The Suffolk Argus
Summer 2003 Recording butterfly distribution
The Great
Apollo Hunt Last Verse byJamesMann
MarbledWhite by BerylJohnson
You will remember my last words of wanting to find Apollos in our valley, the Vallespir. My wife Anne has often said that you don't have to go cha.sing butterflies they will come to you. I have had to accept that sometimes this is the case. I had given up looking for Apollos in 2001 but on Monday 20 August the Rafal went on its usual walk somewhere in the mountains. That week we went up to Le Tech to see one of my favourite places in France (Argus 23 Summer 2001). We turned off to the right and after parking at La Uau we walked up the valley of the river Coumalade, with the river on our left. Near co the source at some 1800 metres we crossed over co return on the other side of the valley. We had lunch and soon after starting back Yvon brought my attention to a scruffy white butterfly. Its wings lacked most of their scales but the almost transparent insect was certainly an Apollo and it was still busy feeding. So we do have them in the Vallespir. After our wet April and May 2002 I had no idea when to Apollo hunt and made no plans. Our Monday walk on 24 June was to be to the source of the river Tech, the same walk as we did on 25 June the previous year. At about 1400mecres I saw a couple of white butterflies in the distance and assumed Marbled Whites but as we came closer I saw a total of four very fresh Apollos, they were very active and did not settle, but were unmistakeable. At Source de l'Ouillac, a fresh water source, we stopped at the refuge, dated 1889, for coffee before tackling the very steep grassy and flowery slope of some 200 metres to the top of the ridge. My hard climb was rewarded
when near the top I sighted another six Apollos, again very active, but in the ideal habitat as described in all the books. As I reseed and waited one of them settled long enough for a photograph so my day was made even before we saw 46 Lizards, a Marmot and two Eagles. I was now satisfied that we had our own Apollos. Our walk on I July again took us down the valley of the Coumalade so I started looking for Apollos again. I had nearly given up hope after many false sightings of Large Whites and Marbled Whites when a single specimen flew over to show me chat they still existed here. After lunch I spotted a couple of "Graylings" that had not read the book as they were both seeding with open wings. I have now confirmed that they were actually Large Walls but at least another first. My walking group are now showing a greater interest in butterflies and were intrigued when I explained that the little white butterfly with the orange tips to it's wings and the white one with the black tipped wings were male and female of the same species. But it was difficult to get them co accept that the little red and black butterflies, Burnet Moths, were Papillion de Noir. They could not believe chat there are day flying moths. When asked about the little yellow ones I did not say chat the Speckled Yellowwas also a moth. Having seen more Apollos in the valley the other side of Col de l'Ouillat I am beginning co believe the expert who cold me that Apollos are not that rare in this area you just have co be in the right place at the right time, but that is the hard part.
16
Records are returned to Branch co-ordinators. We Butterflies for the New Millennium is BC's project are currently working toward the production of for general butterfly recording. Since 1995, over new national distribution maps based on the 1.9 million butterfly sightings have been collected survey period 2000-2004. Many areas remain from I 0,000 volunteers. As with transect data, under-recorded and there are undoubtedly many butterfly records are important at both the local colonies of scarce species still to be discovered - it and national scales. Recording is essential for local is not too late to get involved! conservation, providing the locations of colonies of scarce and declining species to conservation Why is monitoring important? organisations and planning authorities seeking to The data generated by BNM recording and protect them. Records can also provide national transect monitoring of butterflies underpin almost assessments of how species are faring by comparing all conservation work and can be used over and current distributions to historical ones. over again to benefit butterflies, both at the local Data from the first five years of BNM were scale (e.g. by improving site management) and used to produce TheMillenniumAtlasof Butterflies nationally. The data are used to determine in Britain and Ireland (Oxford University Press, Government policy, to decide planning 2001), but this book is only the start. The applications and to influence the activities of distributions of most species are changing rapidly major land-owning organisations such as the and it is vital that people continue to record Ministry of Defence and Forestry Commission. butterflies and that more recorders are recruited. Ultimately, butterfly data collected by members You can make a record any time you see a butterfly and submitted through BC's Branches determine that you can identify, anywhere in Britain and which species are the focus of conservation action Ireland. You don't have to be an expert and even through Biodiversity Action Plans at the national, regional and local levels. Monitoring data are also recording in your garden, local park or nature reserve can be a big help. Standard recording forms important in research and have been used to advise are used to note down any butterflies that you see, the Government and its conservation agencies on together with the date and name and grid reference the state of Britain's butterflies, agricultural reform and the impacts of climate change. BC has gained of the place where they were. an excellent reputation for providing high quality information on butterfly trends, but your help is vital to ensure that we maintain these standards in the future.
How to get inwlved?
·••~•-•,·H•
.-·--·
,
..
Everyone can contribute and we really do need your help. Whether you are a new recruit or a long-term member, now is the time to get involved with butterfly monitoring (if you aren't already!). You don't need to give up lots of free time and you don't need to be an expert. Contact your Branch Recorder or Organiser to see how you can help or find out more about transect walking and Butterflies for the New Millennium from the BC web sire (www.butterfly-conservation.org). We need both distribution records and transect data to conserve our declining butterflies.
...... ·.:•
Dingy Skipper by Douglas Hammersley 9
