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NEWSLETTER No. 14 -  Winter 1985 / 86

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Butterfly Round-Up

1985 proved an altogether strange season, some pretty dreadful weather, especially during July and August, but, nevertheless, some species doing remarkably well. For this, we can thank the two previous summers with their high breeding success rates, while, at the same time, look forward to next year with some trepidation, as breeding chances this summer for many butterflies must have been few.

The Painted Lady invasion referred to in the previous newsletter continued through April. An appeal published in "Berrows Journal" and the "Evesham Admag" produced nearly forty records from Worcestershire. Most sightings were of single specimens, although four were seen together on Bredon Hill on 29th April. Bredon, for some reason, proved to be something of a hot spot for Painted Ladies and it was interesting just how many of the early sightings came from this area. There was a distinct gap in the reports from the end of the first week in May until the final week of that month, when a second spate of records was received, which lasted until about the third week in June. It is not clear whether this was a second invasion of migrants, on a smaller scale to the April influx, or, less likely in view of the weather, progeny from the early arrivals. Having said this, however, it was interesting how a number of the sites reported matched up with the April records. Bredon, for example, produced another five Painted Ladies on 16th June.

After the initial excitement, the weather saw to it that the predicted late bonanza did not materialise, although there were undoubtedly more Painted Ladies around than for the last few years and they definitely outnumbered Red Admirals. Whether this makes 1985 a Painted Lady year, I leave for others to judge!

For the second successive season, the West Midlands butterfly of the year was the Holly Blue, which was common in both generations. A number of members reported their first sightings of this butterfly from new localities, which demonstrates how species can be overlooked when they normally exist at low densities.

Of the early species, Green Hairstreak, Dingy & Grizzled Skipper and Small Blue did well, although generally a little later in emerging than last year. In north Warks, Brian Mitchell discovered his first Dingies on Grendon Heath, while Phil Parr found both Skippers at a new site near Rugby. Dave Hatton also had a first, when he found Dingy Skipper along the disused railway line he monitors in Stafford, For the first time, I was able to record Grizzled Skipper on the Wyre forest monitoring transect. Green Hairstreaks were positively swarming at Harbury, Warks at the end of May, and Margaret Vickery and Roger Smith were able to count over a dozen around one hawthorn bush.

It-was also the end-of May before Pearl-bordered Fritillary put in an appearance, but they were in good numbers. Particularly pleasing was the improved showing in Wyre Forest, where numbers had been low in 1984. On 5th June over twenty individuals were seen in the first section of the BBCS reserve, with as many again in the far meadow. The fluctuating fortunes of the Wood White continue with reasonable numbers in Worcs and Herefords but only one reported, for the second year running, from Warks, this time at Stockton. In contrast, at its Worcester station, Dave Badham reported it was probably the commonest butterfly present in early June.

Better news from Warks, however, was the confirmation of Brown Argus at the new site mentioned in the last newsletter. It was also found in a second locality, also on river gravels, at Broom., According to Roger Smith, the foodplant is almost certainly Dovesfoot Cranesbill at both localities. The record of Small Blue, also from Broom, seems improbable and a search for Kidney Vetch proved unsuccessful. A single Brown Argus was also reported from Herefords (see Haugh Wood article).

It seems ironic that, after the public disclosure by the Worcs NCT of the whereabouts of the county's only colony of: Marsh Fritillary, the butterfly should have its worse season for many years. A peak count of 48 adults compared with 334 the previous year. This is almost certainly due to a higher incidence of predation in the late larval stage, as a web count in the winter had produced a record 100+ larval nests. Ecological work on the Marsh Fritillary has suggested that wet, sunless springs do not suit the butterfly and increase the chances of predation from its main ichneumon fly parasite. The alternative explanation of mass starvation I feel unlikely given the large quantities of scabious available. Two Marsh Fritillaries were reported from a new site in Glos near Guiting Power by Christine Smith, and the butterfly was also reported from Herefords. The three seen at Stockton (see field trip report) were almost certainly released.

Double brooded species, especially Common Blue, Small Copper and Wall Brown, had a generally bad year. Wall Brown has been almost non-existent in the West Midlands with the possible exception of Staffs, where there was a good showing on Cannock Chase and nearby Chasewater. Both Dingy Skipper and Green,Hairstreak were also recorded at this latter site.

Commas were certainly more plentiful than last year and seem generally on the increase in the region, especially in the more northern parts. Brimstones were also numerous, and Phillip Hopson reported one flying over the top of a bus in the centre of Bilston! Small Tortoiseshells only had an average season,. and the first brood was very late emerging, not being seen until well into July.

It was also July before the first Marbled Whites were seen, but they appeared in reasonable numbers. At Ufton Fields, Warks, where they have for some years been present as a small, compact colony, they were spread all over the reserve. They also appeared in small numbers at Ryton and Wappenbury woods, the first records for a long while. Ride management at the latter has clearly had a beneficial effect. At Ashlawn NR, where Marbled Whites had been newly recorded last year, they were not seen by Phil Parr until 13th July and then only in small numbers. Ron Thomas reported a single specimen from Baddesley Common at the end of the month, which was presumably a wanderer. Another vagrant was seen by Phil Williams at ,Perry Wood, Worcester and I even had one turn up on a piece of waste land behind my home in Stourport.

Woodland butterflies seemed particularly affected by the weather and were late on the wing. High Brown Fritillary, for example, was seen as early as 26th June on the Malverns, but not until 5th July in Wyre Forest, where it was seen in low numbers. White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary did not appear until 8th. White Admiral had a very good season, managing to hold on in most of the woods it has recolonised over the past few years. Two were reported from Hay Wood, Warks for the first time and Phil Pain saw a very battered specimen in Oakley Wood in mid-August. Josie Lowe recorded White Admiral for the first time at the Knapp NR in Worcs and it was also reported from a wood north of Worcester. In Shropshire, it had a good season at its established site south of Bridgnorth, but was also seen by Charles Derry some way to the east, not far from Highley. In contrast, Silver-washed did badly at its established sites, but with one or two interesting signs of dispersal. For the third year running it was recorded at Kingsbury Water Park in Warks, and to everyone's surprise three turned up in Wappenbury Wood in late July. Dark Greens were down on the Cotswolds, but slightly up at the new west Herefords site, where their identity was confirmed on our field trip this year. They were again present at their usual Warks station, but also appeared in the new WARNACT reserve at Ryton Wood, and also at Ufton Fields.

A noticeable feature of 1985 was the extended flight season of a number of species, which makes one wonder whether this is a natural mechanism to combat the effects of bad weather. Peacocks lasted well into June, while Tony Hatton and Phil Parr saw Orange Tips in July. Green and White letter Hairstreaks were actually seen on the same day (!) by Martyn Davies in Haugh Wood. White letters had a mixed season with only 200 individuals caught and released at Haugh Wood compared to 486 in 1984, yet at the same time 8 new colonies were found in Herefords alone. Warks was very disappointing with so far only one definite sighting at Charlecote. Staffs fared much better, with Dave Hatton finding several more colonies, mainly by searching for larvae. Dave found as many as fifty larvae at a known site in early June, although he comments that at the same date in 1984 the majority had already pupated. Gareth Robinson and Phil Hopson found the larval, pupal and adult stages at Baggeridge Country Park, Gospel End making 23 species recorded there, a very good total for a site on the edge of the West Midlands conurbation. Guaranteed to cause a heart attack is when a White letter Hairstreak turns up in your back garden. At least two members had this experience this year, when one arrived on John Hodson's back lawn at Severn Stoke, while another popped in to sample the Michaelmas daisies in Phil Williams' Worcester garden. Also in Worcester was the one seen by Sue Johnson on a privet bush in the Tolladine Road. Sue is leaving the area to pursue her studies and after this sighting she leaves with due honour.

Purple Hairstreak was less prolific this year, although Roger Smith reports its continuing existence at several non-woodland locations in Warks. One male was positively identified at Kenilworth Common, which confirms Margaret Vickery's probable sighting of the previous year. Purple Hairstreak was also seen by Ron Thomas at Woodlands Quarry, Hartshill which, along with new records for Ringlet and Gatekeeper, brought the tally for this site also up to the 23 mark. Ron makes the interesting point that the undoubted expansion of butterflies into north Warks coincides with the recolonisation of lichens, which suggests that both are benefiting from the return of much cleaner air. Purple Hairstreak was seen once again at the Ladywalk NR at Hams Hall, but perhaps the most surprising sighting of all was the one photographed at the Martineau Environmental Studies
Centre, close to the centre of Birmingham.

Gatekeepers also turned up in the heart of Birmingham at Balsall Heath, although searches by Gareth Robinson in Dudley and West Bromwich drew a blank. The extension of their range in north Warks continues with new reports from Grendon Heath, Baddesley Common and Coton.

Reference to August this year is best avoided. The average temperature for the month, according to the careful records kept by Phil Parr, was a chilly 17.9 Centigrade with only two days when the temperature climbed above 20 Centigrade (68 degrees Fahrenheit). Those who endeavour to attract butterflies to their garden by growing suitable plants must  have been terribly disappointed, although the weather did improve at the end of the month and the average temperature for September proved to be almost a degree higher. Peacocks put on a good show, despite everything, and Madge Payne was able to count 96 in her garden at 4:15 p.m. on 29th August. A more unusual garden visitor was the Swallowtail, which turned up for the second year in the same area of Coventry.

The improved weather meant that a number of species usually over by the end of August lasted well into September. In particular, I was pleased on 5th to record my first September sighting of a Silver-washed Fritillary. Brown Argus, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Holly Blue were still well in evidence until almost the middle of the month. A Brown Argus, in fact, turned up in a Worcs wood on 13th September, about five miles from their known site. Once again Brown Hairstreak was seen in Worcs, and I had the luck to see a male (a first for me) at a new locality about two miles distant from the main breeding site. Other personal highlights of the year were the sighting of High Brown and Dark Green Fritillary together on one small patch of Thyme on a memorable June day on the Malverns, and to see a male Brimstone with half open wings (yes I was
sober !) nectaring on Knapweed in late September.

1985 proved to be an interesting year as well for aberrations. Apart from the very rare White letter Hairstreak aberration (see separate report), there were two reports of the Comma ab. suffusa at Hampton and Wappenbury woods, the latter seen by our Press Officer, John Reeve. Gareth Robinson sent me a photo of an unusual Pearl bordered Fritillary with dark markings around the body. Small Tortoiseshell ab. lutea was seen at Ashorne this year, while according to the "Entomologists' Record" there was a 1984 record of urticae ab. semiichnusoides x ab. conjuncta at Barlestone near Nuneaton. Please ask Roger Smith what this aberration looks like not me - he may also be able to pronounce it!

As always I am grateful to all members (and non-members) who have provided news for this round-up. Branch recording forms should be returned to Pete Salmon, 36 Collingbourne Avenue, Hodge Hill, Birmingham as soon as possible. All late news will be included in the Spring newsletter - don't forget to send in your claim for sighting the last butterfly of the year!
 

Mike Williams