North of the Border - In search of Swallowtails

Matt Berry

With an interest in both photography and wildlife and being keen BC members, we arranged a photographic tour of the Broads in search of the majestic Swallowtail.

Saturday June 5th dawned bright and sunny and our party of thirteen met at Strumpshaw Fen RSPB reserve car park. We’d attracted members from Suffolk, Norfolk and Sussex branches and from Norfolk Wildlife Trust, as well as a few ‘non-aligned’ individuals from across the UK. The tour was promoted by advertising in Ephotozine, Flickr and UK Butterflies websites.

At 9.30 am we set off over the level crossing towards the reserve. Those that know Strumpshaw will recall the small circular flower garden just outside the reception/hide. Some of the group had never seen a Swallowtail before, but suddenly there right on cue, a beautiful male Swallowtail dashed in and began ‘nectovering’ on the flowering Dame’s Violet. This highly aromatic plant proved very attractive since other butterflies including two Brimstones, various whites, Comma and Orange-tip, soon joined it. A crowd gathered and with the sun still relatively low in the sky most people managed to get some quite pleasing views and photos. The nearby pond also proved attractive to those in our group who had a penchant for damselflies and dragonflies, and good shots were taken of these insects alighting on the aquatic vegetation. A moth trap running the night before enabled great views of docile Privet and Poplar Hawkmoths which were subsequently released.

In the wildflower meadow we were again fortunate to see two Swallowtails nectaring on thistles and the small track leading in enabled a handful of our party to get quite close. Over the Water-soldier filled ditches, we spotted the day ’s first Norfolk Hawker dragonfly, a local speciality like the Swallowtail. The path at the western side of the reserve bordering the Yare, afforded good views of Marsh Harriers quartering over the reed bed and also glimpses of a Cetti’s Warbler along with their loud rattling song. There was also good showing of male and female Banded Demoiselle. These were particularly pleasing with their iridescent blues and greens. Turning the corner onto the northern perimeter path we saw three in-flight Swallowtails chasing each other. Some far off shots were taken. One or two got ’keepers’ but for most, the sightings were enough. Ironically, the ‘Swallowtail boardwalk’ , an area specially managed to display the Swallowtail larval food plant, Milk Parsley, was devoid of Swallowtails at any stage in their life cycle.

The herbaceous border of Dr Martin George, just over the railway, was full of nectar rich flowers, but alas, no Swallowtails were seen. Returning up Tinker’s Lane towards the car parks in Low Rd, and our picnic, some of us went back to the flower garden at the reserve entrance and were rewarded with more cracking views of female Swallowtails and

Brimstones. After lunch, we set off towards How Hill. Sherrie New, a member joining us from Sussex Branch, had already spent a week in Norfolk and tipped us off that the river walk with its Marsh Thistles, was far better at this time than the well known meadow. This pretty much proved to be correct. Planning the weekend in advance after the protracted winter had proved difficult, not knowing when the Meadow Thistle would be flowering. Along the river walk virtually every clump of Marsh Thistle was visited and gave some excellent views of Swallowtails. We also saw what appeared to be courtship display of male following female high up into the sky. It was also a very good spot for Norfolk Hawkers, Hairy Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer and Redeyed Blues. By performing what can only be described as ‘Twister-style’ moves, a Norfolk Hawker exuvia was retrieved from one of the ditches. We recorded 17 Swallowtail sightings there and then traced our steps back to the meadow. ‘Only ’ two Swallowtails were seen there: one that landed on the path and the other on the first of the Meadow Thistles to bloom on the site. The area also provided Four-spotted Chaser, Broad-bodied Chaser and Hairy Dragonfly.

After tea we moved off to Hickling where we took our private boat trip around the Broad. Our Skipper regaled us with a potted history of the Broads, whilst our environmentally friendly electric craft, glided silently along the dykes and out into the open water where we mixed with the sailing boats that were racing that day. Crossing the broad we disembarked to go up ‘The Tower’ , where we were shown nesting Common Cranes. Rose, Adrian and Nikki were by now quite tired and opted to stay with the boat. They were rewarded with a close up view of two Bearded Tits.

The following day we met at Wheatfen for the Swallowtail Day event. David Nobbs, the enthusiastic and friendly warden led us around the reserve on a guided tour, explaining site management, i.e. works that had been done to control water levels. He also delighted in showing us special plants found at the reserve such as Adder’s–tongue Fern, Cowbane and Marsh Pea, Milk Parsley and of course Flag Iris, which David explained was one of the Swallowtail’s favoured nectar plants on the reserve. He also explained that he knew when it had been a good year when most of the white umbels or flower heads of the Milk Parsley had been eaten by the greedy caterpillars. We also found our first Swallowtail ova, which soon had us clicking away with our cameras.

After the walk we enjoyed a sumptuous home made picnic provided by Rose and Julian Walker and this provided the perfect opportunity to relax and get to know each other.

The Norfolk Branch Catfield Fen reserve was our last port of call. Mandy Gluth, reserve manager gave us a splendid guided tour of this part of the Ant Valley. Despite the inclement weather and unfortunate lack of Swallowtails, Mandy pointed out the impressive Royal Fern found there and also explained the management techniques which had resulted in an increase in the number of Swallowtails breeding at Catfield. Indeed, management for Swallowtails throughout the Broads would seem to be working well as we discovered with our own Swallowtail sightings over this thoroughly pleasing weekend.

Swallowtail at Strumshaw Fen on Dame’s Violet photo by Matt Berry

Kerkini, Greece June 2010

Near Mt. Kerkini Yellow-banded Skipper

The Suffolk Argus

Autumn 2010 Suffolk Branch Contacts

President Howard Mendel c/o The Natural History Museum Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD 0207 938 8782

Chairman Mike Dean Coach House, Ixworth Bury St Edmunds IP31 2HL 01359 230292 Michael.Dean2@virginmedia.com

Membership Secretary Susan Sidle Five Gables, The Ling Wortham, Diss, Norfolk IP22 1ST Tel 01379 643665 ssidle@btinternet.com

Treasurer Graham Simister The Old Bank House Wickhambrook Newmarket CB8 8XG 01440 820471

Committee Members Matt Berry Julian Dowding Stella Wolfe Programme Secretary and Newsletter Editor Peter Maddison Barnmead, Fishpond Rd Waldringfield, Woodbridge IP12 4QX 01473 736607 prmaddison@yahoo.co.uk

Conservation Officer (Butterflies) and County Recorder Rob Parker 66 Cornfield Road Bury St Edmunds IP33 3BN 01284 705476 robparker@waitrose.com

Conservation Officer (Moths) and Branch Secretary Tony Prichard 3 Powling Road, Ipswich IP3 9JR 01473 270047 tony.prichard@btinternet.com

Regional Officer, Eastern England Sharon Hearle 216 The Street Kirtling Newmarket CB8 9PD 01638 731648 shearle@butterfly-conservation.org

The Suffolk Argus is published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation. The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Butterfly Conservation or the Branch.

© 2010 All rights reserved. For more information, see: www.suffolkbutterflies.org.uk Butterfly Conservation Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)