The Suffolk Argus
May 1995
1995AGM
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byJim Mann
Our second AGM was held on 25th March, at the Guardian Sports & Social Club, Ipswich who generously sponsored the event. We did not quite match the attendance of last year but all those present were keen to participate. Perhaps a spring Saturday afternoon is not the right time for anAGM! Andrew Phillips opened the meeting and introduced the members of the committee as they made their reports. Our Membership Secretary, Paul Gilson, was able to report a current membership of 139 and of his work to recruit more. Graham Bull, our Treasurer, reported that we were £539.36 in the black! Our Newsletter Editor, Steve Goddard, was unable to attend due to illness and his report was read by Jim Mann. The new format is very acceptable and the high standard will be maintained provided that the current input of articles from members continues but there will always be room for new contributors. Roger Kendrick, Conservation Officer (Moths), was unable to attend as he was away 1epresenting the Branch at the Branches Committee Meeting. His report was read by Richard Stewart, Conservation Officer and County Recorder (Butterflies). Both reports were comprehensive and much of what they have to say on lepidoptera conservation is regularly reported in Suffolk Argus.
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The Chairman's report referred to other committee workers, particularly Janice Pritchard who does an excellent job both as Secretary and in fond raising at Branch events. Of Alan Johnson, who is responsible for looking afrer Field Trips, a current programme of 14 trips for 1995 speaks for itsel£ Jim Mann chaired the election of the committee and he gave thanks to Andrew Phillips for the dedication he has shown as Chairman, in setting up the Branch and in helping to build the present committee. Andrew has shown a desire to step down from Chairmanship and to take a less active role on the committee. , Jim then explained the constitution in , that the committee is elected at the AGM with the encumbents of the specific posts being confirmed at the next committee meeting.* Immediately following the formal proceedings it had been intended that Neil Ravenscroft would talk to us about the Silver-scudded Blue but unfortunately he was stranded in foreign parts. His place was more than ably filled, at very short notice, by Richard Stewart on the subject of Garden Butterflies, a topic on which he talks regularly throughout the year to various groups. An excellent illustrated presentation also suggested how we might attract them to our gardens. This naturally led onto the recording ofbuttedlies particularly having in mind the millennium project. We ended the day with refreshments, a prize draw and a general informal chat which proved to be very successful. We look forward to many more productive butterfly years in Suffolk. • The meeting confirming committee appointments took place on 7th, April. See back cover of Newsletter for current appointments.
there had been 40% more sun and 60% less rain than usual. The emergence of the three Skippers, Meadow Browns, Ringlets and Gatekeepers was fully appreciated on the SNS meeting along the kknield Way in the Kings' Forest on the 3rd, with 15 species being recorded. On the 23rd, the Branch meeting at Bixley Farm included sightings of White-letter and Purple Hairmeak and an unexpected 4 second brood Holly Blue. Numbers were still reduced compared to recent 'vintage' years but a Brockley garden reported 'scores' of Ringlets and 'hundreds' of Gatekeepers, the latter reaching an estimated one thousand at Landguard on the 25th. Minsmere and • ' North Warren were among several new sites for the Brown Argus which is hopefully starting to spread as in neighbouring Essex. - • Neil Ravenscroft's report on the Silverscudded Blue, commissioned by the SWT and English Nature, remarked on its 'good year' with eleven sites identified, including a new one at Walberswick. Minsmere's physical count of this attractive butterfly produced a staggering 6,293, possibly reflecting a national trend as record numbers were also reported from colonies at Portland in Dorset. White Admirals continued to flourish at their established sites. Further records were a singleton from a wood at Ixworth and a further single specimen was seen prospecting at Redgrave and Lopham Fen. One was also noted at Bradfield Woods on 23rd, July. For once, no Swallowtails were recorded by the end of July, the nearest being just over the border at Diss. Rare butterflies were nevertheless the highlight of August with a Camberwell Beauty at Rickinghall Inferior on the 21st, and two Monarchs, the first at Wolsey Creek on the Blyth Estuary (3rd) and the second in a Woodbridge garden (21 st). A separate article gives more details.
Common Blue and Wall Brown second generations fared better and four Clouded Yellows were seen feeding on iucerne at Euston on the 29th. A total of24 records were received for this migrant, including two from Ipswich. Large numbers of the Silver Y moth also emphasised this migratory trend and the records of Painted Lady are best emphasised by almost 70% sightings from the gardens in the 1994 survey. This was virtually the same for Comma but twice that for Brimstone. Several observers reported a sudden 'disappearance' of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells early in autumn but, as if to compensate for the dreadful first half of the year, butterflies were recorded not just through the autumn period but also into the winter. The first half of November, obviously assisted these sightings, being the warmest since records began in 1659.
A female and male CommonBlue (Polyommatusicarus) (the female is at the top of the picture}
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