Spring 2013
2012 - Some Personal Observations Richard Stewart The 2012 butterfly year was memorable, mainly for the wrong reasons. Rob Parker will no doubt be analysing it in detail but here are a few personal observations: 1st March - a Small White was my first butterfly of the year, whereas in all previous years it has been an adult hibernating species. 6th June - no Dingy Skippers at Wordwell, despite searching all known sites: too late? 15th June - a walk along the old railway line between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness, one of the county’s best inland butterfly sites, produced just two Speckled Woods. 23rdJune - at last some Heath Fritillaries at Thrift Wood in Essex. The warden was very concerned on my first visit. They were over two weeks late, compared to normal. At this date last year I had seen thirty different species - this year it was nineteen. 12th July - my first Small Tortoiseshell, in the Fynn valley. Last year it was 9th April and I had seen all five hibernating species by 23rd April.
months
later
than
in
2011.
11th August - no second brood Adonis Blue or Dingy Skipper at Denbies on the North Downs, usually present at this date. In our garden valerian flowered in greater profusion than ever before, but attracted just one Red Admiral, a few Silver Y’s and no Hummingbird Hawkmoths. 12th September - a single late Scotch Argus at Aigas Wildlife Centre, near Inverness, brought my year total of species to thirtyeight, compared to forty-two in 2011. Amazingly a Small White ended the year, in our garden on 18th October. Previously the last sighting has been of an adult hibernating species. Still, there were some highlights: Swallowtails plus a Chinese Water Deer and young at Wheatfen Broad, an abundance of Wall and Marbled White on the Sussex trip, close views of many Dark Green Fritillaries at Holkham NNR, the incredible numbers of Chalkhill Blues at Denbies on the North Downs, my first Suffolk Wall since 2009 and the memorable first visit to Pakenham Wood, with a long, sunlit glade full of gliding, courting and mating Silver-washed Fritillaries.
29th July - first Brown Argus, over two
Big Butterfly Count Big Butterfly Count 2012 refused to be drowned by the rain and did rather well, considering the weather. Just under 27,000 people took part, completing 24,400 Counts. We’ve just heard the good news that Marks and Spencer will once again support Big
Butterfly Count in 2013 (20th July – 11th Aug 2013). Please take part yourself and encourage others, especially new recorders and the general public to get involved (www.bigbutterflycount.org).
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