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Brown Hairstreak in Worcestershire - Bulletin 12

August 2005

Dear Brownhairstreakers,

Thanks to everyone that came along on our management day last Sunday and thanks to those people who let me know they were not able to make it. We had a decent size group of around a dozen and managed to cut back three sizeable areas within the wood which should over the next few years provide plenty of regenerating blackthorn for egg-laying. Sunday proved generally a warm and sunny day and there were plenty of butterflies around to keep us entertained including the last few White Admirals of the year and newly emerged Holly Blue and Small Copper. The latter has been particularly scarce in Worcs this year (along with Common Blue) so it was good to record a couple of individuals. Brown Hairstreaks were again in evidence and it is beginning to look as if the record number of eggs last winter will be reflected in a good adult emergence.

During a break from the work, Richard Southwell spotted up to five Brown Hairstreaks in flight in a small section of ride near the edge of the wood in the vicinity of a fairly tall ash and came back to let the rest of us know. Most had just flown by but one had perched fairly low down which we were able to look at through binoculars and my telescope. It was a female in super condition and eventually when the sun came out it opened its wings and proceeded to bask for several minutes. Spent a little while looking at the nearby ash tree but there was no sign of activity at canopy level, although definitely a tree to bear in mind for future observation. More excitement quickly followed as we made our way back to our work site when we came across another Brown Hairstreak nectaring on angelica by the side of the ride. It was noticeably duller than the female we had just seen and after a mad dash back to the main group to find something to catch it in I returned with a pint beer glass and a glove (don't ask!). As suspected, it was a very fresh male and we were all able to examine it at close quarters. John Tilt managed a photo with its wings open while still in the container but rather hoped for a better opportunity at the point of release. The Hairstreak unfortunately had other ideas and shot off over the treetops not to be seen again. Work over, we managed to use the beer glass for its designated purpose, scoffed some rather fine cakes and enjoyed a guided walk around the wood (with thanks to Bob and Sue Steele).

Other good news over the weekend came on Saturday when Rob and Rose Mabbett returned to the tree at the south end of Grafton Wood where we had drawn a blank the previous week and, after a long wait of nearly 2.5 hours, saw definitely three (2 females and 1 male) and possibly as many as five Brown Hairstreaks. This means that both assembly trees identified last year appear to be in use this. The weather on Saturday was poor but certainly this experience demonstrates the value of patience when it comes to Hairstreak spotting and also that it pays to go back to trees even when on first visit there appears to be no activity.

Our next official Brown Hairstreak event is now not until the beginning of September (our Local Champions Day on 4th) but I hope people will be encouraged to get out into the field before then looking particularly for male Brown Hairstreaks and trying to locate further assembly trees. A good place to start looking, given our knowledge of the distribution of eggs, would be the eastern side of Grafton Wood but anywhere within the Forest of Feckenham in the vicinity of some of the major woods would be worth a try. Do let me know of successes and failures. I am attaching to this bulletin a photo taken by Gerry Kendall of Upper Thames BC which shows very clearly the differences between males and females on the underside and should help people to get their eye in (the male is on the left). Thanks to Gerry for allowing us to use it.

Do email or phone through all your Hairstreak news. Providing I get enough news, I hope to send out the next bulletin in around a week's time.

Best Wishes,

Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion