Recording Opportunities

Recording Opportunities for Volunteers in Suffolk

by Rob Parker

The importance of recording as a nationwide

project is outlined in Richard Fox's article

"Why Monitor Butterflies" on page 8. Here is some further detail of recording work being

done in Suffolk, by a small army of butterfly

watchers and a dedicated band of moth-ers. Some, but not all, are members of Butterfly Conservation, and they range from determined experts, through regular garden recorders to those who come alive only when confronted by a Camberwell Beauty or similar rarity. There is a place for all in the brotherhood, because we seek to assemble the largest possible dataset of dependable observations from every comer of the county. Read on for some interesting opportunities for 2003.

Dingy Skipper Survey

The remaining domain of this Biodiversity Action Plan species lies around Bamharncross Common, RAF Barnharn, Center Pares Elveden, Marmansgrave Wood and The King's Forest down to Wordwell. It is becoming scarcer as the years go by, and we do our best to search former sites in addition to known colonies. The flight period lases through May until early June; if this reaches you in time to get involved, please contact Rob Parker. Prior knowledge of the species is useful, but not essential.

Silver-studded Blue Count

The health of our colonies of this BAP species is measured by organised counts at known sites during the first half of July. There are a !or of sites to visit between Ipswich and the coast, and all in decent weather in a short time period, so we can use more volunteers. We share cars co travel to places the public cannot usually access, and recognising the- species is much easier than you might chink (full training available, as they say in the recruiting posters). Ring Rob if you are likely to be interested on either weekdays or weekends, particularly if you live within easy reach of the Sandlings.

Your Own Favourite Site

Perhaps you visit a particular patch of habitat on a regular basis, and can improve the season-long coverage simply by becoming more systematic about noting your observations. Many people who took part in the "Garden Butterfly Count" or the 2001 Churchyard Survey will now be reasonably . familiar with the site, and will have a good idea as to whether there are more butterflies waiting to be seen, or whether they are able to visit with sufficient frequency to add something worthwhile to our season on season records. ~/

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Meadow Brown

by Beryl Johnson