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August 2008
Dear Brownhairstreakers,
The competition to report the first Worcestershire Brown Hairstreaks of the year is now officially open. Already reported from West Wales, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire/Bucks before the end of July, at the time of writing we are still waiting on the first local sighting. In recent years, the first week in August has tended to be the time for earliest sightings so if any of our local Champions are able to get out and about over the next few days fame and fortune beckons - well fame anyway! First sightings are often of males around their assembly trees so do take binoculars or ideally a telescope. Trevor Bucknall and myself had a good look around Grafton Wood last Sunday including the regular ash tree halfway to the wood from the church but without success. Given the generally poor butterfly numbers experienced this summer, however, we were very impressed by the variety and numbers of butterflies on the wing. Between us we recorded 19 different species of butterfly and I'm sure if we had been able to stay longer we would have topped twenty. A great endorsement for the woodland management that has been undertaken over recent years.
One very good opportunity for spotting Brown Hairstreaks occurs this coming Sunday, 10th August with our annual Blackthorn Bash. The meeting time is 10 am at Grafton Flyford Church (which is just off the A422 Worcester-Alcester road) from where we will drive the short distance to the site. The idea is to work during the morning improving habitat for the Brown Hairstreak at one of its best locations in the Forest of Feckenham and then, after lunch, to take a walk around the wood with the hope of spotting the butterfly. This is usually an enjoyable social occasion and a great opportunity to visit an area of woodland not normally open to the public. Bob Steele, the owner, tells me that he spotted Emperor moth caterpillars there earlier in the week which is always a good record for the county. Do try to get along if you can and bring your camera.
Mention was made in the last ebulletin about the regrettable lack of funding this year from Natural England in order to maintain rotational management of the blackthorn scrub around the edges of Grafton Wood. Rather than completely miss a year which, given the well publicised problems of flailing and loss of eggs experienced around the wood last winter, we want to avoid, we have decided to try to cut at least some of the overgrown blackthorn on a voluntary basis. The aim is to do the work over the next couple of weeks before egglaying starts in earnest and, if you can help with this, please ring John Tilt on 01386 792458 for planned dates.
At the end of the month on Sunday, 31st August we shall be holding our annual Brown Hairstreak Day starting at 11 am. By this time, we would hope that female Brown Hairstreaks will have descended to ground level and, weather permitting, we should have a good chance of spotting them. As usual, we shall meet at Grafton Flyford church and aim to return to the Three Parishes Hall by lunchtime for homemade refreshments. We shall be very pleased to welcome one and all.
Just as a reminder of what we are all missing I attach a photo taken by David Newland in Whitecross Green Wood in Oxon. David Redhead tells me it is an unusual female aberration known as f. uncilinea where the stripes on the underside are broken.
Happy Hairstreaking!
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion