Commathe No.97 Spring 2017 Regional Magazine of Butterfly Conservation

iRecord: New recording system Marbled Whites: A record year

butterflies and moths back to inging Brita Br in • www .west .uk midlands-butterflies.org Chairman’s Address Chairman’s Address

AGM is to be held at Woolhope was still being expressed that The Branch in Focus Village Hall on Saturday November climate change would give us Comma (Stephen Lewis) 18th. Further details of this event warmer summers, and indeed we ince the last time I lot of work to steer us through this. next time. had some good ones then. I’d Swrote to you progress This has been our priority, but we are always felt that nature was surviving has been made on some also still making steady progress with WCBS well in urban settings as a key issues featured in the the new website. We will need material Scott Martin is the Branch Co- counterpoint to the effects of Cover story winter edition. The main to enter onto the website in due course, ordinator for the Wider Countryside intensive agriculture in the open Pearl-bordered Fritillary item is the implementation which will have a facility for photos, Butterfly Survey. This is a national countryside. So it was a shock to photographed by Simon Peter Seal of an online casual blogs and local news. Our success in scheme where volunteers walk a learn from a study carried out by Primrose in the Wyre Forest recording facility to make entering and this depends on members’ contributions. route twice a year on randomly Kent University and the Centre for on 14th May 2014. Guided collating records easier. At our AGM it selected one kilometre squares in Ecology and Hydrology that urban walks to see this butterfly are was resolved that we should seek to New members open countryside. The information butterflies have in the last twenty taking place during May at use iRecord following a presentation When you joined Butterfly Conservation is fed into the national UKBMS years or so declined by 69%, faster Haugh Wood and Wyre Forest by John Tilt. you should have received an Annual Report. To make life easier than the equivalent of 45% in rural – see Dates for your Diary From April, as previously mentioned, information pack from Dorset. I have to for volunteers the scheme has areas. The study recommended three found on the south transect. pages for details. we have regrettably lost the services of acknowledge that more can be done adopted a new online data managing road verges for wild After concerns about numbers seen Nigel Stone, so anyone who wishes by the Branch to engage new entry system – their newsletter flowers and insects, using fewer last summer it shows butterflies are Contributions to send in casual records should now members, so we shall be holding a gives some tips about finding chemicals and leaving more capable of hanging on. use iRecord. It is a straightforward meeting in Worcester on Wednesday volunteers. It requires less wild areas in gardens and Please send articles and ...urban process to register, and John has June 21st (please see Dates for commitment than a parks. The positive side images to the editor at butterflies have [email protected]. persuaded iRecord to set up a separate your Diary page 29). We shall present transect walked every in the last twenty is that we belong Photographs should be sent section for West Midlands records. information about the Branch and week, but is important years or so declined to an established Peter Seal, Branch Chair separately rather than Once you have registered you can opportunities for involvement. The in rounding out a by 69%, faster than charity dedicated to the equivalent of embedded in a document, enter your items either singly or as a list. meeting will also include a talk by picture of butterfly combatting this, and The record(s) will then be subject to on efforts to save the populations. Transects 45% in rural we have evidence that and of as high a resolution as Mel Mason areas. Correction possible. The opinions verification. The Branch is fortunate to Grayling on the Malvern Hills. Do give us extended knowledge BC’s conservation efforts On page 27 of the previous edition of expressed in this magazine are have a number of people who have please also look on Facebook for live of trends over a period of years in do pay dividends. For instance The Comma there was a photograph not necessarily those of the stepped forward to act as County information about what has been key locations, but we also need to in spite of few adult sightings in with the caption Starry-night Cracker, West Midlands Branch Recorders and Verifiers. Please have a spotted around the West Midlands, survey what is happening 2016, 555 Brown Hairstreak which was also referred to in the text. or of Butterfly Conservation. look at John’s article on page 11 for a forthcoming events, information about elsewhere. I know I am repeating eggs were found within our Grafton Eagle-eyed member Pauline Morgan has list of County Recorders and an butterflies and moths and varied what has already been stated in a Wood reserve – that makes cutting pointed out that the butterfly is in fact BC West Midlands Butterflies and Moths explanation of how to use iRecord to feedback on a host of activities. previous address, but if you are blackthorn worthwhile! I can only Red Cracker, Hamadryas amphinome. Butterfly Conservation enter online casual records. I would like still leads the way interested please support Scott by report what I know about, so do Many thanks to Pauline for the correction. West Midlands to extend a big thank you to John on in having an active local membership offering to undertake a couple send in other examples of how the @WestMidlands_BC behalf of the Branch as he has done a group, so to mark this our Branch of walks. Scott’s email address is Branch’s conservation activity is We are bringing forward the deadline [email protected] succeeding to the editor. dates for The Comma by one month. At the time of writing I have just The deadline for the next issue is 31st Copy deadline Company limited by guarantee, registered in (2206468) Urban decline seen my first butterflies of the year, August. Please send your items for The deadline for copy for the Registered office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP. Twenty years ago when I was living which brings me a note of inclusion to the editor as soon as autumn edition of The Comma in Birmingham I remember seeing encouragement because two of possible before that date, as The Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) is 31st August 2017, but about 20 Red Admirals well into them were Commas at Monkwood, Comma is sent to the printers shortly after contributions are welcomed and in Scotland (SCO39268) November feeding on fallen pears where we failed to record any last the deadline. well in advance of that date. next door. At that time optimism year on the north transect, with only

2 the Comma Spring 2017 3 Table of Six Year Trends Malvern Hills - 9 transect sites (average counts) West Midlands - 25 transect sites (av. counts) UK trends

Species % ch.2011-2016 ch.2011-2016 % YEARS SIX 2011 Av 2015 Av 2012 Av 2013 Av 2014 Av 2015 Av 2016 Av 2011 Av 2012 Av 2013 Av Av - 2011-2015 ch.2015-2016 % YEAR ONE 2016 Av Av - 20112015 ch.2015-2016 % YEAR ONE ch.2011-2016 % YEARS SIX ch.2005-2014 % SHORT ch.1976-2014 % LONG 2014 Av Purple Hairstreak 3 4 10 11 11 19 8 81 147 3 1 0 1 1 2 1 10 25 -10 -54 Marbled White 48 24 33 46 52 67 41 30 66 31 23 15 30 38 47 28 23 71 25 50 White Admiral 4 1 5 4 4 6 4 38 53 2 2 3 4 2 2 3 -2 -26 25 50 Green Hairstreak 4 1 5 3 5 5 4 0 39 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 -38 -38 -34 -41 Painted Lady 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 18 23 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 7 110 -84 133 Brimstone 6 6 8 10 13 10 9 -19 21 20 20 32 33 36 26 28 -28 -8 -1 1 Holly Blue 5 7 6 4 7 6 6 -3 10 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 6 -9 -61 37 Speckled Wood 85 45 56 97 77 78 72 1 8 117 50 91 110 79 93 89 18 4 84 Marbled White, Brotheridge Green 4 Comma 11 13 16 18 21 17 16 -19 7 19 12 17 15 17 11 16 -35 -33 -28 150 Red Admiral 7 11 2 10 6 8 7 28 6 16 10 4 11 9 11 10 29 12 -40 257 Large Skipper 10 5 10 20 24 14 14 -41 1 34 11 17 25 30 23 23 -25 -3 23 -17 Record Numbers of Marbled White Green-veined White 148 37 115 103 71 88 95 24 -8 151 32 125 125 70 105 101 51 5 72 -7 Mel Mason crunches the numbers in the Malvern Hills, and highlights one very successful species Orange-tip 27 25 20 28 27 23 25 -14 -8 37 35 24 42 31 29 34 -6 -15 59 10 Ringlet he decline in butterfly numbers on our transect years. Red Admiral also recovered numbers 257 80 159 203 169 148 174 -12 -15 343 195 287 277 318 267 284 -16 -6 72 381 Tsites last year is no surprise, but the extent of the in 2016, but this species depends on migration. Meadow Brown 303 454 572 568 588 416 497 -29 -16 343 486 367 321 510 347 405 -32 -14 -15 1 decline in some species is staggering, particularly Silver-washed Fritillary may not have appeared to Small White 28 15 153 41 36 44 55 24 -19 70 29 167 58 46 66 74 44 -11 9 -25 and Gatekeeper. Common Blue, Small the same extent on transects, yet casual records are Peacock Large White 33 16 105 26 45 35 45 -23 -22 46 16 158 41 45 65 61 44 5 -28 -30 Tortoiseshell, Small Heath, Small / Essex Skipper very encouraging around the central hills. Counts for Silver-washed Fritillary 3 4 2 2 5 2 3 -50 -27 29 21 48 28 36 18 32 -51 -46 6 141 and Large Skipper fared badly but they have had the less common species are not reliable and depend Small Copper 20 14 14 11 6 9 13 44 -29 16 8 13 5 4 8 9 97 -15 -19 -37 at least one worse year or similar year in the past on timed counts and, to some extent, on casual Small/Essex Skipper 34 31 47 103 91 40 61 -56 -34 53 36 82 79 86 30 67 -65 -56 -20 -82 six. Small Copper increased more than any other records, although Purple Hairstreak appeared to Small Heath 29 66 71 54 43 33 53 -22 -37 21 22 16 21 11 13 18 13 species in 2016 - by 44% (Malverns) and 97% (West have increased significantly, while Brown Argus -29 18 -54 Midlands), but six year trends show declines of 29% seemed to have declined similarly. The winners & losers Gatekeeper 175 111 133 174 165 93 152 -44 -39 178 150 126 116 168 87 148 -48 -41 -44 -41 (Malverns) and 15% (West Midlands). Green-veined of the more common species are also highlighted in the Grayling 9 5 4 4 6 3 6 -50 -46 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 -100 -100 10 -58 White recovered to some extent in 2016 but nothing 2016 Big Butterfly Count: Red Admiral & Green-veined Brown Argus 8 3 4 5 4 2 5 -42 -51 4 1 1 1 2 1 2 -63 -63 -11 -25 White-letter extraordinary compared with the decline in recent White improved the most, whereas Common Blue, Hairstreak 9 5 1 4 2 2 4 0 -52 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 -25 -60 -77 -96 , Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, and Small Holly Blue Comma Tortoiseshell 14 9 18 53 23 10 23 -57 -58 26 9 32 38 35 16 28 -53 -41 146 -73 Gatekeeper declined the most. Small Copper showed Dingy Skipper 7 21 8 4 3 3 9 0 -65 1 2 1 1 1 0 1 -74 -83 69 -19 a decline in the Big Butterfly Count, but later in the year Common Blue 65 22 17 43 104 16 50 -85 -69 53 10 15 30 85 24 38 many more were to be seen. More significantly, records -72 -39 1 -17 Peacock 16 22 58 51 42 9 38 -78 from 25 transect sites across the West Midlands -75 50 53 138 96 70 70 84 -14 -17 21 17 Clouded Yellow support the above findings based on nine reliable 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 -100 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.22 -80 -57 734 Dark Green transect sites around the Malverns. Fritillary 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 100 -100 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 -54 6 18 186 GRAND TOTAL 13701060 1657 1704 16511210 1488 -27 -19 1590131317361514178812371673 -24 -17 Boom LONG

Marbled White, however, had the best year since at SHORT 2012 Av 2014 Av 2013 Av 2011 Av 2015 Av 2016 Av 2012 Av 2013 Av 2014 Av 2011 Av 2015 Av 2016 Av ONE YEAR ONE ONE YEAR ONE SIX YEARS SIX least 2010 in the Malverns and around the West YEARS SIX

Midlands - refer to the six year trends in the table. Av - 20112015 Av - 2011-2015 % ch.2015-2016 ch.2015-2016 % % ch.1976-2014 % % ch.2011-2016 % ch.2005-2014 % % ch.2011-2016 ch.2011-2016 % % ch.2015-2016 % Numbers boomed. It was not difficult to award Note: All figures are rounded up to whole numbers. Malvern Hills % change 2011-2016 is calculated from the total averaged over all transects where the species occurred between 2011 and 2015 compared with the average count for 2016. West Midlands % change 2011-2016 is calculated from the average count for each species between Marbled White, Castlemorton CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 2011 and 2015 compared with the average count for 2016.

4 the Comma Spring 2017 5 Chat Vallley, Malverns

Satyrinae. Historic names include Marmoress, Our-Half Mourner and Marbled Argus. The preferred larval foodplant is Red Fescue, which Marbled White unfurling its wings, contains flavonoids that help to produce the lighter Marbled White, Castlemorton North Hill colours of the wings. The marbled pattern probably makes the adult more conspicuous in flight but provides Brotheridge Green NR, Marsh camouflage when resting in long grass. A fungus called Common, Old Hills, Longdon Acremonium often infects Red Fescue and produces a Marsh, Gadbury Bank, chemical called Ioline that is stored in the larva and Craycombe Bank, Bredon Hill passed on to the chrysalis and adult. This chemical is and Windmill Hill NR. Today obnoxious to birds and may provide some protection. it is widespread across the Immediately after emerging from the egg, the larva county. In 1987, a Malvern seeks an area of dead vegetation to hibernate. In Hills Conservators report spring, the larva re-emerges to feed during the day until stated that there were reduced after the third and final moult, when it feeds only at numbers of Marbled White, night on grasses, including Sheep’s Fescue, Tor-grass, but that it was ‘more widely Cock’s-foot and Timothy in addition to Red Fescue. It distributed than it was in the pupates in June near the soil surface and emerges in 1960s’. These historical July. [adapted from ‘The Butterflies of Britain & Ireland’ sightings suggest Marbled Female Marbled White, North Malverns by Jeremy Thompson & Richard Lewington, 2014] White was a less common and less widespread species North Hill, Malverns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 Moving north in the twentieth century. Marbled White the prize for 2016 Malvern Butterfly of Local historical records of this species suggest a Generally, the climate has become slightly warmer seemed to be more numerous in 2016, with evidence the Year, as local numbers soared in July 2016 - 66% gradual increase in abundance and occurrence in the over the past 200 years and this species has of breeding taking place at higher elevations. An (Malverns) and 71% (West Midlands) above the last 100 years. In 1911, Mr Carlton Rea stated in continued to move further north in the Midlands in emerging adult was photographed unfolding its wings average for the six years from 2011 to 2016. No the Malvern Gazette: “I saw several [Marbled White] recent times. More information on this can be found at 300m on the eastern slopes of North Hill. However, other species came close to matching this record. It is at Croft Wood three years ago [in 1907]”. in the recently published ‘Butterflies of the West the best sites for Marbled White are on the lower difficult to explain why one species should excel in a Interestingly, today this is a particularly good site, and Midlands’ book. meadows and grassy verges, such as Guarlford year whilst other species perform so badly. Climate, many tens are seen on almost any day during July in Straight, Poolbrook Common, Neve’s Meadow, Rhydd habitat management and the cycle of host-parasite are Cother Quarry near Croft Farm. This may also be Colonial Meadow and Cother Wood Quarry, and on the significant factors controlling each species, but none of associated with their preferred limestone habitat 2016 may be a record year for sightings of Marbled transect routes at Old Hills, Knapp & Papermill NR, these seems to have been particularly favourable or and longer grasses in ungrazed areas. In 1982 Jack White in the Malvern Hills and the West Midlands. Hollybed Farm, Melrose Farm Meadows and significant with respect to this species. Green in ‘Butterflies of ’ reported that Although largely colonial, it is believed that it uses the Castlemorton Common. Marbled White is a July species that, despite most colonies in Worcestershire were found in sites ten-mile ridge of the Malverns to navigate between its appearance, belongs to the Browns – the subfamily south of an east-west line through Worcester, such as suitable sites. Casual sightings on the higher slopes Article, table and photos by Mel Mason

6 the Comma Spring 2017 7 compelling evidence of distribution expansion of the butterfly. It was becoming increasingly clear, from all these new square records, that the Brown Hairstreak had experienced a flight season characterized by dispersal, and it was therefore going to be worthwhile putting in a bit of extra effort to try and find other new square territories. Cue a few weeks ago and the discovery of another new square record in yet another location that had been unsuccessfully searched in many previous winters. This one was on Pumphouse Lane, Brown Hairstreak (Simon Primrose) Management work at Grafton Wood (Simon Primrose) close to , in SP0166, and these discoveries marked the most northerly eggs so far found. This was then followed just a week later, by the discovery of an egg over the Dispersing in all Directions border in Warks, east of , and egg records in another Simon Primrose reports some ell……what an eventful and well was a long stretch of footpath Sign at National Grid, new Redditch square, SP0364 at successful Brown Hairstreak Wexciting last few weeks it’s hedgerow near Bishampton that (Dave Butler) Hunt End. We had therefore, in just egg searching. been in the world of the West we’re using for the new BC Head there, Jenny Tonry discovered an a single winter, recorded the most Midlands Brown Hairstreak! The last Office monitoring methodology, a egg on the northern outskirts of the northerly and southerly eggs in the six months had continued the fairly site where eggs were found for the village of Pinvin, in square SO9549. distribution, whilst also finding them quiet trend that we had been first time just a few years ago. Large A few weeks later one of our out very close to both the western experiencing since summer 2015, numbers of eggs were found here regular Thursday searches had to and eastern extremes! with adult sightings in Grafton this winter, easily surpassing last be cancelled because of a bad Wood in 2016 well down on year’s total, and seemingly indicating weather forecast. Undeterred, two CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 that previous summer. Once this the build-up of a colony right at of us then went out searching winter’s egg searches got underway the southern edge of the known independently the following day in in November a similar theme distribution of the butterfly in Worcs. better weather, with the result that continued. Counts at most sites that three more previously unrecorded are monitored every year were Take-off squares were ticked off the list. either down or about the same as Events really started to take off These three squares were the the previous winter, which was a though just before Christmas, with ones flanking Tibberton village disappointing one. Some sites the discovery of what were the most (SO9056/57/58), and were bucked the trend though such as the southerly eggs ever discovered for significant in that they’ve all been National Grid site at Feckenham, this current day Worcs population. searched many times before in which had the best count we’ve ever These eggs were actually found previous winters to no avail. These recorded there, responding to the in an already recorded 1Km grid squares were also out near the great management work done by square but later that same day, after extreme western edge of the Brown Hairstreak eggs the Worcs Wildlife Trust and the moving on to a nearby previously butterfly’s Worcs distribution. So (Gillian Thompson) National Grid. Another site that did unrecorded square and searching again, these egg records provide National Grid sub- station (Dave Butler)

8 the Comma Spring 2017 9 New Guidelines for Recording Butterflies John Tilt introduces iRecord - a new and easy way to record your sightings.

t the AGM in November it was announced that Nigel Stone has decided to step down as Butterfly A Recorder for the Branch. For many years Nigel has patiently and diligently transcribed all our butterfly sightings, apart from Transects and Timed Counts, onto a piece of software called MapMate and annual spreadsheets, for which the Branch is very grateful. This dataset is invaluable to determine how butterflies are faring within our region. Once the records have been checked they have been sent to Butterfly Conservation HQ to become part of a national database.

Nigel’s departure is an opportunity to initiate a less laborious, more 21st century method for submitting records, and we hope that members will be able to embrace this. It is centred on a website called irecord hosted by the national Biological Records Centre – go to www.brc.ac.uk/irecord. The The 'Streakers' at work with Natural England staff at a farm near Hanbury (Mike Williams) website was tried out last year and found to be very good and easy to use. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 and planning tool to aid the huge more weeks left for egg searching. An app is available. amount of excellent management So who knows what we may yet Core area work that has taken place within turn up, before the Blackthorn The Branch has set up an Activity on the website called ‘WM Branch Butterfly Conservation’ which covers the With all this ‘edge of distribution’ Grafton over the last few years, comes into flower and the 2017 four counties of the Branch and Birmingham & the Black Country. Once you have found the website: exploration going on it might seem opening up the wood and cutting egg searching season draws to a • Register creating a username and password like there wouldn’t have been much down old blackthorn thickets. The close? Links below provide some • Click on the Record tab, and then click on Activities. time left to devote to our core area egg totals have proved, beyond all more useful information. • Click on Browse all Activities and enter WM Branch Butterfly Conservation searches at Grafton Wood. doubt, how fantastically well the • Click on the star to add the group to your list of activities However, sandwiched in between butterfly has responded to all this Article by Simon Primrose From here you can enter individual records or lists of records and site details. You can also view records all these new range discoveries, management work. West Midlands Branch Brown that other people have been entering. Already there are over 8,000 butterfly records. have been some incredible recent This brings the news of an Hairstreak Champion. finds within the wood itself. exciting Brown Hairstreak season A record must contain 4 essential pieces of information: Following a rather abortive attempt right up-to-date, although, at the www.betulae.blogspot.com • Who: name of the person who made the sighting at searching some excellent areas time of writing, there’s still a few www.graftonwood.wordpress.com • What: butterfly species name, number seen and life cycle stage of Blackthorn coppice and re- • Where: place, a name and a grid reference (www.gridreferencefinder.com is a useful tool) growth hampered by a heavy hoar Brown Hairstreak (Peter Eeles) • When: the date frost a few weeks previously, we decided to return to carry out a All records submitted will be subject to checking by designated verifiers for each of the Branch areas. more systematic and painstaking The verifiers are: search of some key areas within the • Birmingham & Black Country – Richard Southwell wood. The result of these searches • Staffordshire – John Bryan was that the in-wood total number • Worcestershire – Mike Williams & Mel Mason of eggs found this winter at Grafton • Shropshire – Tony Jacques was a staggering 555. One • Herefordshire – Bob Hall & Ian Draycott particularly favourable ride corner The verifiers will submit the records for their areas to me at the end of the year to create a full database, and revealed 186 eggs! an online atlas will be available on the Branch website.

Management For those who would still prefer not to use iRecord I am willing to accept spreadsheet lists in a defined format – These searches within Grafton please contact me for guidelines if you wish to do this. Wood itself have only been carried out over the last three winters, and Article by John Tilt are done to provide a monitoring [email protected] Tel:01386 792458

10 the Comma Spring 2017 11 Aaron Woods & Andy McVeigh doing a botanical survey (Peter Hall) Large Skippers (Nick Williams) Bringsty Common Bracken Management and Butterflies on the Common for some time, Bringsty Common in 2010, with the Live and Let Live pub (Nick Williams) violets used to be far more abundant than today. After the late autumn Peter Hall & Nick Williams ending around the turn of the bracken cutting there were piles of chart a new approach on century. Many reasons were cited, dead bracken fronds, often up to 6 the Common. but dog walking, road deaths and inches deep, swamping the ground foot and mouth all contributed. and preventing any light penetration. ringsty Common in Herefordshire Its fame was linked to This seemed the most likely cause of Blies close to the border with populations of the High Brown the disappearance of violets, and Worcestershire. Its boundaries Fritillary but these all declined only bluebells seemed to thrive from include the Brockhampton Estate as grazing diminished. The this process. The ride and grassland and Downs, and it Common was thoroughly surveyed Bracken mowing (Nick Williams) Oak Eggar (Peter Hall) cutting was also an issue. Its timing comprises just over 220 acres of for High Brown back in the 1990s was wrong for a number of reasons. common land within which nestle by Dr. Jenny Joy. The West around bracken control. Trials were cut in July to keep the footpaths butterflies gone, but the more Rides and grassy expanses were all around 70 dwellings. The A44 Midlands Branch followed this up involving bracken bruising were and access tracks open and bracken common butterflies were also under- cut over a period of a few days in bisects the Common. There are by arranging flight season searches initiated and were quite successful, stands segmented, partly for the performing. A violet survey was July and this meant that almost all some joint management plans across the whole Common to try but fatalities of reptiles stopped this public to access the site and partly organised in early 2016 and the nectar plants were cut down. between these three natural areas, and ascertain whether there were management process. This was as fire precautions. Bracken is a very results were rather interesting. There Surveying common butterflies including the recent pond creation still any large fritillaries present. followed by a rotational plan real fire hazard, with fires in both were no violets at all inside the like Ringlet and Meadow Brown and management scheme under None were seen except fleetingly, involving bracken being cut and left 2015 and 2016 on the Common. bracken stands, but they were found before cutting would turn up many the “Pooling Together” project without definite identification. In in late autumn. along the edges of the stands records, but after cutting all the run by the Hereford Wildlife Trust recent years Butterfly Conservation The Common was divided into Violets & bracken including the footpaths, and some on butterflies seemed to vanish. July and assisted by HART (Hereford has been involved in surveying sections and this formed the basis of Unfortunately, as monitoring by the more open areas of grassland. cutting also impacted on the young Amphibian and Reptile Trust). The habitat conditions for High Brown the rotation. The aim was to control Butterfly Conservation confirmed, Violets were also found inside the larvae just starting to hatch out and Common is currently under Higher Fritillaries, and in advising the the bracken, temporarily open up the fritillary butterflies continued more shady wooded areas. feed. Stronger flying butterflies Level Stewardship through Natural management organisation (Bringsty areas but not to encourage coarse to decline until they all disappeared. Nowhere were violets “abundant” – departed the area in search of food. England, which is due to be Common Manorial Court) on grasses to establish. Funding for this The plan obviously hadn’t worked, a word used in the ‘Millennium Atlas It turned from a rich habitat into a renewed later this year. It was bracken management. Efforts to work from HLS enabled this basic and some obvious conclusions were of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland’ as poor one, almost overnight. All of the formerly grazed, but this declined maintain a mosaic of suitable cutting plan to take place each year. reached during summer 2015. Not a requirement for these butterflies. markedly in the 1990s, finally habitat for the butterflies centred In addition, fire breaks and rides only were these rare and iconic Listening to people who have lived CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

12 the Comma Spring 2017 13 responding to the changes. Increasing the height of cut slightly to avoid mowing smaller plants including violets should also provide longer term benefits. To try and generate interest in the Common by the residents, the Bringsty Common Biological Recording Group was established in 2015. It enables anyone with even the most basic knowledge of plants and animals to enter records. This is Silver-washed Fritillary (Nick Williams) Garden Tiger (Peter Hall) housed in the group area of iRecord, Butterflies of Prees Heath by Janet Vernon and it has been a resounding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 from Natural England, the plan is to success story. 38 species of butterfly Access details for A Brimstone beauty on sulphurous wings Bringsty Common leave areas of grassland uncut and have been recorded historically on flies high on the wind where the skylark sings, cuttings are removed from the larger instead cut every other year, the Common along with 688 One of the best places to two flakes of yellow adrift from the sun, tentative proof that spring has begun. grassy areas to prevent nitrification see butterflies at Bringsty is alternating between the cut and species of moth. In the past 12 of the areas and to prevent mulch uncut areas. This should allow nectar months there have been two full the old cricket pitch about A newbie arrives and plays hide and seek, swamping small plants. Ironically, two-thirds of the way east- plants to flourish, and grass-feeding botanical surveys and visits from among hawthorn leaves sits a Green Hairstreak. the old cricket pitch has some of the ward across the Common, invertebrates, including many of the various experts in other fields each best plant diversity on the Common accessible from the A44 just common butterflies, to continue their time expanding the database a little Flashes of orange and soft, smoky brown, and is bordered by a wet flush on west of the Bringsty Vintage life cycles. The hope is for an upturn more. After almost 2 years there are disturbed by my feet not far from the ground, one side with small pools, and on Living Café, with a car park in butterfly numbers alongside an 15,193 records covering 1,819 male Small Heath butterflies parry and fight, the other a gently sloping bracken- area alongside the main expansion of pretty day flying moths species. defending their patch with erratic low flight. dominated hillside which is a warm road. Further west, there like the , which is Six-spot Burnet Two , a blissful mating pair, sun-trap area. The grassy areas are present in very low numbers. Re- Article and photos by and Green-veined Whites is a small car park at the Peter Hall transfixed I could do nothing but keep quite still and stare. now for the most part dominated by side of the A44 (where a adjustment of grass cutting should Nick Williams fine grasses. With the recent see a sudden upsurge in wildlife track leads down to the Live The star of the show – the Silver-studded Blue appearance of Yellow Rattle on the and Let Live pub in the enters the mid-summer stage right on cue, Common, which has spread very centre of the Common) and sipping the sweet honey-bells of pink heather rapidly, the sward heights are quite you will find a map here too. and dancing on air in sunshiny weather. low, benefiting smaller plants. Make a note in your diary to Four live here – , , and , In 2016, a company called pay a visit this year. Skippers Dingy Essex Large Small the moth-like dingy’s not dingy at all, Brackenburn contacted the Manorial camouflaged wings in soft velveteen, Court and asked if they could 3 weeks to turn brown and dry, then trying his level best not to be seen. harvest the bracken on the raked into rows before being baled Common. This they would do free and removed from site. Large areas Meadow Browns and Ringlets – high-summer beauties, of charge. They had been of cut bracken are left, with little or compete for nectar with Small Copper cuties. converting bracken into what they no dead fronds covering the A who, in the absence of gates, call ‘brackets’, heavy solid tubes of ground. In Spring 2017, there will Gatekeeper finds a nice bramble and patiently waits compacted, desiccated bracken, to be some close monitoring to see if for a female to settle and flutter her wings, be used for house fires. Business this stimulates violet germination and and quicken his pulse and tug his heart strings. was so good they needed more recovery. bracken. So, in late autumn they As rose-hips and fungi and berries appear, came and cut around 50 acres of New plan au revoir to our friends ‘til springtime next year. bracken, creating some 280 large Linked to this is a plan to change Brackenburn baling the bracken (Tom Fisher) bales. The bracken is left for about cutting regimes. With permission

14 the Comma Spring 2017 15 The Fightback Starts Here Mel Mason describes the inspirational efforts being made to save the Graylings in the Malvern Hills.

he Grayling was once a Malvern Grayling, a painting by Steve Williams Tcommon sight in Victorian Worcestershire, but nowadays it can only be found living on a small area on the eastern slopes of North Hill in the Malverns. It has been Grayling on North Hill recorded in the Malverns since at least 1853 and once occurred over the full length of the hills. Preserved specimens dating from before World War One can be seen in the Worcester City Museum collection, Grayling Guided Walk but after this period records became few and far between as numbers plummeted, especially in the last 10 years.

Unusual to spot Graylings have struggled to survive A Lunch with a View as changes have occurred to their natural habitat. They have become unusual to spot inland in Britain, faring better on coastal sites. Work parties on the Malvern Hills in Volunteers at work Volunteers clearing the scrub partnership with the Malvern Hills Conservators have concentrated on clearing scrub, predominately bramble, gorse and broom. This enables the Graylings to find the fine grasses they need for egg- laying and the bare, stony ground they like during their flight period in July. More work needs to be done, so do join us if you can, but Grayling courtship meanwhile many thanks to all the volunteers who have helped thus far. Mel is leading a guided walk on Monday 17th July at 11.00am for members Grayling specimens to see the Graylings – further details are in the Dates for your Diary pages Article and photos by Mel Mason Volunteers having a well-earned break (Worcestershire Museums)

16 the Comma Spring 2017 17 Update on the Wood White Project A Celebration of the Wildlife of Wyre here has been a great deal of Wood White reintroduction in embers and associates of the Wyre Forest Study Group have been Thabitat improvement works by 2016. Monitoring a site is essential Mgathering information about the wildlife of the Wyre Forest for the local contractors and volunteers, to inform site management, so if last 25 years, and their work has culminated in the writing of this 312 including scallop creation and anyone is interested in helping with Wood Whites (John Tilt) page book. coppicing at key locations, thanks these two sites please get in touch. To quote from the back cover, it is: “In this book you will find detailed to Kate Wollen (Haugh Wood) We held a joint volunteer work please do get in touch soon if you accounts of the Forest’s wildlife and its habitats which include old and Alan Reid (Bury Ditches and party with Herefordshire Wildlife would like to attend. orchards and meadows, wooded dingles, ancient commons and the Wigmore Rolls). It is hoped Trust in February at Lea majestic River Severn. The Forest’s location on the borders of Shropshire that these areas will and Paget’s Wood to Heritage events and Worcestershire make it home to a remarkable range of wildlife eventually provide areas of open up a woodland In Herefordshire this summer there from all corners of the British Isles, including Dormice, Dippers, native suitable, flower-rich habitat ride. In the past, only will be a number of heritage events White-clawed Crayfish and Narrow-leaved Helleborine orchids. Wyre is especially renowned for its for Wood White butterflies one or two Wood and activities, including Wood insects and recent conservation efforts have succeeded in restoring nationally important populations of and other species that benefit Whites have been recorded at this White surveys, woodland condition Pearl-bordered and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. Wood White and Grizzled Skipper also from connected open spaces in site and we hope that, as a result of assessments and heritage days. occur along with rare beetles and the enigmatic Land Caddis at its British stronghold. Wyre is also woodlands. this work and other planned habitat These events with be held at Croft one of the most significant UK sites for moths and is home to such species as Drab Looper and White- The Wood White population at works, the number of butterflies seen Woods/Croft Ambrey, Haugh barred Clearwing.” Mortimer Forest seems to be doing here will increase. Wood and Wigmore Rolls, all led Reviews very well, thanks to sensitive site by local experts. See the Dates for Peter Marren, British Wildlife magazine, wrote: “Sharp and well-composed portraits of the Forest and management by the Forestry Training days your Diary pages for information. It its denizens abound on every page….this book is a thing of beauty….giving you an almost overwhelming Commission. In 2016, in less than As part of the project there will be is always worth visiting your local sense of the diversity to be found in a single large wood.” two hours, over 30 Wood White two advanced Wood White survey woods (with the landowner’s Julian Greenwood, British Trust for Ornithology website, wrote: “Every so often a local natural history butterflies were seen, with at least training days this summer on the permission of course), from mid-May is published that surpasses the usual standards of that genre: this is such a book. The writing style is clear two females egg laying. This is 14th and 15th June. The first will be until July, especially if the site has and delightful. The book is adorned with excellent photographs depicting the landscape and Wyre’s great news, but we are not at Haugh Wood and the second wide, sunny, plant rich rides and inhabitants from the largest trees to the smallest invertebrates.” completely sure which areas at will be at Bury Ditches. All glades, as you never know what Mortimer they’re using, so we attendees will learn about Wood you might find. Article by Rosemary Winnall would like to establish a butterfly White butterflies, how to identify transect. Blakeridge is another site them and how to carry out an egg Article by The book can be ordered online from the publishers at www.naturebureau.co.uk for £37.50 plus p&p Rhona Goddard that needs monitoring following the search. Numbers are limited, so Wood White Project Officer

New Season, New Kit Wyre Forest Guardians

They may not have featured on this hree conservation organisations in the Wyre season’s Paris catwalks, but these TForest have joined forces to launch a new items of clothing are a must-have for volunteer programme to help protect important all discerning Butterfly Conservation habitats for wildlife in the Wyre Forest. In January Forest Guardians members and supporters. What better Butterfly Conservation, Natural England and the practising synchronised Limited raking (Mike Williams) items are there to wear when you are out stocks so best Forestry Commission launched Forest Guardians. This and about this summer counting to order new programme will offer regular opportunities for butterflies? Be proud that you support NOW! volunteers to get involved in practical conservation butterflies, birds and other wildlife. It is hoped that Europe’s largest insect-related charity! tasks both midweek and at weekends, and also the the programme will attract new volunteers to build on Polo shirts are £14 and sweatshirts are £17, plus p&p. They come in four sizes - Small, Medium, chance to become involved in survey work on the fantastic work being done by existing volunteers. Large and Extra Large. Contact Mike Williams at [email protected] if you wish to For further information about this new programme and how to get involved contact Alice James, place an order, and he will also have them available for purchase at various events during the year. Natural England, at [email protected] or on 01299 400686.

18 the Comma Spring 2017 19 Worcestershire Moth Records 2016

breeding in the south of the county.

• Among the micros Patrick Clement recorded the Hornbeam leaf miner Stigmella carpinella in Halesowen on 17/8/16, and 6 Pleurota bicostella on heathland at Kingsford Country Park on 24/5/16. Both are new to the Banded Pine Carpet county. (Suzanne Cawood)

• As was a specimen of the small numbers of common migrants White-line Snout nationally rare Apotomis lineana, such as Rush Veneer Nomophila (Oliver Wadsworth) attracted to light by P.G. Smith at noctuella and Rusty-dot Pearl Dodford on 29/7/16. This is a Udea ferrugalis, but Silver Y willow feeder with few recent UK Autographa gamma numbers, while 2016 was generally a poor year for moths, with numbers records. not large, were an improvement on well down. Tony Simpson relates some notable finds. 2015 with around 200 records • Billy Dykes caught 2 Epinotia submitted. ere are some of the highlights, 13/8/16. There is only one other pygmaeana at Grove Farm, Other migrants included a Hincluding 6 new species for the county record, from Hartlebury Worcester on 3/6/16 flying European Corn-borer at Upper county: Common, as long ago as 1916. around conifers, a species Welland on 6/9/16 (Ian • Andrew Gardner caught a Ian’s moth probably came from a expected to occur in the county but Duncan) and a Cypress Carpet Banded Pine Carpet Pungelaria nearby wet area along the River never found prior to this. Pleurota bicostella (Patrick Clement) there on 22/7/16. 2 Scarce capreolaria on 15/9/16 at Severn. Bordered Straw were recorded Stourbridge. This rare migrant was • He also saw the first Lampronia (Norchard 5/9/16 Mike the seventh UK record and the most • 15 Garden Tiger Moths were morosa in Worcester on 30/5/16 Southall, and Bewdley 27/8/16 inland one (see Atropos, 2016 recorded, 11 around the Malvern since a record from Tibberton in Ian Machin). There was only a number 57; p58). You never know area, and Terry Knight found a 1856. This is a very local Rose single Convolulus Hawk-moth what is going to turn up one day in Privet Hawk-moth larva in feeder which we had been looking 17/9/16 and Small Mottled your moth trap! Honeybourne, confirming that it is for fruitlessly for some years. Willow 5/9/16 (Norchard Mike Southall), and just a few records of • Oliver Wadsworth had a Humming-bird Hawk-moths. Apotomis lineana (Pete Smith) White-line Snout Schrankia There were 6 Vestal: 2 from taenialis to light in Blackhouse Norchard (Mike Southall), and Wood on 5/8/16. This local • Additionally Rick Benson-Bunch There was a sudden huge influx of singletons from Bewdley (Ian resident species, commonest in had caught a small unidentified the migrant Diamond-back Moth Machin), Bransford (Tony south-west England, is probably at moth in Darkham Wood on Plutella xylostella into the UK in Simpson), Carpenter’s Farm the edge of its range here. 12/8/2015 at light. He passed early June, and many recorders (Martin Skirrow), and Eastham the specimen to me in 2016 and had unprecedented numbers in (Ken Willets). • A Marsh Oblique-barred dissection showed it to be the rare moth traps, with many being seen Hypenodes humidalis came to Ian Epinotia pygmaeana (Bill Dykes) Chickweed feeding Caryocolum all around the county between 1st Article by Machin’s trap in Bewdley on proxima. and 10th June. There were only Tony Simpson

20 the Comma Spring 2017 21 Butterfly Transects 2016 All Peacock John Tilt crunches last year’s numbers for the region.

%+/-2015-2016

Brimstone Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Wood white

y the middle of January 2017 2015, with 30 showing a decrease. than by transects, and these have Bwe had received 52 transect There was an overall decrease of given better results for some species, results for the West Midlands region, 31% in the total counts for all for example Grizzled Skipper at a total of 53,708 records. This species. 26 of the transects have Honeybourne and Dingy Skipper compares with 57 transects and been recorded over the past 5 years. at Pennyhill Bank. 87,791 records for 2015. 46 of This enables species trends to be the 2016 transects were matched analysed, and they are shown as In summary, 2016 will go down as pairs with 2015. Both sets of trend lines in the graphs. one of our worst ever years for records were adjusted for missing butterflies in the West Midlands, weeks so that a direct comparison Species with the worst losses were despite our best efforts. We usually Small Tortoiseshell Small Copper could be made. Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small blame the weather, but this year was Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Wall, rather warm with below average 40 of the 46 transects showed a Peacock, Wood White, Brown rainfall. The effect of weather decrease in counts, with only 6 Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper and fluctuations compared to the norm is, showing an increase. Using the Small Skipper. Those that fared however, complex, and should same 46 matched pairs, the losses better included Dark Green consider the impact on all four life and gains for individual species were Fritillary and Brimstone. stages of butterflies and not just on analysed, as shown in the above the adults. chart. Of the 40 species recorded, Some of the rarer species have been only 10 showed an increase from monitored by timed counts rather Article and tables by John Tilt

22 the Comma Spring 2017 23 Cloudless Sulphur Brown Hairstreak Gatekeeper/Hedge Brown

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Silver-washed Fritillary Small Heath Butterflies of the Lone Star State

How the butterflies of Texas changed blues are the size of a 20p coin. Metalmarks are Martin Harrison’s life. possibly even smaller, but Pygmy-blues are the tiniest of all. Without macro-photography identification can be a igger than France and Switzerland combined, Texas real struggle, so we return to Britain just as winter is Bis divided into ten distinct regions, the subtropical setting in, with the camera’s memory cards full and Gulf of Mexico coast being one of them. The state is weeks of online research to fill those long dark evenings. home to over 400 butterfly species but, to see most of As well as the National Butterfly Centre, there are Dingy Skipper Wall Brown them, Lower Rio Grande Valley (The Valley) must surely several major wildlife refuges in the area, all offering be the place to go. In The Valley is a town called more and more butterflies, as well as an astonishing Mission – home to America’s National Butterfly Centre. variety of tropical birds. Possibly America’s most Here they do things Texas-style: bigger and better. charismatic butterfly, and certainly the best-known, the Daytime January temperatures rarely drop below 20C Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is ever present, but with but, in summer 35C is probably too hot for most of us to CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 enjoy the year-round butterflies, so spring and autumn are the high seasons. Early November offers comfortable weather, not too hot, for the Texas Butterfly Festival – go Queens at roost to www.texasbutterflyfestival.com for more information. With so many resources available online these days, arrival in The Valley should present few surprises, but, to Dark Green Fritillary see four or five species of swallowtail in five minutes – well, it really gets our attention. Without leaving the car If anyone is interested in helping park, without leaving the car, we can see five or six or even setting up a transect exotic-looking species, and no amount of online research prepares us for this. There are colourful butterflies but, please contact once the thrill of the exotic starts to wear off, it’s only later John Tilt at 01386 792458 that we start to appreciate the incredible variety. “Later” or email [email protected] means the next day, or the next. Of course swallowtails are attention-grabbing, but the wonder of Texan butterflies must surely be concentrated down at the opposite end of the scale. Hairstreaks and

24 the Comma Spring 2017 25 Gray Hairstreak

Creole Pearly Eye Zebra Longwing Malachite

as well-known as our inability to prevent its decline. collection. Gaps that should (that must) be filled, while micro-detail so that we can one day differentiate Monarchs don’t have a vote. The efforts of dedicated there is still time. This is why one visit to The Valley must between the ventral view of a Laviana (Heliopetes enthusiasts are achieving great things but they can’t work be followed by another . . . and another. laviana) from a Turk’s Cap White-skipper (Heliopetes miracles. Here in The Valley is a chance to see and Swallowtails, whites, sulphurs, hairstreaks, blues and macaira). Cloudywings, scallopwings, sicklewings and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 marvel at a real live Red-bordered Pixie (Melanis pixe) brushfoots (not brushfeet, as we call vanessids), fritillaries, duskywings, they are all skippers and their images will and a Malachite (Siproeta stelenes) . . . but for how satyrs and crescents: all families of butterfly that can be all need to be identified. look-alike Viceroys (Limenitis archippus), Queens much longer? seen throughout much of North America, but not so the Almost ten years ago, I paid my first visit to Texas. I (Danaus gilippus) and Soldiers (Danaus eresimus) our We want to revel in the beauty of countless butterflies, longwings. Few experiences match the excitement of the photographed a few dozen waders on the shore and, identification skills are tested. to be amazed at their variety and to make a permanent first sight of a Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia). walking back to the car, thought I saw something move record of our visit to another country. We know that, in the frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora). Wings closed, a Race against time however, in America there are just a small number of Transformed Western Pygmy-blue (Brephidium exile) measures Any butterfly photographer realises this is but the tip of dedicated enthusiasts doing their best to hold back the All this can be imagined. And now there’s a non-stop barely 10mm so it’s easily missed, but not so easily the iceberg because there are males and females, and tide of what we are supposed to call progress. It will be Manchester to Houston service with Singapore photographed. there are dorsal and ventral views. A week is not enough decades before America realises, probably all too late, Airlines. A trip to be planned. Maybe a stop at It would be easy to write a description of what can be but, with so much to take in, a week is about as much the pace at which pesticides are wiping out bio-diversity Goliad State Park for the Common Mestras (Mestra seen in Texas, in any part of Texas, but maybe not so as most of us can manage. Let’s come back again, we and, when the backyard is too full of mosquitoes to sit amymone) – common indeed! - and the Metalmarks. easy to convey how, within the space of one all-too-short say, little realising the pace at which species decline outside, that there aren’t any selective sprays. We enjoy Or White Peacocks (Anartia jatrophae) in the week, our lives can be transformed from enjoying has hit America. Butterflies that were commonplace, our week, knowing that when we fly home we are South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Centre butterflies as a hobby, something to do when there’s abundant even, five or six years ago are already turning our backs on these precious creatures, although (http://stxbot.org) near Corpus Christi. nothing on the telly, into something bordering on an becoming notable by their reduced numbers, if we see our admission fees and souvenir purchases will be used And then there’s the skippers. Identification takes a obsession. Our world all too easily divides into Texas them at all now. to help their cause. We return home with pictures of Gulf while, but it doesn’t take much effort or skill or hours of butterflies and everything else. Kenn Kaufman’s Field Recording wildlife in America has become, sad to Fritillaries (Agraulis vanillae), male and female, dorsal sheer patience and determination. Skippers are the Guide to Butterflies of North America ought to fill a few say, a race against time. The plight of the Monarch is and ventral, but there are bound to be gaps in the other side of the coin that draw us into a world of otherwise empty evenings with dreams of what might be. Be assured that for me, ten years down the line, living in Texas and returning home to England hoping that in the summer we might be able to add to our collection the photograph of a Duke of Burgundy or a Glanville Fritillary – just one species would be good – well, it isn’t quite the same. For anyone with more than a passing interest in butterflies the Isle of Wight and the Lower Rio Grande Valley offer their own delights and rewards, but they are two entirely different worlds. It’s fair to say that a trip to the Isle of Wight isn’t exactly a life-changer!

Western Pygmy-blue Red-bordered Pixie Great Southern White Article and photos by Martin Harrison

26 the Comma Spring 2017 27 Dates for your diary An Undiscovered Gem? For contact details of many of the event organisers please refer to page 31.

The Stiperstones - a day’s Members Meeting The walk will last no more than 3 hours and could be boggy in 21st June 7pm - 9pm. Worcester Friends' Meeting House, places. Contact Eric Davies at [email protected] or walk and a chance to Sansome Place, WR1 1UG (nr Foregate Street station). Focus on on 01299 832680. spot some Graylings, new members but all welcome. Guest speaker: Mel Mason on the Cecilly Brook & Hales Pool Local Nature Reserves along with other good Malverns. Contact Peter Seal. 26th August at 8.15pm. Moth & bat evening. Meet at the entrance butterflies and moths. Big Butterfly Count to South Moorlands Leisure Centre, Allen Street, Cheadle, ST10 1HJ 14th July - 6th August. Get butterfly counting anywhere for GR SK013429. Contact John Bryan. ave you ever been to the 15 minutes and get your family and friends to join in the world’s Far Forest Show, Wyre Forest HStiperstones? A good biggest butterfly count. Visit www.bigbutterflycount.org for 12th & 13th August. BC stall and children’s activities and much place to head for is the Bog more information. more. Contact Mike Williams. Mine car park (Grid ref West Midlands Branch AGM Grafton Wood SJ358979 & postcode SY5 18th November. Woolhope Village Hall, near Hereford. Further • 9th July at 2pm. Guided butterfly walk. Meet at the Three 0NG). The best access is a details in the autumn edition of The Comma. Parishes Hall Grafton Flyford WR7 4PG. Tea and cake will be turn off the A488 between Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford available back at the hall. Target species: White Admiral and Bishops Castle and Minsterley • 18th June at 9am. Moth morning, followed by butterfly walk Silver-washed Fritillary. towards Shelve, but an • 20th August at 9am. Moth morning & BC stall, part of National • 9th August at 10am, and each following Wednesday. alternative and very scenic route is over the Long walk into the surrounding countryside. An information Gardens Scheme Open Day. Nursery is located in Ashwood Lower Work party. Meet at Grafton Flyford Church car park. For all Mynd on the Burway from Church Stretton and then board showing the route of the trail will be placed in Lane, DY6 0AE, just west of A449 GR SO864879. Contact Mike Grafton Wood events contact John Tilt. via Bridges. What makes the journey particularly the Bog Mine car park and a leaflet is already Williams. • 27th August at 11am. Brown Hairstreak guided walk. Meet worthwhile is what may well be the largest available from the visitor centre or from the branch Baggeridge Country Park at the Three Parishes Hall, as above. Light refreshments will be inland population of in the UK is to be website at www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk Graylings 22nd July at 11am. Meet in the main car park (charge of circa available back at the hall. This will be a special event to celebrate seen in and around the car park. There is also a £3.00) off the A463 in Wodehouse Lane near Wombourne, next to the 20th anniversary of Grafton Wood becoming a Butterfly very fine visitor centre and tearoom (check Shortcut options the Ranger’s office GR SO895928. White-letter Hairstreak foray. Conservation and WWT reserve. www.bogcentre.co.uk for opening times before you One word of warning, however, as this is not a walk Contact David Jackson. Haugh Wood go), which serves delicious home-made cakes. for the faint-hearted. It is 12.9 kms (8 miles) in length, Bodenham Gravel Pit • 10th May, 19th May and 1st June at 11am. Pearl-bordered involves several uphill stretches and is over fairly 30th June at 9am - 11am. Moth breakfast. An event organised by Fritillary, Wood White and Drab Looper guided walk and survey. Even better news exposed and sometimes boggy terrain. The Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, with Robin Hemming. To book a place Contact Robin Hemming. There are other good butterflies and moths walk has been devised by branch member and contact Sophie Cowling at [email protected] • 14th June 10.30am – 2.30pm. Wood White walk led by on offer as well, with , keen walker , and we are Green Hairstreak Carol Wood The Bog, Stiperstones Dave Green. Meet in the car park. Contact Rhona Goddard. , and extremely grateful to her for all her help in Common Blue Dingy Skipper 24th June 11am to 4pm. Meadows Festival with BC stall, • 22nd July at 2pm. A guided walk following the green trail all in the vicinity and getting this project off the ground. Perhaps better Forester moth Small butterfly walks, children’s activities and much more. Free entry. lasting approximately 2 hrs, children must be accompanied by a Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Emperor news for some is that there are a number of moth not that far away. Even better news is shortcut options to reduce the overall length and Contact Mike Williams. responsible adult, no dogs please. Meet at the Forestry Commission that West Midlands Butterfly Conservation, the reward on the right day is spectacular Bury Ditches car park off the minor road from Mordiford to Woolhope with funding from the Shropshire Hills AONB scenery and the chance of seeing a number of 15th June 10.30am - 2.30pm. Wood White walk led by Dave GR SO593365. Contact Bob Hall. Conservation Fund and the Stiperstones and Corndon rather special butterflies and moths plus, of course, Green. Meet in the car park. Contact Rhona Goddard. The Haycop, Broseley, nr Telford Hill Country Landscape Partnership Scheme, has refreshments in the tearoom. Cannock Chase 1st July from 2pm till late, depending on the weather. developed a new butterfly trail starting from the Bog 20th June and 27th June 10am - 3.30pm. Small Pearl-bordered 10th anniversary celebrations: Hog roast, local ales, live music, Fritillary training days. Meet in the car park opposite The White House, local crafts, owls, children’s activities etc. The Haycop is off Dark Mine car park, which offers the opportunity of a day’s Article by Mike Williams Marquis Drive, Cannock, WS12 4PR. Contact Rhona Goddard. Lane, Broseley down a track between two detached houses. Catherton Common Contact Adrian Miles at [email protected] For other butterfly walks in the region see the branch website and the 25 walks included in 11th June at 1.30pm. Meet at the Riddings Gate next to the Malvern Hills the 'Butterflies of the West Midlands' book which is available through the branch or via our cattle grid at the end of the road to Hopton Wafers GR SO642783. 17th July at 11am. Grayling guided walk. Meet at North Hill car publisher’s website at www.naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop/ Target species: Green Hairstreak & Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. park GR SO7711746931.Great care is necessary as the walk is on

28 the Comma Spring 2017 29 Committee Members and Officers

Trench Wood Chairman Dates for your diary cont’d 22nd July at 11am. Field trip with Worcester Branch of Worcs Peter Seal [email protected] 01905 426398 Wildlife Trust. A Big Butterfly Count event. Contact Mike Williams. Vice Chairman & Conservation Officer very steep slopes and exposed crags between 250 and 350m. Mike Southall [email protected] 01299 251467 Bramble and gorse may cover parts of the route. Wear suitable Wardlow Quarry 23rd July at 10.30am. Guided walk. Meet off the A52 at Rue Hill, Treasurer clothing, sun hat and good walking shoes or boots. No dogs or Lucy Lewis [email protected] 07840 530270 children please. Bring sufficient water and a lunch if you intend to Cauldron Lowe, Staffordshire, ST10 3HA. GR SK0851547779. Branch Secretary stay beyond 1.00pm. Booking is essential. Contact Mel Mason. Target species: Dark Green Fritillary, Wall & Six-belted Clearwing. Joy Stevens [email protected] 01384 372397 Regional Officers Monkwood Contact John Bryan to book a place. Wenlock Edge Dr Jenny Joy (Senior Regional Officer) [email protected] 01952 249325 • 23rd July at 11am. Moth Breakfast (8.30am) & Butterfly Rhona Goddard (& Wood White Project Officer) [email protected] 01746 762364 11th June 10am to 1pm.Meet at Much Wenlock car park GR guided walk (11am). Meet in the car park on minor road near Records Grimley off A443 at GR SO804806. Croissants & fruit will be supplied SO613996. An introduction for beginners to the butterflies of Wen- Branch Recording Co-ordinator – John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 but please bring you own hot drinks. Charge to cover both events: lock Edge and their ecology. Bring a packed lunch. £5 per person, – Birmingham & Black Country - Richard Southwell [email protected] 01384 397066 Adults £3.00 Children £1.50 (joint events with Worcs Wildlife Trust). booking required. Contact [email protected] or – Herefordshire – Bob Hall & Ian Draycott [email protected] 01432 850623 Contact Peter Seal. phone 01694 725000. – Shropshire – Tony Jacques [email protected] 01952 882096 – Staffordshire – John Bryan [email protected] 01782 541870 • 27th June, 20th July & 6th August. Joint events with Worcs Wyre Forest – Worcestershire – Mike Williams & Mel Mason [email protected] 01299 824860 Wildlife Trust to remove Mellilot, a highly invasive plant. Meet in • 21st May at 11am Pearl-bordered Fritillary guided walk led by Mike Williams and Alice James, Natural England. Part of Worcs Transects Monkwood car park at 10am. For further information please John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 contact Dominique Cragg at dom@worcestershirewil- County Council Big Active Weekend. Meet at Dry Mill Lane car park Reserve Managers dlifetrust.org at start of disused railway line and Butterfly Trail. Contact Mike Ewyas Harold - Ian Hart [email protected] 01981 510259 Prees Heath Common Reserve Williams. Grafton Wood - John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 Monkwood - George Groves [email protected] 01905 620721 2nd July at 2pm. Silver-studded Blue guided walk. Meet on the • 17th June 10am - 3pm. Meet at the Wyre Forest Discovery Centre at Callow Hill. Butterfly ID session led by Mike Williams. Ideal for Prees Heath - Stephen Lewis [email protected] 07900 886809 access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49. The Trench Wood - John Holder [email protected] 01905 794854 former RAF control tower will be open from 10am to 4pm on the beginners. Cost £20. Booking essential, contact Worcs Wildlife Trust at [email protected] or on 01905 754919. Conservation Officers day. Contact Stephen Lewis. Worcestershire - Trevor Bucknall [email protected] 01905 755757 Wood White Heritage Events Queenswood Country Park Herefordshire - Ian Hart [email protected] 01981 510259 June 2nd 9am - 11am. Moth breakfast. An event organised by For more information or to book a place on these heritage Moth Officers Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, with Robin Hemming. To book a place events please contact Julia Walling at Julia.walling@btinter- Bham & the Black Country - David Jackson [email protected] 01902 344716 contact Hayley Herridge at HWT at h.herridge@hereford- net.com or on 01584 874636. Herefordshire - Robin Hemming [email protected] 01568 797351 Worcestershire - Mike Southall [email protected] 01299 251467 shirewt.co.uk • 25th April. Launch event at Yarpole Parish Hall, 7.30-9pm County Leaders Severn Valley Country Park, Shropshire • 11th May. Haugh Wood Event 11am-3pm. Meet in Haugh Wood car park. Leader: David Lovelace North Staffordshire - John Bryan [email protected] 01782 541870 17th June. BC stall and guided butterfly walk. Contact Scott Martin. Central Staffordshire - Robert Winstanley [email protected] 01889 576768 • 30th May. Haugh Wood Habitat Condition Training 10am-4pm. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre South Staffordshire - David Jackson [email protected] 01902 344716 Meet in car park. Booking essential. Leader: Martin Hales 22nd July 11am - 3.30pm. Butterfly ID training and butterfly Herefordshire - Dean Fenton [email protected] 01568 611575 survey of the Onny meadows and butterfly themed family activities. • 1st June. Croft Wood/Ambrey Wood White walk/survey. 11am- Malvern Hills - Mel Mason [email protected] 01684 565700 3.30pm. Meet in Croft Castle NT car park. Leader: Julia Walling. Brown Hairstreak Champion Contact Rhona Goddard. Simon Primrose [email protected] 07952 260153 Swynnerton MOD Training area, Staffordshire • 6th June. Croft Wood/Ambrey Habitat Condition Training 10am- 4pm. Meet in NT car park. Booking essential. Leader: Martin Hales Committee Members 4th June at 10.30am. Meet at the Gatehouse (GR SJ8545632782) Steven Williams [email protected] 07974 152081 • 13th June. Wigmore Rolls Wood White walk/survey. 11am-3pm. ST15 0QN. Booking essential! Access has been organised to see one Publicity and Marketing Officer of the Midland's largest Grizzled Skipper colonies plus Dingy Skipper Meet at Wigmore Rolls site entrance. Leader: Julia Walling Mike Williams [email protected] 01299 824860 and Brown Argus. Places are strictly limited to 20 persons on a first • 20th June. Croft Wood/Ambrey Wood White walk/survey. 11am- Magazine Editor Stephen Lewis [email protected] 07900 886809 come basis. Contact John Bryan to book a place. Military 3.30pm. Meet in Croft Castle NT car park. Leader: Julia Walling • 8th July. Croft Wood/Ambrey Event. 11am-3pm. Meet in the Magazine Design and Production manoeuvres can mean cancellation at short notice. Trish Connolly Morgan [email protected] 01939 220776 Tiddesley Wood Open Day Croft Castle NT car park. Leader: David Lovelace Website coordinator 30th April from 10am to 5pm. BC stall and butterfly walks. • 25th July. Wigmore Rolls Wood White walk/survey. 11am-3pm. David Green [email protected] 01922 452238 Meet at Wigmore Rolls site entrance. Wider Countryside Butterfly Count Co-ordinator Contact John Tilt. Scott Martin [email protected] 01746 718419

30 the Comma Spring 2017 31 Migrant Found Alive and Trapped in Fridge Poirot-like investigation points the finger at a packet of beans.

t was Thursday the 13th of usual food plants of the Long-tailed IDecember 2016 in Broseley, Blue, which are legumes. The Shropshire during the Haycop mystery deepened, and it was time Christmas get-together that Betty to activate the little grey cells. Williams, one of the long term A month earlier a packet of supporters, mentioned that she French beans had been in the had found a small moth on a carrot fridge. After enquiring at Downes in her fridge. Grocers in Broseley, where Betty buys all her vegetables, it transpired Surprise that the only imports were the Betty had gained an interest in beans, which came from Kenya. In natural history through Adrian the meantime Betty had been doing Miles, chairman of the Haycop her own investigation, and after Conservation Group. She placed the specimen in a plastic container Long-tailed Blue thinking that it may be useful to pupal case help student Nicolas Buck, who (Pat Simons) was studying at Harper Adams University. Nicholas had enlisted Long-tailed Blue Adrian as a mentor to help with underside (Nick practical entomology. To Adrian's Buck) surprise the expected winter moth turned out to be a fine male Long-tailed Blue specimen of the Long-tailed Blue, (Adrian Miles) Lampides boeticus, a continental butterfly and only a rare visitor to the British Isles.

Little grey cells much searching had found the found himself not in Africa but in a The attempt to piece together this empty chrysalis attached between fridge in Broseley, in the middle of mystery then began. Attention the fridge and the freezer. The most winter! All photos are of the actual turned to the contents of Betty's likely explanation is that the intrepid specimen. fridge – lettuce, carrots and traveller had escaped from the parsnips – none of which are the French bean packet, pupated and Article by Pat Simons

The Haycop Nature Reserve will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in July 2017 – see Dates for your Diary pages for more information.

32 the Comma