Commathe No.100 Spring 2018 Regional Magazine of Butterfly Conservation

The 100th Comma: A look back at the previous 99 editions

Butterfly Conservation’s Reserves: A whistlestop tour around and Chairman’s Address Chairman’s Address

40th anniversary as a branch in 2019. Mike mentions that we already have a The Branch in Focus couple of schemes at Hills The Editor speaks Discovery Centre and at Coppice Many thanks to everyone who sent me photos of Commas for this celebratory ello everyone and a fixed route in sites known to hold key Leasowes in . The Branch Hwelcome to a changed species or to be good in other ways for will give advice and money for seeds etc 100th edition of The Comma. In the end I had to pick one, which was no easy format for our 100th edition. our butterfly population. This role may and for an information board which will task, but I am sure you will agree that Anthony Woods’ photo of a Comma in I’ll start with the Branch’s appeal to anyone either studying or include the Butterfly Conservation logo. the sunshine on the front cover is a worthy choice. main preoccupation which working in the environmental field who We also hope to recover some costs by is to seek candidates for needs to demonstrate experience in field seeking sponsorship from appropriate I will be stepping down as editor as from this issue, so the search is on for Cover story Peter Seal three vacancies. First, survey work. providers. a new editor of The Comma. My work as volunteer warden at Butterfly Cover photograph of a Comma for our is standing down as Editor I recently attended the national Branch Stephen Lewis Conservation’s Prees Heath Common Reserve requires much time and energy, celebratory 100th edition was taken after a spell of maintaining the high Fundraising Chairs’ meeting where Julie Williams, and taking into account other circumstances I regrettably have to by Anthony Woods. You can read standards to which we in the Branch have So lots of change, but while we may be Chief Executive, and other senior more about the previous 99 editions now become accustomed. This is an losing some experienced input, our BC figures gave us the latest on the relinquish the role of editor. on page 16. excellent opportunity to help maintain organisation is consolidating its reputation organisation’s plans. Key points of Branch activity, and induction and support by celebrating at national level the 50th interest are Three editions of The Comma are published each year, in spring, autumn and will be made available. It is a question of Anniversary of Butterfly Conservation. • 2025 BC Strategy which basically winter. It is an enjoyable and rewarding task, and very much a team effort, organising articles and photos sent in by Head Office is planning various commits to continuing and expanding with Trish Connolly Morgan doing all the design work, and both Peter Seal and Contributions members, and we have Morgan fundraising initiatives which include our activities and can be found on the Mike Williams offering useful input. I know that the quality of The Comma is Photographs should be sent separately Creative doing the design work Our Dan Hoare to run the London national website. very much appreciated by our members, and it needs to be maintained and rather than embedded in a document, and arranging printing with organisation is Marathon, a Radio 4 appeal • Peter Moore is to start soon as Director and of as high a resolution as possible. distribution by Head Office. celebrating at led by , of Development and Engagement and developed. So, if you think this is something you would like to do please national level the Alan Titchmarsh do not hesitate to contact our Chair, Peter Seal. The opinions expressed in this Second, after 10 years, 50th Anniversary of raffles and an online auction. we were told volunteer development will magazine are not necessarily those Joy Stevens will complete Butterfly be an important component of his work. of the West Midlands Branch her spell as Secretary at our Conservation Plants for Pollinators • We have been reviewing our Regional or of Butterfly Conservation. AGM in November. This offers Of more direct interest is the Plants Action Plan. This will become one of the someone an excellent opportunity to for Pollinators campaign, which last County and Regional Strategies and will Trust about improvements at Portway Hill - resources can be redirected to cover the BC West Midlands Butterflies become involved and obtain more insight year saw a national collaboration with be published in spring 2018 as a featured in Joy Stevens’ article in the new Atlas. I have a list of licence and into Branch business. Through the year we B&Q, whose “Nature of Gardens” can section of the National Strategy. previous edition. numbers but most do not have the Butterfly Conservation only hold two formal meetings plus the be found on their website. We will be • Head Office is to organize a stall at the recorder’s name against them. I know West Midlands AGM, however the interesting work goes reflecting this in a West Midlands initiative Malvern Spring Show. Website news some do find MapMate useful, so if you @WestMidlands_BC on elsewhere. aimed at engaging the wider public in • We continue to develop, with 34,000 The new website continues in its hold a licence funded by the Branch Third, we need a new Coordinator for practical steps to conserve butterflies: members across the UK, 1550 of whom development and we are keen to add please email me to confirm whether you the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. Places for Pollinators. Please see Mike are members of the West Midlands more of your favourite sites, please see still use it. Please ignore this if I have Our thanks go to Scott Martin who in Williams’ article on page 12, where he Branch. An increasing proportion are in John Tilt’s article on page 28. The already been in contact. addition to helping set up our Facebook describes a scheme aimed at celebrating the younger age group. Attrition rate – Committee agreed to find some money to Branch website address pages has been overseeing this vital BC’s 50th, and looks forward to our own resignations – only 8%, with 70% set up an online Moth Atlas on the new Looking forward www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk coordinating work. This is a national retention rate in respect of our 12 free site, and County Moth Recorders are Another winter nearly over, but at the time scheme where volunteers walk a route months deal. being consulted about setting this up. of writing the forecast suggests we won’t twice a year on randomly selected one see too many butterflies over the next week kilometre squares in open countryside. We are planning other initiatives with MapMate or so. However, by the time you read this Copy deadline The information is fed into the national money committed for conservation. For In connection with this I am reviewing our they should be on the wing. I’m looking The deadline for the autumn edition UKBMS Annual Report. To make life instance we are in dialogue with the use of MapMate, as we are paying for forward to the emergence of Wood easier for volunteers the scheme adopted Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife licences no longer needed – these Whites in the introduction sites and of The Comma is 31st August, but all contributions are welcome in a new online data entry system - their hoping our Peacocks bounce back .Have advance of that date. newsletter gives some tips about finding Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) a good summer. Email contributions to me at volunteers. This scheme is important Registered office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP. [email protected] and I will because, in being randomly selected, the Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) Peter Seal, Branch Chair forward them to the new editor. walks give us a different perspective from and in Scotland (SCO39268) the many UKBMS transects which follow Joy Stevens 2 the Comma Spring 2018 3 Maps showing how the Brown Hairstreak’s range has increased over time that the butterfly was under recorded, maybe even back as far as when Jack made his early discoveries at Grafton – we shall never know…..

Annual increase Streaking ahead A steady annual increase in recorded distribution then became the norm, and within ten years it was found to be occupying 100 grid squares in 2006-07. Another 10 years on and we’re almost A Worcestershire Success Story up to date, at the end of the 2016-17 winter, and the total range at that point extended to 215 squares. This represents a fairly amazing increase in the butterfly’s known range in the thirty years since 1986-87. Why this large increase or this special 100th edition Grafton Wood has occurred is difficult to fully explain. Fof The Comma I thought it Seventeen years on from Jack Undoubtedly, the modern farm stewardship schemes have been BrH Distribution1987 v1 would be interesting to Green’s discovery, and thirty invaluable in helping the butterfly expand its range. However this examine the phenomenal years prior to today, the can only be part of the story as the general health of the countryside, spread in range of one of our butterfly was still only officially together with hedgerow management practices, of 100 years ago region’s rarest butterflies – the recorded from egg records on would almost certainly have provided a much better overall habitat Brown Hairstreak – over the those same few hedgerows for the butterfly than today’s intensively managed land, and this period since our newsletter immediately surrounding species was always considered rare in the county, even in those (now The Comma magazine) Grafton Wood. These were Victorian times. Climate warming is also a potential reason to have was first published in 1979. mostly in the Orchard area, helped its spread, but again it is unlikely to be the key factor as this The Brown Hairstreak was plus one on the extreme volume of increase has not been mirrored anywhere else in the re-discovered in Worcestershire southern border of the wood. country. As mentioned earlier, under-recording in the past could also in the winter of 1969-70 Indeed, these same few partly explain the apparent increase, as it may be that it already by the late Jack Green, who hedgerows are still searched existed in a number of different locations throughout east found eggs on a hedgerow in for eggs every year now, and Worcestershire, yet its presence had simply not been noted and Simon Primrose reports on how egg hunting the Grafton Wood area. This form the core hedgerows of our recorded by anyone. However, many of the new areas where eggs BrH Distribution1997 v1 represented an absence of is providing evidence of the range expansion annual monitoring survey of the have been found are places where searches have been undertaken records of 79 years, with the of one of our rarest species butterfly at Grafton Wood. In previously without success, which does suggest that genuine last previously known official those early years after expansion of range is taking place. record being of an adult – now discovery, annual recorded preserved in the Rothschild collection at the Natural History egg numbers fluctuated widely with some years producing a zero Tireless winter egg surveys Museum in London – dated 1891, with a location of Pershore. result, whilst others produced counts as high as 93 in 1986-87. What seems almost certain though is that it never occupied as many Shortly after the Grafton discovery, Jack Green wrote an 1Km squares as the it does today. Current knowledge of this article for the Entomological Record where he mentions eggs Range spread butterfly’s distribution, together with its spread over recent years, is also being found at ‘an airfield’ (which we now know to be However, after the establishment of some stewardship schemes down to the tireless winter egg surveys conducted by a small but Defford), and later, in his 1982 book on Worcestershire on farms in this area, which gave the hedgerows some protection determined group of volunteers, known affectionately as ‘The butterflies, he records the Brown Hairstreak in three 10 km OS from annual flailing, together with some careful rotational Streakers’. This group venture out almost every Thursday during the Grid squares (SO84, SO94 and SO95). Unfortunately, no management of the core hedgerows, it was discovered that the winter, sometimes in dreadful weather, searching the Worcestershire more precise details have been found relating to any of these Brown Hairstreak was starting to spread its range away from the countryside and monitoring both previously recorded locations as locations, which are away from Grafton. immediate vicinity of Grafton Wood. By 1996 it was known from well as new ones for the presence of the little white eggs on BrH Distribution 2007 v1 five separate 1Km grid squares – four of those were the ones that Blackthorn. Out of sight envelop Grafton Wood, but also one was slightly further north Its change in fortunes therefore remains something of a mystery, It must be remembered that the Brown Hairstreak is an extremely where the butterfly’s presence had been discovered at Roundhill but one for which we are extremely grateful. We are delighted not secretive little butterfly, preferring to spend the majority of its life Wood. A year later it had doubled that number up to ten 1Km only to have such a rare and beautiful butterfly flying across an out of sight at the top of trees and tall bushes, rarely venturing squares and its distribution had moved outside its previously increasingly large part of Worcestershire, but also to be able to down to ground level. Out of all the species of UK butterfly it is known range, both north up towards Feckenham and south at report on a major butterfly success story for a change. The maps on thus likely to be the most overlooked, and hence under-recorded, Naunton Beaucham. It must be noted, however, that up until this the right show how its range has increased over time, with Grafton butterfly in its adult state. Therefore almost all records of it relate time intensive egg surveys of the Worcestershire countryside had Wood marked in brown in the centre. to its eggs being found over the winter period. yet to begin in earnest, therefore it remains a distinct possibility Article, photo and maps by Simon Primrose Footnote: We have already added a further four grid squares to our If anyone would like to join our merry band of ‘Streakers’ and help search for eggs next winter 2018-19 – usually on a Thursday – total this winter with the discovery of eggs in north-west Redditch, at then please get in touch later in the year for further details. Contact Simon by email at [email protected] what is the most northerly location yet found in Worcestershire, as well as the most southerly sightings near Throckmorton. BrH Distribution 2017 v2

4 the Comma Spring 2018 5 Green-veined White (Stephen Lewis) Small Skipper (Stephen Lewis)

Speckled Wood (Stephen Lewis) Building and Butterflies Meadow Brown(Stephen Lewis)

Thomas Knowles looks at butterfly numbers in his home patch Peacock becoming scarcer and Small Great concern Tortoiseshell much weaker than was the The big difference has come with the Species Most seen (year) 2015 2016 2017 case a few years ago. To be honest, I do field/meadow butterflies and it is these or the last twelve years I have been summer 2016 building work was in full not think these variations have been that cause me the greatest concern, also Speckled Wood 21 (2005) 17 8 3 recording sightings of butterflies in the progress. caused by the building works because including . There are not F Speckled Wood Small Skipper 17 (2006 & 2015) 17 3 2 built-up area of Eccleshall in Staffordshire Comma has been stable and, although many species in the Eccleshall area, but and its immediate surroundings. In the past Damage done mostly an immigrant, Red Admiral had we do have Small Skipper, Meadow Meadow Brown 115 (2006) 24 5 6 two years significant building works have We all know that 2016 was a poor year an excellent year in 2017, and likewise Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper and Small been taking place on former fields to both for butterflies and 2017 was an Painted Lady is an immigrant and is Copper. When I came to Eccleshall, Ringlet 75 (2015) 75 5 17 the east and west of the town, together improvement for some species, but I have inconsistent year on year. Ringlet had not been reported but was first with a certain amount of infill. found locally that the damage done by the noted in 2006 and developed strongly Gatekeeper 58 (2006) 20 7 3 I am sure that what has happened in building works has destroyed the habitats Suffered from there until the building works saw a Small Copper 8 (2010 & 2013) 1 0 0 Eccleshall is replicated elsewhere, except for several butterflies which were once The white butterflies, including Orange- decline. that the two main estates of around 140 common and are now rather scarce in the tip, did not have a significant change in Green-veined White 96 (2011) 25 13 16 houses to the East and over 80 houses to area. All I can hope for is that the large- numbers, although Green-veined Whites Article by Thomas W. W. Knowles the West are probably going to increase scale building sites have been the cause have over the years flourished in the the local population by a higher of this scarcity and that further afield the hedgerows adjacent to the building sites I have constructed a small table of the field butterflies including percentage than building developments in reductions have not been so noticeable. and have now suffered. Other butterflies Footnote: Butterfly Conservation is Green-veined White showing the highest number of a species seen by me most other areas. Suffice to say that Locally we do not see more than the include Holly Blue which seems stable, launching ‘Building Sites for Butterflies’, in one day in a year, and then the last three years’ best daily sightings for building works on the two estates is not yet high teens of types of butterfly and and Common Blue, which did have a a national project which will aim to work comparison. I wonder if this pattern is familiar in other areas where complete, although most of the land on the generally I consider these to be garden habitat destroyed but there are a few still with the construction industry to provide building works have taken place. Perhaps from this table you can two sites has been subject to the butterflies, field butterflies, the whites about. Only once did I see a habitat for butterflies and moths as part Clouded understand my concern about damage created by building works even contractor’s activity. There was some and others. The garden butterflies in Yellow in Eccleshall and that was back in of new developments. Phil Sterling has taking into account how poor the year 2016 was generally. preparatory work undertaken in 2015 Eccleshall seem to be following a pattern October 2006, and Brown Argus has been appointed Project Officer and and this did not seem damaging, but by of elsewhere in the country, with not been seen of late. starts in May.

6 the Comma Spring 2018 7 Day-flying Moths on My Patch

Adrian Richards shares his favourite place in aving just read the years, but I first saw them only HButterflies on My Patch a few years ago whilst driving article in the winter edition of past, and had to investigate The Comma, I thought I would what they were. I was very share a favourite place local to surprised to see they were not myself. Living in Telford in the Skippers I thought they Leopard Moth White Plume Moth Square-spot Rustic Shropshire there are plenty of would be, and also by their areas within an hour’s drive, profusion. So I look forward such as Wenlock Edge, to what is becoming a regular Granville Country Park and yearly walk. On the move Highgate Common, where me Peta Sams finds moving house presents many opportunities and my wife Janine can take Good policy our dog Bob for a walk and Fortunately the Telford & Wrekin oving house has always has actually been a far more encounter various butterflies Council seem to have a Burnet Companion Mleft me worried about new interesting year than in some of and day-flying moths, all out of good policy of when and owners looking after the garden our other gardens. the way from traffic and noise. how to mow the stretch of and the wildlife it supports, and grass, which in turn encourages plenty house purchases have always Planting Ten minute walk away of Red Clover and Birds-foot Trefoil, been as much about the garden But now we want to do quite a However, one place I look forward to and several wild grasses. I hope you've as the house. But last year found bit of development work in the visiting every year is only a ten minute enjoyed my experience on my patch, us moving house to an estate garden – plant some dense walk away from where I live, right next to and if you are in the area from the end house with a typical postage shrubs such as pyracantha a very busy road. The grassy area which of May and throughout June, it’s well stamp garden. Although 20 against the bare fence posts, get lies next to Wood Way in worth turning your back on the traffic years old it is still relatively bare, some ivy established along the Telford is home to Burnet Companion and seeing this delightful little moth and the clay soil and slope do boundaries and also even grow moths, and in a sunny fifteen minutes enjoying a spot of sunshine. The Garden not make it the easiest to work. some soft fruit for our own we've seen well over a hundred. They've My Patch Would we see any birds? Would there be anything at all in the enjoyment. Planting some more shrubs and getting some hedging probably been there a good number of Article and photos by Adrian Richards garden? How soon would we be able to get some hedging and in the front are also on the to-do list. Of course this, unfortunately, more native plants established and a pond dug? We have means taking out much of what is there – which actually isn’t that always been good on growing what many (but not, I’m sure, much – but I worry that this year we may see less than in 2017 BC members) might call “weeds”. However, we have been before it all starts to grow. We have a rough plan but things tend pleasantly surprised – we have had a good range of species to evolve with us rather than be completely determined at the The Nature of The Malverns through the garden during our first summer. Not large numbers start. And it depends what plants I really cannot resist buying, urprisingly, this is the first ever book to cover all aspects of the natural history ON of anything, and often just one or two individuals, but it’s been although with a smaller garden I realise I cannot get as Sof the Malverns and will appeal to both residents and visitors interested in SAVE £10 a promising start. carried away as I have with previous gardens. So I will be learning more about this fascinating area. With a Foreword by writer and THE PUBLISHED PRICEP&P looking carefully and hoping that this year is as good as last. broadcaster Brett Westwood, all of the sections are written by local experts and £32.50+£4 Oviposting We will attempt to make things more wildlife friendly, most of the stunning photographs supplied by local photographers. All of these PRE-PUBLICATION PRICE +£4 P&P There were a few Orange-tips around at the start of the season, including excavating a few surreptitious holes for hedgehogs contributions have been voluntary and the funders of the book, the Malvern Hills £22.50 OFFER ENDS 31 MAY then in July one or two Commas were around for a few weeks, and amphibians under all the right-down-to-the-ground fences Trust and the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, have agreed as were a couple of Gatekeepers and some Large Whites. At that seem to characterize new housing, and we hope this will that all profits will be used for wildlife conservation efforts on the hills and the end of July a Small Skipper was seen, September gave a bring increased numbers to the garden in the not too distant commons. brief sighting of a Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admirals were future. A final find of the year as we started removing some seen on the walls, roof and fence posts until the end of October. unwanted plants climbing on the fence was a pupal case of The Malvern Hills, composed of some of the oldest rocks in England, stretch One evening we spotted a beautiful White Plume moth on a Puss Moth – I only realised what this was when reading 14km north to south, standing proud above the surrounding landscape. One Available from: the play areas between the houses. A Leopard moth was the January 2018 edition of The Comma. So that’s something of the defining features of the area is the surprising number of habitats, Pisces Publications, 36 Kingfisher Court, spotted ovipositing in the tree in the garden in June – else to look out for. representing a combination of hills, commons, woods and urban areas. Many Hambridge Road, Newbury RG14 5SJ. Tel: 01635 550380 that was an exciting afternoon. A Square-spot Rustic moth special species are to be found, including over 30 butterfly species and over Email: [email protected] was seen in late August and, true to its name, a Winter moth Article and photos by Peta Sams apart from the White Plume Moth 1,000 species of moths. Website: www.naturebureau.co.uk Order Online: www.naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop/ was seen on the window in early December. So – all in all – it by Mike Shurmer

8 the Comma Spring 2018 9 Robin Hemming shares some notable records from his Hereford- Obscure Wainscot was new for my shire garden and further afield garden and continues to appear in the county, following records in the previous two years. Other reed-feeding species oth recording in my Bodenham are spreading. Phyl King trapped the M garden continues to throw up some county’s first Brown-veined Wainscot surprises. In 2017 the confirmed highlights in 2017. Calamotropha paludella has included two species which are new to become a regular here. Another wetland . A was only species, , was Yarrow Pug Marsh Oblique-barred Trichoplusia ni, Ni Moth (Graham Wenman) discovered by dissection and is a slightly trapped by Peter Hall at Brockhampton. surprising addition to our Herefordshire This is another species which is new for list – it may well have been an immigrant. our county list. Stathmopoda pedella, a micro moth that has recently occurred in Worcester, has also The lovely micro italica spread into Herefordshire. I trapped one in showed up here in Bodenham twice, in Bodenham on 14th June, and another was June and July, and now seems well beaten from alder by Aaron Woods established in the county, following the first Agrotera nemoralis (Graham Wenman) at Wofferwood Common on 2nd July. records from Newton St Margaret’s and Scarlet Tiger (Graham Wenman) Herefordshire Moth Highlights 2017 Colwall. There have been several in the county and was widely reported. It Hereford city this year (John Walshe). was doing particularly well in Hereford Rhodometra sacraria, Vestal (Graham Wenman) city where John Walshe also found The first modern Herefordshire record of numbers of Small along with Homoeosoma nebulella occurred at 2 Cypress Pugs, following his county Bodenham on 22nd August. Pammene first in 2016. Surprisingly, he also found spiniana occurred on the same night but 2 ancient woodland feeders, was less surprising as it had been Clouded Magpie and Blomer’s Rivulet, recorded in the previous two years in in the city. Dwarf Cream Waves were Clouded Magpie (Graham Wenman) Bodenham. also very unexpected from the city as previously only known to occur rarely in Whilst it was not a classic year for the south-east of the county. Elsewhere on Eublemma parva, Small Marbled migration there were spells in June the Doward, Ian Draycott recorded Blomer's Rivulet (Mike Shurmer) (Graham Wenman) when Silver Y, Diamond-backed moth, Mompha divisella, which is new for the and my garden’s second county, what is probably the first modern distribution of this handsome species is Rush Veneer Helicoverpa armigera, Scarce Bordered record for Ni moth arrived. Another record of Epinotia signatana, and the Straw (Graham Wenman) very uncertain in Herefordshire. Some Ni moth was taken by John Walshe Plume moth, Merrifieldia baliodactylus. research with the newly available in Hereford city a few days later, along Pyrausta nigrita continues to do well on pheromone could pay big dividends. with a Small Marbled. Hummingbird White Rocks, along with Beech-green Line was recorded also. Peter also found There were reports from Ceredigion in Hawkmoths were the only migrant Carpet and Waved Carpet. Devon an example of Aproaerema anthyllidella 2016 of male Emperors following a car hawk-moth reported to me. They were Carpet now seems to have spread at Bringsty Common, the first since the as it left a site where lures had been left seen widely throughout the county. Late throughout much of the county. 19th century, the fifth county record for out, so it seems to work. October produced a good wave of Dichomeris alacella, and second record immigrants including 5 Vestals from For me, the VC 36 Herefordshire record for Brockhampton in as many years. Whilst these records demonstrate some of Hereford (John Walshe), 3 in Bodenham, of the year goes to Peter Hall who Acleris logiana was at Bringsty, which is the changes in the world, it 3 in Bringsty Common plus others trapped an Agrotera nemoralis, a further evidence of this conifer specialist doesn’t reflect the continuing dramatic elsewhere. Scarce Bordered Straw was presumed migrant, in Haugh Wood. spreading from Scotland. decline in both numbers and diversity of seen in Bodenham and Hereford plus a Other good records from Haugh include our species. We must all work to conserve Palpita vitrealis in Bodenham. 5 Salebriopsis albicilla, following the Peter was again successful in assembling the little we have left. county first in 2006 by Jeff Rush, and the male Emperor moths to his reared virgin Pyrausta nigrata (Graham Wenman) Scarlet Tiger moth has spread throughout first recent Brown Scallop. A Double females in the spring at Bringsty. The By Robin Hemming

10 the Comma Spring 2018 11 Places for Pollinators

Can you help us to provide a place for pollinators in your area?

utterfly Conservation is celebrating its 50th anniversary will be designed in close collaboration with West Midlands Bthis year and is running a number of special initiatives Butterfly Conservation, who will provide some sample text, and projects during the course of the year, which are and the finished board will include the Butterfly detailed elsewhere in this special issue of The Comma. Conservation logo. West Midlands Butterfly Conservation, as well as supporting the national society in their special year, can Good geographical spread also begin to look forward to our own 40th anniversary If you know of a site that could become a Place for as a Branch in 2019. We have a number of ideas in the Pollinators do get in touch. We are keen to obtain a pipeline to mark this occasion, and are launching this good geographical spread of pollinator gardens and spring a new campaign called Places for Pollinators. wildflower meadows and would like to see at least one Pollinating are in serious decline in Britain which Place for Pollinators in every area covered by the branch, is bad news not just for wildlife but also for us as we rely i.e. all four shire counties plus Birmingham and the Black on insects, including butterflies and moths, to pollinate the Country. We already have our first site earmarked and plants that provide the food that we eat. Since the 1940s, will be launching a new Pollinators Garden outside 97% of wildflower meadows have been destroyed, whilst Wychavon Civic Centre in Worcestershire this spring. many other valuable habitats have been lost. We have been very fortunate with the garden at and our new garden at Pershore to We are keen Pollinators Garden at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Formal or informal have received sponsorship from Shropshire- to obtain a good Over the next two years, West Midlands based C.J. Wildlife, who have paid for the geographical spread Butterfly Conservation would like to support of pollinator gardens information board and contributed to the cost the creation of up to 10 ‘Places for and wildflower of plants in both cases. We would be keen to Pollinators’ across the region. These can be meadows enter into similar partnerships with other the more formal Pollinator Gardens, like the one businesses within our region, including garden already created at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, centres and nurseries, and if you know of a company or more informal areas like the Butterfly Meadow being who may be interested please encourage them to get in developed at Coppice Leasowes in Church Stretton. touch. If we can find partners in this way, we may be What is important is that areas are planted up in a way able to increase the number of Places for Pollinators that that will attract pollinating insects through the provision can be created. of plants rich in nectar and pollen, but also offering, where possible, opportunities for insects to breed and Support this campaign over-winter. To qualify as Places for Pollinators and This is an exciting new project which, as well as having receive support from West Midlands Butterfly direct benefits for our butterflies and moths, will also help Conservation sites must be in a prominent location, be to get across the message that, while pollinating insects open to the public and have sufficient resources, may be in trouble, there is something we can all do about volunteer or paid, to both create and maintain the area. it. We may not all own large areas of land, but most of us will be aware of sites of vacant land or closely mown grass Information boards where there is scope to provide a Place for Pollinators and In return, West Midlands Butterfly Conservation will provide we hope that all our members will want to do their bit to advice on the planning of the area, contribute to the cost support this campaign. of plants and/or seed where this is needed and will pay for the erection of an information board on site. The board Article & photos by Mike Williams

For further information and details of how you can take part please contact Mike Williams at [email protected] Lickhill Primary School Meadow, Stourport-on-Severn

12 the Comma Spring 2018 13 Plugged-in at Prees Heath

Volunteers hand harvesting Bell Heather seed

Waitrose award 2017 Comma and Small Tortoiseshell

It is often the way of restoration Supermarket Sweep projects that some things go well Hummingbird Hawkmoth and others go….maybe not as Mike Southall shows how conventional farming and wildlife can co-exist well as hoped!

y brother Paul and I were delighted Five new macro moth species were here are two species of heather on Mto receive the 2017 Waitrose recorded, Red-necked Footman, Devon TPrees Heath Common Reserve. Calluna RAF Shawbury trainees Farming Partnership Award for Carpet, Least Carpet, Crescent and the vulgaris, Common Heather or Ling, flowers Harper Adams University students planting the plugs Environmental Sustainability in the fresh scarce migrant Purple Marbled. Several in August and September, and Erica produce sector. Southalls of Norchard’s new micro moths were also recorded cinerea, Bell Heather, which flowers broadcasting the seed on these areas, Not only did the Prees Heath volunteers Least Carpet entry emphasized our commitment to the including Ruddy Streak, Tachystola earlier in the year, from June through until with very little success in the way of do the work but also 22 trainees farmed environment, and also included acroxantha, probably an Australian October. Both heathers are used by the germination. In fact the company who from nearby RAF Shawbury, (we like to our engagement with the local community. introduction and Anania crocealis. Another Silver-studded Blue butterfly for egg- grew the plug plants for us, Forestart maintain an RAF link as the reserve is a Our conventional farm currently produces unforgettable highlight was the sight of laying, but only Bell Heather is used as a based near , had great former WW2 airfield), 22 sixth-formers mainly hand-picked vegetables from over 41 Scarlet Tigers which came to source of nectar, as by the time the difficulty in getting their seed to from Ellesmere College and 12 a thousand acres of Worcestershire light one night in late June. Hummingbird Common Heather is in flower all the Silver- germinate, trying different techniques undergraduates from Harper Adams farmland. The wildlife Hawkmoths were seen studded Blues will have mated, laid their such as putting the seed in cold storage University helped to plant the plugs. Since on the farm has been on four occasions, having eggs and died. and applying smoke to simulate fire, and then the plugs have been regularly enhanced by habitat been attracted to White it was not until they left the seeds alone checked to replant any that the rabbits creation combined with Valerian which we had Purple Marbled Volunteers that they achieved some success. have scraped out of the soil. A further few habitat maintenance alongside regular planted in sight of our kitchen window. So there is a clear need to establish Bell trays of plug plants will not be ready for recording. This is most evident in and Several butterfly species also used this plant Heather on the former arable areas of the Planting plugs planting out until this autumn. So will we around the three winter storage irrigation for feeding. Convolvulus Hawkmoth was reserve (29 hectares out of 60 hectares). Last autumn a further 15,400 Bell achieve a better result this time? – ask me pools which we have created. Other hot recorded for the third consecutive year due We have had some success in Heather plug plants supplied by Forestart in a few years’ time! spots include three small woodlands, to the presence of Nicotiana plants. establishing Common Heather on much of from seed harvested by our volunteers hedges and their margins, and these areas, but Bell Heather has proved were planted on the former arable areas. Article and photos by the editor uncultivated field corners. The vegetable Revelation more problematic. In 2009 20,000 plug crops’ debris is usually not ploughed in National Moth Night in mid-October plants of Bell Heather grown from seed until springtime, which leaves a great involved looking at ivy flowers after dark Red-necked Footman harvested on site were planted by feeding resource for wintering birds, along the farms hedges. It was a revelation volunteers. Many of these, however, did especially the old pumpkin fields. for me to see the numbers of moths of not survive due to rabbit disturbance, different species using this resource at this being swamped by Common Heather Regular basis time of year. The mild conditions also which had been seeded onto these areas Moth trapping has been undertaken on a helped to produce an exceptional list from or becoming desiccated in the sandy regular basis at Norchard since 1999. the moth traps so late in the year. soils. In subsequent years the Prees Heath New species are recorded on the site volunteers spent many hours hand RAF Shawbury trainees most years but 2017 was exceptional. Article & photos by Mike Southall Dotted Chestnut harvesting Bell Heather seed and

14 the Comma Spring 2018 15 • increased representation at outside Butterfly Conservation’s largest events including the running of a woodland reserves. With a new Cotswold Butterfly Festival (in those editor came further changes in early years the branch area covered the look of the newsletter, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire in although perhaps more subtle 10 0 addition to our current region!) this time, with the introduction of • the setting up of a conservation a coloured front and back project on the White-letter cover and a more prominent Hairstreak contents page on the front. not out! • and the launch of a fundraising Three full newsletters were The Comma reaches an important milestone appeal to raise money to purchase now produced each year, our first reserve. This quickly bore fruit rather than two plus a shorter and in 1986 we were able to news-sheet. Considerable t is great to be able to celebrate the amateurish appearance the newsletter announce the purchase of our first attention was given to I100th edition of West Midlands attracted a good response, and by the national reserve at Monkwood. recording, and branch Butterfly Conservation’s magazine time of our second issue we were able to members were actively with this issue. Not, of course, that report on a successful series of field trips Change encouraged to visit under- it was always a magazine or even and 30 members! We were also able to By the time I handed over my blue pencil recorded areas to ensure known as The Comma. The first advertise our first members’ event –a and bottle of Tippex to Warwickshire the best possible coverage issue of our newsletter was slide evening at a school in Coventry. member Margaret Vickery in the for the national Millennium published in July 1979 shortly Autumn of 1986, the newsletter had Atlas. Both Christine and her husband after the formation of the branch. Foresee the future grown from 4 to 26 pages. A new Editor Jim had a strong interest in moths and West Midlands was the very first Less good news was to have to report the meant changes and all for the better! From moth content in the newsletter increased branch within the national demise of the native Large Blue with no issue 17 onwards the rather scruffy sheets considerably during this time. Indeed, society to be established, so emergence at its final site. The ability to of paper stapled at the corner became a they took on the huge task, along with we were very much treading foresee the future, however, was thing of the past, and members were now Ian Duncan, of helping new ground. Up to this point, obviously there from the start, as the able to receive their newsletter in a new Mike Harper and Tony the only communication received by editorial contained the words: “We A3 folded format which was much more Simpson to edit and members was whatever was sent out can only hope that the Large Blue’s reader friendly. Margaret was also able subsequently publish the nationally. disappearance will not have been in to draw on the artistic talents of John ‘Moths of Worcestershire’ vain, and will awaken the public to the Norton, the curator at Museum in three volumes. A Home-made effort threat overshadowing many of our native and a great butterfly enthusiast, who monumental task and the Our first newsletter was a very home- species. In the long run, let us hope that produced original artwork for every front first publication nationally made effort consisting of four pages of the loss will not be a permanent one; that cover for the next 10 years. Margaret did to comprehensively cover text typed on a stencil in a few years’ time we might see the much to consolidate the reputation of the micro-moths at a county which was then butterfly re-introduced to one or more of West Midlands newsletter with a varied level. attached to the drum its former habitats.” selection of articles contributed by our of a Roneo Duplicator members which has been sustained Taking the reins and run off manually. History of the branch through to the present day. She also When Ian Duncan stood With a staple at the The history of our newsletter is of instituted a Spring news-sheet which filled down as branch chair in corner it was mailed course in many ways also the history the long gap between our winter and 2005, Christine also decided out to all members of of the branch, and subsequent issues summer issues so that members started to to relinquish her role as editor the then British Butterfly documented many activities, including: receive three communications from the and the job moved on this time Conservation Society • the establishment of our first winter branch each year rather than two. to Herefordshire with Dean living in our region. The work parties (at Brotheridge Green, Fenton taking on the reins. newsletter offered a a WWT reserve in 1981) Colourful future Dean’s editorship, although summary of the butterfly • outings outside our region by coach With the setting up of a separate relatively short compared to the season so far, a list of (the first to Exmoor to see the Heath Warwickshire branch in 1997, Margaret’s editors that had gone before field trips planned over Fritillary in 1985) long reign as editor drew to a close and him, in many ways saw the the summer, a plea for • the establishment of a branch the task was handed on to Christine birth of the modern magazine articles for future issues recording scheme Chance, a Birmingham member. It was as we know it today. The format and an invitation to join • the launch of a photography rather fitting that the period of Margaret’s switched to A4 folded, colour was the branch – 50p for competition editorship should be dovetailed with the introduced (again a first for a BC branch adults and just 25p for • the organisation of butterfly and moth acquisition of Monkwood at the start and juniors! Despite the very day schools Grafton Wood at the end, still two of CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

162 the Comma Spring 2018 173 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 help with design. Trish’s creativity and professionalism has ensured that The newsletter) and, after a period of Comma has maintained a consistently Never Rule 25 years’ gestation, the name high standard of production and is the ‘The Comma’ appeared for envy of many other BC branches. the first time. Seeing that the Although Roger made way for Stephen out the branch had adopted the Lewis in 2015, Trish has continued as Comma butterfly as its symbol our magazine designer and will be there as far back as issue 10 it does to support our new Editor as they embark seem perverse that we on the next century of Commas. Unexpected didn’t give the name to our newsletter until issue 61! Voice of Butterfly Conservation Ian Hart discovers that the Wood White Anyway ‘The Comma’ had Although The Comma has changed its might be more adept at dispersal than is finally emerged from its appearance and format over the years generally thought chrysalis and there was no what has not changed is its important role turning back. as the voice of Butterfly Conservation in Wood White the West Midlands. There is no doubt the Professional journalist magazine is highly valued by members Dean’s tenure as Editor continued until and this is witnessed by the large number 2009 when he was replaced by Roger of them who have contributed material Wasley, a professional journalist who over the past 39 years. had previously worked for British Aerospace. Under Roger’s leadership Commitment of our members The Comma soon soared Looking back through old issues (and this to new heights (pun is something anyone can do via our intended!). Now desktop website) what strikes home is the strong Woodland Site, which had been clear- published, colour was commitment of our members and the felled in the 1960s and planted with extended throughout branch to the conservation of butterflies conifers. and the newsletter was and moths. West Midlands Butterfly enlarged to 32 pages. A Conservation has always shown grit Weak flyer much more journalistic and determination to reach its goals What is of particular interest with this style was introduced, and, despite the occasional setback, the record is that it is well known that the then, from issue 80 100 issues of The Comma reflect the Wood White is a weak flyer, and not onwards, we started to considerable success that has been particularly adept at dispersal, certainly refer to the publication as achieved. As we enter our 40th year as not over large distances. Of equal interest our regional magazine a branch, we owe a major debt of is that this was not the first time in over forty rather than a newsletter. gratitude to our Editors (only six in all this years of recording that we undertake Headlines and sub- time) who have all done such a great job. from our cottage that we have recorded a headings to stories The Comma will no doubt evolve further Wood White on our patch. Trawling became the norm with a under new editorship and will need to through my butterfly records I have a note Wood White on vetch few classics like ‘Branch adjust to the changing world of wildlife that one was recorded in the garden on sticks its neck out for conservation, but we can all be confident 31st May 1997 and another on 22nd giraffe’ (Comma 85) and that it will continue to build on past n July 24th last summer I walked into straggling out of the hedge, which is the June 2004. there were many more in success and remain a lively and well-read Oour meadow adjacent to our species’ larval foodplant. similar vein. Roger also magazine. cottage to see if anything of wildlife Suitable habitat did the branch a mighty favour when he interest was evident. My attention was Ancient woodlands The message conveyed here is that the recruited Trish Connolly Morgan to Article by Mike Williams immediately drawn to a small white The immediate question that came to mind natural world is full of unexpected butterfly fluttering weakly adjacent to a was from where had the butterfly surprises. Clearly the Wood White is able hedge and I walked over to investigate. originated? There are some ancient to disperse, despite its seemingly Closer inspection quickly confirmed that woodlands in the area of western laborious and laboured flight, and has the this was not a Small White or a Green- Herefordshire where they have been ability to re-establish and recolonise new To view previous issues of the Comma please visit our website veined White, species normally recorded, but the nearest is some two areas should the habitat be suitable. www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk and go to the section ‘Download the Comma’ associated with the habitat, but a Wood kilometres distant. Moreover this woodland White. It soon alighted on a vetch, is a PAWS, a Plantation on an Ancient Article and photos by Ian Hart

18 the Comma Spring 2018 19 Habitiats and vegetation types on BC reserves

1 1 2 Calcerous grassland Nature Reserves 12 Neutral -acid grassland

Woodland 8 Many West Midlands mem- Culm/Rhos pasture

bers will be familiar with the Heathland

five Butterfly Conservation Fen reserves in our region, all of 8 which are very effectively managed by our volunteers, but those outside our area may be less well known. This article provides a brief intro- duction to some of the gems out there and the butterflies and moths they support. Cowslips on Prestbury Hill (John Davis) Chalk Hill Blue (John Davis)

utterfly Conservation owns or leases Many of the reserves are funded Dyers Greenweed at Ewyas Harold Meadows (Lucy Morton) B37 nature reserves in 22 counties and through European Union Agri-environment regions in all countries of the UK apart schemes which are administered by Duke of Burgundy, Small Blue, Chalk from Northern Ireland. Members and Natural England. These agreements Hill Blue, Dingy Skipper and day-flying volunteers in 20 Branches manage the Butterfly enable the habitat and species work to be moths such as Chimney Sweeper and reserves, supported by the reserves team Conservation's carried out, but in return there are rigorous Cistus Forester. The Reserve Manager is - John Davis, Head of Reserves, Jayne Reserves inspections carried out by the Rural John Coates. Chapman, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Payments Agency that keep us on our Reserves Officer, and myself, Lucy Morton, toes! We also receive generous donations Myers Allotment (Lucy Morton) Neutral /acid grassland habitats National Reserves Officer (part time). from members of the public, and an These are represented in Dorset, Branch volunteers carry out tasks as enormous amount of fundraising is carried fields. Species include , Somerset, Devon and Herefordshire. Chalk Hill Blue Marsh Fritillary (Jim Asher) varied as transect walking, lookering out by Branch volunteers and the Small Blue and Brown Argus. Moths Alners Gorse, near Hazelbury Bryan in livestock, leading guided walks, writing Fundraising team at Head Office, include Striped Lychnis and Marbled Dorset is a remnant of a former common management plans and carrying out bringing in much needed resources. Clover. The reserve benefits from having enclosed in the 19th century and unimproved grassland are Ewyas Harold practical work, wielding chainsaws, The reserves include a variety of a dedicated Reserves Officer, Jayne undermanaged if not neglected during Meadows in Herefordshire where Ian brushcutters and hand tools, and enjoying habitats supporting 50 species of butterfly Chapman, who also manages other the 20th century. There is a range of Hart is the Reserve Manager. the warmth of a glowing bonfire, not to and many more moths! All the reserves reserves in the south east. grassland types from dry to wet acidic, mention taking on the roles of Reserve have special qualities and it is hard to pick Ryton Wood Meadows (Reserve with extensive scrub communities and Rhos pasture or Culm grassland Managers. out a few to illustrate in this article, so I Manager Mike Slater) in Warwickshire, woodland. Marsh Fritillary has re- habitat have chosen those that represent the is a species rich grassland restored colonised following habitat restoration This habitat is represented by reserves habitats below, and my apologies if I from an old quarry. Other calcareous work, and Brown Hairstreak, White- in South Wales and Somerset. Median have not chosen your favourite! grassland reserves include Myers letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Farm and Caeau Ffos Fach near Cross Allotment, (Reserve Manager David Grizzled Skipper, White Admiral and Hands in Carmarthenshire is a group of Calcareous grassland habitats Wrigley) near Arnside in Lancashire, Silver-washed Fritillary can also been flowery ‘Rhôs pasture’ fields (wet Purple These habitats are represented by reserves and Eyarth Rocks near Ruthin in seen. The locality’s moth fauna is very Moor-grass pasture) at the heart of a in Dorset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, North Wales, both of which have areas diverse and interesting, with hundreds landscape of national importance for Somerset, North Wales, Lancashire, of limestone pavement. Rough Bank of species recorded to date including Marsh Fritillary. The reserve forms the Warwickshire and Buckinghamshire. (managed by the Gloucestershire Branch nationally scarce Dingy Mocha, main part of a Site of Special Scientific Magdalen Hill Down near Winchester Reserve Committee) near Stroud and Mocha, Small Eggar and Marbled Interest (SSSI), one of a series forming the is a great example of original chalk Prestbury Hill near Cheltenham, are both Pug. It is also a stronghold for the Caeau Mynydd Mawr Special Area downland with scrub, and also a long excellent examples of limestone grassland Nightingale in the west of the country. The of Conservation (SAC), a European established project to re-create chalk and both are grazed with cattle over the reserve manager is Nigel Spring of the Former arable land at Magdalen Hill Down (John Davis) grassland with scrapes on former arable autumn and winter. Prestbury Hill has Dorset Branch. Other examples of CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 the Comma Spring 2018 21 Emperor Moth at Catfield Fen (John Davis) Swallowtail (Peter Eeles)

jointly owned and managed with and Marshes National Nature Reserve Tiger Cub! Fence and hedgerow Bechsteins Bat (Ian Davidson-Watts) Worcestershire Wildlife Trust. Grafton which is one of the best and largest Wood celebrated its 20th anniversary last remaining areas of fen habitat in Western year, and the coppicing and ride Europe. The area is a stronghold for the management carried out by John Tilt, British form of the Swallowtail butterfly. Reserve Manager, and his volunteers The reserve is a typical fen mixture of open Scarlet Tiger Gatecrashers! provide habitat for a wide variety of water, reed, sedge and carr woodland. wildlife. Brown Hairstreaks breed on the The reed is cut on a 1–2 year cycle, and Joy Stevens provides an update grass. We have yet to assess the effect on at the end of the 2016/17 winter. Glad banks of blackthorn, laying their eggs on the sedge on a 3–5 year cycle. The reed our wild flowers. to report that one had been utilised by the young suckers. Bechsteins Bat is a is used for thatching, and cutting produces e are nearing the end of our winter We have carried out maintenance blue tits, as evidenced by their beautiful CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 species that benefits from mature an ideal range of vegetation structures for Wwork parties on Roman Road, and upkeep work on different patches, mossy, feathery nest with a single woodland, but also feeds on insects that a great diversity of wildlife. The Fen has a Stourbridge. Usually we are blessed with clearing around the base of the unhatched egg. designation for this threatened butterfly. thrive in the diverse woodland structure. long history of management, which also good weather, but we did have to hedgerow plants planted in previous Now there is plenty of evidence that Other species present include Green Trench Wood also supports Brown depends on the careful control of water cancel our December meet due to the years to repair neglected gaps. These are spring is on the way. Following on Hairstreak, Marbled White, and Hairstreak, and Monkwood has been levels. Many uncommon and rare plants snow and treacherously icy conditions. mostly faring well. Our February work from snowdrops, a few primroses have botanically Whorled Caraway and central to the ‘Making a Stand for the and are found on the reserve, As usual we have seen some advances party was blessed with warm sunny ventured into flower. The air is full of bird Marsh Clubmoss. The reserve is grazed Wood White’ project, led by Rhona including Milk Parsley and Crested but also some setbacks. weather which tempted out several 7-spot song, and in a couple of weeks we with ponies and the winter work parties Goddard. ladybirds and a couple of frogs. We should see the celandines in bloom and clear scrub and bramble. Swaling is Ramming incident regularly find frogs along the bridle path, the Scarlet Tiger caterpillars emerging sometimes carried out to burn off the dry Heathland habitat One of our early tasks was to replace the which must benefit from the number of from hibernation. Purple Moor-grass tops and encourage This is represented by Prees Heath gate at the north end of the bridle path. garden ponds in the area. We also new growth. The reserve managers are Common, near Whitchurch in Shropshire. The original had fallen victim to a ramming managed to check the bird boxes erected Article & photos by Joy Stevens Richard Smith, South Wales Branch, It is part of a larger area of Common land, incident and there were worries about the working alongside Russel Hobson, and has varied habitats including risk of unwanted vehicular access to the Senior Conservation Officer, and grassland, woodland, scrub and a large bridle path. Unfortunately the new gate George Tordoff, Conservation Officer. pond, along with old airfield structures. fared little better, being flung aside and There is an extensive and on-going badly bent just a few weeks later, during Woodland habitats heathland re-creation project on areas of a police car chase in broad daylight. The These are represented in Sussex, Surrey, former arable cultivation. It is the last Catfield Fen (John Davis) gate has been put back on one of its Lincolnshire and Worcestershire. The remaining site for the Silver-studded Blue hinges. three Worcestershire woodlands are in the Midlands region. Other species Buckler Fern, and dragonflies such as the include Purple Hairstreak, which were Norfolk Hawker. The dykes and ditches Every cloud seen in large numbers in the summer of support rare plants such as Frogbit and Various local residents had also expressed 2017 feeding on honeydew on Rosebay Stoneworts. Old peat cuttings on the concern about the state of the old Willowherb. The Reserve Manager is reserve provide a special range of sandstone wall which was being seriously Stephen Lewis, who was a member of conditions for water beetles, and Catfield undermined by two large sycamores. BC staff and was instrumental in engaging Fen is one of the top national sites for These worries proved well founded when with the local community when the reserve them. Richard Mason, RSPB, carries out a section of the wall collapsed. However, The photo on the right was first acquired. work under the Higher Level Stewardship every cloud has a silver lining, and this has shows the gate flung aside scheme on the reserve, helped by Norfolk led to repair work being carried out and badly bent during a Fen habitat Branch, RSPB and Plantlife volunteers. rebuilding the wall and the sycamores police car chase and This is represented by Catfield Fen in have been cut down. The area has been above, put back on Exmoor Ponies (Lucy Morton) Norfolk. It forms part of the Ant Broads Article by Lucy Morton completely dug over, removing the coarse one of it’s hinges

22 the Comma Spring 2018 23 is to set up a Wood White timed count. A timed count is very easy to do, it involves walking a set route three or four times a year between May and August and recording how many Wood Whites you see. It’s a great excuse to go for a walk on a sunny day. I’m also looking for help with the butterfly transect at Mortimer Forest and Blakeridge Wood, a Wood White reintroduction site, so if anyone is interested in helping with timed counts or transects please do get in touch with me, and training will be provided if needed.

Events We have a number of events planned for 2018, including a guided walk at Blakeridge Wood on the 31st May, a Wood White walk at Mortimer Forest on 2nd June, a Wood White walk at Monkwood on 3rd June, and a Wood White survey day at Monkwood on the 14th June. For more details see the Dates for your Diary pages.

Wood White at Mortimer Forest 2017 (Rhona Goddard) The Great Bury Ditches Rake-off (Stephen Lewis) By Rhona Goddard Update on the Wood White Project

irstly, I’d like to thank all the volunteers Rare limestone plant species Fwho have attended our work parties this I visited a number of Herefordshire Wildlife winter, especially those hardy individuals Trust nature reserves this winter including who attended the day at Nupend and Rudge End Blakeridge Wood in the Quarry. At Rudge End we snow! Despite the weather, were lucky enough to be there and thanks to your efforts, when the Stinking Hellebore we’ve still managed to carry was in flower! The quarry out conservation work at a supports a number of rare number of sites, including Wessington limestone plant species, so working here this Wood and Pasture, Bury Ditches and winter will hopefully benefit the quarry flora Siege Wood. We also spent a great as well as the Wood White. morning at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre with the ‘Habitat Helpers’. Wood White timed count Thanks to Branch volunteers we’ve Rhona Goddard finds Key species received a number of Wood White inspiration in Herefordshire Fantastic to see all the practical works records from new sites around the West and seeks more help with finished at Haugh Wood, with more Midlands region since the project began Wood White recording woodland scallops and scrapes created in 2016. It would be great to know a little at Wigmore Rolls and Bury Ditches. This more about these sites, especially habitat work will hopefully benefit not only regarding the number of Wood White Wood White but other key species too, butterflies they support and, importantly, if and now we will just have to wait and see. they’re breeding. One way of doing this Habitat Helpers (Rhona Goddard)

24 the Comma Spring 2018 25 Short-tailed Blue

Large Tortoiseshell Long-tailed Blue Brown Hairstreaks

the size of a decent football pitch, I have so far seen and identified the striking Mazarine Blue, and on occasion both Short and 42 different species within it, including six different Fritillaries. Long-tailed Blues.

Les Papillons de Bretagne Particularly rare Grafton Wood The usual migrant species can be encountered here: Clouded During the winter months back in England I spend most Colin Grey gives us a tour around his garden and further afield in Brittany Yellow, Queen of Spain Fritillary, Painted Lady etc., but I Wednesdays with the merry Grafton Wood work parties, but I get my biggest 'buzz' from the species which have become have only once seen a Brown Hairstreak there – a bedraggled or over 40 years I have spent at least part of my summers in garden, identification book in hand, I soon realised that some extinct or particularly rare in the British Isles. Along the sunken October specimen. My spirits were lifted, however, when I FSouth Brittany in , in particular around the Commune of of my fleeting visitors were somewhat upmarket to what I was lanes and field boundaries Wood Whites are fairly common, discovered them in Penestin, and it was on a hedge just behind Penestin, just south of Vannes. It is an area with a mild climate accustomed to seeing back in Redditch. Silver-washed and I have found a spot where Large Tortoiseshells regularly the house that I had perhaps my rarest encounter - a mating pair (some 300 miles due south of England), is generously wooded Fritillaries, Swallowtails, Queen of Spain Fritillaries and come to nectar on some overgrown laurel hedges. Swallowtails of Brown Hairstreaks! and has numerous small fields enclosed by banks and hedges even a Camberwell Beauty. Not all on the same day, of (Continental variety) are around from spring to late summer that have frustrated modern agriculture and been abandoned to course! visiting gardens for nectar and laying eggs on wild fennel. Article & photos by Colin Grey become scrubby flower meadows. Black-veined Whites appear in good numbers and allow a Rich and varied close examination of their amazing wing structure built A different view The butterfly population is so rich and varied (perhaps as in Britain around a framework of glistening raised black veins. In the I was initially drawn to the coast and various fishing activities, two or three generations ago) that I was able to develop half a meadows, among the Small and Sooty Coppers, Common but in the last 10 years a growing interest in butterflies has given dozen walks – all starting and finishing at my front door. One Blues and Brown Arguses (which the French call the me a different view of the region. Wandering around my particular favourite is around a partly filled-in quarry. Although only Coral Necklace), you are quite likely to come across

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Swallowtail Mazarine Blue Black-veined White

26 the Comma Spring 2018 27 Dates for your diary Butterfly Recording 2017 Butterfly Conservation Symposium Contact John Tilt on 01386 792458 or at 6th – 8th April at Southampton University. Visit www.butterfly- [email protected] The results for butterfly recording in the West Midlands are now complete conservation.org for further details. Grafton Wood Brown Hairstreak Week his is the first year that casual recording Ashwood Nurseries Moth Mornings From Monday 20th to Sunday 26th August. Thas been done online, with a few Saturday 16th June at 9.00am. Moth morning, a National Guides will be available in the wood from 2:00pm. exceptions. Most of the records have Moth Night event. Meet at Ashwood Nurseries, Ashwood Lower More details on the Grafton Wood Blog – Lane, Kingswinford DY6 0AE Grid Ref SO 864879. Contact www.graftonwood.wordpress.com - and on the Branch been submitted to iRecord from computer, Mike Williams on 01299 824860 or at Website, or contact John Tilt as above. iPad or iPhone, and data has come from [email protected] Saturday 4th August at 9.00am. other online systems such as Big Butterfly area has been good, with some records Moth morning followed by a butterfly walk at 11.00am. BC stall. Grafton Wood Work Parties Count, the Wider Countryside Scheme from all 10km squares. A report is Contact details as above. Every Wednesday from 8th August. Blackthorn cutting for and UKBMS transects. available on the Branch website under Brown Hairstreak. Meet at Grafton Flyford church car park at Recording → Casual → 2013 to 2017 Baggeridge Country Park 10:00am. Contact John Tilt as above. Results. This has enabled us to draw a new Sunday 22nd July 2018. White-letter Hairstreak and Six-belted distribution map for each species, and the Clearwing Foray. Meet at 11.00 am at the Ranger's office car Haugh Wood Guided Walk park, Baggeridge Country Park, off A463 Wodehouse Lane near Saturday 21st July at 2.00 p.m. A guided walk following the distribution maps are shown on the under Wombourne (parking charges apply circa. £2.00). green trail lasting approximately 2 hours. Children are welcome Species → Butterflies → Species Group Contact Dave Jackson on 07940 826671. but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. No dogs → Species Name. please. Meet at Forestry Commission car park off the minor Butterflies of the Malvern Hills ID course road from Mordiford to Woolhope. Grid Ref SO 593365. Population trends Sunday, 15th July 10.00am to 3.00pm. Led by Mike Williams Contact Bob Hall at [email protected] 57 UKBMS transects were walked in the and ideal for beginners. A Worcestershire Wildlife Trust event. West Midlands in 2017, and 86,000 Advance booking required to Ray Howard-Levine on Malvern Hills Grayling Guided Walk butterflies were counted. 31 transects 01905 754919 or at [email protected] Wednesday 18th July 2018 from 10.00am to Meet at North Hill Quarry Car Park Grid Ref have been walked consistently for the last 1.00pm. Cannock Chase Ramble SO7711746931. Charge £4.00. Great care is necessary as the 5 years, which has enabled us to look at Saturday 16th June 2018. Welsh Clearwing and Small Pearl- walk is on very steep slopes and exposed crags between 250 population trends. The analysis is divided bordered Fritillary ramble. Meet at 11.00am in the Milford and 350m. Wear suitable clothing, sun hat and good walking Transect page from the website into species with significant positive Common car park off A513 Milford to Rugeley Road (parking shoes or boots. Bring sufficient drinking water. trends, significant negative trends and Population trends are shown for each charges may have been introduced). If you have them please No dogs or children please. Early booking is population stable. The significance is to species under Species → Butterflies → bring Welsh Clearwing pheromone lures and small nets. essential as numbers are limited. Contact Mel Mason some extent speculative as some of our Species Group → Species Name. We Contact Dave Jackson on 07940 826671. at [email protected] rarer species do not lend themselves to the hope to have a web page with timed and Recording page from the website Cannock Chase Survey and Training Days Monkwood Guided Walk and Reserve Open Day transect methodology, for example GPS counts at a later date. Anyone Brown Tuesday 19th June and Monday 25th June from 10.30am Sunday 3rd June at 2.00pm. A walk around the wood led by Hairstreak and Grayling. For such requiring more detailed information from to 3.30pm. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary survey and training Peter Seal, mainly to see the re-introduced Wood White. Distribution maps species egg searching or timed counts are the records or on recording in general day at Sherbrook Valley, Cannock Chase. Meet at Penkridge Bank Charge £3.00 for adults, £1.50 for children. Meet in the We have received over 48,000 records more suitable. Again, a full report is should contact me. car park opposite the White House. These events are yet to reserve car park. Contact Peter Seal on 01905 426398 or in the West Midlands from over 2,000 available on the website under Recording be confirmed as we go to press. Contact Rhona Goddard email [email protected] recorders. The coverage of our Branch →Transects → Transects Results 2017. Article by John Tilt 01746 762364 or at [email protected] for more information. Monkwood Moth Morning Sunday, 24th June at 9.00am. Help Mike Southall go Dudmaston Butterfly Guided Walks through the previous night’s moth trap over a bacon roll, Sunday 24th June and Sunday 8th July at 10.30am. Meet at followed by butterfly walk at 11.00am led by Mike Williams. • Site Guide. Some sites are available already with maps, Comer Woods car park WV15 6QJ Grid Ref SO739903 on the Details from 01299 824860 or email species and habitat photographs. However we would like A442 to Kidderminster road. A joint event with the [email protected] www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk more. Where is your favourite butterfly walk? – send a rough National Trust. Target species: White Admiral & Essex Skipper. map and habitat photographs to me. Contact Roger Littleover at [email protected] Prees Heath Common Reserve Big Silver-studded Blue Count Ewyas Harold Meadows & Common Work Party Wednesday 27th June at 10.30am. Help to count the whole • Members’ Photograph Gallery. Please send your VERY BEST Saturday 14th April. Meet at 10.00am at the northern Cwm Hill Silver-studded Blue colony, and to clear Ragwort. Meet on the he new Branch website has been operational for some time photographs of species to Dave Williams at end of Ewyas Harold Common. Adjacent to the top cattle grid. access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49 Grid Tnow. The object is to give information to members and non- [email protected] – the best of these will appear Grid Ref SO382302. Approach from Abbey Dore off the B4347 Ref SJ557363. Contact Stephen Lewis on 07900 886809 or members alike about what we do for butterflies and moths here in “Cloud” attached to species on the website. at Grid Ref SO384306. Contact Sue Young on 01981 240776. at [email protected] in the West Midlands. The site is still in the development stage and we have a lot more to do, particularly for moths. There are • Timed Counts and GPS Counts. If you do this sort of useful Grafton Wood Open Day & Walk also three areas for butterflies that we would like to develop: work and would like to publish it please send details to me. Sunday 8th July at 2:00pm. Start from the 3 Parishes Hall Grafton Flyford. Tea and cake after the walk at the Village Hall. CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

28 the Comma Spring 2018 29 Wyre Forest Moth Morning and Breakfast Barbecue Committee Members and Officers Dates for your diary cont’d Saturday 21st July at 9.30am. Moth Morning in the Wyre Forest with Dave Smith. Joint event with Natural England. Meet at CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29 Dry Mill Lane car park, details as above. Bookings in advance to Alice James on 01299 400686 or email Chairman Prees Heath Common Reserve Open Day [email protected] Charge £3 adults, Peter Seal [email protected] 01905 426398 Sunday 1st July. Silver-studded Blue guided walk at 2.00pm. children free, payable on the day. Vice Chairman & Conservation Officer Former RAF control tower will be open from 10.30am to 4.00pm. Mike Southall [email protected] 01299 251467 Meeting point and contact details as above. Treasurer Wood White Project Events Lucy Lewis [email protected] 07840 530270 Prees Heath Common Reserve Moth Night For all the following events contact Rhona Goddard on Branch Secretary Wednesday 18th July from 9.00pm onwards with Dave 01746 762364 or at rgoddard@butterfly- Vacant If you can help in this important role please contact Peter Seal Grundy. Meeting point and contact details as above. conservation.org Regional Officers Dr Jenny Joy (Senior Regional Officer) [email protected] 01952 249325 Prees Heath Common Reserve BioBlitz Wood White butterfly talk, Bishop’s Castle Town Rhona Goddard (& Wood White Project Officer) [email protected] 01746 762364 Thursday 19th July from 8.00am to 10.00pm. Moths and Hall, Shropshire mammals from the night before. All welcome to find and identify Records Tuesday 8th May. Arrive at 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start. Branch Recording Co-ordinator – John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 all the wildlife on the reserve – butterflies, wildflowers, birds, A talk by Rhona Goddard about the rare Wood White butterfly. – Birmingham & Black Country - Richard Southwell [email protected] 01384 397066 pondlife, reptiles, bats etc. Marquee, toilets, equipment all Tea and coffee available on arrival. available on site. A Butterfly Conservation 50th Anniversary event. – Herefordshire – Bob Hall & Ian Draycott [email protected] 01432 850623 Contact Stephen Lewis on 07900 886809 or at Wood White Guided Walk at Blakeridge Wood – Shropshire– Tony Jacques [email protected] 01952 882096 [email protected] Thursday 31st May from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Join Alan – Staffordshire– John Bryan [email protected] Reid (Wildlife Ranger, Forestry Commission) and Rhona – Worcestershire – Mike Williams & Mel Mason [email protected] 01299 824860 Prees Heath Common Reserve Work Parties Goddard for a walk to discover how these two organisations Transects Wednesday 1st August, Wednesday 12th September and are working together to benefit the recently reintroduced rare John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 Wednesday 17th October at 10.30am. Ragwort, bracken and Wood White butterfly. Meet in second car park Grid Ref Reserve Managers birch clearance. Meeting point and contact details as above. SO295866. At the small cross roads in Colebatch village Ewyas Harold - Ian Hart [email protected] 01981 510259 (near Bishop’s Castle) take the minor road signposted for Cefn Grafton Wood - John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 Swynnerton Training Area, Staffordshire Einion, continue past the first Blakeridge car park and park in Monkwood - George Groves [email protected] 01905 620721 Saturday 2nd June. Access has been arranged for a visit to this the second one. site which is very rich in its biodiversity, excellent flora and fauna Prees Heath - Stephen Lewis [email protected] 07900 886809 Trench Wood - John Holder [email protected] 01905 794854 with one of the Midland's biggest Grizzled Skipper colonies, with Wood White Guided Walk & Survey at Mortimer Conservation Officers Dingy Skipper and Brown Argus also appearing as a sideshow. Forest Sadly, this site is now under threat of being sold off and Saturday 2nd June from 10.30am to 1.00pm. Meet in Worcestershire - Trevor Bucknall [email protected] 01905 755757 developed. The aim of the day is to obtain as many biological Vinnals car park Grid Ref SO474731. Just after the Charlton Herefordshire - Ian Hart [email protected] 01981 510259 records of species as possible, so anyone from any field/interest is Arms on Ludford Bridge, take Whitcliffe road, following the Moth Officers most welcome. Space however is limited, and in the first brown Forestry Commission sign. Continue along this road for Bham & the Black Country - David Jackson [email protected] 01902 344716 instance email [email protected] to book your place. approximately 2 miles until you reach Vinnalls car park. Herefordshire - Robin Hemming [email protected] 01568 797351 Fuller details will be emailed closer to the time. Worcestershire - Mike Southall [email protected] 01299 251467 Wood White Guided Walk & Survey at Monkwood Trench Wood Guided Walk and Reserve Open Day County Leaders Thursday 14th June from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Meet in car North Staffordshire - John Bryan [email protected] 01782 541870 Saturday, 14th July at 11.00am. Meet at the reserve car park park Grid Ref SO803603. grid ref SO930588 for a Big Butterfly Count. Contact Peter Seal Central Staffordshire - Robert Winstanley [email protected] 01889 576768 South Staffordshire - David Jackson [email protected] 01902 344716 on 01905 426398 or email [email protected] Wood White Guided Walk at Wigmore Rolls Tuesday 31st July from 10.30am to 1.00pm. Joint event Herefordshire - Dean Fenton [email protected] 01568 611575 Malvern Hills - Mel Mason [email protected] 01684 565700 Wardlow Quarry Guided Walk with Herefordshire Ornithological Club. Meet at the site Sunday July 22nd at 10.30am. Target species on this relatively entrance on the minor road leading west from Wigmore village Brown Hairstreak Champion Simon Primrose [email protected] 07952 260153 short walk are Dark Green Fritillary, Six-belted Clearwing, Grid Ref SO397688. Car parking spaces limited. Peregrine Falcon and some chalk grassland plant species. Meet at Committee Members 10.30am in the road which meets the A52 at Grid Ref SK08514 Big Butterfly Count Event at Shropshire Hills Steven Williams [email protected] 07974 152081 47780. Postcode for satnav users ST10 3HD. Contact John Discovery Centre Publicity and Marketing Officer Bryan at [email protected] to book a place. Sunday 5th August from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Meet in the Mike Williams [email protected] 01299 824860 Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre car park, Craven Arms Grid Magazine Editor Wyre Forest Woodland Walk Ref SO435825. Vacant If you can help in this important role please contact Peter Seal Saturday 19th May at 11.00am. Joint event with Natural Magazine Design and Production England and part of Wyre Forest Council’s Big Active weekend. Wood White Guided Walk at Bury Ditches Trish Connolly Morgan [email protected] 01939 220776 Meet at the Dry Mill Lane car park, Bewdley at the start of the Sunday 12th August from 10.30am to 1.00pm. Joint event Website coordinator disused railway line and the Butterfly Trail. Bookings in advance with RSPB South Shropshire Local Members’ Group. Meet at John Tilt [email protected] 01386 792458 to Alice James on 01299 400686 or email at the Bury Ditches car park Grid Ref SO331837. Take the right- Wider Countryside Butterfly Count Co-ordinator [email protected] Charge £3 adults, hand turning just opposite the Crown Inn pub (SY7 0HU) in Vacant If you can help in this important role please contact Peter Seal children free, payable on the day. Target species: Pearl- Clunton village. Signposted as Bury Ditches Hill Fort. Link Trustee bordered Fritillary To be confirmed

30 the Comma Spring 2018 31 The Holy Grail of Moths, Part 2 - The Shropshire Prequel Pete Boardman recalls his encounter with a Clifden Nonpareil

was interested to read in the last edition of the Comma arranged to visit the site together. Once the long drawn-out I (No.99) of the claim that Holy Grail of Moths’ the Clifden process of placing and setting up all of his kit had been done Nonpariel, Catocala fraxini, had been found in Shropshire and it was up and functioning, I asked where I should place my (VC40) for the first time during 2017. I was a little surprised as little actinic trap. He, rather dismissively, pointed to a bit of birch I had seen it myself in the county in the mid 1990s (I estimate woodland into the far distance, so that it was away from his it was late August 1995 or so) and was convinced that the array of runway lights. Once this was done we spent the record had been submitted, but there appears to be no sign of evening going from trap to trap to trap, and as we did he it. The circumstances of this sighting may be of interest to readers pointed out the moths, using his well-thumbed and mosquito- so I will recount them here. splattered copy of Bernard Skinner’s field guide to get my eye in. I was soon seeing a wide range of species, many new to Actinic trap me. This was exhausting, and by the time it came to turn At the time I was new to moth trapping having moved to the everything off and pack up I was ready to head off home to county in late 1990 to study at Walford College. As my time sleep. I then remembered my own little trap and went to retrieve in Shropshire unfolded I gradually became involved in nature it. I picked the trap up and carried it back to the car to inspect conservation and started walking voluntary butterfly transects at the contents. I took off the lid and with my torch peered in. Colemere Country Park, then Fenn's, Whixall & Bettisfield “Are there many moths with blue wings?” I innocently asked. Mosses. This graduated into moth recording, and I soon bought “What!!!!!!” he bellowed, “Are you xxxxxxx kidding?” my first actinic trap. I was asked to do a survey of moths at The He pushed passed me and lifted out the said moth on its egg Moors in Ellesmere (a small area of swamp to the east of The box, muttering a further series of profanities as he did so. Mere – SJ409343) by the then ranger. This site was then known “You might well never see another of these.” he said after for Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Boloria selene, but no one regaining his composure, and I secretly felt incredibly pleased had studied the moths there. with myself that my little trap had attracted the star moth of the night at the expense of his blinding runway lights. Runway lights I later became County Moth recorder for Shropshire for a I hadn’t done an in-depth moth survey at that stage of my while and certainly wasn’t aware of any other records of this entomological career, and so I asked a friend from Cheshire species under my tenure. This record was in my dataset then who was more experienced if he would help me. He had but does not appear to have survived the passage of time. several mercury vapour light traps, a big noisy generator, and

enough insulated cable to reach to the moon and back, so we Article by Pete Boardman and photo by Mark Parsons 01939 220776 Designed by morgancreative.carbonmade.com

32 the Comma