Suffolk Argus 33 Autumn 2004

Suffolk Branch Contacts Chairman Rob Parker, 66 Cornfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editor Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AH (01449 711484) Publicity Officer (Vacant) Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) County Recorder (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address as above)

Butterfly

Conservation Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address left) Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047) County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address above) Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, 1 The Street, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LP (01473 310371) Committee Members Stella Wolfe, Mike Dean President Howard Mendel, c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW? 5BD (0171 938 8782)

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Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on

tekeeper by BerylJohnson

01473 715701.

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation ButterflyConservation Limited by Guarantee RegisteredOffice, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Td: (01929) 400209 © 2004 all rights reserved &g. No. 2206468 R,g. Charity No. 254937

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Butterfly Conservation

Autumn 2004 Volume33

Autumn 2004

-The SuffolkArgus

Contents

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Editorial

Editorial

3

Lord Henniker - an appreciation

3

Regional Officer's Report

4

2004 Field Meetings

5

From Oak to Ovum

14

Swallowtail Day at Wheatfen

18

A new species of moth to Britain discovered in Suffolk

19

Small Tortoiseshells along the Suffolk Coast

20

Nightingales, Butterflies and Chapel St. Luc

21

Newsletter Details and General Information

23

Suffolk Branch Contacts

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Back Cover

For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ?

Copy Dates Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than:

Spring

Christmas Eve

Summer

April Fools Day

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Any piece of writing that is considered to be of interest will be published together with line drawings/prints /photographs.

The Suffolk Argus is your magazine, so please let us hear from you.

Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times Iife-si.ze,theywill last for many years.

Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design, with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

To advertisein the SuffolkArgus please contact Jim Foster on 01449 711484.

Phone or fax Mervyn Crawford on M'ddenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure I Price list.

A purpose built Hotel with all the facilities that today's travellers require yet in a rustic traditional environment that is welcoming and comfortable.

A purpose built Hotel with all the facilities that today's travellers require yet in a rustic traditional environment that is welcoming and comfortable.

2

Butterfly Hotel,

Butterfly Hotel,

Al 4 Bury East Exit.

Al 4 Bury East Exit.

Moreton Hall,

Moreton Hall,

Bury St. Edmunds

Bury St. Edmunds

Tel: 01284 760884

Tel: 01284 760884 23

TheSuffolk Argus was still shining and it was a lovely warm evening the biting heat of the day having passed so we decided to visit the Chapel and admire the surrounding countryside, for although the Chapel is only at an altitude of204 metres the ground falls away on all sides giving a dear view. We followed the narrow winding road through the vineyards remarking that like Suffolk the road went round the fields/vineyards not daring to encroach on the fertile bit. Also like much of Suffolk there was a single crop but here it is divided up into small parcels, which average little over a hectare each.

They are of differing colours according to the grape variety and the lines of vines run in various directions influenced by the inclination of the plot and the angle of the sun for the longest period of the day. The last 200 metres to the Chapel were up a steeply rising dirt track.

The Chapel is surrounded by an extensive grassed area that slopes down to the surrounding apron of cork oak trees. Anne and her friend Diana, who featured in "A Place of Tranquillity'' went off to sit on a fallen log and listen to the nightingales and other birds that were in song.

I ambled off to investigate the few white butterflies that were fluttering from flower to flower amongst the rough grass.These turned our to be Marbled Whites with up to twenty in sight at any one time.

To one side dose to the trees a small group of dainty smaller whites were flitting around and identified as Wood Whites, they kept themselves to a small area not

Autumn 2004 nuxmg with the other species. A much larger white-based butterfly turned up and began patrolling back and fotth. Very common to us he was easy to recognise as the white version of the Scarce Swallowtail. He soon got fed up looking for another of its kind and flew off for pastures new freeing me up to look elsewhere. As usual for this time of the year there were plenty of Pearly Heaths.

The several Clouded Yellowsand Walls I ignored for these two speciesvie with each other as to which is on the wing for the longest period of the year.

The considerable number of small dark butterflies that were keeping low to the flowery spread all seemed to be Purple Hairstreaks but following a different one proved that there were a number of Long-tailed Blues with us. A flash of blue and I was off to chase another species, a small busy insect waylaid me and as the single one I saw landed I thought of all the Small Skippers that had given me enjoyment in Suffolk. The blue was no where to be seen but after a few minutes it, or at . least one of the several Small Blues I saw, gave a good display of colour in the sunshine. The two distinct different Fritillaries caused me great problems and as they refused to senle, exact identification was beyond my limited knowledge.

Seeking an easier task I concentrated on the red and black insects acting in a fairly sedentary way on the flowers. The identification of the nonlepidoptera was not my present concern but the Burnet Moths I recognised and spent a long peaceful time counting spots and was pleased to find about equal numbers of both Five and Six spots. A noise disturbed the concentration. It was Anne and Diana politely asking if I intended spending all night on my knees in the grass, they were hungry. Being reminded of it I realised I was also in that state. As we made for the car we passed a couple of Painted Ladies and saw a crafty Red Admiral soaking up the last rays of the falling sun.

The best times are unexpected, what was to be a simple wine tasting turned into a very pleasant and relaxing evening prior to an excellent meal.

Lord Henniker -an • • appreciation

Editorial

by Jim Foster Well another summer is drawing to a close and what a difference compared with 2003. Last year's long hot weather has been followed by this year's changeable weather and a very wet August. I have been recording rainfall here at Stonham Aspal since 1975 and the 122mm for August is the highest for that month I have ever recorded.

Butterflies in our garden have not been as numerous as last year however late July seems to be a favourable time for us to see something unusual.

A Chalkhill Blue graced our garden on 31st July 2003 and this year on 28th July we recorded a female Clouded Yellow. This is only the third garden sighting of this species we have had.

I managed to obtain one photograph before it was disturbed by a Large White and went on its way. The very next day a White-letter Hairstreak was seen nectaring for at least an hour on Helenium. This garden plant attracts numerous butterflies particularly Gatekeepers and Ringlets.

We now assume a White-letter Hairstreak colony is nearby in the village. In spite of searching for several days we were unable to locate it, probably because it was too late in the year. Nevertheless we have identified some suitable habitat, so one task for 2005 is to find the colony!

This autumn issue as usual contains reports of some of our 2004 field meetings. Please note that there is no report for the Stoke-by-Clare meeting scheduled for May 8th, as this did not take place due to inclement weather.

by Alan Johnson Some of our members may have read with regret, the news of the death, earlier this year, of Lord Henniker, of the Thornham &late, near Diss.

The Suffolk Branch has held regular field meetings in conjunction with 'Thornham Walks', which included visits to the 'Butterfly Ride', situated within the estate. The ride has been in existence for several years now with Butterfly Conservation being involved in the project at the invitation of Lord and Lady Henniker.

Following distinguished careers in the military, diplomatic and charity fields, Lord Henniker transformed the family estate in many ways, which included opening up to the public, a series of footpaths through ancient parkland, woodland, farmland and water meadows.

Also a Field Centre was opened offering educational environmental activities for children and adults throughout the year.

Both a testament to his vision, love of the countryside and interest in people.

A Memorial Service was held on 25th June, at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, at which our Branch was represented.

WoodWhite

by BerylJohnson

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3

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Regional Officer Eastern Region Report

Nightingales, Butterflies and Chapel St. Luc

by SharonHearle

On 14 June 2003 we had yet to experience our infamous canicule (heat wave) but the weather was warming up nicely with temperaturesrarely falling below 20 deg C at night. During the week a letter had arrivedinviting us to a wine tasting evening at Domain Rossignal (Nightingale in English). Pascal, the owner, who we now know well is the grandson of the original vineron. The grandfather had combined the trades of vineron and blacksmith.

His wines were typical of the wines of this area at that time in that they were wet, alcoholic and useful for cleaning down engines. Pascal'sfather increased his area of vineyard and joined the local Cave Cooperatives. This was, and still is, an association of several vinerons, sometimes up to 30 or so, who together have their grapes made into wine at a central jointly owned cave, using skilled labour. This not only shared the cost hut also considerably increased the quality of the wine.

When Pascal inherited there was a growing trend to move out of Cave Cooperatives and to become Cave Particulars and this he did. With a Cave Particular a single owner grows the grapes and makes and bottles his own wine. Like a Single Malt whisky in Scotland. The emphasis is now on quality and with each vineron concentrating on the grapes best suited to his vineyards the quality of the local wines holds up well against many of the well-known Bordeaux wines.

By JamesMann

The first species review on the Anglia Regional Action Plan has been completed and includes all activity on 14 high and medium priority butterflies and 35 high priority moths in 2003. A similar review will be completed for 2004. This review provides a useful record of all the work undertaken in the Anglia Region and helps to identify gaps in our knowledge and new priorities.

Griuled Skipper byDouglasHammersley

Dingy Skipperand GrizzledSkipper

It appears that 2004 has been a relatively good year for both skippers. The highest count for Dingy Skipper on the transect at Devil's Dyke near Newmarket was 26 compared to 15 last year.

Planning casework at several sites m Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire where butterflies are threatened has been undertaken.

Searches for Grizzled Skipper at a few sites in Suffolk have been negative, including one of the most promising along the cut-off channel at Lakenheath. Survey visits to the cut-off channel from Feltwell to Wretton in Norfolk has led to the discovery of several new colonies of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Wall and Brown Argus not recorded before.

Survey work for Dingy Skipper in Suffolk has been much more productive as can be seen in Rob Parker's update. A grant of £400.00 from

The Grizzled Skipper day at High Lodge, Brandon in Suffolk on April 24th was well attended by 26 people including staff from Norfolk Wildlife Trust, - WBB Mineral Company and British Trust for Ornithology. There were presentations by Sharon Hearle and Tom Brereton from Head Office who completed a PhD on Grizzled Skipper severalyears ago. There was glorious hot and sunny weather for the field· visit in the afternoon to Foulden Common in Norfolk but no Grizzled Skippers were seen although one had been recorded on the same day in Cambridgeshire. Subsequent visits did reveal good numbers of both Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper at this site. Attendees did go on to complete survey work in both Norfolk and Suffolk searching for both Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper.

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Our invitation was to taste a Cotes du Rousillon red that had won not one, but two, Bacchus awards. We put on our French disguise by driving there in our 1974 Ciuoen Ami 8. Arriving at the table piled high with the usual French nibbles we found Pascal poised with a bottle of the Bacchus wine at just the right temperature and the correct angle to pour the usual generous half glass for tasting. Not this time, at 12.5 Euros per bottle, when I usually buy his Vm de Pays Catalan at just over one euro a litre envrac, we got just a large thimble full, but what wine, superb on the nose and pure nectar to sip. This was not a wine to be guzzled down. It was as far away from his grandfather's wine as it is possible to get. I bought a couple of bottles to lay down for a very special occasion trying not to think that 25 euros was usually enough for a whole months wine.

At an earlier visit Pascal had told us that his vineyards were some five kilometres away surrounding Chapel St Luc. We had visited the Chapel before on a three hour round walk from Le Boulou but had never been to it by road. The sun

MarbledWhite on Privet byBerylJohnson 21

Autumn2004

The SuffolkArgus determined by dissection, as E. hannoverella and E. turbidellaare indistinguishable in the majority of cases as adults from external appearance alone.

This group of moths has a reputation for being tricky to rear through to the adult stage as the larvae leave the mine and spend the winter as a pupa in a small cocoon with the adults emerging in the spring. Being so small they are prone to drying out and appear to need exposure to cold weather before they will emerge and some species can be very heavily parasitised. Jon Clifton, Neil Sherman and myself took mines from two sites in Suffolk and tried different techniques to over-winter them in the hope that at least one of us would manage to rear some adults. This actually proved more successful than expected and in April and May the majority of adults hatched from both sites. These were determined by Jon Clifton to be E. hannoverella- a new species of moth to Britain found in Suffolk.

Returning to events in late 2003, I had continued to search for further sites with mines in black poplar hybrids and managed to locate two further sites in Suffolk, one in the Woodbridge area and the other near Brandon. Andy Musgrove also managed to find some mines in Norfolk. at Thetford. It would appear that E. hannoverellais established in at least two broad areas of Suffolk and I suspect will be found in other areas of the county as well. How widespread it will be outside the county is hard to say. Leaf-miner recording certainly has a long history in Essex and some of the other adjoining/nearby counties to Suffolk have or have had recorders interested in recording leaf-mining moths. Black poplar and its hybrids have other leaf-mining moth species associated with them that are likely to have attracted the attention of leaf-miner recorders in the past, so it would seem unlikely that they would have been over-looked for a long period of time. Now that the species has been recognised as occurring in this country it will hopefully encourage other recorders to go out and look for it so that its precise distribution can be determined.

Small Tortoiseshells Along the SuffolkCoast

by RichardStewart On Mai,ch 29th 2004 I walked from Buss Creek at Southwold right through to the railway station at Lowestoft. It was a lovely day for this time of yearbut cloudy conditions restricted my butterfly sightings to just a few unidentified and distant fliers.

That was until the afrernoon, when the sun came out and the increased temperature produced a very surprising total of 43 Small Tortoiseshells between Kessingland Beach and the vegetation alongside the tracks at Lowestofr railway station.

This is easily my best one-day total for this species at such an early date, in fact I doubt if I have ever seen that number previously in the whole of March.

It was also interesring to note that just two other butterflies were recorded, both Peacocks.

Several of the 43 were close together, showing courtship behaviour, and condition varied from excellent to ragged. Many were close to Alexanders, but this might have simply been because this plant has invaded most suitable habitats close to the path near the beach. What I could not decide was whether these represented a local population, which had successfullyhibernated and was evident along the path because of the sunshine, or whether they were migrants. There was a large movement of moths and butterflies into some south and southwest counties in February 2004. Dorset was the chief beneficiary, with over 300 records of the Painted Lady received by 28th March plus sightings of several rare migratory moths. Was this day'stotal the easterlytail end of this movement? If anyone else has similar numbers from other sites at the end of March, perhaps they could report them to Rob Parker.

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Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership helped to cover travel costs for several volunteers searching new sites. A new colour leaflet on the Dingy Skipper in the eastern region is also available and can help new volunteers distinguish between the butterfly and several day flying moths.

SurveyTraining Following the success of the transect and monitoring training day in Cambridgeshire, a similar day was held in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 5th August using PowerPoint presentations from Head Office and the experience of Rob Parker and Sharon Hearle. The event was attended by 6 volunteers none were members of Butterfly Conservation and included staff from Suffolk County Council and RSPB. There were many other enquiries about recording from people who could not make the day.

The Eastern Daily Press and East Anglian Daily Tlffies covered the event and although the copy was not completely accurate it did lead to an incredible 32 enquiries from the public and hopefully more recorders/members in the future.

How can you help?

There will be further training days in 2005 and if anyone has any suggestions for topics they would like to see covered please get in touch.

There are many County Wildlife Sites across the county, which have interesting potential for butterflies but no public access. If you are aware of sites near you that you would like to visit please get in touch, as it may be possible to arrange access for named individuals for recording purposes.

There appear to be a number of locations along the Icknield Way where butterfly and moth species numbers have gone down. If anyone has any information about this track and former habitat I would be pleased to hear from you.

2004 Field Meetings Dingy Skipper Survey

-2004

by Rob Parker This year's searches for the Dingy Skipper were well planned, but the season ran late, and some of our early surveys were too early for the flight period, and one took place in a torrential downpour. Perhaps the most important achievement was the completion of negative searchesthat confirmed that a number of former sites are regrettablyinactive. In several cases, the habitat is no longer suitable. A more satisfactory result late in the season was the discovery of a previously unknown colony just north of the existing Wordwell site; that has an extensive area of Birds-foot Trefoil and looks like a strong reservoirin the heart of the King's Forest.

All visits were conducted with the landowner's consent, or along public rights of way.

A total of twelve sites were visited during the 2004 flight period, and Dingy Skippers were found at four of these, including a stable colony at Center Pares and a few sightings at the Chalk Lane site.

The butterfly appears to be holding its own in a very limited area of the Suffolk Brecks.

The Dingy Skipper was on the wing from late April elsewhere in UK, and on the Devil's Dyke (Cambs/Suffolk border) by 2 May, but again there were no early records from Suffolk. None were flying on 3, 5 or 7 May, and the first definite record was from Wardwell on 15th May, the same date as last year. The main survey events were: 15 May. Training event; count at Wardwell, but nothing found at Chalk Lane or to the northeast.

See the following report.

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The SuffolkArgus 16 May. Wordwell. See following report by Richard Stewart.

22 May. Counts at RAF Barnham and Center Pares.

23/24 May. An extensive search of the southwestern corner of King's Forest, with negative results.

27 May. Chalk Lane; two seen.

30 May. Habitat Condition Survey at Wordwell, to Butterfly Conservation guiddines.

8/9 Jun. King's Forest; negative at John O'Groats, but extended colony detected north ofWordwell.

15 to 31 May. At least six negative searches made at other sites.

23 May. Dingy Skipper Search from Ramparts Field. A group of a dozen knowledgeable volunteers gathered in perfect weather for this event, and walked the most promising forest rides in TL 7872 and 8073. Green Hairstreaks were flying in good numbers, as were Orange-tips, Small Coppers and Speckled Woods. In suitable areas of short grass, Small Heaths were also to be found, and an agreeable morning was passed in vain pursuit of Dingy Skippers. Very little Birds-foot Trefoil was found, and none of the area was judged suitable habitat, or even worthy of a further visit.

Autumn 2004

Dingy Skipper Survey at Wordwell - 3rd May

by RichardStewart Bank Holiday bringsten of us Blown inland to the wet woods Of the Kings Forest,searchingfor the Elusive,moth-likeDingy Skipper, Rarestof Suffolk'.rbreedingbutterflies, And to test the latestpurchases Of rain-proofgear,our colourful Umbrellasmaking a carnivalftom the Gloomof the day and the dark broodingmastsof Conifers.~ resemblea flotilla Of storm-sweptsails Almost careeningas we turn a corner •Into the breedingride, meetinga Suddm gust of wind, while ahead A loneharestopsalong Thepath toface this suddengaudy Armada, quickly decidingwe cannot Be harmfol in such weatherand, Takingus into its confidence, Startsto ambleslowlycloser,

Our picnic was enhanced by an opportunity to view some exquisite artwork brought along by Jonathan Tyler, a botanical illustrator and BC member. After the break, still eager to see our target species, we moved on to Wordwell, and confirmed that the Dingy Skippers were flying . there in good numbers. Everyone got a good chance to observe and photograph them, as did the separate group of members who were just leaving to check our the Chalk Lane site.

In all, we had seen 15 species whilst doing a valuable job with our negative search of former habitat.

Still closer,then it leapslike a taut sail Toshakeoff beadsof rain, only Stoppingbecauseof our babble, Sinking low into thepaths farrow Beforedarting off into cover.

The Dingy Skippersstay hidden, Tuckedaway in somesafeharbour, Wiserthan us.

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A new species of moth to Britain discovered in SuffolkEctoedernia hannoverella

by TonyPrichard Some of our smallest moths, only a few millimetres in wingspan, feed as larvae inside leaves. The results of this feeding, termed leaf mines, can be visible from the outside of the leaf and is of use in moth recording. Most leafmining moths tend to be specific in their host plant requirements, presumably as they are living in very dose association with their food.

The foodplant that the mine occurs in, the pattern of feeding and the way frass(caterpillar excreta) has been laid down in the mine as well as oth.erfeatures allows the identification of the majority of these very small moths from the mines that they produce. The recording of these leaf-mining lepidoptera is an increasingly popular way of recording moths and an area of moth recording that has been of personal interest for several years.

In September 2002 Jon Clifton and myself were carrying our some leaf-miner recording in the Mildenhall area. We found some leaf-mines in fallen poplar leaves where the mine started in the

Ectoedemiahannoverella byNeil Sherman petiole of the leaf, proceeded up the petiole as a narrow track to the base of the leaf where it expanded into a blotch in the lamina of the leaf.

On consulting the identification keys we found only one species that fed on poplar in this way Ectoedemiaturbidella.The key was specific about E. turbidellafeeding on grey poplar but this was rashly passed over at the time and we recorded the species as E. turbidella. After mentioning our findings to Neil Sherman he also found similar mines on poplar leaves at a site near Ipswich.

On sending the records into the national micro-lepidoptera recorder I was informed that E. turbidellahas only ever been found feeding on grey poplar in this country and that the leavesin which we had found mines did not appear to be grey poplar. On further investigation we determined that the mines we had found were in fact in Italian poplar leaves. The question then arose as to what species had formed these mines. As the mine was very similar to other leaf-mining moth species we were convinced that this mine must have been produced by something lepidopterous. This left us with two possibilities, either E. turbidella occurring on a previously unknown foodplant or some unknown species of leaf miner. I had consulted some European literature on this family and this had revealed that there was a European species, Ectoedemiahannoverellathat fed on black poplar and its hybrids, including Italian poplar.

The solution to this moth's identity would require rearing through of adults from mines collected in the autumn. If we were able to rear through some adults then their identity could be

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Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Swallowtail Day at Wheatfen Broad - 13th June

by RichardStewart This event, organised by the Norfolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and David Nobbs from Wbeatfen, attracted not just our own members but also others from well outside East Anglia and members of the public. Such a wide group of visitors produced an interesting selection of fuotwear, from walking boots and brogues through to sandals and even bare feet and it was particularlygood to see many children present, some being pushed in 'buggies', despite the bumpy paths.

I would imagine that everyone who was prepared to walk as far as the main Swallowtailarea had sightings of these elegant insects, feeding on Yellow Flag, which was flowering profusely. A raised platform added those extra few inches for

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views across the reedbeds and at strategic points the Swallowtail life history was depicted and eggs marked on Milk Parsley growing close to the path.

Three different guides were kept busy, including Brian Mcllwrath, the former Norfolk Butterfly Recorder. Early on during our walk we were able to examine both eggs and caterpillars of Brimstone on Buckthorn next to the path. Several of this species were seen, both male and female, plus at least seven Red Admiral, one Peacock, one Meadow Brown, several Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood while Paul Johnson found a Large Skipper in superb condition in the garden of the house. This area also produced two of at least eleven Swallowtails recorded. Valerian was the other flowering plant favoured for nectaring and there were also good views of Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Brown Hawker dragonflies, male and female Banded Demoiselle and Azure Damselfly. One of the ~ay's highlights was watching hundreds of Azure Damselflies, many paired, drifting like blue smoke across the • surface of a small pond just off the path along Old Mill Marsh. Our return to the main Swallowtail area also produced more sightings of the butterfly, the loud calls of unseen Cetti's Warblers and a food pass between a pair of Marsh Harriers.

Wheatfen's hospitality was of its usual high standard: plants for sale and butterfly products, dozens of comfortable chairs around the lawn, and some delicious cakes. The weather was ideal, with plenty of sunshine well balanced by a breeze, and hopefully both Butterfly Conservation and the Ted Ellis Reserve shared a good return in donations by the end of a memorable day.

For those with long memories of Wheatfen Broad, Phyllis Ellis is now in a retirement home and a welcome addition to funds will soon be coming through filming of a new version of 'Swallows and Amazons' on site. This will also involve reconstruction of the much-missed ladder hide which was open for intrepid visitors when Ted Ellis was alive, though it will not be available for future visits.

Swallowtailon ElderFlower

Editor'sNote: Phyllis Ellis passed away on 24 June 2004.

by BerylJohnson 18

Dingy Skipper Survey - 16th May

by RichardStewart Roger and StellaWolfe, Marie and I approached Wordwell with a considerable increase in expectation, since this was a day of warm sunshine. Close to the parking area we noted Holly Blue flying around the flowering Laurel and as we walked along the ride we added Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Orange Tip and Green-veined White. Marie's diversion into a nearby field of Bugloss produced a welcome Wall, my first of the season, but this was to be the day of the Dingy Skipper.

Before we reached the long ride where we hoped to find them we had seen several on the left of the approach ride and Roger's suggestion that we thoroughly explore the areas off to the left of the main ride, which appeared to have suitable habitat, was fruitful. To the three seen before we reached the main ride we added five by exploring these four glades to the left, another seven along the ride itself but only one on the other side, which was partially shaded by the nearby conifers. We then went further along the approach ride where they have been noted before and found a further three, making a total of ~ •.,::-;..·-=,~~·· , r":·~~ nineteen, easily the best -.-----,,~ .. recorded here though I understand subsequent visits have increased that total. - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and one Hare were added to the observations before we left, my first Small Heath of the year and a good view of a Fox, in superb condition, as we reached the main breeding ride.

It had clouded over by the time we reached Chalk Lane, where we found no Dingy Skippers, though I understand others did, some days later.

We added Small White and Small Copper to the

list, and heard Muntjac and a distant Cuckoo, plus good views of two Roe Deer crossing ahead of us.

Our final destination, Knettishall Heath, produced no Dingy Skippers, the records from here being very old, but we were able to enjoy good views, from a comfortable seat, of two Roe Deer inside the Skylark Conservation Area. The Park was full of people near the river but, as usual, we only had to walk a few hundred yards to get clear of the majority.

I was left contemplating this sudden increase in numbers at Wordwell. Was it simply the sunny day and our being there at the peak of emergence?

Was it because no one had fully explored the glades off left on previous visits? Has the rotavation on the left of the main ride, for the rare Basil Thyme Case-bearer Moth, produced suitable conditions for the Dingy Skippers to move across to this side of the ride? Were they simply on the left side because that was the sunniest in the morning? A final thought was that the habitat along the approach ride seems suitable for future expansion westwards, back towards the Brandon road.

..

DingySkipper

by DouglasHammersley 7

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Dingy Skipper Identification Session - 15th May

National Moth Night at lckworth Park - 22nd May

by Mike Dean and Jim Foster

by TonyPrichard

Seven members and friends assembled at the ForestEnterprisePicnic Site in King's Forest on a sunny day, however there was a chilly breeze.

The first site visited was Chalk Lane including the open areas to North and East of the track.

Unfortunatelyno Dingy Skipperswere seen, the area possibly being too exposed for the prevailingweather conditions.

There was plenty of the larval food plant Bird's-foot Trefoil however it was not yet in flower.

Orange Tips were seen in good numbers and the other butterflies seen were as follows: Brimstone, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood and a lone Green Hairstreak. Cinnabar Moths were also recorded. An entomologist from Cambridge had swept the area for insects and on enquiry he had not seen any Dingy Skippers either. The only bird of note was a Tree Pipit vocalising from one of the Birch trees.

Lunch was taken at the Picnic Site and then we proceeded to John O'Groats Cottages where in the past Dingy Skippers had been seen. The site around the cottages did not look too promising, as the trees had recently been cleared leaving the site rather - open. There was a lot of soil damage due to the harvesting of trees and very little Bird's-footTrefoil in evidence. Butterflies seen were Large White, Green-veined White, Orange lip and Speckled Wood. At. least three Brown Silver-lines moths, a Green Carpet and two Red Deer were noted.

Next stop was Wordwell and here we had success and those that came for the Identification Session were at last rewarded with good views of Dingy Skippers. At least five fresh adults were seen and possibly eight. This site was more sheltered than the previous ones and the Bird's-foot Trefoil was just coming into flower. Other species noted were Large White, Orange Tip and Comma.

We have fared rather well weather-wise in the past when it has come to National Moth Night (NMN). While recorders in other parts of the country have been bemoaning miserable weather.conditions we have managed to notch up respectable species lists for most of the previous events.

This year was a distinct contrast. Three members of the branch arrived for the evening's event and at this time of year they could normally expect to see a good variety of colourful moths. As we stood in the car park we could tell that the temperature, following a warm day, was cooling . quickly and that it was going to be a cold night.

We sought shelter in one of the woodlands that lie on the perimeter of the estate, hoping that at least within the wood some warmth would be retained.

Having set up the lights within the wood it was simply a matter of waiting for the moths to arrive. Neil Sherman spotted a Gold Swift flying in the grass as the daylight faded. The odd Green Carpet and Silver-ground Carpet arrived early on at the sheet light but in terms of moths appearing at light nothing really much happened after that.

Neil in the absence of activity at the lights resorted to 'beating' for larvae to increase the species list for the evening. The effect of the cold temperatures can probably best be shown by the fact that a Rustic Shoulder-knot was knocked from a bush right next to the sheet - it was so cold that it could not even be bothered flying the few feet to the sheet light. The search for caterpillars proved more successfulthan the moth lights and we managed to clock up thirteen species of larvae, with the most interesting being a Spring Usher caterpillar feeding on oak. Unfortunately the NMN scheme only accepts adult records so this year's submission will consist of only five species.

8

20/05/03 (Day 25); A quick check suggests an outbreak of indolence amongst the larvae.

However, even in repost they appear robust and strangely formidable. The now fully mature oak leaves are largely undamaged and I marvel at how efficiently the larvae are able to convert foliage to body mass.

21/05/03 (Day 26); The larvae appear decidedly hunched and somewhat rigid, their colours now warming markedly to a pale, dusky pink.

Suspecting that they are preparing for hibernation, I line the aquarium floor with dried moss and reinforce the cotton wool plugs with Plasticine seals.

22/05/03 (Day 27); Two larvae are missing and I hope that they have successfullylocated the moss.

Another two adorn the spice jar seals and I wonder what, if anything, they make of the sensation of cotton wool and Plasticine against their bodies. As a precaution, I remove the seals to the aquarium floor and one of the larvae duly burrows into the moss - lost from view within seconds.

23/05/03 (Day 28); At the end of April, Diane had relayed the first moments of drama involving the larvae whilst I was in the work van. It is perhaps appropriate that I am in the same vehicle (the approach to the BlackwallTunnel provides the backdrop this time), when Diane recounts how she discovered #3 floating in its spice jar and the daring rescue and mysterious resuscitation which ensued. Just as I enter the tunnel and begin to lose all reception, Diane reassures me once more that all larvae are now safely embarked upon the next phase of their remarkable metamorphosis.

Common clutching a container which moments before had held the last of the hairstreaks to be released, two emotions vie for prominence; there is satisfaction at having successfully nurtured ova (which otherwise would have perished) through their lifecycle, tempered by disappointment at the brevity of my association with the resulting butterflies. However, my daughter's poem willhelp to sustain the memories and stir the recollections well into winter's drear.

Oak '-eavesmovingin the breeze Alongcomesa butterflymovingswiftlywith ease.

She landson a kaf sogently And sheopensher wingsin theglisteningsun.

Sheshowedoff her wingsto me I couldseethe richpurpk.

Her wingswerelikesilk.

She twirkd on the kaf and caughtthe eye Of a mak butterfly.

Theyrosein a whirlof wings And flutteredawayin the light.

My partner, Diane, deservesmuch thanks for her assistance and vigilance throughout this project. Similarly, I would like to acknowledge Peter Kirby of the Kent Branch of Butterfly Conservation, whose Internet site (www.quercus2.freeserve.co.uk) provided both inspiration and methodology.

12/06/03 - 14/06/03 (Days 48 - 50); Over the course of the mornings of 12th, 13th and 14th June, six Purple Hairstreak butterflies dry their wings inside the aquarium. These dates are two weeks before the emergence of the indigenous Southborough Common colony, and this despite the captive ova having been in a state of hibernation for at least a month longer than their wild counterparts. As I walk back from the

17

-1

The SuffolkArgus

Autumn 2004

08/05/03 (Day 13); One larva (#4) remains unaccounted for and I tentatively open up the oak bud a little with the artist's brush. This proves just as disheartening as the absence of any droppings on the cotton wool plug below.

10/05/03 (Day 15); It is now possible to supply the larvae with immature oak leaves. However, I'm concerned that #2 is only half the size of its contemporaries and, following transfer, seems unable to grip the fresh oak lea£ I scan the instructions for any reference to stricken caterpillars and smile wryly as the words "once the larvae are large enough to feed on the emerging leaves, your troubles are over" catch my eye.

An hour later and #2 lies twitching slightly on the floor of the aquarium which holds the spice jars.

Closer examination suggests that skin shedding is the cause of the discomfort, and I only return the larva to its foliage once the process appears complete some hours later.

12/05/03 (Day 17); All larvae appear healthy including #2 which, although still some way off the 12 mm length achieved by its peers, has increased dramatically in size since 10/05. The larvae are now darkening to the colour of oak bark and taking on a decidedly flattened profile. As they move onto the semi-mature leaves I have supplied, their retractable heads glisten; beetle-black.

.. /

-,

The complete list for the evening is as follows: Gold Swift, Esperiasulphurella,March Moth, Silver-ground Carpet, Green Carpet, Winter Moth, Feathered Thom, Spring Usher, Dotted Border, Mottled Umber, Early Moth, Common Quaker, Sprawler, Brindled Green, Satellite, Copper Underwing, Dun-bar and Rustic Shoulder-knot

PurpleHairstreak

by DouglasHammersley however, and cling tenaciously to the incumbent leaves and stems. During the eventual transfer, it's possible to view their stumpy, suckering legs, which have been used to great effect throughout the proceedings. Adding to my agitation, #3 is now restless and begins to descend the spice jar; I duly deploy the brush and as the larva is cajoled onto the bristles, I'm taken by its resemblance to a woodlouse.

18/05/03 (Day 23); Despite the larvae having achieved proportions of 18 mm by 6 mm, the synchronisation between their bodies and the oak stems renders them still difficult to locate.

However, a closer inspection reveals detail as opposed to uniformity of colour and form; the body comprises eight discreet segments with a pentagon shaped marking in the centre of each. In tum, the pentagons are outlined in white, bisected by a black line and coloured by subtle autumnal shades. Each larva has a distinct rail section too.

Paradoxically,these structures resemble the head of a beetle or some other invertebrate similarly unappetising to a foraging bird.

13/05/03 (Day 18); The two unhatched ova are unchanged and I decide to discard them. Similarly, it is concluded that #4 escaped from the aquarium shortly after emergence and perished in its inevitably fruitless search for an oak bud more appetising than the one supplied.

15/05/03 (Day 20); Trred from work, I decide to quickly transfer the larvae to fresh foliage using the artist's brush. The larvae sense my impatience

16

RibandWave

by Mervyn Crawford

GreenCarpet byJim Foster

Moth Morning at Alder Carr Farm - 11th June

by TonyPrichard This was a joint meeting of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and the Suffolk Naturalists' Society. The Suffolk Moth Group holds many moth nights throughout the county during the year but being largely nocturnal events these can be awkwardfor some people to come along to. This year I have been running a few moth mornings as an alternative opportunity for people to see some of the county'smoth fauna.

A couple of moth traps had been placed within the area of woodland on the farm the night before and allowed to run overnight. The traps we use to record moths have a large holding container, operating on the same principle as a lobster pot, where the moths can remain unharmed till the morning, having settled down and become inactive.

In the morning severalmembers of Butterfly Conservation and the SNS had come along to see what had turned up overnight. By this time the moths had entered their dormant daytime phase allowing good close-up views of the moths without too many of them flying off.

Some of our largest moths belong to the hawk-moth family, Sphingidae, and three species of this impressive group were found in the traps Privet, Poplar and Elephant. Most of our resident hawk-moths are quite common and widespread throughout the county so it was not too unusual to have a selection in the traps. As the majority of moths are cryptically coloured, so that they blend in well with their background as they rest up during the day, it might appear strange why the Elephant Hawk-moth is coloured in olive-green and pink. The reason for its colouration becomes clear when you know that its main foodplant is willowherb. The olive-green and pink colours of the moth match the colours of the willowherb

9

Autumn 2004

The Suffolk Argus associated with reed-beds and there was some common reed growing in a ditch alongside the wood. The other two species of note were Cream-bordered Green Pea and Pinionstreaked Snout. Both of these species are associatedwith damp habitats; fens, damp meadows and wet woodland, with· the caterpillars of the Creambordered Green Pea feeding on willows and sallows.

After we had gone through both the traps we had accumulated a total of 70 species - not a bad total for this time of year and without anyone losing any sleep. I would like to thank Joan Hardingham for allowing us to host the event at her farm.

29/04/03 (Day 4); Had I not neglected to check the ova, I would perhaps have noticed their darkening crowns and signs of exit holes being formed from within.

30/04/03 (Morning of Day 5); I'm nearing Biggin Hill in the work's van when the 'phone rings.

I\

Taken aback, I mutter incoherently for a few moments before the recollection that first instar larvae are cannibalistic jolts my senses. Diane agrees to keep the larvae separated as best she can (although how this is to be achieved in practice is not immediately apparent) and, cursing my own negligence, I hastily turn the van towards Southborough.

Worryingly, the oaks at Southborough Common are well advanced in leaf. However, at the base of a north-facing incline, the branches of a small tree are rarely exposed fully to the sun.

Here, I'm finally able to collect twenty or so twigs bearing buds which are in the very earliest stages of unfurling.

Back at home, Diane & I half fill redundant spice jars with water and feed the harvested twigs through hastily prepared cotton wool plugs. A quick look in the over wintering tray reveals the larvae to resemble fragments of dark thread, propelling their 3 mm long bodies at remarkable speed. As I make a belated start to the working day, Diane is poised with a dampened artist's brush ready to begin the transfer of the hatchlings.

The complete species list is as follows: Common Swift, Plutella xylostella(Diamond-back Moth),

Buff-tip

PhtheochroarutJJsana, Agapetahamana, Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix), Clepsis plant very well when it rests up during the day •spectrana (Cyclamen Tortrix), Tortrix viridana amongst its foodplant.

(Green Oak Tortrix), Celyphalacunana,Epinotia Another popular group of moths at moth bilunana, Eucosma cana, Crambus lathoniellus, events are the prominents, family Notodontidae. Crambusperlella,Schoenobius gigantella,Scoparia These are reasonably large in size, colourful and pyralella, Parapoynxstratiotata (Ringed Chinamark), Evergestis forficalis(Garden Pebble), Udea fluffy.Three species of this group were found as we were going through the traps. The Buff-tip is a olivalis,Ephestiaparasite/la,Homoeosomasinuella,

by Mervyn Crawford

master of camouflage and bears a remarkable resemblance to a piece of broken silver-birch twig.

The front of the head of the moth is covered in yellow hairs, looking like a cross-section of broken twig, with the wings being mainly a silvery-grey colour and at the tip of the wing is a yellow spot that looks like the other end of the broken twig.

The caterpillars of this moth live gregariously feeding on various deciduous trees and as they grow quite large can strip whole branches of their leaves.

As one would expect most of the species recorded were of the more common types but there were some species of more localised distribution. The first Schoenobiusgigantella belongs to the family Pyralidae,which belongs to the micro-lepidoptera (smaller moths) although this species can have a wingspan up to 4.5cm rather large for a small moth. It tends to be

Figure ofEighty, Blood-vein, Riband Wave, Silverground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Mottled Pug, Clouded Border, Mottled Beauty, Common Wave, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Cinnabar, Turnip Moth, Heart & Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, LargeYellowUnderwing, lngrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, Light Brocade, Bright-line Brown-eye, Campion, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, Dark Arches, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Straw Dot, Snout and Pinion-streaked Snout.

10

"Paul,it'sDiane. There'sa problem- the eggs havehatched".

•I

30/o4/03 (Eveningof Day 5); Taking stock at the end of the day, two ova are unhatched, one larva appears to have escaped from the tray and, superficially, there is no evidence as to the existence of the remainder. However, the presence of dark 1-2 mm diameter bore holes in a few of the buds is reassuring and corroborates Diane's account of how the larvae appeared to take well to the supplied twigs. Just before bed, I number the spice jars to allow the progress of each individual larva to be recorded.

02/05/03 (Day 7); A first instar larva leads a secretive existence, discreetly hollowing out the inside of its host bud whilst causing little external damage. Uncertain as to how much material each will consume in this manner, I collect more bursting buds as a precaution. Resting new twigs up against old is surprisingly fiddly, but I'm eventually satisfied that any particularly voracious individuals will be able to transfer unaided to the fresh material. A dusting of droppings on all but one of the cotton plugs is an encouraging sign of the larvae's continued existence.

03/05/03 (Day 8); I examine the two remaining ovum; although one is discoloured and the other curiously flattened, there are signs of exit holes being formed and I remain hopeful that they will hatch.

04/05/03 (Day 9); Considerable relief as two larvae, noticeably paler than on emergence and already doubled in length, are readily visible atop their respective buds.

05/05/03 (Day 10); The condition of the harvested twigs is deteriorating rapidly and I collect fresh foliage from Southborough Common; on this occasion concentrating on buds which are in a slightly more advanced stage of development.

As I carefully position the new twigs amongst their withering counterparts, a third larva is noted.

07/05/03 (Day 12); Some time off from work provides an opportunity to examine the larvae at leisure. Two are clearly visible; one protruding slightly from an unfolding bud, the other, making no attempt at concealment, occupying a 6 by 2 mm space on some foliage. It takes many more minutes however to locate the other four larvae which have survived beyond first instar, such is the correlation between their pale brown bodies and the outer sections of the maturing buds upon which they rest. I'm alarmed at how quickly the twigs have desiccated and, as the sun reddens and begins to dissolve into the horizon, I collect the secateurs and hasten towards the Common.

15

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

From,Ovum, to.Oak

by PaulJohnson& StephanieJohnson(aged11).

nine. Now back on the path, we pause again at a small, isolated oak which has lost a few of its branches in some earlier storm. Three windfall ova are located here in as many minutes; a remarkable discovery given the many fruitless hours I have spent sifting twigs at my local common.

Unusually, two have been laid about the same terminal bud; one wedged, characteristically,at the bud base, the other a centimetre or so down on the twig's bark.

03/11/02; We return home to Southborough on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells and the ova Leafing back through my 2002 butterfly bearing .twigs, now stripped of their extraneous sightings, the name Purple Hairstreakcrops up on eight occasions. Most of these records are foliage and standardised to 5cm lengths, are transferred to the fridge to see out the winter. accompanied by comments such as "three or four hairstreaks active around the top of a mature ash'', whilst there are two observations 26/04/03 (Day 1); Unseasonably warm weather is bringing the local oaks prematurely mto quarter of "females descending from oak canopies to and, in some cases,halflea£ Increasinglyconscious egg lay on low foliage". A further annotation that I have not heeded the advice "at the first sign describes a "Purple Hairstreak nectaring discreetly on bramble blossom amongst myriad of bud burst, remove the eggs from the fridge" on skippers & browns". From a personal • the instruction sheet which I am following, I perspective,2002 a typical year for this species transfer the twigs to the spare room. and I would imagine that many other 27/04/03 (Day 2); The instructions highlight the notebooks and recording sheets contain observations of a similar nature and frequency. tendency of emergent larvae to lie concealed on However, as the following diary excerpts may their host twigs until they eventually perish. As such, it is necessary to cut away as much of the reveal, there is scope for learning more about wood surrounding each ovum as possible. this arboreal species without depleting However, my first incision is ill judged and, as the indigenous populations. knife judders through the oak twig, the ovum is 02/11/02; A family walk between Aldeburgh & dislodged and catapulted across the room. As Thorpeness in the insipid light of early November. another over hasty knife stroke jettisons a second ovum towards a box of oddments, I disconsolately Returning along an inland path we encounter a spinney of ill-favoured looking oaks, the ground break for lunch. beneath maculated with damp leaves and twigs.

On my return, I find that the chiselling and We examine some of the latter and presently an whittling (now working with the grain of the wood exclamation rings out. As we congregate around and from the side of the twig furthest from the the speaker, she holds forth an oak twig upon ovum) proceeds much more satisfactorily on a full stomach. An hour later, miniature wooden plinths which a matt white disc has been lodged at the base of one of the terminal buds; a Purple support the ten remaining ova. Confident that Hairstreak ovum has been discovered. larvae will not emerge for at least another five days, Enthused, we scrutinise many more fallen I return the ova to their over-wintering tray and on twigs; bending back leaves obscuring the buds, to a windowsill. flicking and blowing at cloying fragments of soil.

Thitty minutes elapse and the tally of ova rises to

14

Piper's Vale, Ipswich, 16th June

by RichardStewart Nine members and friends were present on a day of sunshine and at a site that has, over the last few decades, been constantly threatened by proposed plans for development. Our Suffolk Branch has been fully involved in defeating these plans but the threat still persists.

The initial walk from the entrance gate produced five Speckled Wood, this species being the most numerous during the day. It is easy to forget that it would have been a rarity here just a few years ago. A Large Skipper in freshly emerged condition was added to the list, with Large White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown, plus one Cinnabar moth, two Jays and a Whitethroat singing. The 'heather conservation area' was studied, this representing the failed attempt to translocate some of the Silver-studded Blues when Warren Heath was developed. Later we met one of the rangers, Richard Sharp, who stated that this area will soon be removed, since the fencing is damaged and there is nothing left to be protected.

The grassland extending out to the Jetty area is often good for Clouded Yellows,but not on this occasion. Despite the persistent smell from the nearby water treatment works and compost recycling plant, this open area was full of interest, with an abundance of Bee Orchids and other flowers that included Tufted Vetch and many clumps of Bird's-foot Trefoil. A very encouraging total of 52 Common Blues was made, and we added from this area Large White, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Mother Shipton moth and Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort. Later a Small White was seen, an Oystercatcher flew over, piping noisily, and there were songs of both Sedge and Reed Warblers.

The riverside path towards the Orwell Bridge produced, for those in front, good close views of a Shelduck with seven young but the large masses of sunlit Bird's-foot Trefoil close to the

bridge pillars produced just one Common Blue and the only Small Copper of the day. Here we saw two further Red Admirals and then the welcome addition of two Painted Ladies.

Lunch was taken in shady woodland, rather too close to the noisy traffic, but we added a Green Woodpecker, six more Speckled Wood and made what was probably the find of the day, a lovely Lime Hawk-moth resting on bracken. Skirting the grassland on the edge of the old airport enabled Rob Parker to locate three newly emerged Small Skippers and our detour into the damper wet woodland added a Small White, more Speckled Wood and the chance to admire several ancient trees, especiallya stately Oak right in the middle of the path. Honeysuckle and Holly were noted as we headed towards an open sunlit area near Morland Road, but the only sightings were of one Common Blue and two Small Tortoiseshells. Another Small Tortoiseshell was noted on our return along Gainsborough Lane but there were no Holly Blues in their normal area, probably being between broods. We added Chiffchaff and Song Thrush to the final list, a copy of which has been sent to Richard Sharp.

LargeSkipper

by BerylJohnson 11

Autumn 2004

The Suffolk Argus

How Hill and Horsey Gap, Norfolk - 26th June

by Alan Johnson Having left Ipswich in early morning sunshine it was rather disconcerting to find the weather becoming increasingly cloudy and overcast the closer we came to our destination, How Hill, situated near the village of Ludham. This nature reserve is adjacent to the River Ant, and is owned and managed by the Broads Authority.

The nearby How Hill House is run by a Trust as an Environmental Education Centre for the Broads.

Thirteen of our members met in the car park, before moving off to Toad Hole Cottage and the start of a 1½ mile 'Wildlife Trail'. This waymarked walk is through a mostly marshy area, criss-crossedby an intricate system of dykes.

The first part of our route took us across a meadow, where on a previous visit in 2002, we had seen the Swallowtail in good numbers.

Gathering in anticipation, initially only a Meadow Brown was seen fluttering by.

Then, at 11 am,as 'predicted' by Jill Perkins, the sun broke through, a Swallowtailduly appeared and alighted on the nearby purple flower head of a Meadow Thistle. One of our party likening the wing markings to that of a stained glass leaded window.

Unfortunately, with the cloud cover returning, this was to be our only sighting of one of our most rare and most magnificent resident butterflies. It did not appear at first glance that there were as many Meadow Thistles as our previous visit, but the opinion was that many of the flower heads had faded.

Leaving the meadow, and heading towards a hide over-looking the 'Scrape', we crossed a wooden bridge over a dyke, noting Blue-tailed

Damselfly Ischnuraelegans.The water in the dykes looked dark, almost black, with the reeds fringing the banks giving a mirror-like reflection. Water Soldier was noted, with its sword-shaped stiff leaves forming a floating rosette with white flowers. This plant is an indication of good water quality. Near the hide, a Large Skipper, in 'mint condition' was admired.

Continuing along the paths, with the backdrop of Gale Wood and Pigeon Wood, the dykes were fringed with a miscellany of flora Valerian, Yellow Loosestrife, Creeping Thistle, Purple Loosestrife, Gypsywort and Hemp Agrimoqy. Here were noted Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella, Red-eyed Damselfly Erythrommanajas, and Brown Hawker Arshna grandis,the latter an early emergence?

While the advance members were admiring a Ringlet in pristine condition, with its wings flattened onto a reed lea£ soaking up the warmth of another brief spell of sunshine, a call went up from the rearguard- 'White Admiral'.

This chocolatebrown and white butterfly was flying around Ash and Sallow, on the far side of the dyke.

Subsequently, we heard that two had been seen the previous day, along the

White Admiral

by DouglasHammersley

12

DarkGreenFritillaries byJim Foster ride in Toad Hole Wood. Sunshine reflecting on a beautiful golden chrysalis, suspended from a nettle stem, and twitching violently at intervals, brought the suggestion of a butterfly about to emerge.

Geoff Hayes later confirmed that the chrysaliswas a Small Tortoiseshell.

Pausing at the hide overlooking Crome's Broad, a Heron was observed catching and eating a fish. A narrow footpath continued, now bounded by tall stands of the Royal Fern, also Ragged Robin, the dainty Skullcap, and in contrast, the robust Great Water Parsnip. Further on, sightings of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper and Nuthatch, added interest for our 'birders'. Also in this area we found Red-berried Elder, introduced into Norfolk and recorded in 'Simpson's Flora of Suffolk', at Culford. Nearby a Caucasian Wing-nut tree, occasionally planted for timber and native to the Caucasus and Iran. The female tree bears fruiting catkins twelve to twenty inches long. With our walk J?.OW at an end the pace quickened, with a picnic lunch beckoning and the threat of rain instilling urgency to get back to our cars.

Having finished our lunch, there was some discussion as to whether it was worthwhile going on to our afternoon venue, Horsey Gap, on the coast, north of Wmterton-on-Sea. The rain was becoming more persistent and the wind freshening, not the ideal conditions for looking for the Dark Green Fritillary, at one of its few coastal sites in Norfolk.

However, the majority of our party opted to

carry on and we duly arrived at the car park behind the sea wall, having negotiated the deep, waterfilled potholes, along the track leading from the road. A track calculated to play havoc with a car's suspension and to bring a smile to the face of your friendly garage mechanic!

The rain had now ceased and we took the footpath running southwards, parallel to the sea wall. The dunes stabilised with Marram Grass, also supporting a mix of flora including Heather, Ragged Robin and Common Centaury. After some searching, the larval food plant, of the Dark Green Fritillary, Violet, was found growing on a sandy bank amongst Polypody Fern, Cat's-ear and Lady's Bedstraw.A first sighting of the Dark Green Fritillary was then followed by several more, its normally powerful flight accentuated by the strong breeze. For all its power of flight this butterfly is not a particularly mobile species, the adults usually remaining close to their sharply defined breeding grounds. With our sightings seldom pausing to rest and combined with the current weather conditions, Jim Foster commented, 'no chance of any photography today'.

Hardly had this remark been made, when one of our group located a mating pair, low down amongst stems of Marram Grass. The butterflies remained completely oblivious to a sea of faces surrounding them, everyone having excellent close-up views of the green colouration of the underside of the hind wings and the silvery spots clearly visible. After severalminutes of observation we were able to discern the differences in markings and colour of the male and female, also when seen through a Monocular, the details of the eyes and antennae. Jim's 'shutter finger' went into overdrive and we hope to see the results at the next AG.M. Leaving the 'pair' in peace, we climbed to the top of the dunes, to watch the waves breaking onto a broad sandy beach, then turning to view inland, grazing marshes and a man-made addition to the landscape in the form ofWind Turbines. With our return to the car park a final 'treat', being able to watch the aerial display of a pair of Marsh Harriers. What could have potentially been a 'nothing' day, in fact turned out to be very successfulin spite of the weather.

13

Autumn 2004

The Suffolk Argus

How Hill and Horsey Gap, Norfolk - 26th June

by Alan Johnson Having left Ipswich in early morning sunshine it was rather disconcerting to find the weather becoming increasingly cloudy and overcast the closer we came to our destination, How Hill, situated near the village of Ludham. This nature reserve is adjacent to the River Ant, and is owned and managed by the Broads Authority.

The nearby How Hill House is run by a Trust as an Environmental Education Centre for the Broads.

Thirteen of our members met in the car park, before moving off to Toad Hole Cottage and the start of a 1½ mile 'Wildlife Trail'. This waymarked walk is through a mostly marshy area, criss-crossedby an intricate system of dykes.

The first part of our route took us across a meadow, where on a previous visit in 2002, we had seen the Swallowtail in good numbers.

Gathering in anticipation, initially only a Meadow Brown was seen fluttering by.

Then, at 11 am,as 'predicted' by Jill Perkins, the sun broke through, a Swallowtailduly appeared and alighted on the nearby purple flower head of a Meadow Thistle. One of our party likening the wing markings to that of a stained glass leaded window.

Unfortunately, with the cloud cover returning, this was to be our only sighting of one of our most rare and most magnificent resident butterflies. It did not appear at first glance that there were as many Meadow Thistles as our previous visit, but the opinion was that many of the flower heads had faded.

Leaving the meadow, and heading towards a hide over-looking the 'Scrape', we crossed a wooden bridge over a dyke, noting Blue-tailed

Damselfly Ischnuraelegans.The water in the dykes looked dark, almost black, with the reeds fringing the banks giving a mirror-like reflection. Water Soldier was noted, with its sword-shaped stiff leaves forming a floating rosette with white flowers. This plant is an indication of good water quality. Near the hide, a Large Skipper, in 'mint condition' was admired.

Continuing along the paths, with the backdrop of Gale Wood and Pigeon Wood, the dykes were fringed with a miscellany of flora Valerian, Yellow Loosestrife, Creeping Thistle, Purple Loosestrife, Gypsywort and Hemp Agrimoqy. Here were noted Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella, Red-eyed Damselfly Erythrommanajas, and Brown Hawker Arshna grandis,the latter an early emergence?

While the advance members were admiring a Ringlet in pristine condition, with its wings flattened onto a reed lea£ soaking up the warmth of another brief spell of sunshine, a call went up from the rearguard- 'White Admiral'.

This chocolatebrown and white butterfly was flying around Ash and Sallow, on the far side of the dyke.

Subsequently, we heard that two had been seen the previous day, along the

White Admiral

by DouglasHammersley

12

DarkGreenFritillaries byJim Foster ride in Toad Hole Wood. Sunshine reflecting on a beautiful golden chrysalis, suspended from a nettle stem, and twitching violently at intervals, brought the suggestion of a butterfly about to emerge.

Geoff Hayes later confirmed that the chrysaliswas a Small Tortoiseshell.

Pausing at the hide overlooking Crome's Broad, a Heron was observed catching and eating a fish. A narrow footpath continued, now bounded by tall stands of the Royal Fern, also Ragged Robin, the dainty Skullcap, and in contrast, the robust Great Water Parsnip. Further on, sightings of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper and Nuthatch, added interest for our 'birders'. Also in this area we found Red-berried Elder, introduced into Norfolk and recorded in 'Simpson's Flora of Suffolk', at Culford. Nearby a Caucasian Wing-nut tree, occasionally planted for timber and native to the Caucasus and Iran. The female tree bears fruiting catkins twelve to twenty inches long. With our walk J?.OW at an end the pace quickened, with a picnic lunch beckoning and the threat of rain instilling urgency to get back to our cars.

Having finished our lunch, there was some discussion as to whether it was worthwhile going on to our afternoon venue, Horsey Gap, on the coast, north of Wmterton-on-Sea. The rain was becoming more persistent and the wind freshening, not the ideal conditions for looking for the Dark Green Fritillary, at one of its few coastal sites in Norfolk.

However, the majority of our party opted to

carry on and we duly arrived at the car park behind the sea wall, having negotiated the deep, waterfilled potholes, along the track leading from the road. A track calculated to play havoc with a car's suspension and to bring a smile to the face of your friendly garage mechanic!

The rain had now ceased and we took the footpath running southwards, parallel to the sea wall. The dunes stabilised with Marram Grass, also supporting a mix of flora including Heather, Ragged Robin and Common Centaury. After some searching, the larval food plant, of the Dark Green Fritillary, Violet, was found growing on a sandy bank amongst Polypody Fern, Cat's-ear and Lady's Bedstraw.A first sighting of the Dark Green Fritillary was then followed by several more, its normally powerful flight accentuated by the strong breeze. For all its power of flight this butterfly is not a particularly mobile species, the adults usually remaining close to their sharply defined breeding grounds. With our sightings seldom pausing to rest and combined with the current weather conditions, Jim Foster commented, 'no chance of any photography today'.

Hardly had this remark been made, when one of our group located a mating pair, low down amongst stems of Marram Grass. The butterflies remained completely oblivious to a sea of faces surrounding them, everyone having excellent close-up views of the green colouration of the underside of the hind wings and the silvery spots clearly visible. After severalminutes of observation we were able to discern the differences in markings and colour of the male and female, also when seen through a Monocular, the details of the eyes and antennae. Jim's 'shutter finger' went into overdrive and we hope to see the results at the next AG.M. Leaving the 'pair' in peace, we climbed to the top of the dunes, to watch the waves breaking onto a broad sandy beach, then turning to view inland, grazing marshes and a man-made addition to the landscape in the form ofWind Turbines. With our return to the car park a final 'treat', being able to watch the aerial display of a pair of Marsh Harriers. What could have potentially been a 'nothing' day, in fact turned out to be very successfulin spite of the weather.

13

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

From,Ovum, to.Oak

by PaulJohnson& StephanieJohnson(aged11).

nine. Now back on the path, we pause again at a small, isolated oak which has lost a few of its branches in some earlier storm. Three windfall ova are located here in as many minutes; a remarkable discovery given the many fruitless hours I have spent sifting twigs at my local common.

Unusually, two have been laid about the same terminal bud; one wedged, characteristically,at the bud base, the other a centimetre or so down on the twig's bark.

03/11/02; We return home to Southborough on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells and the ova Leafing back through my 2002 butterfly bearing .twigs, now stripped of their extraneous sightings, the name Purple Hairstreakcrops up on eight occasions. Most of these records are foliage and standardised to 5cm lengths, are transferred to the fridge to see out the winter. accompanied by comments such as "three or four hairstreaks active around the top of a mature ash'', whilst there are two observations 26/04/03 (Day 1); Unseasonably warm weather is bringing the local oaks prematurely mto quarter of "females descending from oak canopies to and, in some cases,halflea£ Increasinglyconscious egg lay on low foliage". A further annotation that I have not heeded the advice "at the first sign describes a "Purple Hairstreak nectaring discreetly on bramble blossom amongst myriad of bud burst, remove the eggs from the fridge" on skippers & browns". From a personal • the instruction sheet which I am following, I perspective,2002 a typical year for this species transfer the twigs to the spare room. and I would imagine that many other 27/04/03 (Day 2); The instructions highlight the notebooks and recording sheets contain observations of a similar nature and frequency. tendency of emergent larvae to lie concealed on However, as the following diary excerpts may their host twigs until they eventually perish. As such, it is necessary to cut away as much of the reveal, there is scope for learning more about wood surrounding each ovum as possible. this arboreal species without depleting However, my first incision is ill judged and, as the indigenous populations. knife judders through the oak twig, the ovum is 02/11/02; A family walk between Aldeburgh & dislodged and catapulted across the room. As Thorpeness in the insipid light of early November. another over hasty knife stroke jettisons a second ovum towards a box of oddments, I disconsolately Returning along an inland path we encounter a spinney of ill-favoured looking oaks, the ground break for lunch. beneath maculated with damp leaves and twigs.

On my return, I find that the chiselling and We examine some of the latter and presently an whittling (now working with the grain of the wood exclamation rings out. As we congregate around and from the side of the twig furthest from the the speaker, she holds forth an oak twig upon ovum) proceeds much more satisfactorily on a full stomach. An hour later, miniature wooden plinths which a matt white disc has been lodged at the base of one of the terminal buds; a Purple support the ten remaining ova. Confident that Hairstreak ovum has been discovered. larvae will not emerge for at least another five days, Enthused, we scrutinise many more fallen I return the ova to their over-wintering tray and on twigs; bending back leaves obscuring the buds, to a windowsill. flicking and blowing at cloying fragments of soil.

Thitty minutes elapse and the tally of ova rises to

14

Piper's Vale, Ipswich, 16th June

by RichardStewart Nine members and friends were present on a day of sunshine and at a site that has, over the last few decades, been constantly threatened by proposed plans for development. Our Suffolk Branch has been fully involved in defeating these plans but the threat still persists.

The initial walk from the entrance gate produced five Speckled Wood, this species being the most numerous during the day. It is easy to forget that it would have been a rarity here just a few years ago. A Large Skipper in freshly emerged condition was added to the list, with Large White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown, plus one Cinnabar moth, two Jays and a Whitethroat singing. The 'heather conservation area' was studied, this representing the failed attempt to translocate some of the Silver-studded Blues when Warren Heath was developed. Later we met one of the rangers, Richard Sharp, who stated that this area will soon be removed, since the fencing is damaged and there is nothing left to be protected.

The grassland extending out to the Jetty area is often good for Clouded Yellows,but not on this occasion. Despite the persistent smell from the nearby water treatment works and compost recycling plant, this open area was full of interest, with an abundance of Bee Orchids and other flowers that included Tufted Vetch and many clumps of Bird's-foot Trefoil. A very encouraging total of 52 Common Blues was made, and we added from this area Large White, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Mother Shipton moth and Cinnabar caterpillars on Ragwort. Later a Small White was seen, an Oystercatcher flew over, piping noisily, and there were songs of both Sedge and Reed Warblers.

The riverside path towards the Orwell Bridge produced, for those in front, good close views of a Shelduck with seven young but the large masses of sunlit Bird's-foot Trefoil close to the

bridge pillars produced just one Common Blue and the only Small Copper of the day. Here we saw two further Red Admirals and then the welcome addition of two Painted Ladies.

Lunch was taken in shady woodland, rather too close to the noisy traffic, but we added a Green Woodpecker, six more Speckled Wood and made what was probably the find of the day, a lovely Lime Hawk-moth resting on bracken. Skirting the grassland on the edge of the old airport enabled Rob Parker to locate three newly emerged Small Skippers and our detour into the damper wet woodland added a Small White, more Speckled Wood and the chance to admire several ancient trees, especiallya stately Oak right in the middle of the path. Honeysuckle and Holly were noted as we headed towards an open sunlit area near Morland Road, but the only sightings were of one Common Blue and two Small Tortoiseshells. Another Small Tortoiseshell was noted on our return along Gainsborough Lane but there were no Holly Blues in their normal area, probably being between broods. We added Chiffchaff and Song Thrush to the final list, a copy of which has been sent to Richard Sharp.

LargeSkipper

by BerylJohnson 11

Autumn 2004

The Suffolk Argus associated with reed-beds and there was some common reed growing in a ditch alongside the wood. The other two species of note were Cream-bordered Green Pea and Pinionstreaked Snout. Both of these species are associatedwith damp habitats; fens, damp meadows and wet woodland, with· the caterpillars of the Creambordered Green Pea feeding on willows and sallows.

After we had gone through both the traps we had accumulated a total of 70 species - not a bad total for this time of year and without anyone losing any sleep. I would like to thank Joan Hardingham for allowing us to host the event at her farm.

29/04/03 (Day 4); Had I not neglected to check the ova, I would perhaps have noticed their darkening crowns and signs of exit holes being formed from within.

30/04/03 (Morning of Day 5); I'm nearing Biggin Hill in the work's van when the 'phone rings.

I\

Taken aback, I mutter incoherently for a few moments before the recollection that first instar larvae are cannibalistic jolts my senses. Diane agrees to keep the larvae separated as best she can (although how this is to be achieved in practice is not immediately apparent) and, cursing my own negligence, I hastily turn the van towards Southborough.

Worryingly, the oaks at Southborough Common are well advanced in leaf. However, at the base of a north-facing incline, the branches of a small tree are rarely exposed fully to the sun.

Here, I'm finally able to collect twenty or so twigs bearing buds which are in the very earliest stages of unfurling.

Back at home, Diane & I half fill redundant spice jars with water and feed the harvested twigs through hastily prepared cotton wool plugs. A quick look in the over wintering tray reveals the larvae to resemble fragments of dark thread, propelling their 3 mm long bodies at remarkable speed. As I make a belated start to the working day, Diane is poised with a dampened artist's brush ready to begin the transfer of the hatchlings.

The complete species list is as follows: Common Swift, Plutella xylostella(Diamond-back Moth),

Buff-tip

PhtheochroarutJJsana, Agapetahamana, Pandemis cerasana (Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix), Clepsis plant very well when it rests up during the day •spectrana (Cyclamen Tortrix), Tortrix viridana amongst its foodplant.

(Green Oak Tortrix), Celyphalacunana,Epinotia Another popular group of moths at moth bilunana, Eucosma cana, Crambus lathoniellus, events are the prominents, family Notodontidae. Crambusperlella,Schoenobius gigantella,Scoparia These are reasonably large in size, colourful and pyralella, Parapoynxstratiotata (Ringed Chinamark), Evergestis forficalis(Garden Pebble), Udea fluffy.Three species of this group were found as we were going through the traps. The Buff-tip is a olivalis,Ephestiaparasite/la,Homoeosomasinuella,

by Mervyn Crawford

master of camouflage and bears a remarkable resemblance to a piece of broken silver-birch twig.

The front of the head of the moth is covered in yellow hairs, looking like a cross-section of broken twig, with the wings being mainly a silvery-grey colour and at the tip of the wing is a yellow spot that looks like the other end of the broken twig.

The caterpillars of this moth live gregariously feeding on various deciduous trees and as they grow quite large can strip whole branches of their leaves.

As one would expect most of the species recorded were of the more common types but there were some species of more localised distribution. The first Schoenobiusgigantella belongs to the family Pyralidae,which belongs to the micro-lepidoptera (smaller moths) although this species can have a wingspan up to 4.5cm rather large for a small moth. It tends to be

Figure ofEighty, Blood-vein, Riband Wave, Silverground Carpet, Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Mottled Pug, Clouded Border, Mottled Beauty, Common Wave, Light Emerald, Privet Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Buff-tip, Swallow Prominent, Pale Prominent, White Ermine, Buff Ermine, Cinnabar, Turnip Moth, Heart & Dart, Flame, Flame Shoulder, LargeYellowUnderwing, lngrailed Clay, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Double Square-spot, Nutmeg, Light Brocade, Bright-line Brown-eye, Campion, Lychnis, Common Wainscot, Poplar Grey, Grey Dagger, Brown Rustic, Dark Arches, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, Treble Lines, Rustic, Vine's Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Cream-bordered Green Pea, Burnished Brass, Spectacle, Straw Dot, Snout and Pinion-streaked Snout.

10

"Paul,it'sDiane. There'sa problem- the eggs havehatched".

•I

30/o4/03 (Eveningof Day 5); Taking stock at the end of the day, two ova are unhatched, one larva appears to have escaped from the tray and, superficially, there is no evidence as to the existence of the remainder. However, the presence of dark 1-2 mm diameter bore holes in a few of the buds is reassuring and corroborates Diane's account of how the larvae appeared to take well to the supplied twigs. Just before bed, I number the spice jars to allow the progress of each individual larva to be recorded.

02/05/03 (Day 7); A first instar larva leads a secretive existence, discreetly hollowing out the inside of its host bud whilst causing little external damage. Uncertain as to how much material each will consume in this manner, I collect more bursting buds as a precaution. Resting new twigs up against old is surprisingly fiddly, but I'm eventually satisfied that any particularly voracious individuals will be able to transfer unaided to the fresh material. A dusting of droppings on all but one of the cotton plugs is an encouraging sign of the larvae's continued existence.

03/05/03 (Day 8); I examine the two remaining ovum; although one is discoloured and the other curiously flattened, there are signs of exit holes being formed and I remain hopeful that they will hatch.

04/05/03 (Day 9); Considerable relief as two larvae, noticeably paler than on emergence and already doubled in length, are readily visible atop their respective buds.

05/05/03 (Day 10); The condition of the harvested twigs is deteriorating rapidly and I collect fresh foliage from Southborough Common; on this occasion concentrating on buds which are in a slightly more advanced stage of development.

As I carefully position the new twigs amongst their withering counterparts, a third larva is noted.

07/05/03 (Day 12); Some time off from work provides an opportunity to examine the larvae at leisure. Two are clearly visible; one protruding slightly from an unfolding bud, the other, making no attempt at concealment, occupying a 6 by 2 mm space on some foliage. It takes many more minutes however to locate the other four larvae which have survived beyond first instar, such is the correlation between their pale brown bodies and the outer sections of the maturing buds upon which they rest. I'm alarmed at how quickly the twigs have desiccated and, as the sun reddens and begins to dissolve into the horizon, I collect the secateurs and hasten towards the Common.

15

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The SuffolkArgus

Autumn 2004

08/05/03 (Day 13); One larva (#4) remains unaccounted for and I tentatively open up the oak bud a little with the artist's brush. This proves just as disheartening as the absence of any droppings on the cotton wool plug below.

10/05/03 (Day 15); It is now possible to supply the larvae with immature oak leaves. However, I'm concerned that #2 is only half the size of its contemporaries and, following transfer, seems unable to grip the fresh oak lea£ I scan the instructions for any reference to stricken caterpillars and smile wryly as the words "once the larvae are large enough to feed on the emerging leaves, your troubles are over" catch my eye.

An hour later and #2 lies twitching slightly on the floor of the aquarium which holds the spice jars.

Closer examination suggests that skin shedding is the cause of the discomfort, and I only return the larva to its foliage once the process appears complete some hours later.

12/05/03 (Day 17); All larvae appear healthy including #2 which, although still some way off the 12 mm length achieved by its peers, has increased dramatically in size since 10/05. The larvae are now darkening to the colour of oak bark and taking on a decidedly flattened profile. As they move onto the semi-mature leaves I have supplied, their retractable heads glisten; beetle-black.

.. /

-,

The complete list for the evening is as follows: Gold Swift, Esperiasulphurella,March Moth, Silver-ground Carpet, Green Carpet, Winter Moth, Feathered Thom, Spring Usher, Dotted Border, Mottled Umber, Early Moth, Common Quaker, Sprawler, Brindled Green, Satellite, Copper Underwing, Dun-bar and Rustic Shoulder-knot

PurpleHairstreak

by DouglasHammersley however, and cling tenaciously to the incumbent leaves and stems. During the eventual transfer, it's possible to view their stumpy, suckering legs, which have been used to great effect throughout the proceedings. Adding to my agitation, #3 is now restless and begins to descend the spice jar; I duly deploy the brush and as the larva is cajoled onto the bristles, I'm taken by its resemblance to a woodlouse.

18/05/03 (Day 23); Despite the larvae having achieved proportions of 18 mm by 6 mm, the synchronisation between their bodies and the oak stems renders them still difficult to locate.

However, a closer inspection reveals detail as opposed to uniformity of colour and form; the body comprises eight discreet segments with a pentagon shaped marking in the centre of each. In tum, the pentagons are outlined in white, bisected by a black line and coloured by subtle autumnal shades. Each larva has a distinct rail section too.

Paradoxically,these structures resemble the head of a beetle or some other invertebrate similarly unappetising to a foraging bird.

13/05/03 (Day 18); The two unhatched ova are unchanged and I decide to discard them. Similarly, it is concluded that #4 escaped from the aquarium shortly after emergence and perished in its inevitably fruitless search for an oak bud more appetising than the one supplied.

15/05/03 (Day 20); Trred from work, I decide to quickly transfer the larvae to fresh foliage using the artist's brush. The larvae sense my impatience

16

RibandWave

by Mervyn Crawford

GreenCarpet byJim Foster

Moth Morning at Alder Carr Farm - 11th June

by TonyPrichard This was a joint meeting of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and the Suffolk Naturalists' Society. The Suffolk Moth Group holds many moth nights throughout the county during the year but being largely nocturnal events these can be awkwardfor some people to come along to. This year I have been running a few moth mornings as an alternative opportunity for people to see some of the county'smoth fauna.

A couple of moth traps had been placed within the area of woodland on the farm the night before and allowed to run overnight. The traps we use to record moths have a large holding container, operating on the same principle as a lobster pot, where the moths can remain unharmed till the morning, having settled down and become inactive.

In the morning severalmembers of Butterfly Conservation and the SNS had come along to see what had turned up overnight. By this time the moths had entered their dormant daytime phase allowing good close-up views of the moths without too many of them flying off.

Some of our largest moths belong to the hawk-moth family, Sphingidae, and three species of this impressive group were found in the traps Privet, Poplar and Elephant. Most of our resident hawk-moths are quite common and widespread throughout the county so it was not too unusual to have a selection in the traps. As the majority of moths are cryptically coloured, so that they blend in well with their background as they rest up during the day, it might appear strange why the Elephant Hawk-moth is coloured in olive-green and pink. The reason for its colouration becomes clear when you know that its main foodplant is willowherb. The olive-green and pink colours of the moth match the colours of the willowherb

9

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Dingy Skipper Identification Session - 15th May

National Moth Night at lckworth Park - 22nd May

by Mike Dean and Jim Foster

by TonyPrichard

Seven members and friends assembled at the ForestEnterprisePicnic Site in King's Forest on a sunny day, however there was a chilly breeze.

The first site visited was Chalk Lane including the open areas to North and East of the track.

Unfortunatelyno Dingy Skipperswere seen, the area possibly being too exposed for the prevailingweather conditions.

There was plenty of the larval food plant Bird's-foot Trefoil however it was not yet in flower.

Orange Tips were seen in good numbers and the other butterflies seen were as follows: Brimstone, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood and a lone Green Hairstreak. Cinnabar Moths were also recorded. An entomologist from Cambridge had swept the area for insects and on enquiry he had not seen any Dingy Skippers either. The only bird of note was a Tree Pipit vocalising from one of the Birch trees.

Lunch was taken at the Picnic Site and then we proceeded to John O'Groats Cottages where in the past Dingy Skippers had been seen. The site around the cottages did not look too promising, as the trees had recently been cleared leaving the site rather - open. There was a lot of soil damage due to the harvesting of trees and very little Bird's-footTrefoil in evidence. Butterflies seen were Large White, Green-veined White, Orange lip and Speckled Wood. At. least three Brown Silver-lines moths, a Green Carpet and two Red Deer were noted.

Next stop was Wordwell and here we had success and those that came for the Identification Session were at last rewarded with good views of Dingy Skippers. At least five fresh adults were seen and possibly eight. This site was more sheltered than the previous ones and the Bird's-foot Trefoil was just coming into flower. Other species noted were Large White, Orange Tip and Comma.

We have fared rather well weather-wise in the past when it has come to National Moth Night (NMN). While recorders in other parts of the country have been bemoaning miserable weather.conditions we have managed to notch up respectable species lists for most of the previous events.

This year was a distinct contrast. Three members of the branch arrived for the evening's event and at this time of year they could normally expect to see a good variety of colourful moths. As we stood in the car park we could tell that the temperature, following a warm day, was cooling . quickly and that it was going to be a cold night.

We sought shelter in one of the woodlands that lie on the perimeter of the estate, hoping that at least within the wood some warmth would be retained.

Having set up the lights within the wood it was simply a matter of waiting for the moths to arrive. Neil Sherman spotted a Gold Swift flying in the grass as the daylight faded. The odd Green Carpet and Silver-ground Carpet arrived early on at the sheet light but in terms of moths appearing at light nothing really much happened after that.

Neil in the absence of activity at the lights resorted to 'beating' for larvae to increase the species list for the evening. The effect of the cold temperatures can probably best be shown by the fact that a Rustic Shoulder-knot was knocked from a bush right next to the sheet - it was so cold that it could not even be bothered flying the few feet to the sheet light. The search for caterpillars proved more successfulthan the moth lights and we managed to clock up thirteen species of larvae, with the most interesting being a Spring Usher caterpillar feeding on oak. Unfortunately the NMN scheme only accepts adult records so this year's submission will consist of only five species.

8

20/05/03 (Day 25); A quick check suggests an outbreak of indolence amongst the larvae.

However, even in repost they appear robust and strangely formidable. The now fully mature oak leaves are largely undamaged and I marvel at how efficiently the larvae are able to convert foliage to body mass.

21/05/03 (Day 26); The larvae appear decidedly hunched and somewhat rigid, their colours now warming markedly to a pale, dusky pink.

Suspecting that they are preparing for hibernation, I line the aquarium floor with dried moss and reinforce the cotton wool plugs with Plasticine seals.

22/05/03 (Day 27); Two larvae are missing and I hope that they have successfullylocated the moss.

Another two adorn the spice jar seals and I wonder what, if anything, they make of the sensation of cotton wool and Plasticine against their bodies. As a precaution, I remove the seals to the aquarium floor and one of the larvae duly burrows into the moss - lost from view within seconds.

23/05/03 (Day 28); At the end of April, Diane had relayed the first moments of drama involving the larvae whilst I was in the work van. It is perhaps appropriate that I am in the same vehicle (the approach to the BlackwallTunnel provides the backdrop this time), when Diane recounts how she discovered #3 floating in its spice jar and the daring rescue and mysterious resuscitation which ensued. Just as I enter the tunnel and begin to lose all reception, Diane reassures me once more that all larvae are now safely embarked upon the next phase of their remarkable metamorphosis.

Common clutching a container which moments before had held the last of the hairstreaks to be released, two emotions vie for prominence; there is satisfaction at having successfully nurtured ova (which otherwise would have perished) through their lifecycle, tempered by disappointment at the brevity of my association with the resulting butterflies. However, my daughter's poem willhelp to sustain the memories and stir the recollections well into winter's drear.

Oak '-eavesmovingin the breeze Alongcomesa butterflymovingswiftlywith ease.

She landson a kaf sogently And sheopensher wingsin theglisteningsun.

Sheshowedoff her wingsto me I couldseethe richpurpk.

Her wingswerelikesilk.

She twirkd on the kaf and caughtthe eye Of a mak butterfly.

Theyrosein a whirlof wings And flutteredawayin the light.

My partner, Diane, deservesmuch thanks for her assistance and vigilance throughout this project. Similarly, I would like to acknowledge Peter Kirby of the Kent Branch of Butterfly Conservation, whose Internet site (www.quercus2.freeserve.co.uk) provided both inspiration and methodology.

12/06/03 - 14/06/03 (Days 48 - 50); Over the course of the mornings of 12th, 13th and 14th June, six Purple Hairstreak butterflies dry their wings inside the aquarium. These dates are two weeks before the emergence of the indigenous Southborough Common colony, and this despite the captive ova having been in a state of hibernation for at least a month longer than their wild counterparts. As I walk back from the

17

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Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Swallowtail Day at Wheatfen Broad - 13th June

by RichardStewart This event, organised by the Norfolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation and David Nobbs from Wbeatfen, attracted not just our own members but also others from well outside East Anglia and members of the public. Such a wide group of visitors produced an interesting selection of fuotwear, from walking boots and brogues through to sandals and even bare feet and it was particularlygood to see many children present, some being pushed in 'buggies', despite the bumpy paths.

I would imagine that everyone who was prepared to walk as far as the main Swallowtailarea had sightings of these elegant insects, feeding on Yellow Flag, which was flowering profusely. A raised platform added those extra few inches for

,..

,

/ ~

~hl~ ~.

views across the reedbeds and at strategic points the Swallowtail life history was depicted and eggs marked on Milk Parsley growing close to the path.

Three different guides were kept busy, including Brian Mcllwrath, the former Norfolk Butterfly Recorder. Early on during our walk we were able to examine both eggs and caterpillars of Brimstone on Buckthorn next to the path. Several of this species were seen, both male and female, plus at least seven Red Admiral, one Peacock, one Meadow Brown, several Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood while Paul Johnson found a Large Skipper in superb condition in the garden of the house. This area also produced two of at least eleven Swallowtails recorded. Valerian was the other flowering plant favoured for nectaring and there were also good views of Broad-bodied Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer and Brown Hawker dragonflies, male and female Banded Demoiselle and Azure Damselfly. One of the ~ay's highlights was watching hundreds of Azure Damselflies, many paired, drifting like blue smoke across the • surface of a small pond just off the path along Old Mill Marsh. Our return to the main Swallowtail area also produced more sightings of the butterfly, the loud calls of unseen Cetti's Warblers and a food pass between a pair of Marsh Harriers.

Wheatfen's hospitality was of its usual high standard: plants for sale and butterfly products, dozens of comfortable chairs around the lawn, and some delicious cakes. The weather was ideal, with plenty of sunshine well balanced by a breeze, and hopefully both Butterfly Conservation and the Ted Ellis Reserve shared a good return in donations by the end of a memorable day.

For those with long memories of Wheatfen Broad, Phyllis Ellis is now in a retirement home and a welcome addition to funds will soon be coming through filming of a new version of 'Swallows and Amazons' on site. This will also involve reconstruction of the much-missed ladder hide which was open for intrepid visitors when Ted Ellis was alive, though it will not be available for future visits.

Swallowtailon ElderFlower

Editor'sNote: Phyllis Ellis passed away on 24 June 2004.

by BerylJohnson 18

Dingy Skipper Survey - 16th May

by RichardStewart Roger and StellaWolfe, Marie and I approached Wordwell with a considerable increase in expectation, since this was a day of warm sunshine. Close to the parking area we noted Holly Blue flying around the flowering Laurel and as we walked along the ride we added Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Orange Tip and Green-veined White. Marie's diversion into a nearby field of Bugloss produced a welcome Wall, my first of the season, but this was to be the day of the Dingy Skipper.

Before we reached the long ride where we hoped to find them we had seen several on the left of the approach ride and Roger's suggestion that we thoroughly explore the areas off to the left of the main ride, which appeared to have suitable habitat, was fruitful. To the three seen before we reached the main ride we added five by exploring these four glades to the left, another seven along the ride itself but only one on the other side, which was partially shaded by the nearby conifers. We then went further along the approach ride where they have been noted before and found a further three, making a total of ~ •.,::-;..·-=,~~·· , r":·~~ nineteen, easily the best -.-----,,~ .. recorded here though I understand subsequent visits have increased that total. - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and one Hare were added to the observations before we left, my first Small Heath of the year and a good view of a Fox, in superb condition, as we reached the main breeding ride.

It had clouded over by the time we reached Chalk Lane, where we found no Dingy Skippers, though I understand others did, some days later.

We added Small White and Small Copper to the

list, and heard Muntjac and a distant Cuckoo, plus good views of two Roe Deer crossing ahead of us.

Our final destination, Knettishall Heath, produced no Dingy Skippers, the records from here being very old, but we were able to enjoy good views, from a comfortable seat, of two Roe Deer inside the Skylark Conservation Area. The Park was full of people near the river but, as usual, we only had to walk a few hundred yards to get clear of the majority.

I was left contemplating this sudden increase in numbers at Wordwell. Was it simply the sunny day and our being there at the peak of emergence?

Was it because no one had fully explored the glades off left on previous visits? Has the rotavation on the left of the main ride, for the rare Basil Thyme Case-bearer Moth, produced suitable conditions for the Dingy Skippers to move across to this side of the ride? Were they simply on the left side because that was the sunniest in the morning? A final thought was that the habitat along the approach ride seems suitable for future expansion westwards, back towards the Brandon road.

..

DingySkipper

by DouglasHammersley 7

The SuffolkArgus 16 May. Wordwell. See following report by Richard Stewart.

22 May. Counts at RAF Barnham and Center Pares.

23/24 May. An extensive search of the southwestern corner of King's Forest, with negative results.

27 May. Chalk Lane; two seen.

30 May. Habitat Condition Survey at Wordwell, to Butterfly Conservation guiddines.

8/9 Jun. King's Forest; negative at John O'Groats, but extended colony detected north ofWordwell.

15 to 31 May. At least six negative searches made at other sites.

23 May. Dingy Skipper Search from Ramparts Field. A group of a dozen knowledgeable volunteers gathered in perfect weather for this event, and walked the most promising forest rides in TL 7872 and 8073. Green Hairstreaks were flying in good numbers, as were Orange-tips, Small Coppers and Speckled Woods. In suitable areas of short grass, Small Heaths were also to be found, and an agreeable morning was passed in vain pursuit of Dingy Skippers. Very little Birds-foot Trefoil was found, and none of the area was judged suitable habitat, or even worthy of a further visit.

Autumn 2004

Dingy Skipper Survey at Wordwell - 3rd May

by RichardStewart Bank Holiday bringsten of us Blown inland to the wet woods Of the Kings Forest,searchingfor the Elusive,moth-likeDingy Skipper, Rarestof Suffolk'.rbreedingbutterflies, And to test the latestpurchases Of rain-proofgear,our colourful Umbrellasmaking a carnivalftom the Gloomof the day and the dark broodingmastsof Conifers.~ resemblea flotilla Of storm-sweptsails Almost careeningas we turn a corner •Into the breedingride, meetinga Suddm gust of wind, while ahead A loneharestopsalong Thepath toface this suddengaudy Armada, quickly decidingwe cannot Be harmfol in such weatherand, Takingus into its confidence, Startsto ambleslowlycloser,

Our picnic was enhanced by an opportunity to view some exquisite artwork brought along by Jonathan Tyler, a botanical illustrator and BC member. After the break, still eager to see our target species, we moved on to Wordwell, and confirmed that the Dingy Skippers were flying . there in good numbers. Everyone got a good chance to observe and photograph them, as did the separate group of members who were just leaving to check our the Chalk Lane site.

In all, we had seen 15 species whilst doing a valuable job with our negative search of former habitat.

Still closer,then it leapslike a taut sail Toshakeoff beadsof rain, only Stoppingbecauseof our babble, Sinking low into thepaths farrow Beforedarting off into cover.

The Dingy Skippersstay hidden, Tuckedaway in somesafeharbour, Wiserthan us.

6

A new species of moth to Britain discovered in SuffolkEctoedernia hannoverella

by TonyPrichard Some of our smallest moths, only a few millimetres in wingspan, feed as larvae inside leaves. The results of this feeding, termed leaf mines, can be visible from the outside of the leaf and is of use in moth recording. Most leafmining moths tend to be specific in their host plant requirements, presumably as they are living in very dose association with their food.

The foodplant that the mine occurs in, the pattern of feeding and the way frass(caterpillar excreta) has been laid down in the mine as well as oth.erfeatures allows the identification of the majority of these very small moths from the mines that they produce. The recording of these leaf-mining lepidoptera is an increasingly popular way of recording moths and an area of moth recording that has been of personal interest for several years.

In September 2002 Jon Clifton and myself were carrying our some leaf-miner recording in the Mildenhall area. We found some leaf-mines in fallen poplar leaves where the mine started in the

Ectoedemiahannoverella byNeil Sherman petiole of the leaf, proceeded up the petiole as a narrow track to the base of the leaf where it expanded into a blotch in the lamina of the leaf.

On consulting the identification keys we found only one species that fed on poplar in this way Ectoedemiaturbidella.The key was specific about E. turbidellafeeding on grey poplar but this was rashly passed over at the time and we recorded the species as E. turbidella. After mentioning our findings to Neil Sherman he also found similar mines on poplar leaves at a site near Ipswich.

On sending the records into the national micro-lepidoptera recorder I was informed that E. turbidellahas only ever been found feeding on grey poplar in this country and that the leavesin which we had found mines did not appear to be grey poplar. On further investigation we determined that the mines we had found were in fact in Italian poplar leaves. The question then arose as to what species had formed these mines. As the mine was very similar to other leaf-mining moth species we were convinced that this mine must have been produced by something lepidopterous. This left us with two possibilities, either E. turbidella occurring on a previously unknown foodplant or some unknown species of leaf miner. I had consulted some European literature on this family and this had revealed that there was a European species, Ectoedemiahannoverellathat fed on black poplar and its hybrids, including Italian poplar.

The solution to this moth's identity would require rearing through of adults from mines collected in the autumn. If we were able to rear through some adults then their identity could be

19

Autumn2004

The SuffolkArgus determined by dissection, as E. hannoverella and E. turbidellaare indistinguishable in the majority of cases as adults from external appearance alone.

This group of moths has a reputation for being tricky to rear through to the adult stage as the larvae leave the mine and spend the winter as a pupa in a small cocoon with the adults emerging in the spring. Being so small they are prone to drying out and appear to need exposure to cold weather before they will emerge and some species can be very heavily parasitised. Jon Clifton, Neil Sherman and myself took mines from two sites in Suffolk and tried different techniques to over-winter them in the hope that at least one of us would manage to rear some adults. This actually proved more successful than expected and in April and May the majority of adults hatched from both sites. These were determined by Jon Clifton to be E. hannoverella- a new species of moth to Britain found in Suffolk.

Returning to events in late 2003, I had continued to search for further sites with mines in black poplar hybrids and managed to locate two further sites in Suffolk, one in the Woodbridge area and the other near Brandon. Andy Musgrove also managed to find some mines in Norfolk. at Thetford. It would appear that E. hannoverellais established in at least two broad areas of Suffolk and I suspect will be found in other areas of the county as well. How widespread it will be outside the county is hard to say. Leaf-miner recording certainly has a long history in Essex and some of the other adjoining/nearby counties to Suffolk have or have had recorders interested in recording leaf-mining moths. Black poplar and its hybrids have other leaf-mining moth species associated with them that are likely to have attracted the attention of leaf-miner recorders in the past, so it would seem unlikely that they would have been over-looked for a long period of time. Now that the species has been recognised as occurring in this country it will hopefully encourage other recorders to go out and look for it so that its precise distribution can be determined.

Small Tortoiseshells Along the SuffolkCoast

by RichardStewart On Mai,ch 29th 2004 I walked from Buss Creek at Southwold right through to the railway station at Lowestoft. It was a lovely day for this time of yearbut cloudy conditions restricted my butterfly sightings to just a few unidentified and distant fliers.

That was until the afrernoon, when the sun came out and the increased temperature produced a very surprising total of 43 Small Tortoiseshells between Kessingland Beach and the vegetation alongside the tracks at Lowestofr railway station.

This is easily my best one-day total for this species at such an early date, in fact I doubt if I have ever seen that number previously in the whole of March.

It was also interesring to note that just two other butterflies were recorded, both Peacocks.

Several of the 43 were close together, showing courtship behaviour, and condition varied from excellent to ragged. Many were close to Alexanders, but this might have simply been because this plant has invaded most suitable habitats close to the path near the beach. What I could not decide was whether these represented a local population, which had successfullyhibernated and was evident along the path because of the sunshine, or whether they were migrants. There was a large movement of moths and butterflies into some south and southwest counties in February 2004. Dorset was the chief beneficiary, with over 300 records of the Painted Lady received by 28th March plus sightings of several rare migratory moths. Was this day'stotal the easterlytail end of this movement? If anyone else has similar numbers from other sites at the end of March, perhaps they could report them to Rob Parker.

20

Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership helped to cover travel costs for several volunteers searching new sites. A new colour leaflet on the Dingy Skipper in the eastern region is also available and can help new volunteers distinguish between the butterfly and several day flying moths.

SurveyTraining Following the success of the transect and monitoring training day in Cambridgeshire, a similar day was held in Bury St Edmunds on Thursday 5th August using PowerPoint presentations from Head Office and the experience of Rob Parker and Sharon Hearle. The event was attended by 6 volunteers none were members of Butterfly Conservation and included staff from Suffolk County Council and RSPB. There were many other enquiries about recording from people who could not make the day.

The Eastern Daily Press and East Anglian Daily Tlffies covered the event and although the copy was not completely accurate it did lead to an incredible 32 enquiries from the public and hopefully more recorders/members in the future.

How can you help?

There will be further training days in 2005 and if anyone has any suggestions for topics they would like to see covered please get in touch.

There are many County Wildlife Sites across the county, which have interesting potential for butterflies but no public access. If you are aware of sites near you that you would like to visit please get in touch, as it may be possible to arrange access for named individuals for recording purposes.

There appear to be a number of locations along the Icknield Way where butterfly and moth species numbers have gone down. If anyone has any information about this track and former habitat I would be pleased to hear from you.

2004 Field Meetings Dingy Skipper Survey

-2004

by Rob Parker This year's searches for the Dingy Skipper were well planned, but the season ran late, and some of our early surveys were too early for the flight period, and one took place in a torrential downpour. Perhaps the most important achievement was the completion of negative searchesthat confirmed that a number of former sites are regrettablyinactive. In several cases, the habitat is no longer suitable. A more satisfactory result late in the season was the discovery of a previously unknown colony just north of the existing Wordwell site; that has an extensive area of Birds-foot Trefoil and looks like a strong reservoirin the heart of the King's Forest.

All visits were conducted with the landowner's consent, or along public rights of way.

A total of twelve sites were visited during the 2004 flight period, and Dingy Skippers were found at four of these, including a stable colony at Center Pares and a few sightings at the Chalk Lane site.

The butterfly appears to be holding its own in a very limited area of the Suffolk Brecks.

The Dingy Skipper was on the wing from late April elsewhere in UK, and on the Devil's Dyke (Cambs/Suffolk border) by 2 May, but again there were no early records from Suffolk. None were flying on 3, 5 or 7 May, and the first definite record was from Wardwell on 15th May, the same date as last year. The main survey events were: 15 May. Training event; count at Wardwell, but nothing found at Chalk Lane or to the northeast.

See the following report.

5

Autumn 2004

The SuffolkArgus

Regional Officer Eastern Region Report

Nightingales, Butterflies and Chapel St. Luc

by SharonHearle

On 14 June 2003 we had yet to experience our infamous canicule (heat wave) but the weather was warming up nicely with temperaturesrarely falling below 20 deg C at night. During the week a letter had arrivedinviting us to a wine tasting evening at Domain Rossignal (Nightingale in English). Pascal, the owner, who we now know well is the grandson of the original vineron. The grandfather had combined the trades of vineron and blacksmith.

His wines were typical of the wines of this area at that time in that they were wet, alcoholic and useful for cleaning down engines. Pascal'sfather increased his area of vineyard and joined the local Cave Cooperatives. This was, and still is, an association of several vinerons, sometimes up to 30 or so, who together have their grapes made into wine at a central jointly owned cave, using skilled labour. This not only shared the cost hut also considerably increased the quality of the wine.

When Pascal inherited there was a growing trend to move out of Cave Cooperatives and to become Cave Particulars and this he did. With a Cave Particular a single owner grows the grapes and makes and bottles his own wine. Like a Single Malt whisky in Scotland. The emphasis is now on quality and with each vineron concentrating on the grapes best suited to his vineyards the quality of the local wines holds up well against many of the well-known Bordeaux wines.

By JamesMann

The first species review on the Anglia Regional Action Plan has been completed and includes all activity on 14 high and medium priority butterflies and 35 high priority moths in 2003. A similar review will be completed for 2004. This review provides a useful record of all the work undertaken in the Anglia Region and helps to identify gaps in our knowledge and new priorities.

Griuled Skipper byDouglasHammersley

Dingy Skipperand GrizzledSkipper

It appears that 2004 has been a relatively good year for both skippers. The highest count for Dingy Skipper on the transect at Devil's Dyke near Newmarket was 26 compared to 15 last year.

Planning casework at several sites m Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire where butterflies are threatened has been undertaken.

Searches for Grizzled Skipper at a few sites in Suffolk have been negative, including one of the most promising along the cut-off channel at Lakenheath. Survey visits to the cut-off channel from Feltwell to Wretton in Norfolk has led to the discovery of several new colonies of Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Wall and Brown Argus not recorded before.

Survey work for Dingy Skipper in Suffolk has been much more productive as can be seen in Rob Parker's update. A grant of £400.00 from

The Grizzled Skipper day at High Lodge, Brandon in Suffolk on April 24th was well attended by 26 people including staff from Norfolk Wildlife Trust, - WBB Mineral Company and British Trust for Ornithology. There were presentations by Sharon Hearle and Tom Brereton from Head Office who completed a PhD on Grizzled Skipper severalyears ago. There was glorious hot and sunny weather for the field· visit in the afternoon to Foulden Common in Norfolk but no Grizzled Skippers were seen although one had been recorded on the same day in Cambridgeshire. Subsequent visits did reveal good numbers of both Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper at this site. Attendees did go on to complete survey work in both Norfolk and Suffolk searching for both Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper.

4

Our invitation was to taste a Cotes du Rousillon red that had won not one, but two, Bacchus awards. We put on our French disguise by driving there in our 1974 Ciuoen Ami 8. Arriving at the table piled high with the usual French nibbles we found Pascal poised with a bottle of the Bacchus wine at just the right temperature and the correct angle to pour the usual generous half glass for tasting. Not this time, at 12.5 Euros per bottle, when I usually buy his Vm de Pays Catalan at just over one euro a litre envrac, we got just a large thimble full, but what wine, superb on the nose and pure nectar to sip. This was not a wine to be guzzled down. It was as far away from his grandfather's wine as it is possible to get. I bought a couple of bottles to lay down for a very special occasion trying not to think that 25 euros was usually enough for a whole months wine.

At an earlier visit Pascal had told us that his vineyards were some five kilometres away surrounding Chapel St Luc. We had visited the Chapel before on a three hour round walk from Le Boulou but had never been to it by road. The sun

MarbledWhite on Privet byBerylJohnson 21

TheSuffolk Argus was still shining and it was a lovely warm evening the biting heat of the day having passed so we decided to visit the Chapel and admire the surrounding countryside, for although the Chapel is only at an altitude of204 metres the ground falls away on all sides giving a dear view. We followed the narrow winding road through the vineyards remarking that like Suffolk the road went round the fields/vineyards not daring to encroach on the fertile bit. Also like much of Suffolk there was a single crop but here it is divided up into small parcels, which average little over a hectare each.

They are of differing colours according to the grape variety and the lines of vines run in various directions influenced by the inclination of the plot and the angle of the sun for the longest period of the day. The last 200 metres to the Chapel were up a steeply rising dirt track.

The Chapel is surrounded by an extensive grassed area that slopes down to the surrounding apron of cork oak trees. Anne and her friend Diana, who featured in "A Place of Tranquillity'' went off to sit on a fallen log and listen to the nightingales and other birds that were in song.

I ambled off to investigate the few white butterflies that were fluttering from flower to flower amongst the rough grass.These turned our to be Marbled Whites with up to twenty in sight at any one time.

To one side dose to the trees a small group of dainty smaller whites were flitting around and identified as Wood Whites, they kept themselves to a small area not

Autumn 2004 nuxmg with the other species. A much larger white-based butterfly turned up and began patrolling back and fotth. Very common to us he was easy to recognise as the white version of the Scarce Swallowtail. He soon got fed up looking for another of its kind and flew off for pastures new freeing me up to look elsewhere. As usual for this time of the year there were plenty of Pearly Heaths.

The several Clouded Yellowsand Walls I ignored for these two speciesvie with each other as to which is on the wing for the longest period of the year.

The considerable number of small dark butterflies that were keeping low to the flowery spread all seemed to be Purple Hairstreaks but following a different one proved that there were a number of Long-tailed Blues with us. A flash of blue and I was off to chase another species, a small busy insect waylaid me and as the single one I saw landed I thought of all the Small Skippers that had given me enjoyment in Suffolk. The blue was no where to be seen but after a few minutes it, or at . least one of the several Small Blues I saw, gave a good display of colour in the sunshine. The two distinct different Fritillaries caused me great problems and as they refused to senle, exact identification was beyond my limited knowledge.

Seeking an easier task I concentrated on the red and black insects acting in a fairly sedentary way on the flowers. The identification of the nonlepidoptera was not my present concern but the Burnet Moths I recognised and spent a long peaceful time counting spots and was pleased to find about equal numbers of both Five and Six spots. A noise disturbed the concentration. It was Anne and Diana politely asking if I intended spending all night on my knees in the grass, they were hungry. Being reminded of it I realised I was also in that state. As we made for the car we passed a couple of Painted Ladies and saw a crafty Red Admiral soaking up the last rays of the falling sun.

The best times are unexpected, what was to be a simple wine tasting turned into a very pleasant and relaxing evening prior to an excellent meal.

Lord Henniker -an • • appreciation

Editorial

by Jim Foster Well another summer is drawing to a close and what a difference compared with 2003. Last year's long hot weather has been followed by this year's changeable weather and a very wet August. I have been recording rainfall here at Stonham Aspal since 1975 and the 122mm for August is the highest for that month I have ever recorded.

Butterflies in our garden have not been as numerous as last year however late July seems to be a favourable time for us to see something unusual.

A Chalkhill Blue graced our garden on 31st July 2003 and this year on 28th July we recorded a female Clouded Yellow. This is only the third garden sighting of this species we have had.

I managed to obtain one photograph before it was disturbed by a Large White and went on its way. The very next day a White-letter Hairstreak was seen nectaring for at least an hour on Helenium. This garden plant attracts numerous butterflies particularly Gatekeepers and Ringlets.

We now assume a White-letter Hairstreak colony is nearby in the village. In spite of searching for several days we were unable to locate it, probably because it was too late in the year. Nevertheless we have identified some suitable habitat, so one task for 2005 is to find the colony!

This autumn issue as usual contains reports of some of our 2004 field meetings. Please note that there is no report for the Stoke-by-Clare meeting scheduled for May 8th, as this did not take place due to inclement weather.

by Alan Johnson Some of our members may have read with regret, the news of the death, earlier this year, of Lord Henniker, of the Thornham &late, near Diss.

The Suffolk Branch has held regular field meetings in conjunction with 'Thornham Walks', which included visits to the 'Butterfly Ride', situated within the estate. The ride has been in existence for several years now with Butterfly Conservation being involved in the project at the invitation of Lord and Lady Henniker.

Following distinguished careers in the military, diplomatic and charity fields, Lord Henniker transformed the family estate in many ways, which included opening up to the public, a series of footpaths through ancient parkland, woodland, farmland and water meadows.

Also a Field Centre was opened offering educational environmental activities for children and adults throughout the year.

Both a testament to his vision, love of the countryside and interest in people.

A Memorial Service was held on 25th June, at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, at which our Branch was represented.

WoodWhite

by BerylJohnson

l

22

3

Autumn 2004

-The SuffolkArgus

Contents

•··-.···:-'/J~~

Editorial

Editorial

3

Lord Henniker - an appreciation

3

Regional Officer's Report

4

2004 Field Meetings

5

From Oak to Ovum

14

Swallowtail Day at Wheatfen

18

A new species of moth to Britain discovered in Suffolk

19

Small Tortoiseshells along the Suffolk Coast

20

Nightingales, Butterflies and Chapel St. Luc

21

Newsletter Details and General Information

23

Suffolk Branch Contacts

~--•-•._/"'-.,~----,_®t",~')i~

Back Cover

For that difficult to find present, why not give a decorative butterfly or moth to mount on the front wall of someone's home ?

Copy Dates Contributions for our newsletter should reach the Editor (address on back page) no later than:

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Cast in aluminium and enamelled in very realistic colours at five times Iife-si.ze,theywill last for many years.

Highly individual nameplates too, to your own design, with no-obligation colour preview. Suffolk Branch will receive one quarter of the purchase price.

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Phone or fax Mervyn Crawford on M'ddenhall (01638) 712600for Colour brochure I Price list.

A purpose built Hotel with all the facilities that today's travellers require yet in a rustic traditional environment that is welcoming and comfortable.

A purpose built Hotel with all the facilities that today's travellers require yet in a rustic traditional environment that is welcoming and comfortable.

2

Butterfly Hotel,

Butterfly Hotel,

Al 4 Bury East Exit.

Al 4 Bury East Exit.

Moreton Hall,

Moreton Hall,

Bury St. Edmunds

Bury St. Edmunds

Tel: 01284 760884

Tel: 01284 760884 23

Suffolk Branch Contacts Chairman Rob Parker, 66 Cornfield Road, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3BN (01284 705476) Membership Secretary Beryl Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) Newsletter Editor Jim Foster, Lugano, The Street, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 6AH (01449 711484) Publicity Officer (Vacant) Programme Secretary Alan Johnson, 28 Medway Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP3 0QH (01473 715701) County Recorder (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address as above)

Butterfly

Conservation Conservation Officer (Butterflies) Rob Parker (address left) Conservation Officer (Moths) Tony Prichard, 3 Powling Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JR (01473 270047) County Recorder (Moths) Tony Prichard (address above) Secretary Tony Prichard, (address above) Treasurer Graham Bull, Willow Cottage, 1 The Street, Raydon, Suffolk IP7 5LP (01473 310371) Committee Members Stella Wolfe, Mike Dean President Howard Mendel, c/o The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW? 5BD (0171 938 8782)

,

Volunteers Needed If you feel you could help out now and then with the growing work of the Branch, please contact Beryl Johnson on

tekeeper by BerylJohnson

01473 715701.

The Newsletter of the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Published by the Suffolk Branch of Butterfly Conservation ButterflyConservation Limited by Guarantee RegisteredOffice, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Td: (01929) 400209 © 2004 all rights reserved &g. No. 2206468 R,g. Charity No. 254937

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Autumn 2004 Volume33