A Hairstreak Moment

Hot Spots for Butterflies Nu111ber Two: Wardwell

by Richard Stewart

The area centred on TI, 8272 and 8372, at Wordwell on the very edge of King's Forest, has for many years been visited to count the Dingy Skipper colony. As Rob Parker has already recorded in great detail, the numbers have grown with colonisation of the archery area, which is the far side of a block of woodland at the end of the long-established breeding ride.

As you turn off right from the Brandon road into a small car park, the area nearby, on a sunny day in late May or early June, has a meadow to the left, plentiful nectar sources nearby and flowering lilacs which also attract the butterflies. Often there is an abundance of several species just in this small area, Brimstones, Orange Tips and Speckled Wood the most prominent, plus Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, all three Whites, possibly at least one Holly Blue and newly emerged Small Copper, Small Heath, Common Blue, Brown Argus and the chance of a very fresh Large Skipper. By this time Red Admiral, Painted Lady and even Clouded Yellow may be present and a search through gorse should produce sightings of Green Hairscreak.

Probably the best chance of a high day total would be to start from the long ride across the Brandon road, right at the bottom towards John 0'Groats cottages, back right to the Brandon road, up to Chalk Lane and finally another right turn which will eventually lead back to where you started: sounds simple, but it would take most of the day. On June 3rd 2000, eighteen species were recorded in this area duting an admittedly long BC meeting, a high total for Suffolk at this time of year. Then a later visit will add Essex and Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Ringlet, Grayling slightly later and remember, John Dolman saw a Camberwell Beauty along this end of the Icknield Way in May 1996. The Wall, normally a rarer species away from the coast, has also been recorded at Wordwell, which gives a high total of 28 species since 1995. I also note from distribution maps during the Millennium Survey that Purple Hairstreak has been recorded not fur away and the presence of honey,suckle could result in a sighting of the White Admiral, which has spread very successfully into new areas duting the last decade.

Gatekeeper

by Douglas Hammersley