BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

LANCASHIRE BRANCH

DEDICATED TO SAVING WILD , AND THEIR HABITATS

Lancashire, Manchester and and Recording Report

2017-2018

Butterfly Conservation President Sir David Attenborough Registerd Office Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Head Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH205QP Registered in 2206468 Tel 0870 7744309 Fax 0870 7706150 Registered Charity No 254397 Email: [email protected] Ben Smart Butterfly Conservation Registered in England 2206468 Pete Marsh Registered Charity 254937

President Sir David Attenborough Laura Sivell Head Office Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP 01929 400209 Richard Walker

Butterfly Recording Laura Sivell County Butterfly Recorder Please continue to send your butterfly records (remember, every little helps)to: Lancashire and Merseyside Laura Sivell, email [email protected]. Or by post to 22 Beaumont Place, Lancaster LA1 2EY. Phone 01524 69248. Please note that for records to be included in the annual report, the deadline is the end of February. Late records will still be used for the database, but once the report is written, I’m not going to update or rewrite on the basis of late records. The report is also going to have to be written earlier in the year, in February, as I’m full on with work in March/April and I just can’t do it! Greater Manchester These records should only go to Peter Hardy, 28 Hyde Grove, Sale, M33 7TE, email [email protected] - not to Laura Sivell. Some people have been sending their records to both, leading to a fair amount of wasted time in sorting out the duplicate records. Likewise Lancashire and Merseyside records should only go to Laura.

Recorders list I always miss someone off, and that, combined with many new contributors sending in records via the Big Butterfly Count and the new iRecord App, has led to the decision not to include a list in this report, or future ones. Hours of work, and there’s always mistakes; it’s just not worth it. Huge thanks to all of you though. Record Validation A few records that seem improbably out of area or outside the normal flight time have been omitted, or included but with a proviso. Of the Big Butterfly Count records, each record has been checked against a map and those records which were judged improbable - mainly of Common Blue in urban areas - were excluded along with the Marbled Whites. Inexperienced recorders can easily mistake a common from a Holly Blue which would be the likelier species in urban gardens. Last year, the data set included records from the iRecord app. This year, I’m still waiting for those to arrive so they are not included. - the staff at BC are busy with the moth atlas. Likewise the Garden Butterfly Scheme, and the WCBS. The New Recorded Squares Table As I said I’d do in the last report, the table now shows the percentage of the total number of squares recorded that showed each species. It should give more accurate trends for the more generalist and widespread species. It will show less change in the rarer species as all/most of these are covered by site transects on the specialised habitats in which they are found, which are going to be visited and counted no matter how many squares are recorded in total. Any change in the percentage of those is going to be partly down to total recording effort, and partly down to trends within the species. White-letter Hairstreak Overall, the table gives some quite interesting results. This one, for White-letter Hairstreak gives a great demonstration of how well it has been doing in recent years. The drought of 2018 forced many of them down from their treetops to feed on flowers, when their aphid honeydew dried up, revealing many new sites. Best year ever for them. Vertical axis is percentage of total squares. The 2017 and 2018 Butterfly Seasons 2017 was a fairly ordinary summer, but with a very mild autumn with good temperatures into December leading to some unusually late records. 2018 gave us the Beast from the East in March, which will have delayed the emergence of those species hibernating as adults, and been of no benefit whatever to larvae trying to feed early in the year. A dry spring gave way to a summer drought and heatwave which went on for weeks; this gave some great views of species such as Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks which were forced down from their treetops as the honeydew that they normally feed on dried up, and they had to resort to sipping nectar from flowers like the majority of their kind. Flight seasons tended to be shorter as no days were wasted sitting out any rain, but numbers of Small Whites, Large Whites and Small Coppers were notably well up on recent years. It was nearly like the good old days. Except that there were no records of High Brown Fritillary in Lancashire, not a single one. That’s something I’d hoped I’d never have to write. It’s not that many years since north Lancashire was the national stronghold of the species, and people would travel from the far ends of the country to see them.

Cover Photo - High Brown fritillary by Archie Simpson

2 Recorded 2 km squares - as a percentage of the total number of squares in which recordings were made. 1 3 0 0 33 57 38 0.2 0.2 7.7 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.2 4.8 0.1 2.2 8.6 0.4 859 14.7 13.6 12.2 70.7 81.4 49.4 22.4 13.2 24.9 30.3 54.3 30.8 44.7 44.8 0.02 58.7 42.8 17.5 2018 0 3 26 17 51 45 0.6 0.1 3.8 0.2 2.4 8.8 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.4 0.2 1.2 1.4 5.3 0.2 744 18.4 19.3 13.1 47.8 56.5 43.8 12.7 20.2 72.4 25.8 41.9 50.8 49.7 34.9 17.2 2017 0 51 15 1.4 3.5 0.2 3.2 7.7 1.4 0.4 0.2 1.1 0.8 0.5 2.4 5.3 0.1 2.5 9.7 0.2 698 19.6 18.7 15.4 47.4 39.3 30.3 11.4 18.6 16.6 45.2 30.5 54.5 43.1 34.6 54.5 32.3 44.4 2016 0 0 29 27 36 0.9 0.6 3.8 2.4 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.5 1.8 4.9 0.1 1.6 9.4 0.3 774 26.6 16.6 41.9 45.2 34.7 24.8 11.1 16.1 18.4 17.8 48.1 59.4 48.9 52.9 42.7 53.8 17.3 2015 2 0 3 0 24 1.2 4.4 8.9 0.8 0.2 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.5 8.3 0.2 1.6 0.3 794 28.3 26.8 16.7 44.7 54.1 48.4 29.8 21.4 15.3 55.1 14.6 62.9 67.5 33.2 57.5 37.9 49.8 13.6 11.8 2014 0 0 6 33 25 1.5 0.5 4.1 3.7 5.8 1.1 9.2 0.1 0.9 0.5 0.9 3.3 0.1 2.8 8.4 0.3 554 26.9 23.2 10.7 48.1 50.1 46.7 33.2 22.4 18.6 10.3 60.3 52.8 32.6 45.4 43.9 10.1 2013 0 9 0 5 0 2 7 4 19 17 27 2.2 3.8 3.6 4.7 1.5 0.4 1.1 1.1 1.5 0.2 3.8 9.3 0.4 476 22.7 34.3 36.8 44.8 32.5 16.8 18.8 25.4 63.4 54.5 45.4 28.1 40.6 2012 7 0 0 16 10 19 3.7 1.1 3.7 4.4 2.6 1.1 7.8 2.6 1.8 1.8 3.7 5.5 0.3 4.1 2.2 2.6 479 11.1 32.4 31.3 28.7 28.7 23.1 15.2 47.3 49.6 39.9 26.4 36.1 21.2 31.7 12.3 2011 0 0 2 25 32 11 1.5 0.3 8.2 5.3 4.3 4.7 1.1 0.3 1.1 0.5 1.5 2.2 8.7 0.1 1.9 0.5 524 16.4 20.2 36.2 40.6 45.2 29.7 21.9 15.2 35.1 11.6 53.4 51.3 51.9 26.1 42.1 2010 0 1 0 1 8 13 45 1.4 2.7 9.1 4.7 3.4 3.2 0.3 0.7 1.6 3.2 9.3 0.1 2.7 2.3 0.3 546 16.6 14.8 52.5 41.2 39.7 26.1 13.3 13.9 57.5 39.7 46.1 31.5 49.2 18.8 39.3 2009 6 0 0 2 1.7 0.2 3.5 1.7 1.5 0.4 5.8 1.7 1.3 1.7 7.8 0.2 2.4 2.9 7.8 0.4 447 15.4 13.8 10.7 49.6 40.4 36.4 28.8 12.5 14.3 30.4 36.4 35.5 42.4 29.7 56.5 23.9 40.9 2008 0 0 46 1.3 0.6 4.9 2.3 1.9 1.1 0.3 1.6 0.6 1.3 1.6 8.8 0.1 2.6 1.6 7.9 0.6 601 14.1 16.4 11.9 34.9 32.4 29.6 30.9 14.6 15.6 19.9 29.7 21.4 48.7 26.2 48.2 19.6 33.4 2007 9 0 0 12 20 32 20 43 7.8 4.8 3.5 1.3 0.3 1.1 0.8 1.6 2.9 0.1 2.4 0.4 9.7 0.3 615 20.6 20.1 12.5 35.7 37.3 32.3 29.9 22.1 22.4 50.2 37.7 47.4 47.6 49.5 17.7 2006 0 0 16 12 33 1.3 2.8 6.6 2.4 1.1 1.3 0.3 9.7 1.1 0.9 1.5 2.2 0.3 2.4 0.5 9.3 0.1 523 16.6 43.9 33.4 27.9 17.7 19.8 15.4 35.7 49.1 50.6 20.6 47.2 21.9 19.6 43.4 2005 0 1 0 1 41 1.2 0.5 5.4 2.6 1.3 0.5 1.2 1.3 2.9 0.2 3.3 0.3 0.8 573 17.9 17.2 10.9 31.7 43.6 35.9 23.9 21.6 22.1 29.8 31.2 50.4 47.4 27.3 45.5 21.2 24.2 42.4 11.1 2004 3 0 0 16 44 61 42 14 1.2 1.2 8.3 2.1 1.2 0.8 0.2 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.4 0.1 1.7 0.1 9.1 0.5 675 18.5 15.1 41.7 39.2 39.4 24.3 19.6 12.8 41.2 43.5 29.8 18.3 39.9 2003 1 0 2 1 0 1 1 19 0.8 6.4 0.5 0.3 0.6 1.1 1.1 0.1 2.8 0.3 563 20.2 17.5 11.2 46.8 37.8 36.1 35.2 12.6 18.2 34.2 28.6 61.8 56.2 30.3 43.6 18.3 22.8 41.9 10.7 2002 0 1 0 1 0 1.5 0.4 2.7 3.3 0.6 0.2 0.6 1.2 0.6 0.4 4.9 0.4 8.1 481 22.6 16.6 10.3 50.1 39.5 42.6 32.4 12.6 16.4 16.8 46.3 14.7 56.7 54.6 34.9 41.9 21.8 22.8 48.4 2001 0 1 0 0 41 46 1.4 4.4 1.7 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.4 0.1 2.3 8.6 0.5 556 20.3 19.7 19.4 11.1 44.9 39.9 31.6 17.8 18.7 16.5 43.7 34.7 44.4 33.4 38.3 29.3 21.7 47.1 2000 0 9 0 0 39 49 0.9 0.2 6.5 3.2 1.2 0.7 0.7 0.4 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.1 2.2 7.2 0.9 704 19.3 17.6 48.8 45.5 44.6 35.3 16.1 17.1 22.7 43.6 25.8 27.2 29.2 18.1 45.8 1999 6 0 0 0 31 36 0.6 8.9 4.6 1.7 0.1 1.1 0.6 1.5 0.9 1.4 0.7 0.1 2.8 6.5 0.1 629 15.2 15.4 47.8 41.8 39.4 35.1 17.8 14.3 26.8 10.8 54.5 51.5 19.2 21.6 30.6 11.9 1998 0 0 0 38 69 21 0.6 0.1 7.9 3.6 2.4 0.6 1.3 9.2 0.4 9.4 0.9 1.3 1.4 0.9 0.1 3.3 1.1 555 14.9 17.7 40.7 43.5 31.9 28.3 17.2 27.8 47.8 13.2 25.8 13.2 38.4 11.4 1997 5 0 1 0 0 0 44 45 0.9 2.4 3.9 0.7 0.3 6.5 0.3 0.9 0.7 1.3 0.9 0.1 2.1 604 19.8 22.4 39.7 35.9 33.6 23.3 41.7 63.8 60.5 44.7 21.3 10.3 29.4 17.4 44.7 12.1 1996 0 0 1 0 51 0.6 3.1 3.7 0.9 0.2 0.9 3.9 0.3 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.1 2.3 0.3 768 19.7 34.7 58.3 41.6 34.5 28.5 20.8 51.4 22.6 64.7 34.6 21.4 13.2 26.6 13.6 53.3 11.7 1995

Small Large Skipper Dingy Skipper Clouded Yellow Brimstone Large White Small White White Green-veined Orange Tip Hairstreak Green Brown Hairstreak Purple Hairstreak White-letter Hairstreak Small Copper Northern Brown Argus Blue Common Holly Blue of Burgundy Duke Admiral Red Painted Lady Small Tortoiseshell Camberwell Beauty Peacock Comma Small Pearl-bordered Pearl-bordered Fritillary High Brown Fritillary Dark Fritillary Green Speckled Wood Wall Scotch Argus Grayling Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Ringlet Small Heath Large Heath Total recorded squares

3 All records, 2017-2018

Getting recorders out to the blank squares would clearly be a good thing. Even if the land itself can’t be accessed, most of the tetrads will have a road or path running through at least part of them. Just parking up in the most promising spot on a fine day for ten minutes or so could get at least some of these blanks filled. This year, the maps in the species reports are from 2017 and 2018, with a background map of 2012-2016 showing circles where species had been recorded in the earlier data set but not since. Obviously, the different time periods - two years against 5 years - are not directly comparable but do give an indication of missing records. This could be due to reduced visits although the increased number of records coming in due to the Big Butterfly Count and the iRecord app makes that seem somewhat unlikely to account for all of the losses. Some moorland was impossible to access in 2018 due to fire or fire risk which might have made some difference last year. Another factor in 2018 that could have some part to play in reduced sightings is the fact that, although butterflies depend on warmth, they often tend to seek shelter in the heat of the day when temperatures are over 24 degrees, which they were for quite a bit of the last summer. Also, people were sometimes reluctant to go out in the middle of the day, and trips such as walking the dog were done too early or late in the day for butterflies.

4 High Counts table

Highest counts 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Small Skipper 155 100 41 12 60 54 200 97 150 500 218 220 65 78 140 Large Skipper 20 40 50 20 28 33 70 57 25 190 85 80 46 33 25 Dingy Skipper 15 11 6 8 10 34 29 29 22 34 35 22 20 18 26 Clouded Yellow 1 4 12 2 1 3 3 1 1 6 1 0 1 1 Brimstone 12 19 29 31 30 16 36 16 5 21 22 21 27 16 19 Large White 50 130 303 50 100 85 200 18 50 300 100 15 60 40 80 Small White 50 23 50 280 30 120 32 150 52 130 100 42 50 40 500 Green-veined White 50 70 45 30 254 155 100 119 100 229 113 60 60 90 520 Orange Tip 23 20 20 20 12 14 20 20 55 22 100+ 20 20 25 40 Green Hairstreak 48 70 130 66 100+ 38 92 463 55 12 68 25 34 46 91 Brown Hairstreak 1 2 6 2 Purple Hairstreak 24 25 50 7 57 67 49 42 11 16 59 20 20 5 103 White-letter Hairstreak 1 10 9 5 3 4 10 3 3 16 10 7 7 6 24 Small Copper 41 22 23 16 23 24 42 18 150 45 84 56 17 15 322 Northern Brown Argus 8 22 32 7 17 49 47 103 24 34 26 16 24 21 16 Common Blue 97 150 216 113 88 281 182 250 293 200 268 164 86 86 216 Holly Blue 19 6 8 8 8 30 14 5 4 7 14 6 6 10 11 Duke of Burgundy 8 4 7 9 5 6 12 15 4 12 7 6 5 4 3 Red Admiral 37 75 86 16 46 81 25 50 15 28 100 95 240 359 63 Painted Lady 28 3 83 20 1 1000+ 7 20 5 6 20 9 25 10 38 Small Tortoiseshell 105 66 1700 31 24 39 287 120 60 280 100 162 152 30 62 Camberwell Beauty 1 Peacock 71 58 144 75 49 76 104 71 72 500 50 33 200 50 88 Comma 13 7 40 20 6 15 10 14 8 11 15 19 9 16 34 Small Pearl-bordered 10 10 11 9 15 24 29 34 33 49 50 13 26 65 40 Pearl-bordered Fritillary 40 34 28 34 22 12 25 38 22 13 20 12 14 16 10 High Brown Fritillary 38 35 80 10 119 67 52 16 17 6 3 9 2 0 Dark Green Fritillary 20 134 14 83 50 88 70 54 293 10 46 36 18 30 30 Speckled Wood 67 233 104 72 47 108 65 66 90 50 115 68 67 46 45 Wall 60 34 25 5 16 20 11 5 7 17 47 25 23 26 40 Scotch Argus 161 304 188 66 134 199 158 221 38 61 54 0 9 Grayling 14 37 81 12 84 108 105 206 98 200 28 26 200 10 27 Gatekeeper 136 100 400 62 79 100 205 137 900 300 225 227 166 153 227 Meadow Brown 181 194 500 100 295 433 143 425 300 600 474 381 112 289 238 Ringlet 1 1 1 25 12 100 50 250 100 248 348 219 190 195 336 Small Heath 54 50 37 30 37 59 70 150 75 67 120 80 60 29 100 Large Heath 63 28 143 9 5 48 53 20 33 21 18 19 59 97 20

5 Small Skipper Large Skipper 2017 2017 First 7th June P Hornby, nr Altham First 23rd May P Larkin, Brockholes Last 20th Sept K Haydock & J Mills, Galligants Last 13th Aug E Langrish, Lower Burgh Meadow Highest 78 B Dyson, Mossam on 10 July Highest 33 B Dyson, Winmarleigh Moss on

17 June 2018 2018 First 2nd June L Renshaw, First 13th May M Pilling, Hall Lee Brook Last 8th Aug A Anderton, Pilling Last 27th July J Ashall, Inglewhite Highest 140 K Lister, Grane res. on 14 July Highest 25 S Hollingrake, Lumb Wood on 22

July This species showed reductions in percentage of recorded The situation for Small Skipper closely resembles that of Large squares but high counts were well up, though not on Skipper, though the high count was also well down. As ex- limestone transect sites where things looked more pected in such a warm year, the flight season in 2018 was depressing. The graph below is indicative of that, and quite quite a bit shorter than usual, as there was nothing to stop typical of the picture on some other sites with transects. - the butterflies being on the wing every day. Again, not too bad in 2017 but a fall in 2018. Ainsdale did better did very well with a new record count for the site. with a second-best count.

All Sections

36 Small Skipper 34 None 32 30 28 Yealand Hall Allotments 26 24 22 20 18 16

14 Total Number Counted Number Total 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year And this one is even worse. All Sections

130 Small Skipper None 120 110 Gait Barrows Warden’s 100

90 80 transect 70

60

50 Total Number Counted Number Total

40

30

20

10

0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year

Although there was a reduced count at RSPB in 2018, it was from a record high in 2017, and numbers there remain quite strong.

Dingy Skipper

2017 First 3th May G Marsh, Warton Crag Last 18th June D Foy, Myers Allotment Highest 18 C Winnick, Warton Crag on 7 May 2018 First 22th April Warton Crag LWT volunteers Last 22th June R Miller, Warton Crag Highest 26 L & A Pennington, Warton Crag on 19 May Things looked not at all bad on Gait Barrows transect and there was a pleasing high count at Yealand Hall Allotments. Every so often, we get a record from a site other than the normal sites, and in 2018 this came

6 from a site near the river Calder, not far from Wood End. How it came to be there is anybody’s guess, but it was photographed and is clearly a fairly elderly male.

All Sections 23 22 Dingy Skipper 21 None 20 19 18 Yealand Hall Allotments 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 Total Number Counted Number Total 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

All Sections 120 115 Dingy Skipper 110 None 105 100 95 Gait Barrows Wardens 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50

Total Number Counted Number Total 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year

Clouded Yellow

Only record for 2017 R Moyes, Ainsdale on 9th Aug 2018 First P Slater, Everton on 26th July 2018 Last A Brown, Wigan Flashes on Large White 4th Aug Just these 2 records for 2018 2017 First 15th March L Bimson, Liverpool Last 10th Oct A Bond, Leigh Brimstone Highest 40 L McEwan, Meadows

2017 2018 First 7th Feb D Wrigley, Yealand Storrs First 6th April P Slater, Oglet Last 15th Oct S Priestley, Nr Last 18th Oct J Wright, Brockholes Highest 16 N Godden, Warton Crag Highest 80 A Rhodes, Orrel on 23 July on 31Aug P Woodruff, Clougha on 15 May

2018 was a much better year for this butterfly. It does not 2018 show too well on the limestone transects where suitable First 25th March P Collins, Speke Hall food plants for the caterpillars are not in rich supply, but the H Bickley, Parrs Wood graph from Ainsdale indicates a good increase and a new T Wilcox, Chorlton Tip high count.

All Sections Last 13th Nov S Smith, Nr Hindley 55 Large White 50 None Highest 19 N Godden, Warton Crag 45 40 Ainsdale on 27 July 35 30 The map shows many lost squares, mainly in the east of the 25

Total Number Counted Number Total 20 Lancashire. And who know what effect that warm spell this 15 10 spring would have had. There were plenty of very early 5 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 records in those strangely high temperatures. If the Year butterflies have mated, long before the food plants are From general recording and garden surveys, put in a great available, they may not have been able to lay eggs. appearance in 2018 after a moderate 2017. It got off to a

All Sections rather late start (thanks to the Beast from the East, 115 Brimstone 110 None 105 100 probably) but more than made up for lost time. 95 Warton Crag 90 85 80 75 70 RSPB 65 60 55 50

45 Total Number Counted Number Total 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year 7 Small White

2017 First 19th Jan R & P Crofts, Manchester Is extraordinarily early. Proper emergence from 24th March C Bennett, Lancaster Last 15th Oct P Slater, Oglet Highest 40 L McEwan, Lunt Meadows

2018 First 20th Feb M Foley, Brockholes Last 28th Oct R Evans, Jack Scout Highest 500 F Bird, Lower Balham on 14 July This species also had a cracking year. Warton Crag RSPB, Ainsdale and Heysham LNR all had new high counts, with dramatic increases over the previous several years.

All Sections

65 Small White None 60 55 Heysham LNR 50

45

40

35

30

25 Total Number Counted Number Total

20

15

10

5

0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

Green-veined White Orange Tip

2017 2017 First 8th March P Rudd, Manchester garden First 1st April K Smycki, Nipper Lane Allotments Last 24th Sept S Palmer, Last 23rd June J Wood, Raikes Clough A Brown, Wigan Flashes Highest 25 D Beattie, Cuerden, 22 April J Agar, Chorlton Ees Highest 90 A Bissett, Ludworth, 25 July 2018 First 6th April P Slater, Oglet 2018 Last 8th Aug J Beattie, Brockholes First 6th April P Slater, Oglet Highest 40 C Atherton, Jackhouse NR, 18 Last 27th Sept P Slater, Sefton park May Highest 520 K Lister, Grane reservoirs on 14 July The Green-veined White also had a quite good year, but not to the same extent as the Small and Large cousins. True, the high count is a fantastic one, but the dry summer conditions did not suit this damp-loving butterfly and it only seemed to do really well in the wetter areas such as near canals , ponds, reservoirs or other water bodies.

All Sections 40 Green-veined White 38 None 36 34 32 Heysham LNR 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 16 Total Number Counted Number Total 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

Like other spring species, this one got off to a rather late start but had caught up by time the second emergence began.

8 Most of the transect sites showed a rather poor picture, but Brown Hairstreak it is worth bearing in mind that most of the transects are not walked in ideal habitat. However apparently suitable sites 2017 also have had a continuing decline over the past few years. First 9th Aug S Graham, Gait Barrows However the high count of 40 is the best for quite a few Last 17th Aug D Allan, Gait Barrows years. Highest 6 D Allan, Gait Barrows on 17 Aug

2018 First 29th July M Gregory, Gait Barrows Green Hairstreak Last 30th Aug K Mudd, Gait Barrows 2017 Highest 2 P Moreton, T Dunbar, K Mudd all at Gait Barrows, 1st, 5th and First 18th April K Gartside, Hunters Hill Lane 30th August resectively. Last 13th July P Hornby, Beacon Fell The small colony is persisting well but there doesn’t seem to Highest 46 K Gartside, Hunters Hill Lane on 9 be any spread away from the core area near the barn; or May maybe that’s just where people go to see them.

. 2018 First 23rd April S Smith, Hunters Hill Lane Last 5th Aug S Smith, Standedge Rd footpath Purple Hairstreak Highest 91 G Ashworth, Upper Birchen Holts on 7 May 2017 It seems to have been a relatively poor couple of years, First 16th June D Beattie, Cuerden Park despite the high count in 2018. Numbers were mostly in Last 29th Aug L Poxon, Common Bank single figures. At the Clough/Birk Bank site, there was just a Highest 5 M Fishwick, Common Bank on single record of 1 - you used to be able to see over a hundred 28th Aug. there, easily. Hunters Hill Lane (SE0008) now seems to be the most reliable site, with a fair smattering at Warton Crag. 2018 There were no records from the Langden Valley which also First 2th Aug L Price, Brockholes used to be quite a good site. Upper Birchen Holts is obviously Last 29th Aug S Graham, Yealand Hall Allots a worth a visit too, and it would be usefull to target known Highest 103 S Hollingrake, Lumb Wood and former sites to see if any butterflies can still be found in Vale area on 9th July. them. 2017 was a fairly standard year for this species, but 2018 was excellent with the highest ever count, and other great counts not too far behind. Many new sites were discovered as the butterflies were forced down from the trees by the dry con- ditions. The map shows the new dots in orange; some of the blue dots are still occupied.

9 White-letter Hairstreak Small Copper First 2nd May A Mayor, Lytham 2017 Last 8th Nov B Hedley, Oglet First 19th June D Hardacre, A Conway & A Highest 15 C Atherton, Altham Davies, Lunt Meadows Last 23rd Sept K Haydock, Heapey 2018 Highest 6 J Wright, Brockholes on 2nd July First 1st May I Short, Rochdale garden

Last 13th Nov J Rayner, Ludworth 2018 Highest 322 B Dyson, Larkholme on 30th Aug First 20th June S Murphy, Croxteth Last 5th Aug T Dunbar, Gait Barrows After several years of decline and relative scarcity, the Small Highest 24 P Larkin, Brockholes on 30th Copper bounced back in fine style in 2018, and put in June appearances at sites where it has not been seen for a decade 2017 was again, a fairly ordinary year for this hairstreak, but or two. The high count is fantastic, it must have been a 2018 was truly phenomenal. The hot weather forced many marvellous sight and experience for the recorder. more butterflies down from the trees as aphid honeydew, their normal food source, dried up and they had to come down to feed on flowers. A good number of new sites were thus revealed.

Losses map

Expansion map Northern Brown Argus

2017 First 31st May L Healey, Gait Barrows Last 7th Aug L Farrell, Yealand Hall Allots Highest 21 Leighton Moss transect, 14th June

2018 First 5th June P Moreton, Gait Barrows Last 5th Aug T Dunbar, Gait Barrows Highest 16 R Miller, Warton Crag RSPB

Unusually, and disappointingly, the Northern Brown Argus did not apparently benefit from the exceptional summer of 2018, with the previous year being better in terms of high count. The range has stayed the same though. It seems to be that the caterpillar food plant, rock-rose, is declining due

10 to competition from grasses and other vegetation as natural succession and wetter winters have degraded the habitat conditions for it. Gait Barrows shows the worst picture, with a less severe drop at Warton Crag RSPB, and a quite nice increase at Heald Brow, albeit still in low numbers there.

All Sections

140 Northern Brow n Argus None 130 120 Gait Barrows Wardens 110

100

90

80

70

60 Total Number Counted Number Total 50

40

30

20

10

0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year

All Sections

Northern Brow n Argus 55 None

50 45 Heald Brow 40

35

30

25 Total Number Counted Number Total 20

15

10

5

0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

All Sections

500 Northern Brow n Argus None 450

400

350 Warton Crag RSPB

300

250

200 Holly Blue Total Number Counted Number Total

150 100 First 25th March D Woodward, Leigh 50

0 Last 6th Oct B Brigden, 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year Highest 10 K Allen, Lytham on 31st July

Common Blue 2018 2017 First 19th April J Wright, Brockholes First 30th April M Dyson, Hindley Green Last 22nd Sept R Ghorbal, Grassington, L’pool Last 28th Sept P Daw, Bispham Highest 11 S Palmer, Preston, 23rd May J Wright, Brockholes These last 2 years have continued the somewhat moderate Highest 86 B Dyson, Fleetwood Nature Park performance of this species in 2017 and a good increase in on 6.6.16 the percentage of recorded squares in 2018, to 33% - the highest it’s ever been. 2018 had a particularly late start and

early finish; a small 3rd flight could have been expected giv- 2018 en the hot summer. First 13th May L Renshaw, Middleton NR Last 20th Oct P Aitchison, Brockholes Highest 216 B Dyson, Larkholme, 19th July The common Blue also had a really good year in 2018 after a Duke of Burgundy rather average 2017. 2017 All Sections 600 Common Blue None 550 First 2nd May R Renshaw

500 450 Last 25th May R Petley-Jones 400 Ainsdale 350 Highest 4 C Clay and C Winnick, on 7th and 300

250

Total Number Counted Number Total 10th May respectively. 200

150

100

50

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2018 Year

All Sections First 5th May P Hardy 260 Common Blue None 240 Last 29th May S Graham 220 Heysham LNR 200 Highest 3 S Dent, on 27th May 180

160

140 120

100 Total Number Counted Number Total All the records were from Gait Barrows, the last remaining 80 60 site in Lancashire where the colony does not seem to be 40 20 getting any stronger despite all the conservation work there. 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

11 Red Admiral Small Tortoiseshell

2017 2017 First 24th Feb J Nugent, Heaton Moor First 4th Jan J Swales, Poulton-le-Sands Last 8th Dec G McMullan, Nr Ribchester Last 14th Dec B Crook, Highest 359 S Warford, Winter Hill, 28th Sept Highest 30 Z Eccleston, , 26th Aug

2018 2018 First 4th Jan A Cornall, First 7th Jan P Kinsella, Nr Crossens Last 17th Nov S Palmer, Preston Last 2nd Nov P Hornby, Leeds/Liverpool canal Highest 63 A Rhodes, Orrell Highest 62 F Bird, Lower Ballam, 2nd July 2017 was the best year we have ever had in terms of Many recorders commented on the scarcity of this species in distribution over the area, and also with very good numbers. 2018 when the late spring may have caused a good After that, 2018 was always likely to present a poorer proportion of overwintering adults to run out of time waiting picture, as indeed it did. to get out and feed. The problem seems to have been experienced over most of the UK.

Painted Lady Camberwell Beauty 2017 First 25th Jan M Iddon, Eccleston No records in either year. Last 15th Oct J Sawyer, Highest 10 C Baugh, Bispham on 18th Sept D Cook, Slaidburn on 18th July Peacock 2018 2017 First 30th April P Larkin, Brockholes Quarry First 18th Feb L Griffiths, Brockholes Quarry Last 29th Oct B Dyson, Fluke Hall Last 8th Dec G McMullan, Nr Ribchester Highest 38 D Mercer, Langho, 27th July Highest 50 C Atherton,

The last 2 years were fairly quiet on the Painted Lady front, 2018 although the high count in 2018 was a good one, the best since 2006. First 20th Feb J Budgie, Brockholes Quarry Last 15th Oct K Hayes, Brockholes Quarry P Harris, Lytham Highest 88 D Mercer, Langho on 27th July

12 Not too bad at Ainsdale Comma All Sections 170 Peacock 160 None 150 2017 140 130 Ainsdale 120 First 20th Jan S Allen, Ashworth 110 100 90 Last 8th Nov K Gartside, Uppermill Cemetary 80 70

Total Number Counted Number Total 60 Highest 16 P Larkin, Brockholes Quarry on 50 40 8th July 30 20 10 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year 2018 First 24th Feb K McCabe, Flixton Worse at Gait Barrows Wardens All Sections 260 Last 26th Oct P Woodruff, ancaster Cemetary Peacock 240 None 220 Gait Barrows Wardens Highest 34 D Mercer, Langho on 27th July 200 180 Comma was also affected by the late start to the year, but 160 140 also finished comparatively early - we usually get records 120

100 Total Number Counted Number Total well into November along with Red Admirals, on ivy. 80 60 Transect results were quite unspectacular, with this one be- 40 20 ing the most notable - best ever count. 0 All Sections 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 23 Year 22 Comma 21 None 20 19 18 Worse again at Warton Crag 17 Ainsdale NNR 16 All Sections 15

750 Peacock14 None 13 700 12 650 11 600 10

550 Warton Crag RSPB 9 Total Number Counted Number Total 500 8

450 7 6 400 5 350 4 300

Total Number Counted Number Total 3 250 2

200 1 0 150 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 100 Year 50

0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year And this one more typical. Peacock did not do well either. They will have had the same All Sections 23 22 Comma issues with the late start to the year as Small Tortoiseshells in 21 None 20 19 2018 added to which they had a rather poor 2017. The high 18 17 16 count was good, however. 15 Heysham LNR 14 13 12 11 10 9 Total Number Counted Number Total 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

13 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary High Brown Fritillary

2017 2017 First 23rd May C Winnick, Warton Crag First 6th July B Crooks, Warton Crag Last 17th July R Petley-Jones, Gait Barrows Last 25th July P Wilkins, Gait Barrows Highest 65 B Crooks, Warton Crag LWT on Highest 2 B Crooks, Warton Crag (above) 31st May 2018 2018 No records First 21st May B Ingleby & K Armstrong, Warton Crag In 2017, there was just one other record - 1 at Gait Barrows Last 29th Aug N Godden, Warton Crag RSPB (R Petley-Jones, 13th July). Then 2018 and nothing. Highest 40 Warton Crag LWT team on 3rd 20 years ago, people were coming from all over the UK to June see this species in their national stronghold. Seeing over a The record (with photo) from Winmarleigh Moss (T Dunbar, dozen in a day was commonplace. June 2018) came as a bit of a shock and it may well be the result of an unauthorised release. Apart from that new site, all other records came from the usual sites around the Morecambe Bay area. 2017 was mainly a good year, 2018 mediocre.

All Sections 70 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 65 None

60 55 Gait Barrows Wardens 50

45

40

35

30

Total Number Counted Number Total 25

20

15

10

5

0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year

All Sections

380 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 360 None 340 320 The repeat of a habitat survey done in the nineties showed a 300 280 Warton Crag RSPB 260 decline in violet numbers, along with a marked increase in 240 220 200 grass and moss. The lack of heat-reflecting bare ground may 180 160 Total Number Counted Number Total 140 be a critical factor in the disappearance of this butterfly, as 120 100 80 60 the larvae need warmth for their development. 40 20 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Have we seen the last? Year

Pearl-bordered Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary

2017 2017 First 3rd May G Marsh, Warton Crag First 3rd June RSPB team, Warton Crag Last 14th June S Graham, Warton Crag Last 13th Aug K Harbinson, Warton Crag LWT L Richmond, Yealand Hall Allots Highest 30 P Bellis, dunes, 14th July Highest 16 C Winnick, Warton Crag on 7th May 2018 First 8th June J Jakeman, Ainsdale NNR 2018 Last 29th July LWT volunteers, Warton Crag First 4th May K Blomfield, Warton Crag LNR Highest 30 P Kinsella, Ainsdale, 13th June Last 28th May C Winnick, Warton Crag Other than the traditional sites around Silverdale and the Highest 10 M Gregory, Warton Crag, 7th Sefton Coast, there were a few pop-ups. 3 in Croasdale (S May Graham, June 2017; another 3 at Hurstwood (S Jackson, July Still hanging on in there, Warton Crag now the only site in 2018), 1 in a field near Gristlehurst Wood (G Ashworth, July Lancashire worth visiting. There were some decent counts 2018) and 1 male that landed on a buddleia the author was by students studying various aspects of the species, but none pruning at the time, in a garden just south of Lancaster (L were found on the RSPB transect in 2018, the first year it has Sivell, July 2017) and shared with a comma for nearly half an been absent on the formal monitoring. There were a couple hour. of records from Yealand Hall Allotments in 2017, and one This species is doing pretty well on the Sefton Coast, but has from Gait Barrows, but neither of these sites produced any noticeably reduced in the Arnside/Silverdale area. 2018 sightings. It’s a sad situation.

14 All Sections 220 210 Speckled Wood None 200 190 Heysham LNR 180 170 160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90

Total Number Counted Number Total 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

All Sections 100 Dark Green Fritillary 95 None 90 85 80 Ainsdale NNR 75 70 65 60 55 50 45

40 Total Number Counted Number Total 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

All Sections 60 Dark Green Fritillary 55 None

50

45 40 Gait Barrows Wardens 35

30

25 Total Number Counted Number Total 20

15

10 5 Wall 0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year 2017 Possibly going the same way as the High Brown on the First 7th May B Crooks, Warton Crag LWT limestones? Although this species is more tolerant of Last 28th Sept K Haydock, Nr Pilkington Quarry damper conditions, they have declined on most transects Highest 26 G Ashworth, Greenbooth on very noticeably over the last few years; it’s the same story all 23rd May and 2nd Sept over. At least thigs are going better on the Sefton Coast. 2018 First 22nd May B Crooks, Warton Crag LWT Silver-washed Fritillary Last 22nd Oct S Graham, Martin Mere Highest 40 G Ashworth, Naden Valley on Unusually we had some records in 2018. One was 28th Aug photographed in a garden at Longton near Preston by Roy Despite massive losses in recent years, Wall had better Boydell., and another seen at Broadbottom by Shane numbers at the sites it still inhabits in reasonable quantity. Farrell. There were other records just outside our area - There are also smaller, more fragile populations where one one at Tosside (N Yorks) and 3 in Cheshire. or two sometimes show their heads, such as Heysham LNR. The transect at Crosby Coastguard Station is looking for a new walker, and the species is a regular there, in small numbers. The post-industrial sites north of Manchester are Speckled Wood doing well, and Warton Crag LWT is still good, despite the other sections of the Crag having very few, if any, recent 2017 records. First 25th March H Bickley, Parrs Wood Env. Cent. Last 29th Oct M & P Culkin, Piethorne Res Scotch Argus Highest 46 R Moyes, Ainsdale, 12th Sept 2017 No records

2018 2018 First 6th April P Slater, Oglet First 31st July M Hardacre, Arnside Knott Last 28th Oct K Hayes, Brockholes Quarry Last 10th Aug S Hollinrake, Arnside Knott Highest 45 K Lister, Healey Dell, 23rd Sept Highest 9 C McCoJ Suttony on 4th Aug This is another species that got off to a late start, but did ra- 27.7.16 ther well with some improvements in transect counts. - noth- There’s only the one site to report on for this butterfly - Arn- ing spectacular but a fairly solid performance. side Knott where it achieved even worse numbers than nor- mal.

15 Grayling Gatekeeper

2017 First 26th June P Larkin, Brockholes Quarry First 20th June R Petley-Jones, Gait Barrows J Fry, Brockholes Quarry Last 1st Sept R Moyes, Ainsdale NNR A Mayor, Lytham Highest 10 T Ward, Crosby dunes, 24th and Last 28th Sept D Woodward, Astley Moss 25th July Highest 153 R Moyes, Ainsdale NNR on 1st Aug 2018 First 11th June S Graham, Yealand Hall Allots 2018 Last 31st Aug, P Kinsella, Ainsdale First 25th June J Sharp, Heald Brow Highest 27 A Anderton, Lytham NR, 12th Last 4th Oct P Woodruff, Heysham NR June Highest 227 K Lister, Grane reservoirs, 14th This scarce, mainly coastal species had a better year at July Ainsdale but the decline at Gait Barrows and other limestone 2018 Transect counts were varied, with increases at Heysham sites has continued. There were decent counts at and Ainsdale, but a sharp fall at Heald Brow. Middlebarrow Quarry (where you are not really supposed to All Sections

750 Gatekeeper go), and at Lytham LNR. A few years ago, there were plenty None 700

650 of records from Fairhaven and Fairlawn Dunes near Lytham, 600 Ainsdale NNR 550 but these seem to have fallen off badly. 500 450

400

350

300 All Sections Counted Number Total 250 Grayling 60 None 200

55 150

50 100

45 50 0 40 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year 35 Ainsdale NNR

30 All Sections 25

Total Number Counted Number Total 460 Gatekeeper 20 440 420 None 15 400 380 10 360 340 5 320 300 0 280 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 260 Heysham LNR Year 240 220 200 180 Total Number Counted Number Total 160 All Sections 140 180 Grayling 120 170 None 100 80 160 60 150 Gait Barrows 40 140 20 0 130 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 120 Year 110 100 90 All Sections 80 400 Gatekeeper 70 Total Number Counted Number Total 380 None 60 360 50 340 40 320 30 300 20 280 10 260 0 240 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Heald Brow Year 220 200 180

160 Total Number Counted Number Total 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

Meadow Brown

2017 First 31st May L Farrell, Yealand Hall Allots Last 28th Sept D Woodward, Astley Moss Highest 289 B Dyson, Rossall School, 17th July

2018 First 2nd June L Renshaw, Heysham NR Last 4th Oct P Woodruff, Heysham NR Highest 238 S White, Seaforth, 2nd July Most limestone transects have had a worrying decline in Meadow Brown numbers over the last couple of years. When such a generally common and widespread butterfly has such a significant drop in numbers it makes you really wonder what is going on and why. It’s not like they are hard to please in terms of habitat requirements, and quite a few recorders commented on low numbers. Once again, Ainsdale did better.

16 All Sections 1,000 Meadow Brow n 950 None 900 Ringlet 850 800 Heald Brow 750 700 650 600 2017 550 500 450 First 11th June L Price, Brockholes Quarry 400 Total Number Counted Number Total 350 300 Last 26th Aug S Smith, Besom Hill 250 200 150 100 Highest 195 A Bissitt, Romily golf course, 1st 50 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 July Year 2018 All Sections 600 Meadow Brow n 550 FirstNone 9th June P Aitchison, Brockholes

500

450 Gait Barrows Last 9th Aug M Higginbottom, Rochdale

400

350 B Grabowski, Hurstwood Rese.

300

250 Highest 336 R&L Brockbank, Heald Brow, 1st Total Number Counted Number Total 200

150 July

100

50 Ringlet had a generally good year and consolidated its

0 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year position with some excellent high counts. It is steadily spreading where there is suitable habitat from the core areas

All Sections 1,150 in the south-east of our region, and the north-west where it 1,100 Meadow Brow n 1,050 None 1,000 was probably released in 2004. The possibility that sightings 950 900 Warton Crag RSPB 850 800 of the species in areas it is not normally recorded (such as 750 700 650 the Fylde) are due to release rather than natural spread 600 550 500 450 cannot be discounted. Total Number Counted Number Total 400 350 300 250 All Sections 200 800 Ringlet 150 None 750 100 50 700 0 650 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 600 Year 550

500 450

400 All Sections 350

Total Number Counted Number Total 300 1,500 Meadow Brow n Gait Barrows Wardens None250 1,400 200

1,300 150 1,200 Ainsdale NNR 100

1,100 50 0 1,000 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year 900

800

700

600 Total Number Counted Number Total All Sections 500 900 Ringlet 400 None 850 300 800 750 200 700 100 650 0 600 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 550 Year 500 Heald Brow 450 400

Total Number Counted Number Total 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year

17 Small Heath Large Heath

2017 2017 First 7th May L Farrell, Yealand Hall Allots First 27th May J Packham, Heysham Moss Last 19th Sept R Moyes, Ainsdale Last 22nd June B Ingleby & K Armstrong, Highest 29 T Ward, Crosby Coastguard Winmarleigh Moss Station on 18th June Highest 97 B Ingleby & K Armstrong, 22nd June at Winmarleigh Moss 2018 First 13th May G Ashworth, Warton Crag 2018 Last 15th Sept A Mayor, Lytham First 1st June J Packham, Heysham Moss Highest 100+ C Atherton, Hameldon Common Last 1st July B Ingleby & K Armstrong, on 7th June Heysham Moss This mainly coastal and moorland species tends to be missed Highest 20 C Winnick, Heysham Moss on on the upland sites as fewer people visit them, but it seems 6th June to have had a good year as expected with the warm summer. The most important thing to say about the Large Heath is to Let’s hope it was not too badly affected by the fires that mention the planned reintroduction to mossland habitats in broke out in the drought. the Mersey Basin, following the successful captive-bred There was a good increase on Warton Crag, and once again, introduction to Heysham Moss, and the colony there Ainsdale smashed it. surviving a severe fire in 2017

All Sections 320 Small Heath None 300 280 260 240 Warton Crag RSPB 220

200 180 160

140

Total Number Counted Number Total 120

100 80

60 40 20 Transect up for grabs! 0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 Year The "Crosby Coastguard Station" transect is a little gem of a All Sections

150 Small Heath None 140 butterfly hotspot during the summer months. I've walked it 130

120 110 weekly for the last 2 years but, living 60 miles away, I'm 100 Ainsdale 90 unable to continue weekly visits. I'm looking for someone to 80

70

60 Total Number Counted Number Total share the transect or take it over. 50

40

30 20 The Transect is located in the sand dunes adjacent to the 10

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Year public carpark by the Crosby Coastguard Station and the famous Anthony Gormley "Another Place" statues. It is 1700 meters in length, split into 9 continuous sections, and takes around 75 minutes to walk. The transect is notable for healthy populations of Grayling and Wall Brown and also supports large numbers of Common Blue, Small Heath, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. Small Copper, Small and Large Skippers are also present as well as various "Whites" , Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Painted Lady visitors. If you are interested, please contact Tim Ward on [email protected].

18 Books for Sale through Lancashire Branch

Butterflies and Day-flying Moths of Lancashire

Newly published by LCFS and edited by Pete Marsh and Steve White (140 pages)

The book is amply illustrated with full-colour photographs, distribution maps and flight periods . This will be an invaluable book if you want to know where and when to find a particular butterfly or day-flying moth around Lancashire.

Pug Moths of North-west England

Written by Brian Hancock (published by LCFS 120 pages)

This invaluable guide to pug moths has made the identification of this diffi- cult group of moths so much easier. The book is amply illustrated with full- colour photographs, distribution maps and flight-times, along with the com- parative features of similar species to allow for correct identification.

By buying the books through your us, you will be supporting the branch with valuable funds for projects across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Northern Merseyside.

Both books are available to buy at £12.00 each + £1.39 P&P by emailing Jane Jones at [email protected] with Butterfly Book in the subject title.

Moth Reports

VC60 highlights 2018 Scientific names of Macros have been omitted to save space and the ‘new’ (see article in latest BC magazine) popular names for micros, other than well-established ones, not used. Despite the often oppressive heat, there were no major migratory influxes or accompanying show-stopping extra-limital oddities, perhaps epitomized by the complete absence of Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis). Indeed, the migrants at the end of Feb 2019 were far more interesting! So any comments on migratory species have been included in the (fairly) chronological sequence below A good deal of the micro data for both VCs has been included in Ben’s excellent report and only a few of the additional highlights have been mentioned here. The first major highlight of the year was the first Small Brindled Beauty away from the traditional Wray and nearby valleys stronghold. This was on an area of Warton Crag with the requisite old oak trees at Strickland LWT on 17 Feb (JP). The main area peaked at nine in the Millhouses trap on 19 Feb (PM). Following the first on 26 March, the main Belted Beauty search saw a reasonable 90 individuals on 22nd April (SP et al) The Barred Tooth-striped pheromone survey was a great success with further refinement of the habitat preferences including discovery of larvae on ash leaves and a preference for small ash trees at the edge on limestone pavement. Ash die-back is the obvious threat. The peak count to a pheromone lure was a startling 125 at a Warton Crag LNR site on 18 April (JP)

19 Other early year highlights included a Blossom Underwing at Warton Crag LWT on 9 April (JP), Chamomile Shark in urban north Lancaster on 19 April (JM) and just a single Lead-coloured Drab from perhaps belated sampling at Herring Head on 21 April (JG, TW) . The second site and third county record of Acleris abietana came from the conifers at Docker Moor on 18 April (PM) A Dark Sword Grass at Docker Moor on 5 May and the following night saw a decent variety of species including Small White Wave and (four) Square Spot at Silverdale Moss (JG), Striped Twin-spot Carpet on Warton Crag and three Smoky Wave at Birkbank (JG). Key finds during the remainder of the month included five Golden Plusia larvae at Bolton-le-Sands on 17 May (SGl), three Small Yellow Underwing at Leighton Beck on 21 May (BH), several Grass Rivulet in a trap on Lightfoot Lane, Preston (SP), four Cistus Forester on the RSPB butterfly transect on Warton Crag and a nice doubleton at a new trapping site at of Lunar Thorn and Alder Kitten on 30 May (SGP) along with the only Tawny Pinion report for the year; Leighton Moss (BH) A Silky Wainscot wandered from its usual reedbeds – in this area mainly recorded at Leighton Moss and Middleton Nrs – into a Silverdale garden on 31 May (JS) Early June saw a Cloaked Pug at Lightfoot Green on 1 June (SP) and a peak of seven Currant Clearwing at the fruit farm on 3 June followed by the first of a good influx of Hummingbird Hawk-moth at on 5 June (EG). Checking an old site for the species was productive when a Manchester Treble Bar larva was located on Jeffrey Hill, Longridge on 6 June, along with the usual moorland suspects including Red Twin-spot Carpet and Smoky Wave. One of the most sensational records of the year was a Waved Carpet on Warton Crag on 8 June (JP), the previous record, from a Heysham coastal garden, was clearly a wanderer, probably from Cumbrian populations across the Bay. JP writes: “This is the second record for VC60 and the first for the AONB of this Nationally Scarce B species. This is also the first record within what could be considered preferred habitat. It is recorded annually throughout south . The larvae are reported to prefer the youngest leaves of a range of deciduous tree species”. Also unusual at the same site was a wandering Bordered Sallow on 9 June. The only Least Minor in a generally day-flying-deficient year (too hot?) was from Warton Crag on 10 June and nearby Netted and Thyme Pug were recorded in close proximity at known sites alongside the tidal section of the Keer (BH) The ‘Grass Wave on Winmarleigh Moss’ box was ticked on 13 June, along with the more widespread Smoky Wave (JG). Mid- month also saw Valerian Pug from two known sites at Cinderbarrow and Docker Moor pond and the localised Welsh Wave put on a good show with 28 in a trap on Docker Moor. Similarly localized are Reddish Light Arches and there were lots of records this year courtesy of Justine’s intensive work on the Crag, but, as usual, no others away from this general area. Marbled White Spot was notable on Warton Crag on 15 June (JP) as was Clay Triple-lines at Docker Moor (PM). A carefully scrutinised extra-limital Triple-spotted Clay was at the Crook of Lune on 16 June (SG) and two V-Moth in a new-to-moth- recording Silver dale garden were very welcome (JS) The most significant discovery at the end of June was a check of the understory of the oaks growing on acidic soil at Birkbank and this produced a phenomenal 25 plus Bilberry Pug, this time not under conifers (BH, JP). SD66 lowland woodlands remained the best area for Lilac Beauty and three were in an overnight trap at Herring Head Wood on 27 June (PM, TW). The 27 June also saw the scarce Epinotia signatana at Millhouses (PM/SP). A Brown Scallop was very welcome on BH’s trap at on 30 June. Early July saw a Dark Spinach at Sunderland (PM) and a Red-necked Footman in urban north Lancaster (JM) but otherwise interest was in the south of the region with Lunar Hornet Clearwing and Beautiful Hook-tip along Lightfoot Lane, Preston, along with the scarce Ptycholomoides aeriferana on 9 July (SP). As we approached the middle of the month, Warton Crag started to produce large numbers of Barred Carpet along with smaller catches of Annulet, Haworth’s Pug and Dark Umber. Of note were the second Brown Scallop of the year on 10 July along with a notable Grass Emerald and the second record of Cloaked Pug for VC60 this year on 11 July (all JP). Gold Spangle has become rather scarce recently so one was very welcome in a new garden trap site near Scale Hall on 13 July (CC), with the only other record received appearing at Leighton Moss on 19 July. Also on 13 July, a Scarce Silver Lines, well north of its existing range, was a nice surprise in a Morecambe trap (JP). A Marsh Oblique-barred was an unexpected visitor to the Sunderland Point trap on 15 July (PM). Crescent Striped are probably present on all the less heavily-grazed saltmarshes, but rarely wander away and only seen to occur with any regularity in the Sunderland trap with just two this year. A Netted Carpet as an unexpected find on Warton Crag on 21 July (JP). Whilst there were reasonable numbers in the main area for this species, there was a definite shortage of larval foodplant on which to lay eggs – a product of the hot dry summer. The second half of the year in particular saw a drip-feed of Diamond-back Moth into overnight traps well into the autumn, but the peak day count was just nine on 28 July on Loftshaw Moss (S & CP)

20 Late July saw an August Thorn in a Silverdale garden (JS), an enigmatic species, likely to occasionally turn up anywhere, but no known populations and also saw a welcome “return” of Barred Hook-tip after a few years’ absence, with the first of two at Yealand Conyers on 27 July (BH). Some Ear moth gen detting on Warton Crag during this period showed the need for caution with three species, Saltern, Large and THE Ear all materializing (JP). An autumnal Alder Kitten at Lightfoot Green was a nice surprise on 3 Aug (SP). Tawny speckled Pug are approaching myth and legend status for many of us who were used to the house wall next to the moth trap being covered with them in the early autumnal 60’s. One on Warton Crag on 4 Aug was therefore notable (JP). The Lytham dunes were sampled on 9 Aug and produced several Archer’s Dart, Hedge Rustic, Straw Underwing and TWO more Tawny-speckled Pug! A Mompha lacteela was a notable record at Bolton-le-Sands on 8 Aug (SGl)

Broad-barred White in a new moth trap garden along Pilling Lane was a nice record on 11 Aug (PE) and an inland Satin Wave at Yealand Conyers on 13 Aug (BH) was very unexpected – most records are coastal in early summer. A 15W actinic at Docker Moor bothy on 18 Aug surprisingly outshone the nearby 125MV and the ‘heaving’ catch included 22 Heath Rustic, 18 Hedge Rustic, 21 Neglected Rustic and an Anomalous (PM, JR). The same period saw more evidence of Blood vein establishing itself throughout VC60 in small numbers. The second Broad-barred White of the year appeared in a suburban trap near Scale Hall on 21 Aug and this was followed by a spectacular discovery of a Hawk-moth in a heath trap at on 26 Aug (EGr). Bryotropha desertella was a notable discovery at St Annes NR on 20 Aug (SP). There is a trilogy of autumnal lowland noctuids which are often abundant further south, but which appear to be very erratic and cyclical in our area and frequently completely absent. Brown-spot Pinion used to be very common in the 60’s at Slyne but one at Leighton Moss on 17 Sept was a notable record. However a single new trap at Great Eccleston recorded all three of the candidates 22 Sept-9 Oct, including the only four Beaded Chestnut for the region which were accompanying the single Lunar Underwing and Brown-spot Pinion (MW). Ones and twos of Lunar Underwing were also recorded at Lightfoot Green, Sunderland and Leighton Moss. The whole of the autumn was peppered with reports of Humming-bird Hawk-moth but another erratic migrant, Pearly Underwing was limited to light trap records at Silverdale on 2 Oct (JS) and Lightfoot Green on 10 Oct (SP) The end of the year subsided quite quietly although the mild weather saw regular Dark Sword-grass until mid-November but only one of the rarer migrants, a Scarce Bordered Straw at Heysham NR 19 Oct (JR). The year ended on a high note with an unseasonal Dark Arches at Lightfoot Green on 27 Dec (SP), perhaps the most outrageous of the numerous second and third broods caused by the hot summer and generally mild autumn Recorders mentioned in text Ben Smart (BS), Terry Lally (TS), S Haselton (SH), J Anderton (JA), Paul Hillyer (PH), John Girdley (JG), Ron Moyes (RM), Richard Walker (RW), Geoff Turner (GT), Steve Martin (SM), Bob Pyefinch (RP), Mary Dean (MD), Rod Hill (RH), K Caplan (KC), Dave Riley (DR), Trevor Davenport (TD), Kevin McCabe (KMcC), Geoff Riley (GR), Joy Mitchell-Lisle (JM-L), Pete Marsh (PM), Justine Patton (JP), Steve Palmer (SP), Carolyn Palmer (CP), Terry Whitaker (TW), Steve Graham (SG), Brian Hancock (BH), John Mason (JM), Steve Garland (SGl), Stuart Piner (SGP), Elizabeth Gilchrist (EG), Caroline Clay (CC), Paul Ellis (PE), Paul Slade (PS), Jean Roberts (JR), Elspeth Gray (EGr), Jim Stonehouse (JS), John Langmaid (JL), Nigel Rogers (NR), Rob Edmunds (RE), Peter Krischkow (PK), Keith Fairclough (KF), Kate Hughes (KH) Pete Marsh

Marsh Oblique Barred Lead Drab Small Brindled Beauty

21 Three new species to Lancashire during 2018. Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula). Manley C. 2008 suggested the species as RDB3. The 2015 edition reads “Rare, very scarce on shingle beaches in Kent and along the south-east coasts”; enough to warrant further investigation before acceptance. E-mails to County Recorders down through the counties showed sparse and isolated recent records. Colin Plant, wrote that the “species “jumped” from the Kent/Sussex coast to London without any “spread”across the counties; now in Essex and Hertfordshire, so why not a jump to Lancashire?” In the event Cheshire had two records of this moth, so why not indeed? Two good photos were offered which gave clearance for the record from D Riley, Great Sankey, VC59 South Lancashire, 8/8/2018 to be accepted.

A micro new to Lancashire, recorded by J Girdley at Formby, 26/6/2018, were two examples of Aethes francillna, both female (gen det). A second new micro, recorded for Lancashire by J Mitchell-Isles at Great Sankey, 8/5/2108 was Yponomeuta sedella , accepted by J Girdley.

New species suggested for VC59 during 2018 shown by 10k SD and SJ squares. SD20. Ectoedemia occultella (7.6.18),, Parapoynx stratoitata (30.5.18), Grey-shoulder Knot.(18.4.18) R Walker. Paronix devoniella.(28.4.18) T Davenport. Formby, SD31. Pseudo crepuscelella (17.7.18), Oak Eggar (1.8.18), Dune Heath. R Walker & S Tobin. Caloptria margaritella,(13.7.18) , R Moyes. SD42. Eriocrana sangii (25.4.18), Phyllonorycter acerifoliella (6.10.18 leaf mine). Mompha bradleyi (21.4.18), Lunar Marbled Brown (30.5.18). Southlands, J Girdley. Acleris aspersana (26.7.18) Banks, R Pyefinch) SD52. Ectoedemia intimella (25.11.18 Leaf mine), Hutton, S Palmer. Eucosma tripoliana (26.7.18), Grapholita janthinana, (27.7.18) Diaphania perspectalis, (21.6.18) Phycitodes binaevella (1.6.18). , Marbled White Spot. (30.5.18) Hoghton. G Dixon. SD61. Small Yellow Underwing (13.5.18), Charnock Heath, P Krischkiw. SD62. Nemophera degeerella (9.6.18), Epiblema trimaculana (11.6.18), Brinscall, J Girdley. SD70. Sycamore (4.7.18), Swindon, G Riley. SD73. Freyer's Pug (28.5.18), White-spotted Pug (28.5.18) , Yellow-barred Brindle (7.5.18), Garden. J Jones. SD83. Devon Carpet (9.6.18). . T Lally. SJ 39. Oak-tree Pug (7.5.18) , Tawny Shears (14.8.18). . K Fairclough.

22 SJ58. Spring Usher (27.1.18), Grey-shoulder Knot (3.4.18). Great Sankey. J Mitchell-Lisle. SJ79. Sycamore (28.5.18). Flixton. K McCabe.

Richard B Walker, Formby. March 19 2019. VC59

Sand Dart Portland Moth

Deep Brown Dart Lyme Grass

Streak Scarce Bordered Straw

23 Name no Date Place Recorder

April Chestnut 1 13/04/18 Gorse Hill S Haselton Double-striped Pug 4 18/04/18 Fazakerley Les Ward Streamer 1 19/04/18 Hesketh R Yates Herald 1 2 3/04/18 M Memory

May Burnet Companion 2 19/5/18 & 11/6/18 Chorlton B Smart.

June Goat Moth 1 03/06/18 Formby R Walker. Broom Moth 1 04/06/18 Garden T Lally Lyme Grass 1 04/06/18 Ainsdale J Girdley Devon Carpet 1 09/06/18 Garden T Lally Forester 3 9 & 13/6/18 Ainsdale R Moyes, R Walker Green Arches 1 11/06/18 Gorse Hill S Haselton Mapwing Swift 2 11/06/18 Compton J Anderton Sand Dart 1 12/06/18 Formby R Walker Round-winged Muslin 1 16/06/18 Clinton Wood P Hillyer Bloched Emerald 1 16/06/18 Clinton Wood P Hillyer Currant Clearwing 4 18/06/18 Formby R Walker Boxworm moth 1 22/06/18 Hoghton G Dixon Lempke's Gold Spot 1 23/06/18 Dyneley Hall G Turner Red-tipped C/wing 6 24 & 26/6/2018 Ainsdale R Walker, J Girdley, J Mitchell-Liles Goat Moth 2 26/06/18 Freshfield Dune R Walker, J Girdley, J Mitchel-Liles

July Clouded Buff 1 01/07/18 Ainsdale R Moyes Boxworm moth 1 01/07/18 Longton R Boydell Orange Underwing 1 02/07/18 Belmont S Martin Red-necked F/man 3 05/07/18 Belmont S Martin Lempke's Gold Spot 1 05/07/18 D Bickerton Scarce Silver Y 1 09/07/18 Dyneley Hall G Turner Lyme Grass 18 17/07/18 Green Beach R Walker Chocolate-tip 3 20/07/18 Altcar R Walker & T Davenport

August Gem 1 01/08/18 Garden SD42 R Pyefinch Large Ear (gen det) 1 01/08/18 Garden SD43 R Pyefinch Black Arches 1 03/08/18 Ainsdale A Price Clouded Magpie 1 05/08/18 Formby M Dean, R Hill Death's-head H/M 1 05/08/18 SD 474234 K Caplan Sallow Kitten 1 06/08/18 Radcliffe Rd J Anderton

24 Portland Moth 1 09/08/18 Formby T Davenport Orange Swift 1 13/08/18 Rishton D Bickerton Dingy Footman 1 12/08/18 Longton G Turner Portland Moth 4 16/08/18 Formby R Walker Dingy Footman 1 21/08/18 Fazakerley Les Ward Brown-spot Pinion 1 23/08/18 Hale Bank D Hunt. Toadflax Pug 1 23/08/18 Great Sankey A Riley Vine's Rustic 6 31/08/18 Formby R Walker & T Davenport

September Pink-barred Sallow 1 12/09/18 St Helens B Smart. Autumn Green Carpet 1 16/09/18 Formby T Davenport Small Dusty Wave 1 29/09/18 Longton R Boydell

October Grey-shoulder Knot 1 08/10/18 Garden SD44 R Pyefinch Barred Sallow 1 10/10/18 Clinton Wood P Hillyer Scarce -bordered Straw 1 11/10/18 Formby T Davenport Streak 1 14/10/18 Formby R Walker Boxworm moth 14/10/18 Formby T Davenport Streak 2 16/10/18 Gorse Hill S Haselton Large Wainscot 1 16/10/18 Hale Bank D Hunt. Green-brindled Crescent 1 18/10/18 Longton G Turner Beautiful Hook-tip 1 20/10/18 Longton R Boydell

November Black Rustic 1 04/11/18 Hale Bank D Hunt.

RBW VC59 2018

25 2018 Records of the Early Stages of Micro-moths from VC 59 and VC60 I am glad to say there appears to be increased interest in the early stages of micro-moths and in recording the species during these stages. These records may be of leaf-mines, larval feeding signs, webs, cocoons, free-feeding larvae and larval cases. Some of the notable 2018 records are detailed below. The are a large family of leaf-miners. Notable records included a couple of tenanted eurema leaf-mines on at Middleton Nature Reserve (John Langmaid, Steve Palmer, Ben Smart), a species that is new for the county. Stigmella prunetorum mines were found on blackthorn at Gait Barrows, with vacated mines recorded on 18.8.18 and a tenanted mine on 30.9.18 (BS). All the Heliozela species were recorded, including seven vacated Heliozela sericiella mines on oak at Chorlton (13.8.18; BS). The larvae of this species mine up from an oak twig into the base of the leaf. The larva then cuts out a roughly oval section of leaf and forms a case from this. The case falls to the ground and the larva pupates within. The species can be recorded from the resultant cut-out section in the centre of the mine. Two tenanted larval cases of Nemophora degeerella were found feeding on oak leaf litter at Hardy Farm, Chorlton VC59 on 31.3.18, giving rise to a male and a female on 27-28.5.18. Larval cases of Cauchas rufimitrella were found feeding in seed-pods of cuckoo-flower (19.6.18; BS) and garlic mustard (28.7.18; BS), also at Hardy Farm.

Trifurcula eurema leaf-mine on Lotus corniculatus Nemophora degeerella larva in case

Tenanted leaf-mines on polypody at Hollingworth Lake, Rochdale (28.1.18; BS), and on hart’s tongue fern in Chorlton (25.2.18), gave rise to moths of Psychoides filicivora. Vacated mines of Bucculatrix bechsteinella were found on hawthorn by Justine Patton and BS at Middleton Nature Reserve, VC60 on 14.10.18, and by Andrew Billington at Farrington, VC59 (30.10.18). These were the first records of this species for each of the two vice-counties. A larva on ash at Warton Crag on 25.5.18 resulted in the emergence of Zelleria hepariella on 18.6.18 (SP). A single tenanted leaf-mine with a short gallery on blackthorn (14.10.18; JP) was initially a puzzle, but was confirmed by Rob Edmunds (from the excellent British Leafminers website) as being that of the early instar larva of Paraswammerdamia albicapitella. Two larvae were found feeding beneath a great bindweed leaf (Chorlton, BS; 15.9.18). A spinning found within a folded knapweed leaf at Warton Crag (24.6.18; BS) turned out to have been made by Agonopterix carduella, when the adult emerged 2 weeks later. A couple of Gelechiid leaf-mining species found on Chenopodium leaves in 2018 were Chrysoesthia sexguttella in Flixton (1.10.18; Kevin McCabe) and St Helens (1.8.18; BS), and a leaf-mine of the closely related C. drurella turning up at Little Woolden Moss, Salford (28.8.18; BS). Larvae of Apodia bifractella were found in fleabane seed-heads at Middleton Nature Reserve (15.10.18; SP). I found a number of early instar larvae of Teleiodes vulgella on hawthorn

26 at various sites in VC59 from August to October. Published literature suggests this species usually starts feeding as an early instar larva in the spring. One of the larvae (Chorlton, BS; 5.8.18) quickly fed and emerged as an adult on 15.10.18. A number of case-bearing larvae from the family were recorded in 2018. Coleophora fuscocuprella, feeding on hazel, was found on hazel at Gait Barrows. The larva was detected by looking for the distinctive small holes peppered over the hazel leaves caused by feeding (30.10.18; BS). Several cases of Coleophora anatipennella larvae were noted in Flixton feeding on blackthorn (6.10.18; KM). The majority of the family feed on grasses, sedges and rushes, and a number of their leaf-mines were found this year. These include cinereopunctella (on Luzula sp.), Elachista adscitella (on blue moor grass) and Elachista gangabella (on false brome), all from Gait Barrows (SP, BS, KM; 5.4.18). I reared adults from leaf- mines of Elachista maculicerusella (on reed canary-grass, Chorlton, 15.6.18), Elachista argentella (on various grasses, Chorlton, April-May), Elachista atricomella (cock’s-foot grass, Chorlton, 14.4.18) and Elachista triatomea ( sp., Chorlton, 7.5.18). A further species, Elachista humilis, was reared from a tufted hair-grass leaf-mine (Chorlton, 9.4.18; BS). This was the first Lancashire record for this species since 1953. A single leaf-mine on honeysuckle at Warton Crag (24.6.18; BS) contained two larvae of Perittia obscurepunctella, another Elachistidae species. This species has previously only twice been recorded in the county.

Perittia obscurepunctella leaf-mine on honeysuckle Phycitodes saxicola larva on ragwort

Of the tortricid species, records included three Lathronympha strigana larvae in Hypericum spinnings at Warton Crag, by Steve and Carolyn Palmer (25.5.18), and two larvae of Cnephasia conspersana, feeding in ox-eye daisy seed-heads at the same site on 24.6.18 (BS). A couple of Epiblema foenella adults were bred from larvae in mugwort stems (Chorlton, 7.5.18; BS). Five larvae of Phycitodes saxicola were found in ragwort seedheads, each feeding in an individual seed-head (Chorlton, 23.7.18; BS), unlike the larva of Phycitodes maritima which feeds communally in a web, usually on yarrow or ragwort. Hopefully this list will encourage a few more people to look for the early stages of these species, as we would undoubtedly find many micro-moths more widespread than adult records alone suggest. Verification can be tricky, but there is an increasing amount of material available in the literature, and on the Internet. The Moths Count Guidelines are helpful regarding leaf-miners in showing the evidence required. I will try and help with any early stages queries posted on the Lancashire Moths facebook page As with adult records, can we please make sure all these finds are forwarded to the relevant County Micro-Moth Recorders.

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