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No. 38 NEWSLETTER Winter 1997

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

Reports on Trips

Four people attended this outing on a very warm and sunny day.

Regrettably, Grizzled Skipper, the target species, was not encountered; however, the opportunity was taken to investigate a suggestion that a series of sites for this species might exist, at intervals, along the former railway line. Wild strawberry was certainly evident in small sheltered pockets - but of the butterfly there was no sign. Nevertheless, a three mile walk, from Gnosall Heath to Outwoods, (close to the Shropshire border, near Newport), along the railway line - produced a total of eleven species observed. A single Wall Brown was seen along with several heavily streak marked, Green Hairstreak and the sun-loving Small Copper.

Philip Hopson

 

A group of about 15 gathered on a rain lashed car park outside Ludlow castle to commence the first leg of the Fritillary trail on June 7th. Fortunately the rain held off for the rest of the day and the weather gradually improved as we walked. It was quickly realised by the group that when walking out of Ludlow the only way is up hill, as we climbed up to Mortimer forest and descended into Mary Knoll valley for our lunch. This was followed by a further long climb up Climbing Jack Common onto the highest point in the forest High Vinnalls. We descended from there in to the Aston stream valley to the cry of “its a Wall” from Cherry Greenway; our search for Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary proved less successful. Our first day finished at the main car park with a species count of 10 butterflies including Wood White, Wall Brown and a notable moth Wood Tiger.

The second stage High Vinnalls to Bircher common on the 21st June started grey, wet and windy and didn’t get any better; only the few very hardy walkers came out this day with a number of others completing this section in better weather on another day. No butterflies were seen at all this day only Peacock caterpillars. Lodge farm at the far side of Bircher common was notable for its interesting collection of old farm equipment and Land Rovers left decaying around a ruin of a farm house, I wonder how an estate agent would sell that one. Thanks to Gunter Peters for helping ferry us to the start.

The third stage of the walk, Bircher common to Lyepole bridge on the 12th July was a much kinder day weather wise and a larger group set out over Bircher common. The walk finally lived up to its name of Fritillary trail with High Brown, Dark Green, and Silver Washed Fritillary seen on the day. Together with much amusement at the army exercise going on in the area blowing up bridges.

The fourth section from Lypole bridge to Wapley Hill July 19th started hot and sunny and the heat stayed with us all day making the final assent to Wapley hill all the more tiring. With a total species count of 16 notably Silver Washed, Dark Green Fritillary, Purple, and White Letter Hairstreaks and also a single Marbled White on Wapley Hill.

Our final days walk on the 26th July from Wapley Hill to Kington was rather cool and overcast but we did see a few butterflies. We were spurred on in the morning to reach Titley by lunch time, on the understanding there was a pub in the village only to reach it, and find it was closed, and up for sale. Why was that phone in Titley constantly ringing? It was especially nice to see a good number of Silver Washed Fritillary in a small clearing along Little Brampton scar above Kington. Our walk ended in the centre of Kington after five very enjoyable weekends covering nearly forty miles through some beautiful countryside and filling in some unrecorded tetrads for the millennium atlas. Thanks to Cherry for providing the cakes and drinks at the end, and for bringing her dog Meg along.

Andy Nicholls.