The Suffolk Argus
Special Edition - Summer 2008
Targets for Success A single-species transect has been set up at Blaxhall Common, with a route aimed at detecting any extension to the flight area, as well as making a weekly count. See map on p.10/11. In this way, a fair year-on year comparison will be possible for the new colony. In addition, the existing annual count at all monitored sites will continue, and this will allow any impact at the donor sites to be detected. Targets used to judge success have been set: a. At both donor sites: 2008. A count of at least 90% of the 2006 figure, moderated by any fluctuation noted generally at other Sandlings sites. 2009. A count of 95% of the 2006 figure, moderated as above. 2010 to 2013. Recovery to 100% of 2006 figure. 2014 to 2018. Stable population maintained, subject to seasonal fluctuations & site condition variability. b. At Blaxhall Common: 2008. Some Silver-studded Blues of both sexes detected and apparently breeding on site. Transect walk established. 2009 to 2013. Transect results show population established and increasing within core area. 2014 to 2018. Transect detects expansion of flight area to furthest extent of heather cover.
A grant from the Connect Fund has supported the translocation project expenses, including the production and distribution of this report in its newsletter format. We are grateful to Suffolk Secrets for their generous support through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit.
meant that there was limited flight activity, and we saw no pairings, so we concentrated on collecting females. Their condition was variable; some were very fresh, whilst others had evidently been on the wing for some days, so the chances are good that they had already mated. The proportion of partly blue females (rather like the named aberration var. masseyi) seemed higher than normal, but perhaps this was noted simply because we were handling and inspecting them, rather than just counting them. The 2007 flight season was running early; there were almost as many as would be normal at the peak of the season.
travellers at TM3781 5692. The remaining 3m & 5f were released. Behaviour on release was encouraging. Although a few drifted off in the westerly breeze, most remained feeding on the Erica very close to the release sites, which are separated by about 100m. Each is close to a recently foraged area with pioneer growth already visible, and ant activity in evidence. Second Translocation - 3 Jul 07. The pre-planned translocation from Lower Hollesley was executed on 3 July in bright weather during a generally showery week. All 30 butterflies were taken from Lower Hollesley "A", where they were sufficiently abundant that there was no need to visit the "B" colony. One mating pair was found and moved in cop. The balance comprised 19 females in variable condition and 9 fresh males, making another batch of 10m & 20f in total. These were released at Blaxhall Common from 12:00 to 12:30; using the same 3 release points as the first batch 15 days previously. Most remained in the immediate vicinity of the release points, just resting on heather. After the releases, a single male was encountered in the north of the common, presumably a survivor from the 18 June release.
The butterflies were collected in clear plastic pots and transferred to a fine mesh enclosed cage, which gave them an opportunity to pair, but none of them did so. In all 20 females were taken, and 10 males. Some rejection behaviour was noted, suggesting earlier pairing had occurred. Fortunately the threatened showers avoided Minsmere and Blaxhall, where we arrived and made the releases at 14:30 at three pre-planned spots: 1. The open area of short Erica that was once an informal car park at TM3791 5675. Here we released 3 males and 7 females. 2. The area of the ancient mound at TM3789 5689. 4 males & 8 females were released. 3. The open area formerly used by
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