1994 Field Trips

As promised, the following accounts will hopefully bring back the warm feeling of summer on these winter <lays. We really did spend some enjoyable hours out and about last year. Why don't you make sure you join us this season, it will be well worth it.

The elusive Purple Emperor, target far the trip to Bookham Common

Pie: Hrryl Johnson

Book.ham Common, Surrey, Saturday July 9th

by Jenny Kelsey

Early in the morning of Saturday, July 9th, a neet of car.~ from Suffolk took to the A 12 in glorious sunshine, heading fur llookham Common in Surrey. The ft;rther south they went the greyer and gloomier the day became. flm minor details such as mist, signs of rain, and the apparent disappearance of the meeting place (it should have been dose to Bookham Station not Effingham Junction) could 11'1 dampen spirits or expectations. Once arrived, first (or second) breakfasts were consumed and members of the Suffolk Branch got to know each other a little more, while we waited for stragglers lost at Effingham Junction, and for Ken Willmott to arrive. He is one of Britain's greatest authorities on the Purple Emperor butterny, so to have him as our guide was a special bonus for the Suffolk Branch. Finally, 25 of us, including five children from 13 months to 13 years, set off across the Common - which turned out to be a very large wood. The sun began to shine, the mists to clear, and we began to see buuernies. In the long grass near the car park there were scores of Meadow Browns and Skippers, which examination revealed as Small, Essex and L·uge. There were Ringlets too, and one Small Tortoiseshell. Cameras came into use. Then into the wood, scanning bushes and trees. "There's a Purple Hairstreak. " "Look1 A White Admiral!" ",'Ind another!" ''.A Comma. " "Come _and see this Speckled Wood, Mary."

Many of us envied those with wellingtons and wished we had brought ours. Two days of heavy rain and many horses had turned

the paths into seas of deep mud. But the Commas, Speckled Woods and White Admirals made the mud seem relatively insignificant. Ken Willmott knows every corner of the Common and exactly where to look for which bunerflies. He also has years of experience which he is willing to share. So we all learnt a loc. Did you know chat the female White Admirals flit from leaf to leaf, drumming on each with their shortened forelegs? As they do a chemical is released from the leaf which indicates to the butterfly whether it is a suitable honeysuckle leaf on which to lay an egg or the leaf of some other plant. Apparently, all female bucterflies identify the right plants for egg-laying in this way. Ken hunted round until he found and showed us some minute greeny-white eggs laid on the outer edges of honeysuckle leaves. We looked and marvelled - and wondered if we would ever have the skill to find any for ourselves. We saw many White Admirals and several Commas and Red Admirals. A sharp eyed observer found what was identified as a caterpillar of the Grear Prominent moth, plump green with yellow and red markings, very distinctive. However, the Purple Emperors were elusive. Ken assured us char as he has spent many lunch hours over many years srndying the Bookham Common lrntterflies he would show us exactly where co look, and when. He led us to a group of rail oak and turkc:y oak trees and said "Look 11p there. "And suddenly there they were! Four big Purple Emperors contesting their territory high in the treetops. We caught an occasional purple flash as they whirled from shadow to sunlight. Marvellous! Heading back ro rhe car park for lunch we caught a glimpse of a Silver-washed Fricillary passing ar high speed. "Very rare for Bookham Common"said Ken. We paused ar an elm hedge and saw six White-letter Hairstreaks, one close enough for the white leua marks on its underside co be clearly seen. There was evidence of the recurrence of Dutch Elm disease, which is very worrying. "Between /0 am a11d noon the Purple Emperors come dow11 to this path to feast 011 the salts" said Ken. Bur by rhen it was I pm! But after lunch when most of us headed back IQ rhe area where we had seen the Emperors, we were mer by two exci1ed Suffolk Branch members. They had parked in different place and while 1hey lunched had seen a Purple Emperor come IQ the glQund near a scream and had been ahle IQ watch it for abour ten minutes. "/1 even uukd on my white blowe.'" How envious we all were, though delighted for our friend~. But during 1he next hour or so nearly everyone saw a Purple Emperor on the ground and were able IO take photographs, and s111dy this glorious bu11erfly carefully. The exceptions were the Kdseys, hack in the wood, gazing up at 1he undersides of two more Emperors up in the 1rees. Between us we saw eight Purple Emperors and were sure that the long journey south had been really worthwhile. The Suffolk Branch's first major outing gave us 17 varieties of woodland and grassland butterflies, and the unparalleled excitement of close-up views of one of Britain's rarest and most superb butterflies. We are extremely gra1eful to Ken Willmott for giving us some of his time and for sharing his knowledge with us. Please may we have many more guided outings?

Bixley Farm nr. Ipswich, Saturday July 23rd

by Steve Goddard

What a beautiful afternoon, hot, sunny, looking very good for buuerOies and sevemeen of us eagerly anticipating a successful orning. Bixley Farm is a surprisingly varied and most valuable habitat holding 22 of 31 potential cou111y butterOy species (Orange Tip added since report in last Newsleuer) but like so many such nawral gems is continuosly threatened by housing development. Fortunately however, Suffolk Coastal Dimict Council have taken possession of 1he land a.~ Public Open Space and arc well aware of the important natural interest. This natural interest was not to disappoint us on 1he day of our group visit wi1h seventeen species of butterOy being seen. After only a few strides into the walk we were watching what were the first Holly Blues of 1he year for most of us, I think the count was five in all. A moment or two earlier a few of us who had lingered by several 'little' skippers and had enjoyed a rather worn !'aimed Lady which was particularly welcome as a new addition to my site list. This brought 1he total up to 23, a marvellous start' Would the target species of Hairstreaks be as obliging? Well, no White-letter Hairstreaks were showing at the first line of Elms. We continued to enjoy good numbers of some of our beautiful hedgerow species: Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma as well as 1wo species of White (Green-veined White not idemified today) as we ambled along the footpath towards the first oaks. On reaching a wonderful but alas, yet again threatened mixed hedgerow, a high Oying Purple Hairstreak set the pulses racing in expectation. It was here that we started to see our first Graylings, Small Copper and our first confirmed Essex Skipper.

A Painted Lady alights near Bixley Farm

After a walk around four sides of hedgerow and field of predominantly yellow ragwort (one of the proposed housing sites) watching still further inquisitive Graylings and more Small Copper, we moved on to the 'g11arnntud' Purple Hairstreak site, a stand of splendid oaks. With the afternoon continuing to be hot and sunny, would any show themselves or would they be content with their diet of honeydew. Any doubts soon disappeared when a shout went up for everyone to look up to 'the grun gall'. Surprisingly for most of us this 'gmn gall' w_as n't as difficult to find as such minute markers usually ate and there we were, watching a brilliant Purple Hairstreak, purple flashes and all. Could the afternoon possibly get any better? After

raking in two or three more purple Hairmeaks we all felt happy enough to move on again this rime, ro the second elm hedgerow to search for the elusive Whireletter Hairstreak. We had not even walked as far as rhe hedgerow when a most observant Paul Johnson made us all abundantly aware rhat he had found one and how obliging it was too feeding contentedly on fresh bramble 30 yards beyond the last elms. It was the first rime I had personally seen one in this part of the common and I have to say I was pretty excited by the find. I had made several visits already this year to no avail so for all the group to see one on our first field trip here was beyond my hopes. Well done Paul. Many photographs and close studies lacer, we were ready to call it a day except that is, for those of us who intended to go on to Purdis Heath.

Purdis Heath

by Steve Goddard

By now, the time was getting on for 6.00pm, just right! We had assembled at Bixley Farm for 3.30pm purposely to enable us to arrive at Purdis Heath just as the Silver-studded Blues were senling down t0 roost. It is so much easier ro look at them il1is way and in my opinion, a beamiful experience. To sec clumps of heather an<l ling dressed in pale blue 'kaves' is a most resrfi.rl contrast to the high energy of a warm summer afternoon. The occasional flickering of wings and sorties of unsettled individuals confirms that the temperature scill has a way to fall before complete rest ensues. I have watched this beautiful creacure as late as 8.00pm on warm July evenings, always a calming evening stroll following a day at work and comes highly recommended. We should all be doing as much as we can to ensure rhat chese moments of of pleasure are not lost forever. Those of us present on this particular evening certainly will. Suffolk Branch is commitred to keeping Purdis Heath in prime condicion for Silver-srndded Blues for as long as possible (it has been the focus for 11uucrfly Action Day for the past two years) and if it is ever offered for sale we will move heaven and earth to secure its furnre.

The Silver-studded Blue

Pie: Brryl Jol111um