BUTTERFLY REPORT 2017
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2018 Butterfly Survey of The Dales Local Nature reserve TM1546 (Plates 7-14) Compared to previous one-year surveys published in past editions of ‘Suffolk Natural History’ this was a much smaller area and the eleven visits from April to September 2018 each took about forty minutes to complete, though longer in summer months of butterfly abundance. Visits were made either by myself or with my wife Anne-Marie. Our approach was always along Dale Hall Lane, Ipswich, then taking steps down and along Baronsdale Close, with the entrance having a notice board, play area and small football pitch. From here the short, shaded path opens out to a large pond and opposite it a bramble bush about forty yards in length and behind it a large buddleia bush, davidii variety. A longer shaded path leads to a large meadow and at its far end a notice board with a meadow habitat poster. From the meadow a main path leads steeply upwards and eventually ends close to the entrance. This was the route followed on each visit though a second visit was made to the area of the main bramble and buddleia, when both were in flower, before leaving. Transect rules were not followed so each butterfly that was identified was included. The information on the entrance notice board describes the reserve as being part of a now dry valley, with a mosaic of different habitats, the majority being secondary woodland of various ages, with some areas of dense scrub. There are two main ponds, both fed by springs, and other smaller ones. A group ‘Friends of The Dales’ was formed in 2009 and there are regular work parties. The 19 butterfly species recorded so far on the reserve, as indicated on the notice board: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Holly Blue, White Admiral, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. First visit - 21 April - sunny conditions with some wind. Nectar and larval food plants included ground ivy, goat willow, stinging nettle, lesser celandine, honesty, cowslip, dandelion, hedge garlic, bluebell, coltsfoot, sweet violet, marsh marigold, water mint and blossom from several tree species. Future lists, abbreviated to NLFP, will just include additional sources. No butterflies were seen until we reached the far end of the reserve, though we were distracted by a buzzard being harried by two carrion crows, with a noisy chorus of seagulls close by. Then a Small Tortoiseshell was seen close to stinging nettles and a Holly Blue plus male Orange Tip. Then we recorded a Green-veined White, not on the reserve list, which was nectaring on ground ivy. Three Speckled Woods were seen in sun-dappled areas along the upper paths then three more Holly Blues, two of these ‘mud puddling’ on a moist path next to a recently cleared out ditch. This is usually done by males, to get extra minerals which assist in mating. Three other species recorded were Peacock plus a female Brimstone being chased by a Small White. Total of 13 butterflies of 8 species. 21 May - some sunshine but mainly cloudy. NLFP-honeysuckle flowering over a garden fence, holly, rowan and hawthorn blossom, dock, broad-leaved plantain, red campion and the first bramble flowers. The highlight was seeing a fox near the far end of the longer shaded path and Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 54 (2018)