BACK__________________________________________________________________________________________________
BACK__________________________________________________________________________________________________
October 2008
Dear Brownhairstreakers,
Sorry for a longer gap than usual between ebulletins especially in what is normally the height of the Brown Hairstreak season but there has been very little to report on apart from the fact that it has rained quite a lot! For the first time I can remember, our annual Brown Hairstreak Day at the end of August resulted in no decent views of the butterfly whatsoever, which was a real shame as over 30 optimistic souls had turned out, some travelling quite a distance. It rained heavily from the start and we ushered people into the village hall for an impromptu powerpoint presentation from John Tilt which bought us some time. We were also able to share some of the interesting observations about the use by Brown Hairstreaks of assembly trees although unfortunately we couldn't manage to get Martyn Ganderton's video to play. The rain did ease off slightly late morning and we went off on a walk down to the wood. Perhaps surprisingly, a couple of Brown Hairstreaks were spotted in flight but no-one had a good view and the nearest any of the photographers got to a Brown Hairstreak were the several eggs spotted along the edge of the orchard. As it started to rain again, I think we were all glad to have the excuse to return to the village hall for lunch and excellent refreshments.
Despite the frustrations of the weather, Martyn managed to keep a Brown Hairstreak diary of the comings and goings on the assembly tree at Stock Green which makes very interesting reading. Brown Hairstreaks were seen on an almost daily basis from 4th August onwards with the peak number of butterflies being five on 13th August, a much lower number than last year when double figure counts were achieved; the first positive ID of a female on the tree was not until 14th August, which is almost a week after our first sighting of a female; the first ground level sighting of a female was on 19th quite close to the assembly tree, a date which coincides very well with other low level sightings of females; the most flight activity was witnessed during the morning of 20th when butterflies were circling the tree and around the canopy; after this date until the end of the month most sightings were of males, apart from single females seen on 29th and 30th August; and males disappeared altogether in early September but females have occasionally been seen in the tree throughout the month mainly mid-morning, with one seen on 21st still in very good nick. If this was a late emerging female looking for a partner then it would be sadly disappointed.
September can often prove to be a good month weather-wise but apart from the middle week it was really a case of more of the usual. Brown Hairstreak sightings were fairly sporadic and although odd reports were received throughout the month it was mainly of singletons and nobody managed to see any in quantity. Quite a number of people including Rob Mabbett and myself have made visits on some of the few apparently suitable days but have returned home disappointed. An unusual sighting mid month reported by Bob Steele and John Matthews was of what appeared to be a late male imbibing moisture quite low down on vegetation perhaps a reflection of honeydew shortages in the canopy. Latest sightings at the point of going to press were of one seen by John Matthews at Bob Steele's wood on 26th September and a female on the Stock Green assembly tree on 29th. Martyn also saw a possible at the Grafton Wood midweek work party on 1st October but was not 100% sure. It is not unusual to see Brown Hairstreaks into October with one as late as 14th last year so there is still time yet.
It is always interesting to compare the fortunes of Worcs' Brown Hairstreaks with those seen in other parts of the UK. Apparently, in Oxon and Bucks adult sightings are up on the last two years which is certainly not the case with us and in South Wales there was a flurry of late sightings at the end of September, again not something witnessed locally. I know from experience that it is always unwise to base an assessment of likely breeding success on the numbers of adults seen but my gut instinct is that we will see a significant fall in egg numbers this winter. By the time of the next ebulletin, we will have sorted out dates for our winter egg counts which will be the real test as to whether I am right or wrong in my prediction.
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion