1994 Field Trips - 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

Sizewell Beach, 13th August 1994

by Paul Johnson

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

Brown, were observed basking in sheltered hollows. However, attention was centred upon the flurry of activity around the growths of sea holly where innumerable Common Blues could be seen nectaring voraciously on and jostling for position around, the pale blooms. Such was the popularity of this particular nectar source that any one flowerhead was typically frequented by as many as five or six of the butterflies. Whilst the violet blue upperwings of the males provided a striking visual display, the diversity of colouration exhibited by female members of the species provoked considerable interest. In a rime when butterflies are often only sighted in their one's and two's, the spectacle of as many as two hundred Common Blues thriving in what is no more than a fragment of coastline was a quire memorable experience. A number of the original party chose to explore further and move on to the contrasting wood.land habitat of Kenton Hills. The periphery of the site has been quite generously planted, albeit for mainly cosmetic purposes, with deciduous trees and it was amongst these that Comma, Red Admiral and Purple Hairsrreak were noted. The former, launching itself from a favoured oak leaf, was engaged in periodical patrols of a small clearing, whilst the hairstreak had descended from its normal treetop haunt and, choosing to ignore bramble flowers, was totally engrossed in feeding upon the juices of a ripe blackberry. This uncharacteristic behaviour was prolonged to the extent that not only was close examination of the silvery underwings possible, but the same individual could still be observed when the walk concluded an hour or so later. Further exploration of the deciduous edge yielded a sighting of a blue butterfly, the speed and height at which it was flying suggesting that it may have been Holly Blue. Proceeding into the coniferous heart of the sire, numerous Graylings were observed careering along the open sandy rides. Emerging on the far side of the wood.land, the flowering brambles and thistles around a bank of elm trees were scrutinised in the hope of finding a late White-letter H:iirstreak. No 'stragglers' were present, although this could not detract from what had proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable expedition for which the organisers, Michael and Jenny Kelsey, should be warmly thanked.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) ( . . . . . . . . .

\ by Beryl Johnson ., I