Autumn 2013

SuffolkThe Argus

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation D and M Carter Clouded Yellow, male and female at Bawdsey. male and female at Bawdsey. Clouded Yellow,

Autumn 2013 Volume 58 1 The Suffolk Argus

Some unusual butterflies 2013 See Page 9 for details

Purple Hairstreak © Martin Rogers

Comma Polygonia c-album ab. nov Photo Pauline Rutherford

Long-tailed Blue at Dunwich Heath Photo Chris Overton

Brown Argus Aricia agestis ab. snelleni ter Harr Photo Trevor Goodfellow

2 Autumn 2013 Contents

Branch Contacts 4 Editorial 5 Ipswich Heaths Project 6 Rocking Gently 7 Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Comma & Long-tailed Blue 9 Recording at Northfield Wood 10 Some notes from the AGM 11 Branch Accounts 12 Late Summer Butterflies at Alton Water 13 Visiting the Monarchs 15 The Birdfair 16 Book Review 17 Brimstone and Buckthorn Initiative 18 Visit to South Cumbria 19

New Members

We welcome the following new members and look forward to meeting them at our events in the new year.

Mr L & Mrs D Acaster & Family Wortham Mr M Forbes Bungay Mr & Mrs Allport Martlesham Heath Mrs S Goldsmith Kesgrave

Mrs J Arkell Stoke by Nayland Mrs C & Mr M Harwood & Family Stowmarket Mr M Bagstaff Newmarket Mr R Heathwaite Felixstowe Mrs J Baxter Felixstowe Mr C Heseltine Sudbury

Mrs R & Mr S Bisbrown- Chippendale Haverhill Miss L Jackson Halesworth Mr A Brown Wickhambrook Mr B Lowry Saxmundham Mrs R & Mr K Bullen Sudbury Mr W Millard Newmarket Mrs H Carter Kirton Miss P Power Great Cornard Mrs G Chadwick Alresford Mr N Prior Saxmundham

Mr J Coleman Beccles Miss A Procto & L Marsh & Family Haverhill

Mrs C Coles Halesworth Mr S & Mrs S Ramsey & Family Ipswich Mr A Culley Ipswich Mrs K & Mr R Seaman Ipswich Mr G Davies Lowestoft Mr M Tripp Ipswich Mr CJ & Mrs SM Davis Stowmarket Mr J Valentine Woodbridge Mrs S Dawson Aldeburgh Mr EN Watts Boxford Mrs M & Dr P Feeney Bury St Edmunds

3 The Suffolk Argus Suffolk Branch Contacts

President &RQVHUYDWLRQ2IÀFHU %XWWHUÁLHV Howard Mendel Rob Parker c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell &RUQÀHOG5G Rd, London SW7 5BD Bury St Edmunds IP33 3BN Tel: 0207 938 8782 Tel: 01284 705476 email: [email protected] Chairman Mike Dean &RQVHUYDWLRQ2IÀFHU 0RWKV Coach House, Ixworth, Tony Prichard Bury St Edmunds IP31 2HL 3, Powling Rd., Ipswich IP3 9JR Tel: 01359 230292 Tel: 01473 270047 email: Michael.Dean2@ virginmedia.com email: [email protected]

Membership Secretary Programme and Publicity Susan Sidle Matt Berry Five Gables, The Ling, Wortham, Diss, Norfolk Tel: 07599 243026 IP22 1ST email: [email protected] Tel: 01379 643665 email: [email protected] Newsletter Editor Peter Maddison Treasurer Barnmead, Fishpond Rd, Dominic Hill :DOGULQJÀHOG Tel: 01359 269855 Woodbridge IP12 4QX email: [email protected] Tel: 01473 736607 email: [email protected] Secretary Julian Dowding 5HJLRQDO2IÀFHU(DVWHUQ(QJODQG 84, Clapgate Lane, Sharon Hearle Ipswich IP3 0RE 216, The Street, Kirtling, Tel: 01473 436096 Newmarket CB8 9PD email: [email protected] Tel: 01638 731648 HPDLOVKHDUOH#EXWWHUÁ\FRQVHUYDWLRQRUJ &RXQW\%XWWHUÁ\5HFRUGHU Bill Stone Website 27 Draymans Way Richard Perryman Ipswich IP3 0QU email: [email protected] HPDLOEXWWHUÁLHV#VQVRUJXN WCBS Co-ordinator Committee Member Twm Wade Helen Saunders email: twm.wade@ yahoo.com email: [email protected]

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‘A harsh winter, a late barren spring, a heatwave VSHFLHVRIEXWWHUÁLHVVLQFHWKH·VDQGWKH in July, migrants in August and a few surprises fate of the Silver-studded Blue, Dingy Skipper, along the way.’ These were the words of Rob Brown Argus, White-letter Hairstreak and the Parker at the AGM, when he summed up the White Admiral seemed to be in the balance. EXWWHUÁ\ VHDVRQ   ,W ZDV DQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ Something had to be done to prevent further season in which memories were made. losses. Recording became a priority, and practical conservation work in association with Perhaps the abundance of the Small the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the students of Tortoiseshell or the resurgence of the Dingy Otley College began at Purdis Heath. 6NLSSHU RU WKH LQÁX[ RI WKH &ORXGHG Common Blue are found, ***** and Grayling has been spotted nearby. The We celebrate our 20th anniversary. Silver-studded Blue is not far away. We live in hope! The inaugural meeting of the Suffolk Branch RI%XWWHUÁ\&RQVHUYDWLRQZDVODXQFKHGDWWKH 5HFRUGLQJ UHPDLQV D SULRULW\

There was a call to arms, Suffolk had lost 9

Editorial copy date

Contributions for the Spring edition of our will be published and we also welcome line newsletter are very welcome and should be sent to drawings, prints and photographs. the Editor, Peter Maddison, no later than Sunday 12th January, 2014. Contributions (preferably electronic) can be sent to the address on the Contacts page or by email to: Any piece of writing considered to be of interest [email protected] 5 The Suffolk Argus Ipswich Heaths Project for Silver-studded Blues and other wildlife. Julian Dowding

This four-year project, which is WREN at risk. Therefore it is vital that we continue /DQGÀOO &RPPXQLWLHV )XQG DLGHG LV WRLPSURYHWKLQJVIRUWKHEXWWHUÁ\ entering its second year. It follows on from two previous years’ work by the Branch This winter we plan even more habitat work, and volunteers after a report by Dr Neil building upon what we have achieved so Ravenscroft assessing the status of the Silver- far. If you feel that you can help, then please studded Blue in Suffolk which highlighted get in touch. We’ll have regular volunteer the plight of the species around Ipswich. JURXSVDW3XUGLVRQWKHÀUVW6DWXUGD\RIWKH month starting in November and also during 7KH HFRORJ\ RI WKH EXWWHUÁ\ ZKLFK LV QRZ WKH ZHHN LI \RX KDYH WLPH WR VSDUH 

Since we began work in earnest in 2010, The report on the status of the Silver-studded EXWWHUÁ\QXPEHUVDW3XUGLVKDYHLQFUHDVHG Blue in Suffolk can be found on the branch from fewer than 10 to over 40 but such website: numbers are still perilously low and the http://suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/ ,SVZLFKSRSXODWLRQVRIWKHEXWWHUÁ\UHPDLQ downloads/SSBReport2009.low.pdf

6 Autumn 2013 Rocking gently with Val Doonican and the Silver-studded Blues Darren Flint

After eight enjoyable years with the RSPB ,I\RXFRQVXOWDQ\TXDOLW\EXWWHUÁ\ERRN\RX late 2012 led me to leave my job and return will see that early Silver-studded Blues will to the realms of full time education as be seen on the wing late May, with decent the most matured student on UCL’s MSc numbers of males emerging during June and Conservation degree. In these economic the females appearing about a week after the straightened times, a risk, certainly, but no males. With my time management hat on I less exciting nor an opportunity to be missed ZDVUHOD[HGDQGFRQÀGHQWWKDWWKHUHZRXOG to realign my mid-life career. Once the be plenty of time for data collection followed challenges of essay writing, environmental by a nice block of weeks to number crunch, statistics, GIS mapping and numerous other ZULWHXSWKHÀQGLQJVDQGVWLOOKLWWKH8&/ modules had been mastered attentions August deadline. On paper this looked were turned to achieving the lion’s share of perfect, but nature had other ideas in the WKH ÀQDO JUDGH WKH  ZRUGV UHVHDUFK form of a prolonged chilly spring causing dissertation. Thoughts regarding suitable PDQ\EXWWHUÁ\VSHFLHVWRHPHUJHODWH7KH topics had started early while I was still at early June visits to Purdis Heath didn’t work and only one area, Lepidoptera, was cause too many worries, although the lack ever really in the running. RIÁRZHULQJEHOOKHDWKHUZDVSOD\LQJLQWKH back of my mind, however by the third week 2I WKH HLJKW %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ 06F a mini panic was rapidly setting in. Then, research projects for the coming year one on the 27th June, there was the unmistakable was located on the eastern fringes of Ipswich blue of a lone male, freshly hatched and to study the population changes of Silver- nectaring on the deep purple of mature Bell studded Blue (Plebejus argus) on Suffolk’s heather and the heart possibly skipped a lowland heathland. As a regular visitor beat while I checked for the underside row to Suffolk and the owner of a handy little of black spots with metallic centres to ensure caravan just along the coast, this topic was LWZDVQ·WDPDVTXHUDGLQJ&RPPRQ%OXH the obvious choice from the point of view of both interest and the practicality of ‘where Over the following weeks I regularly hit am I going to sleep?’. the heath laden down with two heavy rucksacks full of GPS, anemometer, The Silver-studded Blue is a niche habitat TXDGUDWV WKHUPRPHWHUV FOLSERDUGV DQG VSHFLHV UHTXLULQJ D FRPSOH[ PL[ RI %HOO spare batteries (the latter one I learned the and Ling heathers at all lifecycle stages, hard way!). Heathland is not renowned warm microclimates, bare earth patches for its shade and with 2013 being the third of loose soil and the presence of certain KRWWHVW VXPPHU RQ UHFRUG D ELJ ÁRSS\ KDW species of Black Ants with which it lives in and plenty of water was also de rigueur. a mutualistic relationship. In a world of Over the coming month the Silver-Studded fragmented landscapes and modern day Blue was hunted (although not in an old ODQGXVHSUHVVXUHVLWLVQ·WGLIÀFXOWWRSUHGLFW fashioned collectors way), tracked, counted ZK\WKLVEXWWHUÁ\KDVEHHQLQWURXEOHRYHU and the habitat prodded and poked until more recent decades. WKH KHDW DQG WKH UDQGRP TXDGUDWV· KDELW

7 The Suffolk Argus of placing me in patches of painful gorse YROXQWHHUVZKRKDYHIUHTXHQWO\EUDYHGFROG started to take its toll on my sanity. winter winds and gorse scratches, or stood, slightly demoralised, amongst the swaths of So what did all this data show? sapling birches sprouting through an area On the numbers side of things the total count nicely cleared only a few short weeks earlier. for the period was 203 male and 41 female, As a semi-natural habitat heathland does with a peak count of 33 males and 7 females UHO\ RQ WKH SRVLWLYH LQÁXHQFH RI PDQ WR on 13 July, up from 16 and 5 respectively ensure it remains in a healthy state. Up in 2009 and the lows of 2 and 2 in 2010. until the 1960s sheep grazing and rabbit 7KH ÁLJKW DUHD LQ  ZDV D WLQ\ KD RI warrening kept the scrub succession in heathland in the north-west corner, which check, but today this action is dependent has now grown to cover 1.03ha spread over on the many hands of volunteers. While three sizeable patches spread across the there are rabbits on the site, my birthday heath. A 930% increase and not that far off was spent on my hands and knees counting the 1985 peaks of 1.3ha. The females were rabbit droppings, which, other than not far more sedentary covering only 0.4ha, being very celebratory, showed very low admittedly harder to see but also probably populations at Purdis Heath. The reasons for lying low to avoid any unwanted advances this aren’t completely clear as the site should or having already been mated. In old money be good rabbit country, but myxomatosis a hectare is 2.47105 acres. was observed on the site. Predation appears to be low with limited fox droppings seen The dominant behaviours were nectaring and, while the area is used for dog-walking, on Bell heather, basking/roosting on Ling nearby reserves have higher paw/foot fall KHDWKHUDQGDOVRLQÁLJKW7KHH[KDXVWLQJRI and still sustain healthy rabbit colonies. The early nectar sources appeared to impact the QRQÁLJKWDUHDVGDWDVKRZHGDVLJQLÀFDQWO\ ODWHU REVHUYDWLRQV ZLWK DGXOWV VLJQLÀFDQWO\ lower percentage cover of heathers, higher moving locations. Only the males were cover of scrub, herbaceous and leaf litter, territorial and were busy over the whole DOO DUHDV WKDW QHJDWLYHO\ LQÁXHQFH WKH ÁLJKW SHULRG IHQGLQJ RII RWKHU PDOHV SOXV abundance of the Silver-studded Blue. RWKHU EXWWHUÁ\ VSHFLHV LQFOXGLQJ 6PDOO +HDWKV DQG ODWH Á\LQJ *UHHQ +DLUVWUHDNV A big thank you must be sent to all those Territorial behaviour was primarily to people who have supported me during this ensure the continued search for a mate but UHVHDUFK

8 Autumn 2013 Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Comma and Long-tailed Blue Notes on the photographs inside the front cover

Purple Hairstreak shows the same white spot with a central 0DUWLQ5RJHUVDWUDQVHFWZDONHUDW1RZWRQ3DUN EODFN ÁHFN  TXLWH SRVVLEO\ WR VLW DORQJVLGH D observed and photographed an adult at ground level. tentatively discredited account of a Northern Brown Argus at Lakenheath Warren circa 1918. Martin wrote: One of Richard Lewington’s paintings in ‘I was out with my camera this morning and 7KH %XWWHUÁLHV RI %ULWDLQ DQG ,UHODQG Thomas & snapped something unusual at a distance. It Lewington 2010 shows this form. ZDV D 3XUSOH +DLUVWUHDN ZKLFK ZDV ÁLWWLQJ about on the grass for some reason, stopping The Natural History Museum’s Cockayne occasionally, before zooming off in the direction Collection shows it in a male Brown Argus, of where I saw a Purple Hairstreak in 2011, just Aricia agestis ab. snelleni ter Haar’. 200 metres away. The exact location of this sighting is the patch of longer grass just beyond Comma WKHYHU\ODVWSRVWLQWKHEXWWHUÁ\WUDQVHFW· 3DXOLQH5XWKHUIRUGDPHPEHURIWKH6RXWK

9 The Suffolk Argus Recording at Northfield Wood

-XO\DQG$XJXVWZHUHDMR\IRUEXWWHUÁ\ZDWFKHUVEXWGXULQJUHFHQW\HDUVWKHWUHQGLQEXWWHUÁ\ numbers has been downwards.

-RKQ:DOVKHFRPPHQWVWR5RE3DUNHUDERXWKLVVLJKWLQJVRQWK-XO\DW1RUWKÀHOG:RRGD:RRGODQG Trust property near Stowmarket.

Between 12:00-13:10 I walked all the rides The full count was: - DQGSDWKV

White Admiral by Beryl Johnson 10 Autumn 2013 Some notes from the AGM

Over 50 people attended the meeting at St :LGHU&RXQWU\VLGH%XWWHUÁ\6FKHPHVLQFHLWV Luke’s Church Hall, Ipswich on the 21st introduction in the Branch in 2009. He has September. stepped down from the post and next season the Scheme will be co-ordinated by Twm Mike Dean welcomed members and our Wade. guest, Dr Susan Foden, who is a BC Council Member. Our membership has grown by 62% since 2010. We have membership in 383 households. He thanked Branch Committee Members for their work in the past year and noted with Rob Parker and Tony Prichard gave overviews particular thanks the commitment and hard RIWKHEXWWHUÁ\DQGPRWKVHDVRQV ZRUNRIWKRVHDERXWWRUHWLUHIURPRIÀFH After the coffee break short presentations Rob Parker, who has been the County were made: Recorder for the past eleven years, is retiring Trevor Goodfellow showed photos of some from this post. Bill Stone has become the new EXWWHUÁLHVLQWKH+DXJKOH\DUHD+HLQFOXGHG County Recorder. a Brown Argus aberration (see separate note). Rob will continue in the role of Conservation 2IÀFHU %XWWHUÁLHV  Julian Dowding reported that the Brimstone and Buckthorn Project had progressed well. Graham Simister, who has been the Treasurer There had been a good response to the IRU WKH SDVW ÀYH \HDUV LV VWHSSLQJ GRZQ buckthorn offer and the plotting of Brimstone Dominic Hill is to take over the post. sightings on the website map had been popular. Richard Perryman had joined the Committee during the year and his work on the Branch Twm Wade showed a movie in DVD form of website, particularly the Sightings page, is EXWWHUÁLHV WKDW KH KDG VHHQ PRVWO\ LQ :HVW proving to be very popular and well used by Suffolk. members. Darren Flint gave an overview of his MSc Helen Saunders has taken a keen interest in thesis work that he carried out during the conservation work and recording and was summer months on the Silver-studded Blue welcomed onto the Committee. at Purdis Heath. (See his main article for an overview of his work.) Peter Dare has been the co-ordinator for the

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( Autumn 2013 Late Summer Butterflies at Alton Water Sunday 25th August 2013 Bill Stone

Alton Water reservoir is one of my several species of Odonata with Common IDYRXULWHORFDO¶EXWWHUÁ\LQJ·KDXQWVDQGLV %OXH DQG $]XUH %OXH 'DPVHOÁLHV EHLQJ DYHQXHWKDW,YLVLWIUHTXHQWO\GXULQJWKH recorded along with Ruddy Darter, year. As such, I thought that it would make (PSHURU'UDJRQÁ\DQG0LJUDQW+DZNHU DQLQWHUHVWLQJEXWWHUÁ\ZDONIRU%&6XIIRON Further along the path we also found good members. The park area surrounding the QXPEHUV RI :LOORZ (PHUDOG 'DPVHOÁLHV reservoir totals over 400 acres and offers a LQFOXGLQJ VHYHUDO SDLUV Á\LQJ LQ FRS  $ variety of accessible woodland, grassland few moths were also recorded here, with and traditionally managed meadows. Straw Dot and Vapourer being seen well. Given this mixture of habitats a variety RIEXWWHUÁ\VSHFLHVFDQEHIRXQGWKURXJK Exploring the patches of grass and ragwort most of the year. SURGXFHGWKHÀUVWRIPDQ\&RPPRQ%OXH EXWWHUÁLHVWRJHWKHUZLWKDYHU\EULHIYLHZ The meeting place for the event was in RI D VNLSSHU VSHFLHV WKDW ÁHZ EHIRUH LW the main Stutton car park and by 10am, FRXOGEHSRVLWLYHO\LGHQWLÀHG&RQWLQXLQJ 15 members had gathered together for along the path we came across several the walk. The weather forecast was for a ODUJHSDWFKHVRIÁRZHULQJ0LQWDQGIRXQG grey start but with the sun due to appear RXUÀUVW3DLQWHG/DG\RIWKHGD\DJDLQD around lunchtime with temperatures tatty individual sheltering from the wind. rising to 23ºC. So, after a brief health and More Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells safety talk and a summary of the plan for were also found nectaring and resting out the day the group set off towards the south of the wind and soon a Gatekeeper was shore. found too. Several Wasp Spider nests were found by some of the group, giving us a 2QOHDYLQJWKHFDUSDUNZHIRXQGRXUÀUVW chance to examine this fascinating spider EXWWHUÁ\ LQ WKH IRUP RI D WDWW\ 6SHFNOHG and the intricacies of the web construction. Wood which had no doubt been damaged by the torrential rain that had fallen on Walking through Rabbets Wood brought Suffolk the day before. Walking across us out onto a network of footpaths around WKH ÀUVW SLHFH RI JUDVVODQG WRZDUGV WKHGUDJRQÁ\SRROV+HUHZHFDPHDFURVV Rabbets Wood we soon came across Large several large patches of Common Fleabane White, Green-veined White and Small and more Mint. Checking these closely 7RUWRLVHVKHOO$VWKHZLQGZDVVWLOOTXLWH proved worthwhile with some wonderfully cool I decided to lead the group towards fresh Common Blues being found together the reservoir edge and here we found some with more Small Tortoiseshells, whites, sheltered areas along the lower footpath. 3HDFRFNVDQGRXUÀUVW6PDOO&RSSHURIWKH %XWWHUÁLHV ZHUH DOVR VKHOWHULQJ KHUH DQG GD\$5HG$GPLUDOZDVDOVRVHHQEULHÁ\ we added Peacock, Meadow Brown and by some of the group but it didn’t linger Small White to the day list along with for the rest to enjoy. several more Small Tortoiseshells. Further along this path and just where Whilst walking through some of the small it rises to enter Larch Wood a damp area Oak trees, bramble patches and clumps covered in Mint was found and this proved of Rosebay Willowherb we started to see WREHDOLYLQJ¶FDUSHW·RIEXWWHUÁLHV1LQH

13 The Suffolk Argus

VSHFLHV RI EXWWHUÁLHV ZHUH VHHQ RYHU WKLV We did a short circular walk through the patch of Mint alone, including our one and grass area before I took the group onto only Holly Blue for the day. the reservoir edge to explore the extensive patches of Mint, Fleabane and other With the wind dropping and temperatures ÁRZHULQJSODQWV%\WKLVWLPHWKHVXQZDV rising I decided to head back towards RXWDQGWKHUHZHUHEXWWHUÁLHVHYHU\ZKHUH the car park and we called in at the small Working our way slowly along the edge we wildlife refuge to check some of the reptile saw large numbers of Small Tortoiseshells mats. Here we were rewarded with views together with more Common Blues, whites of both Grass Snake and Common Lizard. and Peacocks. Another Painted Lady was This area was also a magnet for Migrant found, this time in a much better condition +DZNHU GUDJRQÁLHV ZLWK JRRG QXPEHUV and a couple of pristine and very bright seen patrolling the footpaths. Red Admirals were also enjoyed. Turning D FRUQHU UHYHDOHG D ÁDVK RI RUDQJH DQG Retracing our steps we started to see \HOORZ DQG D &ORXGHG

14 Autumn 2013

Visiting The Monarchs Richard Stewart

7KLVPXVWEHWKHQXPEHURQHEXWWHUÁ\H[SHULHQFH REVHUYHG PDQ\ LQ SHULRGV RI VXQVKLQH Á\LQJ DQ\ZKHUHLQWKHZRUOG0RQDUFKEXWWHUÁLHVLQ out to nectar on tall American golden rod. It their millions overwinter among the Oyamel was obviously disappointing for Marie but two Pines in the mountains of Mexico, having years later, with the same leader, we returned. entered the Guinness Book of Records as a result 7KLVWLPHLWZDVPXFKTXLHWHUDQGDOWKRXJKWKH of their journey, sometimes over two thousand main clusters were higher up we both repeated miles, to get there. The return journey takes ‘go slow’ every few seconds and got to the area VHYHUDO JHQHUDWLRQV RI EXWWHUÁLHV H[WHQGLQJ where enormous clusters were hanging from right through to Canada, until milkweed, the many branches, then suddenly breaking free larval food plant, stops growing. DQGÁ\LQJKLJKLQWRDGHHSEOXHVN\0RUHZHUH I had assumed, from reading beforehand, that gathered on the ground, where a small stream Marie and I plus the rest of our group would trickled across. I put on my most pleading arrive at a fairly remote site, with a handful of expression and the vigilant warden allowed me other visitors. The reality was a Mexican bank to take a few steps off the path to get close up holiday, with thousands there and a plethora photos of the Monarchs covering the moist soil. of hastily erected stalls selling cheap replicas. 'HVSLWHORQJTXHXHVRXUJXLGH·VÁXHQW6SDQLVK ,W WRRN VRPH \HDUV WR ÀQG D SHUVRQ ZLOOLQJ WR JRW XV LQ TXLFNO\ DORQJ D WUDLO ZHOO ZDUGHQHG take us but nowadays several companies have though later on they had to open up a side route trips, notably Greentours and Naturetrek. These because of the numbers involved. stick to the larger sites while others are kept DZD\IURPWRXULVWVDQGDUHWKHIRFXVRIVFLHQWLÀF Unfortunately the combination of a bouncing ZRUN  7KH EXWWHUÁLHV DUH VWLOO WKUHDWHQHG DW local bus, a bumpy back of truck ride up to the these overwintering sites by illegal logging site and high altitude meant Marie just couldn’t and climate change. Recently the town of go on but she insisted I carried on while she sat Angangueo, heavily dependent on ecotourism on a seat, with a few Monarchs for company. linked to monarch visits, was almost completely %XWWHUÁ\QXPEHUVJUHZDVWKHDOWLWXGHLQFUHDVHG GHVWUR\HGE\ÁRRGLQJDQGODQGVOLGHV ÀUVW ÁXWWHULQJ DURXQG OLNH IDOOLQJ EURZQ DQG orange leaves then in numbers that meant you If you decide to go, do research beforehand. I KDGWRWUHDGFDUHIXOO\WRDYRLGVTXDVKLQJWKHP would recommend three books or, of course, websites. The books are: 7KHQ , FDPH WR WKH ÀUVW FOXVWHU KDQJLQJ IURP Nomads of the Wind- Arnt etc. pub. Papadakis a bough and fortunately close to the path so I 2008, ISBN 978-1901092929-only partially about could take photos. It was a sobering thought Monarchs but superb photos. WKDWLQMXVWWKLVRQHEXQFKZHUHPRUHEXWWHUÁLHV than I would see in a whole year back in Britain. Four Wings and a Prayer-Halpern, pub, Sometimes the sheer weight breaks branches, Weidenfeld and Nicolson,2001 ISBN 0297842218. making it perilous if this happens late in the day This is a good mix of vivid description and or at night and mortality can be high, increasing VFLHQWLÀF UHVHDUFK DERXW PLJUDWLRQ URXWHV DQG if the weather suddenly changes. Although WHFKQLTXHV Monarchs are poisonous to most predators one resident, the black-eared mouse, has adapted to Wings in the Meadow-Brewer, 1967 pub Dent cope with these toxins. ISBN not known and probably out of print- a fascinating study as, when it was written, Despite hearing learned people saying they the overwintering sites weren’t known to the don’t feed during overwintering, we actually outside world.

15 The Suffolk Argus

The Birdfair from a ‘butternutter’s’ perspective Bill Stone

The Birdfair is an annual event running for over Richard is always very friendly and welcoming. a weekend for three days in August at Rutland It’s a great chance to talk to him about current Water. This year it has celebrated its 25th and future projects as well as look at some of his anniversary and the event continues to go from artwork up close and even buy some of his work. VWUHQJWKWRVWUHQJWK(LJKWPDUTXHHVZHUHLQSODFH this year along with numerous other displays If you are in the market for some new optical and exhibitions set up to welcome and entertain HTXLSPHQWRUHYHQVHHNLQJDGYLFHDERXWDUHSDLU visitors from all over the UK, Europe and beyond. then the Birdfair offers a large number of stands Several international conservation organisations for you to visit. All the ‘big guns’ are there such as are present along with numerous smaller groups Leica, Zeiss and Swarowski and you can check and representing individual reserves or championing handle the latest products from these companies or particular conservation efforts. the other smaller brands. It’s a great opportunity Although it is called the Birdfair it is also celebrated to handle a lot of similar items especially if you are as the ‘international wildlife event of the year’. It looking to buy a pair of binoculars or a telescope. seeks to provide accessibility to a number of non- Of note, this year the binoculars of choice for a ornithological interests and highlight particular lot of ‘butternutters’, the close focussing Pentax areas of natural history that are shared by many Papilio were available at some great prices. I’m bird watchers. So with this in mind what is sure you could have played one or two sellers off there to entertain a ‘butternutter’ amongst the against each other for an even better price! QXPHURXVPDUTXHHVWDONVDQGGHPRQVWUDWLRQV" &RQWLQXLQJ WKH HTXLSPHQW WKHPH D QXPEHU RI If you love books on wildlife then the Birdfair is exhibitors, such as Garden Nature and the NHBS a great place to be. Large organisations such as offer items such as: bat detectors, ‘pooters’, moth the Natural History Book Service (NHBS) and WUDSVEXWWHUÁ\QHWVEXJYLHZLQJWUD\VDQGQHVW Subbutteo Natural History Books are present boxes. This year, I was fascinated by some of the selling the latest books as well as having a items found on the ‘One Stop Nature Shop’ stand, comprehensive selection of popular titles. I especially their digital microscopes and the new visited the WILDGuides stand and was able to portable USB microscope scopes that you can take look through a pre-issue copy of the forthcoming LQWRWKHÀHOG ERRN %ULWDLQ·V 'D\Á\LQJ 0RWKV  ,I \RX DUH looking for an older book or a particular edition If you are looking for a holiday or trip away then then specialist natural history booksellers such the Birdfair is perhaps one of the main events for as Calluna Books, Second Nature and Pemberley promoting wildlife and natural history tourism. Books may be able to help you. One other thing Numerous stands offer travel opportunities both worth mentioning is that a number of new books in the UK and abroad encompassing everything are available complete with their authors! So, you from day trips through to month long expeditions. can get your book signed too.

16 Autumn 2013 personalities such as Chris Packham, Bill Oddie not just to show your support but also to catch up DQG0DWW%DNHUWRQDPHEXWDIHZ:LWKEXWWHUÁLHV with the BC staff members and old friends that moths and other insects in mind, this year there pass through. Other ‘butternutter’ friendly stands were talks covering subjects such as ‘Moth WRYLVLWLQFOXGHWKH%ULWLVK'UDJRQÁ\6RFLHW\DQG WUDSSLQJ· E\ 7RQ\ 'DYLV ¶%XWWHUÁ\ ZDWFKLQJ LQ WKH 'UDJRQÁ\ 3URMHFW %XJOLIH %RWDQLFDO 6RFLHW\ Borneo’ by Honor Phillipps, ‘Wilding up your of the British Isles, Plantlife and the British JDUGHQ·E\6WHYH/RYHOO¶%ULWDLQ·V+RYHUÁLHV·E\ Arachnological Society (BAS). This year the BAS Stuart Ball (co-author of the new guide Britain’s had some wonderful spiders on display and some +RYHUÁLHV  ¶'UDJRQÁLHV WKH ELUGZDWFKHUV LQVHFW· fantastic photographs too. by Ruary Mackenzie Dodds (a man always worth listening to) and ‘The dire strait of Britain’s There are lots of other things going on at the %XWWHUÁLHV· E\ %XWWHUÁ\ &RQVHUYDWLRQ·V RZQ 'U Birdfair which I haven’t managed to cover in Martin Warren. this piece. If you haven’t been before or perhaps not for a few years then it’s certainly something 7DONLQJRI%XWWHUÁ\&RQVHUYDWLRQ%&KDYHWKHLU worth going to see. Next year’s event has been own stand at the Birdfair and are ably supported FRQÀUPHGIRUWKHWKWKDQGWK$XJXVW by the East Midlands Branch. It’s worth a visit I hope to see you there!

‘Britain’s Day-flying Moths’ - a new identification guide A review by Tony Prichard

¶%ULWDLQ·V 'D\Á\LQJ 0RWKV  $ ÀHOG JXLGH WR which they can be found and a section on WKHGD\Á\LQJPRWKVRI%ULWDLQDQG,UHODQG·E\ conservation and legislation. David Newland, Robert Still and Andy Swash. Published by Princeton. )RU D ÀHOG JXLGH WKHUH LV D IDLU DPRXQW RI ISBN - 978-0-691-15832-7 information for each species covering its status, habitats where it can be found, when the moth is 7KLV LV D QHZ PRWK LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ JXLGH WKDW Á\LQJDQ\FRQIXVLRQVSHFLHVIRRGSODQWVDQGD may be of interest to the more diurnal of small distribution map. lepidopterists. There have been previous guides WR  GD\Á\LQJ PRWKV WKDW KDYH EHHQ UDWKHU +HOS RQ LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ LV DOVR FRYHUHG LQ WKH limited in scope, only covering the most common WH[W ZKHQ UHTXLUHG DOWKRXJK VRPH GLDJUDPV DQGZLGHVSUHDGRIGD\Á\LQJPRWKV7KLVERRN WR LOOXVWUDWH LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ IHDWXUHV ZRXOG KDYH goes much further and covers 155 species of been a very useful addition. Almost all the GD\Á\LQJ PRWK FRYHULQJ DOO WKH PDFURPRWKV SKRWRVDUHRIJRRGTXDOLW\DQGVKRZOLYHPRWKV WKDWDUHWKRXJKWWREHGD\ÁLHUVDQGDVHOHFWLRQ ZLWKMXVWWKHRGGH[FHSWLRQZKHUHWKHTXDOLW\LV RIWKHPRUHFRPPRQDQGHDVLO\LGHQWLÀDEOHGD\ not so good. One unfortunate mistake is that Á\LQJPLFURPRWKV7KHERRNEHJLQVZLWKVRPH the picture given for Latticed Heath is actually a general introductory pages covering topics such Common Heath moth, which may lead to some DVPRWKELRORJ\PRWKLGHQWLÀFDWLRQDQGZKHUH PLVLGHQWLÀFDWLRQV WRÀQGGD\Á\LQJPRWKV The main bulk of the book is taken up with the Overall this is a well-produced book that would section of species accounts, with one page for make a useful addition to your library if you each species. Following the species accounts are interested in identifying those odd moths there are a few smaller sections, notably a that you see while out and about looking for tabulation of the species against habitats in EXWWHUÁLHV

17 The Suffolk Argus

Brimstones and Buckthorn initiative Julian Dowding

The latest efforts to encourage Brimstone going. It is pleasing to be able to report that some EXWWHUÁLHV WR VSUHDG LQWR WKH HDVW RI WKH FRXQW\ have already had Brimstones visiting. Mainly they DQG DOVR WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV WKURXJK EXWWHUÁ\ are sightings of Brimstones visiting the gardens gardening has already shown signs that it is and/or near to where bushes were planted, and beginning to work, even though it is early days some even found caterpillars on their still small yet. For those that are new to the Branch, it might bushes. These records together with those of be helpful to outline what has happened. bushes planted have been plotted on a Google map which can be found at: It is a well-known fact that female Brimstone EXWWHUÁLHV DUH YHU\ JRRG DW ÀQGLQJ %XFNWKRUQ http://greenwings.co/page/brimstones- bushes on which to lay their eggs. Buckthorn is --buckthorn-2571 and http://www. WKHRQO\NQRZQODUYDOIRRGSODQWRIWKHEXWWHUÁ\ VXIIRONEXWWHUÁLHVRUJXNEULPVWRQHKWPO and as these are scarce in the east of the county, a good way of increasing the population in the Please be aware that there are now four pages areas where they don’t appear is simply to plant of records on this map. They can be accessed by the bush in the knowledge that the Brimstones selecting ‘View new Brimstone map in a larger ZLOOÀQGWKHP map’. Once the map is open, simply scrolling down the left hand side to the bottom of the page With this in mind, Suffolk Branch and Suffolk enables you to select each page. Naturalists’ Society provided generous funding to buy and send out 1,135 small Buckthorn bushes For those of you with Buckthorns, please continue to 242 households in the winter of 2011/2012. to tend them. They are usually a little slow to Most of the recipients lived in the east of the get going and take about 3 to 4 years to establish county. Bushes have now passed through their properly. It’s always worth mulching around second summer and emails were sent out to those them with whatever comes to hand, be it well involved in the initiative to ask how things were rotted compost, grass clippings or pieces of old carpet. In time, we are SUHWW\ FRQÀGHQW WKDW \RXZLOOÀQG%ULPVWRQHV visiting your garden in spring, looking for somewhere to lay eggs. Males are sometimes as early as February if it’s sunny. They will be either looking for a source of nectar to supply energy after their long hibernation or a mate. Females usually visit from about May onwards.

Please continue to send records to us at brimstones@ VXIIRONEXWWHUÁLHVRUJXN

18 Autumn 2013

Visit to South Cumbria Sunday 7th – Tuesday 9th July 2013 Peter Maddison

The village of Arnside is situated in the Gait Barrows southeast corner of Cumbria. To the north 6XQGD\WK-XO\ is the Kent estuary and beyond there are distant views of the Lake District mountains. Arriving at the car park for a mid morning Immediately to the south is the limestone start we were soon met by Stella and Roger hill area of Arnside Knott and Gait Barrows, Wolfe who were staying close by and within which are famed for their invertebrate easy walking distance, and we were soon VSHFLHVDQGVSHFLDOÁRUD RII DORQJ WKH

19 The Suffolk Argus stop for an id, unlike a Small Pearl-bordered and an extensive bed of Hemp Agrimony )ULWLOODU\ WKDW 5LFKDUG LGHQWLÀHG DIWHU KH·G ZKLFK ZDV QRW \HW LQ ÁRZHU EXW ZLWKLQ D circumnavigated a hawthorn and deep couple of weeks would become a nectar bracken! I made the comment that we hadn’t PDJQHW IRU EHHV DQG EXWWHUÁLHV 6NLUWLQJ seen a good argus yet, which brought the around past the trig point and on to the wood TXLFN UHVSRQVH ¶1R KDYHQ·W KDG D JRRG ZHKDGÀQHYLHZVRXWRYHU0RUHFDPEH%D\ Argus since the editor changed.’ Not all of In the cool shade of the lower slopes Dog’s the group was amused! Mercury and beds of pungent Ramsons were The limestone pavement on this trail is found. fascinating. Shaped in glacial times the rock Lunch was eaten in the shade in the vicinity has been eroded further by rain and surface of the car park but as the heat of the afternoon ZDWHU WR OHDYH ÁDW URFN ¶FOLQWV· VXUURXQGHG VHHPHGWREHRYHUZKHOPLQJWKHEXWWHUÁLHV E\GHHSÀVVXUHV¶JULNHV·,QWKHJULNHVSODQW they had sought out their own shelter, we growth is restricted but ash, rowan, yew and decided to return to the hotel. Later in the juniper grow slowly, as well as invasive dog afternoon, several members of the group rose and bramble. Rigid Buckler Fern was walked along the riverside path to Gubbins noted but it was not until later that Stella Wood Reserve, where in the meadow Dark and Roger found plants of the Dark Red Green Fritillary, Large White and Meadow Helleborine. Brown were seen.

Two more Dingy Skipper, more Large Meathop Moss, Latterbarrow and Skipper, two Speckled Wood, a Comma, Foulshaw Moss VHYHUDO/DUJHDQG6PDOO:KLWHEXWWHUÁLHVDV Tuesday 9th July well as a ‘polished’ Northern Brown Argus completed a fascinating day on the reserve. Meathop Moss, a lowland raised peatbog, lies to the north of the Kent estuary. It Arnside Knott provides habitat for many interesting species Monday 8th July of plants and invertebrates, and is favoured by the Large Heath, the third species on our The good weather continued and in the heat weekend’s target list. On-going restoration of a mid morning start we were delighted to work to secure the high water table of the ÀQGDEXQGDQWEXWWHUÁLHVDFURVVWKHKLOOVLGHV mire has been undertaken in recent years of the Knott. Flowering knapweed, thistles and new access routes are being created. and bramble provided nectar for about 40 Dark Green Fritillary and about 15 Small An enclosed sallow lined track leads from Pearl-bordered Fritillary which were seen the road to a lush meadow and then on primarily on the slope below the stone to the open Moss, where there is a broad topscope and further along the sheltered H[SDQVH RI ÁRZHULQJ &RWWRQ *UDVV %RJ sections of the ridge. No High Brown Asphodel, Bog Rosemary and Cross-leaved Fritillary was seen here but Small Heath Heath. In the hot sunshine a lizard or two and Grayling were new species to add to basked on the boardwalk, whilst nearby in the day’s list and there were some good the peaty runnels Round-leaved Sundews specimens of the Northern Brown Argus. were found. It wasn’t long before our Large Skipper, Large White and Speckled ÀUVW /DUJH +HDWK ZDV REVHUYHG D VWHDG\ Wood were recorded. Some plants of note LQGLYLGXDOWKDWDOORZHGDIHZTXLFNSKRWRV were Common Spotted Orchid, Eyebright to be taken. A little further onto the Moss

20 Autumn 2013 numerous Large Heaths became evident, was to nearby Foulshaw Moss, a 350 acres Á\LQJORZLQHYHU\GLUHFWLRQKDUGO\SDXVLQJ raised peat bog. Much drainage and at each nectar source. Standing at the end degradation of the peat has occurred here, of the boardwalk Richard counted the Large but the Cumbria WT and Natural England Heaths he could see in a 360° rotation: 50+ have done much restoration work to retain DQGFRXQWLQJ)RXUVSRW&KDVHUGUDJRQÁLHV water on the Moss. Cotton Grass was not YDULRXV EOXH GDPVHOÁLHV DQG QXPHURXV so plentiful here but where it was found Purple-bordered Gold moths caught our around the excavated ponds it grew and attention. Time passed and in the midday ÁRZHUHGLQVWDUWOLQJDEXQGDQFH6RPH/DUJH heat we moved on to Latterbarrow, a small +HDWK EXWWHUÁLHV ZHUH FRXQWHG EXW WKH\ meadow and woodland reserve where were not as plentiful as at Meathop, perhaps shade was welcome for our lunchtime stop. the afternoon sun was discouraging them We thought of Alan and Beryl who, having IURP Á\LQJ 'UDJRQÁLHV WRRN RXU H\H -LP missed our Gait Barrow walk, elected to was in his element, and good sightings were visit there today and we imagined them made of Emperor, Four-spot Chaser, Large watching High Brown Fritillaries, which 5HG 'DPVHOÁ\ (PHUDOG 'DPVHOÁ\$]XUH they reported later they had been doing. At %OXHWDLOHG DQG &RPPRQ 'DPVHOÁLHV %XW Latterbarrow Oxe-eyed Daisy was profuse, WKH LQWURGXFHG :KLWHIDFHG 'UDJRQÁ\ EXW WKH PHDGRZ ZDV ÀOOHG ZLWK 6FDELRXV photographed that morning by another /DG\·V %HGVWUDZ %HWRQ\ DQG ÁRZHULQJ visitor, remained elusive. bramble which was a favoured nectaring SODQWRIDÁLJKW\'DUN*UHHQ)ULWLOODU\,QWKH We returned to Arnside and the following drier, stony parts Common Rockrose grew day, whilst some members of our group and it was here that we found Northern departed for Suffolk, others remained to Brown Argus, the amount of white in the extend their stay in the area. It had been IRUHZLQJVSRWEHLQJTXLWHYDULDEOHHYHQLQ a most enjoyable long-weekend: rare fresh individuals. EXWWHUÁLHV JRRG FRPSDQ\ DQG ÀQH Our third reserve weather. visit of the day

High Brown Fritillary by Beryl Johnson 21 The Suffolk Argus

These haiku were written during the recent Suffolk Branch trip to Arnside Knott and the surrounding area. Our hotel overlooked the estuary of the river Kent. Richard Stewart

Nothing is so sad Or hauntingly beautiful As a curlew’s cry. ... First fritillary A High Brown on tall thistles The rarest of all. ... The unexpected A worn Dingy Skipper rests Its life span ending. ... It’s too hot to sleep. Lying in bed I listen To the dawn chorus. ... Morning comes softly With calls of wakening gulls Bubblings of curlew. ... From my bed I watch Early hunting swifts catching Sunlight on their wings. .... On limestone pavement Graylings get closer, basking ,QUHÁHFWHGKHDW ... By a lonely pond Blankets of white cotton grass Swaying in the wind. ... 7KHÀUVWYDQHVVLG Small Tortoiseshell on the beach Basking in sunlight. ... Sunset sand becomes A dappled Shibori cloth $SSOLTXHGZLWKJXOOV

22 Autumn 2013

Visit to South Cumbria

Cotton Grass and dragonfly ponds at Foulshaw Moss Photo by PRM

Meathop Moss Photo by PRM

Large Heath on Cross-leaved Heath Photo by JF

Round-leaved Sundew Photo by PRM Ros and Jim at Meathop Moss Photo by PRM

23 Photo by Jim Foster High Brown Fritillary at Gait Barrows NNR (Lancs.) Photo by Peter Maddison

The Kent Estuary from Arnside Knott © JF © PRM

Limestone pavement ‘clints’ and ‘grikes’ Northern Brown Argus © PRM at Gait Barrows NNR © PRM

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary © PRM Grey Heron at sunset © JF