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 NEWSLETTER No 2 - Winter 1979/80

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

Local News

It is not often that a British summer lives up to its early promise, but 1979 has proved a notable exception. Throughout the West Midlands, members report a highly satisfactory season with butterfly numbers well up on the two previous years, and, in some instances, approaching the drought summer of 1976.Anyone who doubts the excellence of the season should consider two facts - firstly, Bob Sim, a Worcester member, who keeps a careful record of his sightings, observed butterflies on the wing for no less than 91 consecutive days, beginning on the 1st July, and, secondly, out of the branch's planned series of Field Trips only one was lost to the weather! A member present on all of our days out would have seen 35 species (see Field Trips for further details).

Particularly pleasing are the reports of increased numbers of migrant species. Red Admirals have been fairly common throughout the region; one of the earliest was seen by a Coventry member, Angela Pimlott on the 5th August, although we have had another unconfirmed report, also in the city, of a sighting some two weeks earlier. By the middle of the month, with buddleia coming into flower, they were seen frequently in parks and gardens. Bob Sim, for instance, recorded two in his garden on 19th August, along with 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Wall Brown, 2 Commas, 1 Brimstone and no less than 22 Peacocks! Also amongst the migrants, we have had a number of reports of Painted Ladies - from Coventry, 21st August; Allesley, 30th August and 1st September; and Worcester, 5th September. The 19th August was a red-letter day for those fortunate enough to be a Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire, with the sighting of two Clouded Yellows, the first recorded in the county for nine years. Earlier in the month, another branch member, Dave Kenningale, saw a Clouded Yellow in a field near Oxford, and there have been further records for the county this year at Binton and Brandon (again).   

Butterflies indigenous to the region have done well, and, because of the warm summer seem to have been on the wing for longer periods than is usual. Thus, the season for White Admirals at their Worcester station, which began around 11th July, lasted right through to 21st August. Emergence in the Princethorpe area of Warwickshire, however, was late again, the first being seen on 17th July. White Admirals generally, have had a good year and the Wyre Forest warden was able to report the first sighting there in many years. A good season, too, for the Comma with two particularly late sighting - one by Roger Smith in Loxley Wood near Wellesbourne on 14th October, and another by Bob Sim the following day when 16 individuals were seen feasting on rotting plums near Worcester. Of the the common garden species, the Peacock and Large White stand out as exceptionally abundant, and, again, both were still to be seen in early October.

In Warwickshire, Roger Smith reports 1979 as being a Holly Blue year, the second in succession, with frequent sightings of both Spring and Autumn generations. A good year, too, for the Purple Hairstreak, which was common in most of its localities.

Turning to the more unusual, it is interesting to learn of the discovery by Bob Sim in Worcestershire of a small colony of Chalkhill Blues this September. The Chalkhill is only known at one other site in the county, and is absent from the rest of the region, so the discovery of the new colony is particularly good news. It seems to have been a successful year for this butterfly, so let us hope this colony thrives. News about the Small Blue, of which information was sought in our last newsletter - apparently it is only known at one site in Worcestershire. The fourth member of the Blue family to be in the news is the Brown Argus, a male specimen being sighted near Moreton Morrell in Warwickshire by John Roberts, one of only two county records in the last 10-15 years. 

A welcome record, also in Warwickshire, of two newly emerged female Dark Green Fritillaries frequenting knapweed and thistle at Harbury, along with Large and Small Skippers. In the same county, we can report slightly more encouraging news of the White-letter Hairstreak, for which the worst has been feared. A solitary specimen was recorded at Wilmcote Rough on 15th July, the first for this locality (hopefully not the last), and another at Print Wood in the sucker elm and blackthorn area. Print Wood, incidentally, would seem to be an interesting habitat, with 16 species recorded there by Roger Smith this summer. Not very good news, however, of the Brown Hairstreak in Warwickshire. For the sixth year running searches were made in four of its five recorded stations without result. It was clearly having a good season elsewhere, as six females were watched laying eggs in one small area of Bernwood Forest on the Bucks/Oxon border, on the 16th September. It would also seem to be holding its own in Worcestershire, and its apparent absence from Warwickshire is something of a puzzle!

Butterflies seem to exist in the most surprising locations. As part of my job this July, I visited an old brickyard right in the heart of Coventry's inner city area, and found it to be a haven for wildlife, including butterflies. I saw six species, including a large colony of Small Skippers and Meadow Browns, as well as several Large Skippers. Notable amongst the birds were three Kestrels and a large flock of Goldfinches. With the destruction of old woodland and the ploughing in of much grassland, such habitats assume increasing importance.

This has been a long and rewarding summer, and we can look forward to 1980 with optimism. I am grateful to all members who have sent me information about their own area; please continue the good work. Particular thanks on this occasion to Roger Smith and Bob Sim, who sent me written reports on the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire respectively. Any chance of a member in the Birmingham area doing likewise?

Mike Williams