 1 0.2 1 [Large Tortoiseshell] Camberwell Beauty 0.4 2 0.2 1 Swallowtail

Tetrads 2004

%of 530 tetrads

cf last See Note

2

0.2 0.4

0.42 1.69

Change See Note

1.1

5

Dingy Skipper

7

1.3

UP

4.0

18

Silver-studded Blue

11

2.1

0.52

DOWN

5.6 3.8 6.5 11.6 8.9 8.9 18.3 18.5 20.1 20.8 19.6 20.8 25.4 61.4 31.5 33.5 34.8 18.3

25 17 29 52 40 40 82 83 90 93 88 93 114 275 141 150 156 82

White-letter Hairstrk White Admiral Green Hairstreak Grayling Clouded Yellow Purple Hairstreak Brown Argus Wall Large Skipper Small Heath Essex Skipper Brimstone Small Skipper Painted Lady Small Copper Ringlet Common Blue Holly Blue

13 13 31 34 36 37 65 66 90 93 102 106 121 143 160 161 164 185

2.5 2.5 5.8 6.4 6.8 7.0 12.3 12.5 17.0 17.5 19.2 20.0 22.8 27.0 30.2 30.4 30.9 34.9

0.44 0.65 0.90 0.55 0.76 0.78 0.67 0.67 0.85 0.85 0.98 0.96 0.90 0.44 0.96 0.91 0.89 1.91

DOWN DOWN

49.3 33.7 64.3 48.9 43.3 45.3 54.7 56.0 52.5 54.7 64.5

221 151 288 219 194 203 245 251 235 245 289

Comma Orange-rip Red Admiral Peacock Gatekeeper Green-veined Wht Speckled Wood Large White Meadow Brown Small White Small Tortoiseshell

198 199 225 231 248 257 270 283 291 293 332

37.4 37.5 42.5 43.6 46.8 48.5 50.9 53.4 54.9 55.3 62.6

0.76 1.11 0.66 0.89 1.08 1.07 0.93 0.95 1.05 1.01 0.97

DOWN UP DOWN DOWN

Remarks

Strays found in adjacent rerrads Bur strong colony counts

DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN DOWN

DOWN

DOWN UP

Recovery following a poor 2003

33 species seen in Suffolk in 2004 Notes: "Change" - UP/DOWN indicates a change of over 10% records per surveyed rerrad, compared to last season. Such a count is not necessarily a valid indicator of population strength or distribution. The latest available count figures have been used. As a result 2003 figures are higher than those published in the annual report. "cflast" column indicates the proportion of last years cover achieved in current year.

11

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus masks the gentle decline, which can be detected at the 2km tetrad level. Species such as Grayling, Wall, and Small Heath are declining nationally, as well as in Suffolk. A view of the Millennium Survey plus the last five years (10 in all) does appear to show improvements for some species, but this is mainly due to return visits to underrecorded squares. The real extensions of range by the Speckled Wood and Brown Argus may now have reached high water mark; indeed, the Brown Argus may be falling back to find its proper level.

A Walk in the Forest

by Peter Vincent

Species Maps. Distribution Maps for individual species have also been prepared for our 31 regulars, and these are available for reference as required.

There are no maps for Swallowtail or Camberwell Beauty, though these bring the 2004 species count to 33.

Peacock

by BerylJohmon

Analysis. A crude assessment of relative scarcity can be deduced from a count of the number of tetrads from which each species has been recorded.

Afrer the few sightings of Camberwell Beauty & Swallowtail, our most rare butterflies are our BAP species, followed by the White Admiral. This year's league table, which foll~ws as Annex A, finds the Holly Blue much improved on last year's placing, and the migrants, particularly Painted Lady, all showing less abundant against an unchanged background of our more widespread species. To make a more fair comparison of 2004's survey of 530 tetrads with 2003's survey of just 448, an additional measure has been presented - the percentage of survey squares in which each species was found. Judged by this standard, 15 species have diminished by over 10% whilst 7 species have increased, 3 of chem by more than 10%. A straight tetrad count would have shown 11 increased and 10 decreased. Neither measure assessesa butterfly's abundance at its breeding site as accurately as a transect. A further table (Annex B) shows each species tetrad count over the past 10 years of intensive survey.

Transects. Detailed data was submitted for the transects at North Warren (Rob Macklin), Fynn Valley (Richard Stewart), RSPB Minsmere (Robin Harvey), Bradfield Woods (Steve Hunt), Center Pares (Graham Hersey-Green), ·walberswick (Adam Burrows) and Bury St Edmunds (Rob Parker). In addition, single-species transects for Silver-studded Blue were conducted at Aldringham Walks (Rob Macklin) and Martlesham Heath (Phil Smith). Special thanks are due to all those transect walkers for their regular monitoring, which provides an objective abundance count as well as site-specific observations, and flight times.

Annexes: Scarcity 2003 & 2004 Analysis of 10 Years to 2004

10

White Admirals. The day ended with a sighting of a Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth feeding on Honeysuckle, hovering in front of the flower while using its proboscis to reach the nectar.

On a note of caution, regarding the strength of the hairstreak colonies, I noticed chat the Wych Elm suckers in the area have reached the height at which they become vulnerable to Elm bark beetle attack. Indeed some have already succumbed.

Perhaps Suffolk doesn't have the butterfly spectaculars or spectacular butterflies of the Dorset downlands, Wiltshire woodlands or Lancashire limestone, but last July I experienced a display of butterflies in Suffolk equal to any outwith the county.

As I approached the forest, the weather was unpromising, moderate temperatures and quite breezy, but stepping into the sheltered ride the ambient temperature was high.

The first insect that crossed my path, literally, was a Magpie Moth, giving an impression for a moment of a Marbled White - will this striking butterfly occur again in Suffolk?

A few yards into the ride, in a small bramble fringed clearing, I observed a White-letter Hairstreak feeding on a Bramble flower, and this was joined by a second and then a third. Twenty yards on and on another large Bramble I watched another colony of hairstreaks; five feeding on one flower head and a further twelve elsewhere on the bush. In flight these dark butterflies seem to disappear only to reappear when alighting with closed wings displaying the white hairstreak and the orange and black hind wing markings.

A White Admiral glided down to feed on a Bramble· flower, then further along two more.

Along the length of the ride they appeared numerous - some observed high up amongst the canopy others feeding and basking lower down.

Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Meadow Browns and Ringlets were common feeding on the Bramble, the grassy areas contained, Essex, Small and Large Skippers, with Small Heath and Small Coppers in areas of sparse vegetation and Speckled Woods in dappled shade.

In a walk along two rides of about a mile, I counted about 35 White-letter Hairstreaks and 20

Ringlet

by BerylJohnson

Small Heath

by DouglasHammersley

15

Summer2005

The SuffolkArgus

South of the Border byJamesMann Many of us have boasted that we have been on holiday to the South of France. To most of us this means touches of "A Year in Provence".

This is a lovely area although prone to cold winter winds but it is not the real south of France.

The southernmost Department in France is the Pyrenees Orientals and the southernmost commune (village) is Lamanere. A modest notice on the approach to the village states "Commune au plus sud de France". It is some 20 kilometres along the mountains from the sea. At the end of the village the tarmac stops, as does any vehicle access in the direction of Spain. The only way to the real southernmost point of France is to walk.

At 9 o'clock on the morning of 6 October 2003 Les Rafals, my Monday walking group, arrived at Lamanere. After our canicule (heat wave), which gave us temperatures of over 40°C, it was a vast change for the

SmallCopper

by DouglasHammersley

thermometer was reading 3°C. The altitude of the village is 750 metres. We moved off up the path through the forest making for Col de Malrems and the frontier at an altitude of 1131 metres, a climb of just over an hour. Every tiny clearing where the cold could drop in was covered with a thick white frost. About half way up as the trees thinned and eventually stopped· and gave way to grazing areas the whole valley was as white as snow and apart from the steeply rising sides was like a winters morning in Suffolk. The sun was shining brightly and we were keeping warm with the exertion of the climb and thoughts of the coffee break on the Col. On the ascent the weather was calm but directly we reached the top the wind that had missed the valley hie us from behind and the temperature plummeted. Not to be deterred we descended on the Spanish side of the mountain and within ten minutes the wind dropped off, the temperature rose and the absence of frost gave credence to the saying "It's warmer in Spain". We enjoyed the traditional coffee and cake and set off on the long winding descent to Beget, which is situated, a bit lower than Lamanere at an altitude of 600 metres.

Soon the top layers of clothing were being stripped of and we felt it might just be possible to see the odd butterfly. We soon saw what at first glance looked like a white but when it settled it proved to be a very light coloured Clouded Yellow.

When the count of similar coloured butterflies reached double figures I decided that they could not all be Pale Clouded Yellowsbut must be ordinary ones that had been faded by the sun during the canicule. This theory was soon proved wrong when ar a slightly lower altitude we began to see ordinary Clouded Yellows. On our return journey the two types were again present at different altitudes and were not seen together. At the higher altitude we had a colour contrast of many Mountain Argus intermingled with the occasional Wall or Great Banded Grayling. In the more grassy parts of the lower altitudes we came across severalBlues, a single Brown Argus and a sprinkling of Small Coppers. A couple of Whites flew over but evidently had somewhere they had to go for they did not stop to be identified. Burnets and Hummingbird Hawk-

16

Geographic Coverage. Records received for 2004 covered 530 tetrads, materially more than last year, with contributions from 155 individual recorders.

Geographic cover improved, with recorders responding well to my call to fill the gaps. The resulting cover for the 5 year period brings us up to 80% of the county; a great achievement, though some way short of the outstanding achievement of the Millennium Survey's full cover.

Millennium Plus Five. Five years on from the Millennium Survey, and Butterfly Conservation has assembled enough records to update the distribution maps compiled for the Millennium Atlas. The Suffolk contribution, when viewed at 10km square level, does cover the whole county, and er ally

Grayling

by BerylJohnson here: at Cavenham Heath only 14 Graylings were counted, compared to the previous season's 74, whilst the Fynn Valley count of Walls was down from 17 to 3. Both these species merit careful scrutiny in the coming years, as their long- ~gen term trend is also downward. At least the grassgrew well in the rain, so perhaps the young larvae entered winter in good condition.

The Holly Blue came back decisivelyfrom its poor showing in 2003, but Brown Argus sightings were made at only 65% of last year's density. Like the White-letter Hairstreak, the White Admiral was hard to find in a wet July, and yet it put in a second brood at, at least two sites, with sightings in September, and even early October. Other residents had an average year, with Commas and Peacocks typically failing to match their strong 2003 showings. The Small Tortoiseshell remained our most well reported butterfly, being noted in 63% of tetrads visited.

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Early/Late Records. Spring brought earlier than ever records for two grass-feeding species: Meadow Brown (25/5) and Ringlet (8/6), whilst latest-ever records followed for other grass-feeders: Large Skipper (18/9) & Gatekeeper (26/9). October brought second brood White Admiral (I 1/10) as well as a very late Meadow Brown (5/10). All in all, this was a significant number of early/late records, in a season extended by wet spells.

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SmallTortoiseshell

by DouglasHammersley

9

The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

Table 1. 2004 Weather for East Anglia Season

Mean Temp DegC

Anomaly % up

Sunshine hrs

Anomaly %

Rainfall mm

Anomaly %

Winter

5. 1

1.3

180.8

108

181.6

126

Spring

9.5

1.3

445.5

100

136.4

98

Summer

16.9

1.3

560.9

99

250.2

162

Autumn

11.4

0.9

342.8

108

163.4

100

Source: www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk Anomalies are measured against the 1961 to 1990 averages.

Monitoring the BAP Species. This year's Dingy Skipper survey eliminated a number of former sites as lacking suitable habitat, whilst confirming that the known colonies in the King's Forest, RAF Barnham and Center Pares were all in good health.

Indeed, the extenr of the Kings/Wardwell colony was found t~ be greater this year than ever before noted, and numbers were high. A couple of stray individuals were seen north and east of the Chalk Lane area, unexpectedly extending the known flight area in to two fresh tetrads.

The Silver-studded Blue again appeared early in the season, and produced good counts at most sites, including a remarkable 3,538 at all the Minsmere sites combined. This suggests that the favourable 2003 season boosted populations, although the heather at the Hollesley B site was found to be suffering from parching and dieback, with a count of only 341, less than half of the 2003 figure. The habitat at Mardesham Heath is also deteriorating, as much of the heather is now too rail, and without bare soil.

The White-letter Hairstreak was not seen nearly as frequently as during the exceptionally hot 2003 season. Although three new sites were identified, at least one isolated site fell to Durch Elm Disease, and observers had trouble finding them in the wet. This does not necessarily mean that populations suffered, but they may have done.

Derailed accounts for each of the BAP species will be published separately.

Migrants. For migrants, it was a year of variable impact, mass hoverfly movements, with some unusual moths, but for butterflies it was unexceptional. Painted Ladies were detected in sufficient numbers to identify movements, bur only over a quarter of last year's coverage, whilst 36 Oouded Yellows were seen, compared to 40 last year, with some flying through October and into November. Seven Red Admiral sightings in March provided evidence of successful overwintering, but the year's count was well down on 2003. One Camberwell Beauty was seen close to the sea at Dunwich on 7th August.

Swallowtails. An unexpected appearance occurred in the first week of June, when four independent reporrs of a Swallowtail came in from gardens in the north of Ipswich. This may have been a single butterfly, or more, but eggs were laid, as was evidenced by the discovery of a single larva on garden fennel in the same district on 8th October.

Unfortunately the larva did not survive, so it is not possible to say whether it came from Norfolk or from Continental stock. A separate sighting occurred later at Nacton Meadows, possibly a genuine migrant.

Residents. This was a strong year for some of our commoner residents, particularly the Whites and Orange-tip. Gatekeepers also did well, but their more scarce relatives, the Grayling and the Wall both fared poorly. Transect counts are a useful indicator

8

Wall Brown

by DouglasHammersley moths were feeding on the late flowers. So much for the frost north of the border.

Our first sighting of Beget was looking between our feet down a shear 200-metre drop to the village below. The path down followed many zigzags and it took a long time to descend the 200 metres. The village looks like something from a fairy tale with winding cobbled streets; a stone built church and an ancient bridge spanning the river Beger as it passes through the centre of the village. In common with Lamanere this is where the tarmac ends, or starts, depending on which direction you are heading.

Begec was almost abandoned until quite recent times when it was decided that it was worth renovation. Many of the buildings have been restored to their original state. No new villas with swimming pools and even cars banned from the renovated parts. We spent some time on the medieval bridge Trout spotting and then moved onto the square fronting the church. The huge iron reinforced church doors were locked so disappointed we turned away. One of the group of village ladies who were sitting on a wall chatting got up and approached us, drawing a large key from her apron pocket she unlocked the door and proceeded inside. She gave a potted history of the village and church in perfect Spanish Catalan which made it difficult for me to understand but I

gathered that the church is probably over I 000 years old and was originally attached to one of the network of monasteries that existed at the time. In common with many of the other churches in the area it was used as a place of refuge for the residents of the village in times of attack, thus the reinforced door.

By now hunger pains were active so we returned to the other end of Beger where the restaurant was happy to allow us to eat our packed lunches at an empty cable in exchange for buying glasses of pastis and a large bottle of the local soft red wine. Relaxing after our repas we looked up at the sheer cliff rising above us and realised we had to climb back up there and on to Col Malrems a climb of over 500 metres, not a pleasant thought after the wine and a satisfying lunch. The randonners slowly climbed on increasingly weary legs and eventually Col Malrems was reached.

Looking back down the long Autumn shadow emphasised the tiers of terraces that climbed up the mountainside above Mas Bocabartella, the last farm in Spain, now sadly abandoned apart for being a shelter for cows. All that remained now was the relaxing walk back down to Lamanere and the drive home.

One day Anne and I will drive the long way round so we can enjoy a good meal without all the exercise of the climb afterwards.

17

The SuffolkArgus

Migrants at Aldeburgh

by RichardStewart I still have vivid memories of long recording days during the Millennium Survey years but sometimes-memorable sightings can be very easy and unexpected.

Marie had to go to Aldeburgh on 31st August 2004 to collect her quilts from the Suffolk Crafr Society exhibition and we had time for a short walk by the beach. We immediately headed for the Valerian plants bedded in the shingle, a few with white flowers but mainly the pinky red ones, not just out but also in sunlight. We walked from near the new Lifeboat Centre to the last clumps beyond the huts selling freshly caught fish and ended up with a total of three Clouded Yellows, two of them chasing each other, 24 Painted Ladies, 36 Small Whites and 96 Small Tortoiseshells, the latter being my highest ever count at one time.

They were obviously migrants and the attraction of the Valerian emphasised when we examined the Alyssum, African Marigolds, Nicotiana and a few shore Asters that comprised of the part cultivated flowers display around the nearby War Memorial. We couldn't see a single butterfly.

PaintedLady

by BerylJohnson

Summer 2005

50 Butterfly • Walks in Somerset & Bristol

Another Ipswich Swallowtail

2004 Butterfly Report

by RichardStewart

by Rob Parker

Edited by RogerSutton Maps Bill Vigar Photography Keith Gould

On 8th October 2004 I took photos of a Swallowtail caterpillar, which Len Partridge had observed on Fennel, growing in the back garden of his house on Woodbridge Road, Ipswich. The late date, and a subsequent fall onto concrete, probably explained why it didn't survive. Rob Parker examined it and found it hadn't succumbed through parasitation and he also noted Fennel in a neighbour's garden.

The egg was probably laid by the Swallowtail momentarily seen in my garden on Westerfield Road, 4th August. This was the same date as brief garden glimpses of a Swallowtail from Pat Gondris in St. Edmund's Road and Iris Maeers in Sidegate Lane, Iris having slight identification reservations because oflack of 'tails'. Ray Read also recorded one in Woodbridge Road in the first week of August.

The late dare for the caterpillar is similar to that recorded and photographed on Garden Rue further down Westerfield Road on 28th September 1998 - this also didn't survive and in the same year another caterpillar was recorded on Choisya at Nacton: these 1998 sightings coincided with eight Ipswich Swallowtail reports and locations suggesting a possible breeding and releasing somewhere on the Rivers estate in Ipswich. It is impossible to say if the 2004 sightings of what was probably the same butterfly represent a genuine migrant or local release. The three food plants mentioned strongly indicate that the sightings were of the continental form of this species.

This is a butterfly that is easy to identify bur also, regrettably, easy to breed.

Following on from the outstandingly good 2003 season, the much wetter 2004 has seemed an anticlimax, yet butterfly numbers have not been low. Indeed, some species, particularly the Whites, have produced higher counts than they did last year.

High populations at the end of 2003 carried through another mild winter to produce a good start for most of our resident species. Silver-studded Blues hit record counts at Minsmere, and had mixed results at other colonies. There was also some good news from our strongest Dingy Skipper colonies.

Migrant Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows were seen, but in much lower numbers than in 2003. A flurry of Swallowtail sightings in Ipswich and a single Camberwell Beauty added interest to the season, but may have been releases rather than genuine visitors.

The long-term decline of a few once-common species continues to cause concern, though there were no dramatic downturns, just weak turnouts of Graylings at two transect sites and reduced evidence of Wall Browns away from the coast.

Weather. Average temperatures were again up on historic averages, bur sunshine was only average, and rainfall was high, particularly in the summer months. The table below shows mean temperature, sunshine for and rainfall for East Anglia, all presented as anomalies compared to averages over the period 1961 to 1990. The frequency of wet summer days inhibited recording activity as well as restricting mating opportunities for the insects, but lush foodplanr growth may have benefited larvae to some degree.

Dudley Cheesman, national chairman of Butterfly Conservation and chair of West Country branch, who lives at Langport had the idea of 'where to see butterflies' at about the same time as Roger Sutton realised, on leading field trips that the public are largely oblivious to butterflies unless they are pointed out.

This was 18 months ago and it has taken this long to create the little pocket monster. The fact that Dorset branch had created something with remarkably similar characteristics 10 years previously but it was never completed, although it is proudly displayed on their website, just shows that even with the power of original thought, someone else got there first!

Inspiration has come from as far afield as Canada where the Toronto Entomologists' Association have a booklet on the butterflies of southern Ontario. This is ring-bound and opens easily flat for use in the field. Bob White of Acanthus Press, Wellington, arranged to have one walk on each open double page although one or two of the most important walks go to four sides. It is DL size and will fit easily in the pocket or handbag.

Each walk comprises a picture of the habitat with explanatory inscription. Then there is the text in easily readable 9 point sans serif typeface. This takes you through the habitat step by step. They are all written with a different style because the 40

18

7

The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

AGM. An individual with financial expertise appointed at the AGM should independently examine such accounts. The examination can be done by a retired individual with financial expertise or a neighbouring Branch Treasurer.

This individual cannot be a member of the Branch committee or a Sub-committee.

8.3

9.

appointed leader at any function and of any responsible third parry such as a landowner or reserve warden. Branch members must always conduct themselves in a manner so as ro reflect credit upon the Branch and Butterfly Conservation.

In the event of dissolution, no member shall be entitled to a refund. After discharge of any properly incurred Branch debts, any residual funds and all other assets of the Branch shall be disposed of at the discretion of Council.

MISCELLANEOUS No change ro these rules may be made other than at a General Meeting. Any proposed change from a member who is not a member of the Branch committee must be notified in writing ro the Branch Secretary at least cwenry-onc days before the relevant meeting.

10.7 No rule shall be valid if it is not in accordance with Butterfly Conservation objects, policies and regulations at national level.

September 2004

10.2 All members shall be entitled to receive a copy of these rules.

10.3 No member shall be personally liable for any loss or claim in respect of his or her involvement with the Branch, provided that he or she has acted responsibly and in good faith.

10.4 The Branch shall have no liabiliry for any loss or injury suffered by a member during any activity organised by the Branch, provided that the organisers shall cake reasonable steps ro avoid such loss or injury.

10.5

/l/L:_

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DISSOLUTION

10.1

by BerylJohnson

10.6 The Branch shall use its best endeavours to promote Butterfly Conservation and ro maintain a recognisable identiry by using the Butterfly Conservation logo and position statement, in addition co any branch logo on letter-heads, brochures, leaflets, etc. The Branch shall also comply with any directives issued through established channels by the Council and follow any recommendations.

The Branch committee shall conform ro any regulations imposed by Council on financial administration or trading.

10.

Small Pearl-borderedFritillary

Swallowtailon Elderflower

Branch members and non-members working under the auspices of the Branch must follow any instructions of the

by BerylJohnson

6

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Barry supplied most of the photos of butterflies that follow the maps as thumbprints. le is not an identification book as such but some of the most rare or interesting butterflies of each habitat are shown - at least three and up ro nine for important habitats.

There is no listed index but Jo Kidd,

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a local graphic artist designed a beautiful fold-out map of the county with colour coded, index numbered circles of each walk plotted and thus evaluated by colour according ~ ro che number of cargec (rare) species.

There are innovative essays in the beginning of the book, which attempt ro take ) a fresh approach to the appreciation of butterflies, brief description of "secondary" habitats, a specially designed combined transect and casual recording form and a few major transect sample abundance tables are shown.

Only Warwickshire are known co have previously produced a walks book bur although it did describe a few habitats it was more like the general textbook that other counties seem co have copied each other in producing. Dorset has what might be described as "butterfly jewellery" of greater value than almost any area in Britain; so will they be the next counry to produce their already partly completed walks handbook? A friend in Devon asked me ro compile one for chem; it is already generating conservation acciviry and seems co be awakening a dormant interest in butterflies in all sores of people.

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1

V

or so enthusiasts were invited without preconceived ideas or rules, to describe their favourite habitat. The response also from usually reticent large organisations such as English Nature, National Trust and Counry Wildlife Trusts (two in our area) etc., has been remarkable.

Following the text is the species list. The printer (who lives just round the corner rather than Hong Kong!) has been most helpful and formulated a tinted box with green and red names (the red ,being the rare species) and flight times in black italic.

Another important function follows this, the habitat map. Transect recording sections have been shown wherever possible and Bill Vigar and Roger Sutton, both with professional cartographic experience pur their heads together to produce something informative, clear and attractive. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the Ordnance Survey I :25,000 scale series, but is quite workable with what was the old "one inch co one mile" (the I :50,000 series.)

Head Office, Keith Gould and Dr Michael

Roger Sutton, Monday 21st February 2005 16 Ashford Road, Wellington Somerset TA21 8QF Tel. 01823 663510 roger@sutton 73. fsnet.co. uk

Price £10. Send cheque made out to "Butterfly Walks Handbook" co the above address or ask for an order form, which contains a sample walk.

19

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus 4.4

Poetry Page

by Paul Johnson

4.5

At Nant-Yr-Arian Feeding Station

At Talsarn Feeding Station

Ten to two they cameexpectant Tothe picnic-tablestallsand compactedearth circle: Patent-leathersusheredpast thepuddles, Glovedhands claspedtight to mobiles.

Then carrionprops wereset And as the rain cloudsslowlylifted, A buzzards soliloquypassedby, unapplauded.

They comeat the helm of an upland airflow Silhouettesoutstretchedabovea postedsentry buzzard.

Then hastenedbya wind-gnawedhunger,tapering Tighteningdescentsbeginon span-widespirals Until wing beatskaleidoscope-fill our vistas And Talsarnslittle hut resonates Plaintive,shrill, insistent.

Tenpast two and the housegrown impatient: A wrapperdroppedwithout thought Or chastisement,upland air tainted syntheticsweet From chewedgum exhalation.

Thenguidebookswerereopenedand most dispersed, On to the next stage-managedattraction:the red kite Instantlyconsignedto bit-part actorsunderstudy.

Unerringlylower:tails deftly ruddering Capriciouscurrents,a deciduousautumn radiating From everyfleck and flex of leaf turningplumage, Keenbillsand candid talonsunited in sulphurousfinale.

Then away to unchartedcragsand sightlesseyries, Soaringon white underscoredwings The antithesisof persecutedsurrender.

The main playersarrivedlater,at a time unscripted And selfdetermined: Their interpretationfaultless.

And in thosemomentsI understood The red kite holidays,the dedicatedmagazineand conservationeffort Felt I understood,amazing.

20

POWERSOF THE BRANCH COMMITTEE

5.1

The Branch committee shall have the power to control and manage all business of the Branch for the benefit of the Branch. The functions shall include: a. the administration of branch funds b. the maintenance of branch records c. co-opting additional members as necessary d. establishment of sub-committees e. co-operation with such organisations or individuals as is necessary and invitations to representatives of such bodies or such individuals to attend committee meetings on a non-voting • basis f. issuing periodic newsletters, principally "The Suffolk Argus" g. removal of members under 3.3 (c) h. any other lawful act for the benefit of the Branch

SUB-COMMITTEES Any sub-committee appointed by the Branch committee should have the power to act on behalf of the Branch committee, subject ro its directions. The Branch committee must approve any expenditure before it is incurred.

A quorum of che Branch committee shall be one third of its members, of whom at least one must be the Branch Chair or Branch Secretary, one of whom shall chair each meeting. Where an urgent decision is required which cannot wait until the next committee meeting, a consensus may be accepted through email/telephone discussion involving the whole committee, subject to a minimum of five members responding. Any such decision shall be ratified at the next meeting.

S.

5.2

6.

If a consensus cannot be reached, a vote shall be taken on a show of hands. In the event of a tie, the Branch Chair shall have a second, casting vote.

These powers are delegated by Council, and shall be exercised to con form ro any regulations imposed by Council, to be set down in the Branch Handbook.

5

7.

GENERALMEETINGS

7.1

Annual General Meetings shall be held within 15 months of che previous AGM. The election/re-election or removal of Officers and che approval of the annual accounts shall cake place at the AGM.

7.2

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at the discretion of the Branch committee upon receipt of a written request supported by at least thirty members of the Branch specifying the full reason for the request. Not less than twenty-one days notice of such a meeting, giving details of the reason for the meeting, shall be sent to all members of the Branch and only the business as is stated in the notice shall be transacted at the meeting.

7.3

The Chair or a representative appointed by him/her from the members of the Branch committee shall preside at all General Meetings at which a quorum shall be fifteen members, including members of the Branch committee. All decisions shall be on a show of hands and shall not be carried unless at least two thirds of those voting are in favour.

8.

FINANCE

8.1

The Financial Year of the Branch shall run from 1st April in each year to 31 st March in the following year.

8.2

The Branch committee shall have power to disburse the Branch's funds as it sees fit within the objects of and for the benefit of the Branch and/or its aims. Detailed accounts for the financial year must be presented for approval and adoption at the

Summer 2005

The Suffolk Argus BUTTERFLYCONSERVATION

where the member is judged to have behaved in a manner not consistent with the aims of the Branch, contrary to the orderly running of the Branch or at variance with the needs and aims of the conservation movement in general. Any member excluded under this section shall have the right of direct appeal to Council, whose decision shall be final.

A registered charity and company, limited by guarantee

Suffolk Branch

Rules I.

4.

MANAGEMENT

4.1

The control and management of the Branch shall be the responsibiliry of the Branch committee. The committee shall comprise of a minimum of five persons including Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The number may be increased to a maximum of fifteen by the addition of such Officers as may be appropriate from time to time. All Branch committee members must be members of Butterfly Conservation.

The Regional Officer for the East of England or other observers may be invited to attend meetings, in an advisory, non-voting capacity.

NAME

The Branch shall be called "The Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation."

2.

OBJECTS

The objects of the Branch shall be the same as the objects of Butterfly Conservation, and within these objects, the Branch shall transact such business as may be appropriate for the benefit of the Branch, and Butterfly Conservation, and the furtherance of its aims. The Branch shall operate under the guidance of the national organisation, its Council and the general rules issued through its Branch Handbook.

3.

MEMBERSHIP

3.1

Membership of the Branch is open only to members of Butterfly Conservation.

3.2

Categories of membership shall be the same as for the UK membership.

3.3

Membership may cease for the following reasons: a. resignation of the member from the UK soc1ery b. resignation of the member from the Branch element of the member's UK membership c. failure to pay the annual subscription within the required period d. by decision of the Branch committee and subsequent approval of Council,

4

4.2

At each Annual General Meeting (AGM), one third of the Branch committee members in seniority totation and any members coopted onto the committee since the previous AGM shall retire and be eligible for reeleccion. Any member may propose another for election to the committee at the AGM, provided that the Secretary is advised in writing of the proposal at least twenty-one days before the meeting. The Branch committee may, at its discretion, accept proposals at a shorter notice.

4.3

Meetings of the Branch committee shall be held as frequently as the committee deems necessary. Any member of the committee may request chat a meeting be called to give a decision on any matter which they feel warrants it. le shall be on the discretion of the Chair as to whether to call such a meeting, but they shall do so if three committee members support the request.

Photos pot Vapourer Moth - Orgyia antiqua

by Jim Foster

Male and female 'in cop'

Female laying eggs on her cocoon

Cocoon

Larva

21

The SuffolkArgus

Summer 2005

Bravo for ·Buglife

Editorial

Awards for Us

by Jim Foster

by Rob Parker

by Rob Parker

On the following page you will see an item entitled Suffolk Branch Rules. This has been drafted and approved by the Committee with guidance from Head Office. It is intended to table this item at the Annual General Meeting, which will be held at Alder Carr Farm on Saturday 17th September. The version here is published for consideration by the general membership, so if any members have any comments or suggested amendments, please contact Rob Parker (details on the back page) by the 31st August in order that alterations can be made to the document prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Some members may consider such a matter as rather bureaucratic, however many organisations now require to have sight of such a document in the event that the Branch has specific business with them. An example is on this page, where an award has been granted to the Branch and it was necessary to produce some rules by way of a constitution.

For the first time since I was appointed editor, way back in 200 I, I have not had sufficient material to complete the Argus, so I have 'stretched' the odd article by including more illustrations and adding a photo page of my own.

Th.is is your newsletter so please help me to help you by sending in more items for publication.

There is one new author this time and I look forward to some more new authors for the future.

I hope you enjoy your Lepidoptera this summer and if you do why not write and tell me!

We all know what the National Lottery is, but not everyone knows that ''Awardsfor All" is the arm responsible for awarding grants of Lottery cash to deserving local groups. The Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation submitted a bid in autumn last year, and it is good to be able to announce that we were successful, and have been awarded £4,337, the whole sum we had bid for.

The cash will be spent in support of our plans to reach out to a wider public involvement in a Spring Butterfly Survey. At the time we issued the 2005 programme, we were unsure whether the grant would be forthcoming, but we included one early field meeting, and two training sessions in anticipation. By the time you read this, these events will have taken place - the Haverhill training day may have recruited more recorders from an underrecorded area, and the Barnham event should have strengthened our Dingy Skipper survey team. We hope that we will also have boosted the membership of Butterfly Conservation.

The most costly expen di ture has been our new hi tech projection system, which came to almost £2000 including the laptop & supporting software. Other outlay will include publicity, printing, hall hire and travelling costs re-imbursable to survey participants. If you are out surveying in spring, even if you did not attend a training event: just keep a count of the mileage, and let Sharon have your claim by August. Existing recorders may use the usual "yellow recording form", although a special abbreviated version has been produced for new recruits to the Spring Butterfly Survey. The terms of the grant require us to spend it within one year (or to return the surplus) but we do receive the ongoing benefit of the computer/ projector, and any unused leaflets, posters and recording forms will still be of use for 2006.

It is a year or so smce the Invertebrate

FOR SALE

Conservation Trust (once ICT) assumed their new, user-friendly name "buglife". If insects (Insecta) are insects and true bugs are bugs (Hemiptera), that has not been allowed to stand in the way of the ICT adopting the term "bugs" to embrace the much wider field of all invertebrates in a spirit of fun.

Buglife has just issued a series of four excellent little pamphlets, which every field naturalist will wish to acquire (since they are free).

Each amounts to eight sides of A4 with a foldout poster on the reverse. They cover:

12 Kodak High Definition

(mighty sharp)

36 exposure 200 ISO print films unboxed (r.r.p. £69.00)

£30.00 9 Fujichrome Velvia 36 exposure 50 ISO slide films boxed (r.r.p. £49.00)

£25.00

■

Spiders Riverflies ■ Grasshoppers, Crickets, Cockroaches & Earwigs ■ and, of course, Bugs.

Contact:

■

Jonathan Tyler Tel: 01787 269204 Fax: 01787 269148

They plan to follow on in the autumn with four more on:

email: jtylerorchids@clara.co.uk

■ Beetles ■ Damselflies and Dragonflies ■ Snails ■

& Slugs

Flies

The first four may be had from buglife (they go for lower case) on 01733 2012 or info@buglife.org.uk at 170A Park Rd, Peterborough PEI 2UF.

Editor's note: I am sure this name will please our former recorder Richard Stewart! See page 32 of Suffolk Argus Spring 2005.

For more details, please contact Rob Parker or Sharon Hearle (See back cover).

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The Suffolk Argus

Summer 2005

Contents Editorial

Editorial

Awards for Us

3 3

Suffolk Branch Draft Rules

4

Another Ipswich Swallowtail

It Warms you Twice

7 8 13 14

A Walk in the Forest

15

South of the Border

16

Migrants at Aldeburgh

18

50 Butterfly Walks in Somerset & Bristol

19

Poetry Page

20

Photospot

21

Butterfly Report 2004 Butterflies of Suffolk, Purple Hairstreak

Bravo for Buglife Newsletter Details and General Information Suffolk Branch Contacts

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Copy Dates Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than: Spring

Christmas Eve

Summer

April Fools Day

Autumn

August Bank Holiday Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-sizc,they will last for many years.

Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design, with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

Any piece of writing chat is considered to be of interest will be published together with line drawings/prints /photographs.

The Suffolk Argus is your magazine, so please let us hear from you.

To advertise in the Suffolk Argus please contact Jim Foster on 01449 711484.

Phone or fax llfervyn Crawford on Milden/tall (01638) 71Z600for Colour brochure I Price list.

Back Cover

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For that difficult to find present, why not give a •• .. decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front • wall of someone's home ? Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-size,they will last for many years. Highly individual nameplates too, to your own desigu,with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price .

. Pltone orfax ~MervynCrawford o,i 'Mildenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure/ Price list.

2

For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterny or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ?

I

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For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ? Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times life-size,they will last for many years. Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design,with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Brauch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

Pltoue or Jax A1er,,yn Crawford o,i Mildenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure I Price list.

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Suffolk Branch Contacts

Butterfly Conservation

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Chairman Rob Parker, 66 Cornfield Road, Bury Sr. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editor Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AH (01449711484) Publicity Officer (Vacant) Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) County Recorder (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address as above) Regional Officer Eastern Region Sharon Hearle, c/o Busy Bee, 21 High St., Newmarket, Suffolk CBS SLX (01638 731648) sharon@butterfly-conservation.org

Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address left)

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Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047)

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County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address above) Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, I' The Street, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LP (01473 310371) Committee Members Stella Wolfe, Mike Dean President Howard Mendel, c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (01719388782)

Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on OI 473 71570 I.

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk Butterfly Conservation Limited by Guarantee Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulwonh, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Tel: (01929) 400209 © 2004 all rights reserved Reg. No. 2206468 Reg. Charity No. 254937 Editor: Jim Foster Logo: (Silver-studded Blue) Doug Hammersley Design: Stephen Ion, Cat & Mouse design Printer: 321 Printing, 25 Brookhouse Business Park, Hadleigh Road, Ipswich, Suffolk 11'2 0EF

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Butterfly Conservation

Summer 2005 Volume35

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