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Updates
MAIN SITES
2007 Tick Warning
The warmer weather during April 2007 has provided ideal breeding conditions for sheep ticks. Please see the advisory note on page 12 of the book about how to avoid being bitten but, if you are, seek medical attention within 24 hours.
Bentley Wood, Wiltshire
Bob Dunnett has reported that the valezina form of the Silver-washed Fritillary has been seen regularly at Bentley Wood in recent years. I have never seen one there, but found this one in Provence in 2006.
Collard Hill, Somerset
The first Large Blue of 2007 was discovered on 2 June, which is at least 10 days earlier than usual. The National Trust's butterfly adviser, Matthew Oates, says "go early"! The peak period is expected to be between 16 and 21 June, with about a dozen butterflies on the wing on this quite small site. Habitat conditions are described as good. There is more information available on the National Trust's helpline 01793 817732.
Denbies Hillside, Surrey
This excellent site was particularly good for Chalkhill Blues in 2006. "Clouds of them" were reported in late July.
Devil's Dyke, Cambridgeshire
Sharon Hearle has reported that an exceptionally high number of Chalkhill Blues were found here in 2006. The first were seen on 10th July and the last on 18th September. Dingy Skippers, in much smaller numbers, were first seen on 10th May. Green Hairstreaks were seen all along the Dyke, although in small numbers, usually on the south-facing slopes and on the bushes on the lower slopes. No Walls were found here in 2006.
Eyarth Rocks, Denbighshire
More than 100 Pearl-bordered Fritillary sightings were reported here in 2006. Sadly Rob Whitehead, who had led restoration of this important reserve, died in December 2006. Butterfly Conservation has pledged to continue the conservation work he started.
Glasdrum Wood, Argyll
Recently I have heard reports of this site being overwhelmed with visitors in the Chequered Skipper flight season. Please take special care to respect the restrictions on trampling that may be needed.
Greenham and Crookham Common
Peter Eeles reports that the woodland butterflies listed are more likely to be found in the wooded areas north of the heath (Bowdown Woods and Baynes Nature Reserve) rather than in the southern wooded areas. Also he is not aware of any Silver-studded Blues, but says that there is a small colony of Small Blues. Dingy and Grizzled Skippers are rare but are found on the Common.
Hockley Woods, Essex
2006 was a very good year for Heath Fritillaries here, and at Thrift Wood and other sites in south Essex.
Lydlinch Common and Stock Wood, Dorset
According to an article in issue 93 of Butterfly magazine, good numbers of Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admirals were seen at the new Butterfly Conservation reserve at Alners Gorse (near Lyndlinch) in 2006. Also White-letter, Purple and Brown Hairstreaks were found. Although Marsh Fritillaries and Dingy Skippers have not colonised the reserve yet, regular vagrants from nearby colonies were seen.
Roger Smith reports that Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries have not been seen at Lydlinch for quite a long time now. They are becoming scarcer generally in this area. The nearest reliable site is probably Bentley Wood.
Martin Down, Hampshire
Geoff Jones reports seeing several Marsh Fritillaries at Martin Down during early June 2006 - "a total of 8-10 for the day".
Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire
Nick Greatorex-Davies saw about 50 Black Hairsteaks during a walk round this NNR on 16th June 2006.
Mount Fancy Farm
Grazing by Longhorn cattle and widening some of the adjacent forest rides has led to increased populations of Wood Whites and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. The Neroche Landscape Partnership scheme, led by Forest Enterprise, is removing large conifer plantations and introducing new grazed, open areas in the forest. There is an article in the Summer 2007 issue of Butterfly magazine.
Narborough Railway Line, Norfolk
Simon Harrap reports that you cannot expect to see Chalkhill Blues here, or anywhere in Norfolk.
That being so, it is encouraging that, not too far away, they seem to be spreading. Devil's Dyke in Cambridgeshire is a reliable site and in recent summers Chalkhill Blues have also been found some miles south at the Fleam Dyke, after an absence of many years. Fleam Dyke and Devil's Dyke provide very similar chalky habitats. Chalkhill Blues are also found on Therfield Common near Royston in Hertfordshire and there has been speculation whether the Fleam Dyke butterflies have come from Therfield or Devil's Dyke.
Noar Hill, Hampshire
Brian Henham reports that he had a successful visit on 30.4.07 and, in 2 or 3 hours, saw 7 or 8 Duke of Burgundy on the wing. He says it was the first time he had seen this species. He now has some excellent photographs! I was delighted to hear this because Noar Hill is my number one site in the country. With the Gilbert White museum and Selborne Common nearby, allow yourself a good half day if you are going to do the site justice.
Oaken Wood, Surrey
Although White Admirals are spreading geographically, there is now some evidence that population densities may be decreasing.
It seems that 2006 was a poor year for Wood Whites at Oaken Wood. After some hard searching one day in mid-June, Geoff Jones says he found just three. This is curious, because in earlier years there have been reports that Wood Whites have been plentiful and easy to find at this site.
Wheatfen, Norfolk
In early November 2006, the Warden of Wheatfen reported the worst flooding there for 17 years. Whether this will affect next season's emergence of Swallowtails remains to be seen. Early reports for 2007 suggest that it may have done. There have been fewer sightings to 7 June 2007 than for the same period last year (although there have also been far fewer hours of sunshine).
Whitbarrow and Meathop Moss, Cumbria
This area of Cumbria is extremely important for High Brown and Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Both species are expected to benefit from work by the Forestry Commission in 2006 to clear-fell conifers and restore grass and bracken habitats on the thin limestone soil. The new areas are fenced and will be mantained by grazing. Also Butterfly Conservation's Cumbria Branch volunteers have helped create new glades in Witherslack Woods with the same objective.
SITES LISTED IN THE GAZETTEER
Alners Gorse, Dorset
22 different species were seen here during one day in late July, 2006. They included Purple, White-letter and Brown Hairstreaks.
Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
This site has many old Silver Birch trees. It was discovered only in 2006 that these are home to a sizeable population of Welsh Clearwing moths. Sightings of this moth are very rare and the last confirmed record in Staffordshire was in 1922. There is a report in issue 93 of Butterfly magazine.
Magdalene Hill Down, Hampshire
A record number of Chalkhill Blues were recorded here in 2006. The restoration of grazing and scrub clearance by local volunteers has led to an eight-fold increase in Chalkhill Blues over the last decade.
Malvern Hills, Worcestershire
A 2006 survey of the distribution of Graylings has found that the southern and eastern slopes of North Hill across to the Worcestershire Beacon are the main areas, with smaller numbers found further south around the Wyche Cutting, Black Hill and British Camp areas.
Millhoppers Pasture, Hertfordshire
In 2006, populations of Ringlets, Marbled Whites and Common Blues all increased (Butterfly, issue 93). This is attributed to better grassland management which has reduced coarse grasses by mowing and grazing and allowed finer grasses and flowers to become more plentiful.
Monkwood, Worcestershire
The widening of rides and glades in this Butterfly Conservation and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust reserve has had spectacular success in increasing the population of Wood Whites, for which this is now a very good site. It is 5 miles north-west of Worcester at SO804607.
Prees Heath, Shropshire
Issue 93 of Butterfly magazine reports an abundance of Silver-studded Blues on the heath in 2006. This is very good news because Butterfly Conservation has only recently succeeded in buying Prees Heath after a 10-year campaign and is organising a substantial effort to restore and improve the heathland.
Trench Wood, Worcestershire
Following excellent work by volunteers to re-open rides and plant blackthorn, the Brown Hairstreak has now been reported here again after a long absence. At the right times, you should also be able to see White Admirals and White-letter Hairstreaks.
NEW SITES
Hurst Spit, Hampshire
Hurst Spit is a long arm of shingle beach that stretches out one and a half miles at the eastern end of Christchurch Bay. Its tip is only about a mile from the Isle of Wight, north of Totland Bay. Geoff Jones has reported good sightings of Glanville Fritillaries here on 2 June. He saw around 20, including mating pairs and recently emerged adults, all within 25 metres of the landing for the Keyhaven to Hurst Castle Ferry. Geoff also reports seeing a Wall at Keyhaven on the same day, but he had hoped to find more.
Ryton Wood Meadows, Warwickshire
This new Butterfly Conservation reserve will be officially opened in 2007. It is an old sand and gravel pit that had been used for landfill, but then capped with clay and topsoil and seeded. The developing grassland now supports breeding populations of 26 different species, including Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Green Hairstreaks and Brown Argus. It is at grid reference SP378728. There is a report about it in Butterfly, Issue 94, Spring 2007. Gary Wilson has reported that Ryton Wood is especially good for White Admirals and not bad for Silver-washed Fritillaries and Purple Hairstreaks.
Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk
This RSPB reserve is next to Wheatfen, on the opposite side of the River Yare. Flowers grown round one of the reserve's houses, not far from the car park, have attracted Swallowtails, with sometimes several on the wing together when the sun shines. There is information on how to get to Strumpshaw on the RSPB's web site.
Titchfield Haven NNR, Hampshire
Geoff Jones reports that there is a lot to see at this major wetland NNR at the mouth of the Meon River where it enters the Solent. It is at SU535023, south of Southampton, near Fareham. The reserve is managed by Hampshire Countryside Service and, although better known for wetland birds, is also a very good butterfly site; 32 different species have been recorded here in recent years.
NUMBER OF UK SPECIES
Someone has asked why the rear cover mentions 58 resident and regularly-occurring migrant species, while Britain's Butterflies (ISBN 1-903657-01-6) refers to 60 species on its rear cover. The answer is that, despite its title, Britain's Butterflies covers Britain and Ireland and so includes Real's Wood White, which is thought to be found only in Ireland. Also the valezina sub-species of the Silver-Washed Fritillary is included in BB and in the count referred to on its rear cover, to make 58 + 2 = 60 species in all. WEBSITE ADDRESSES
Nick Sampford sadly died in 2006, so his website is no longer active.
ERRATA
Some misprints and a wrongly identified photo escaped final checking, but hopefully nothing that will lead you astray. An errant Kipper (alias a Skipper) was caught at the eleventh hour. Please advise me (see the feedback page) if you find anything to be corrected in the next impression.
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