The Suffolk Argus
November 1999
Indoor Meeting: The committee has decided, just for this year initially, to dispense with the usual Autumn indoor meeting and try an extended AGM, with a guest speaker and meal in the evening (optional) - more details in the next newsletter.
Changes on the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... .
Millennium Survey: A draft booklet of
by Paul Gilson
distribution maps will not be issued this year. Instead, anyone wishing to check the accuracy of plotted records for 1999 should contact Richard Stewart by the end of November.
(Membership Secretary)
Articles for the Suffolk Argus If any members have articles for future editions of the Suffolk Argus could they please send them to Paul Gilson at 18, Cheltenham Avenue, Ipswich IP1 4LN. Myself and Richard Stewart will be overseeing the production of the newsletter until a new Editor is found.
Next year's programme . . . . . . . . ...........
.
by Alan Johnson (Programme Secretary) With the approach of the "dreaded Millennium" it will soon be time to be chinking about the Programme for the year 2000. If any of our Branch Members have ideas or suggestionsfor future field trips, either within or outside the County, can they please contact me, or any other Committee member, by the end of November.
4
As many of you will already be aware, James Mann is no longer our Chairman and Richard Stewart will be taking over the position until a new Chairman is elected at the 2000 AGM. Richard will also be taking over the responsibility of Conservation Officer for butterflies. We also have a new member on the Committee, Richard Champion from Beck Row near Mildenhall. Richard will be representing our interests along with Richard at the Suffolk Naturalists' Society conference at Ipswich School in late October. We are still short of Committee members and I must urge you to consider whether six people on the Committee is enough to truly represent the interests of the Branch at all its activities and functions. If you are interested in joining the Committee please contact me or Richard Stewart.
Favourite Spots: Suffolk Water Park by Steve Goddard Ifl haven't already seen a butterfly in my garden this is the place I look for my first spring insects after those cold winter days. Away from my garden I have recorded the most species on one site here - 21. It is also the place where I go in search of my first migrant birds and for dragonflies throughout the year. So although it is several miles away from home I guess you could call this my regular patch. The Water Park is located near Ipswich at TM 120485 and is sign-posted off the Al 4 from the Great Blakenham exit. It is a restored gravel pit with a diverse habitat of rough grassland, scrub and woodland edge which surrounds the lake and is a rather pleasant place to be. This year for one reason or another, I did nQt get there until 30th, April but on this day I saw Large White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. By the end of May I had added Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue. In other years, Holly Blue, Small White and Comma have usually shown themselves by now. Interestingly, this year I did not see a COfhma anywhere until 30th, June when the variety hurchinsoni appeared in my garden.
Last year I saw Brimstone on 9th, May which is a scarce butterfly for the site. Early June usually brings Red Admiral although not this year. By the third week of June both Large Skipper and Meadow Brown have made their entrance. These are followed by Small Skipper, Essex Skipper and Gatekeeper. Then by mid-August the second brood of Brown Argus is in flight. In August 1996 I counted up to 100 of this species putting this into the prime site category but since then its numbers have been nowhere near as high even though the foodplants Dove's foot Cranesbill and Storksbill are still abundant. Having said that, as I write it is July 1999 and August is yet to come! In October 1997, Brown Argus was still on the wing during the first week of October which to date is the latest recorded in Suffolk. On 12th, October 1998, 2 Wall Brown were present in pristine condition which may well have been part of a third emergence. Although this is late, it is not the latest date recorded for this butterfly. In its good seasons I have seen Painted Lady and on occasions Small Heath but sightings of this latter species are rather scarce. To increase the species count for this location still further I am looking forward to recording the ever-spreading Speckled Wood and perhaps Ringlet and in a good year, Clouded Yellow. This would bring the species total up to 24. Already, the site must compare well with the best sites in Suffolk and with 13 species of dragonfly, an impressive list of birds (not to mention the toilets and refreshments in summer) it is well worth a visit. We hope this articleby Steve will encourage othermembersto write about theirfavourite spots.Pleasesendyours to the editorsfor inclusionin afuture Argus.
21
