The Suffolk Argus
1994
FieldTrips 'The Final Chapter' The following account will hopefully bring back the warm feeling of summer on these early Spring days. 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
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May 1995
Sizewell Beach, 13th August 1994 by PaulJohnson The prospect of Common Blue inter alia combined with the warmth of the August sunshine again brought a group of members together this time, to the north Suffolk coastline. Within a matter of minutes, Common Blues and Small Coppers had been noted against the somewhat incongruous backdrop of 'Sizewell B' in a sparsely vegetated area adjacent to the installation's perimeter fencing. 1n addition to being colonised by . bird's foot trefoil and common sorrel, (larval foodplanrs of the Common Blue and Small Copper respectively), this particular location had been invaded by thistle species and it was on these planes that Painted Ladies and Red Admirals were observed. However, amidst considerable excitememt, attention was diverted to the sight of a Clouded Yellow nectaring on one of the purple flowerheads. Such feeding activity proved only momentary for this irregular migrant was almost immediately to cake to the wing, the black borders and golden colouration of the upperwings providing an impressive spectacle as the insect briefly followed the contours of the fencing before flying powerfully out towards the sea. An occasional Grayling would alight on the path, the mottled underside blending on the shingle track, the can10uflage becoming complete as forewing was tucked inside hind thereby obscuring the characteristic eye spot. Continuing beyond the Sizewell perimeter, the path opened out into a more arid dune environment. Accordingly, greater numbers of Grayling were noted whilst second brood individuals of another member of the satyridae family, the Wall
Mini notebook: Containing identification notes of Suffolk dragonflies lifted from my copy of the excellent Suffolk Dragonflies, (Howard
Menr.k!).
Monthly Life Cycles of Suffolk butterflies: Composed from my copy of the ever helpful Suffolk Butterflies, (Menr.kl& Piotrowski).
Collins Pocket Guide to insects of Britain& W. Europe,
Michael Chinery: Note this is the paperback (inc. Western Europe not Northern. ISBN 0-00-219137-7. £9.99). I carry this not so much for the brilliant Lewingcon butterfly illustrations but more for identification of the many other insects we meet on our expeditions. All illustrations are of the highest standard and the amount of textual information is remarkable in a handy-sized guide. The large number of moth illustrations are superb for the home moth-trap.
text whilst in rhe, field. Although it covers the whole of E1.1rope,this is not a problem in the UK if cross-checked with an appropriate county guide which narrows down the species you are looking for.
Lens doth and sting relief! Well that's my lot, I just have to carry it now! I look forward to dipping into many of your field kits in the next few issues.
.............
The Mitchell Beazley pock.et guide to Butterflies,
Paul Whalley: A superb mini-pocket version of Butterflies of Britain & Ireland ( Thomasand Lewington)but for the coverage of the whole of Europe. (ISBN 0-8533-348-0 £6.99). I like this guide for its perfect illustrations and concise text and all in a slim volume. The main benefits for me are access to condensed diagnostic characteristics and descriptions along-side each accurate illustration (including male and female differences) without the need to wade through long
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