Butterfly Surveys

News from Alan Irving.

''We have now done 9 of the weekly Butterfly Surveys starting in the reserve and continuing to Thustaston Church. This is the first year of the new ‘Cleaver Heath Transect’, now recognised by UKBMS. 

Our previous experience of butterflies on this route had led us to expect swarms of the creatures come early summer. Sadly, not so. Last year, following a wet spring, was a very poor year nationally for butterflies. So maybe we should not be surprised at the small numbers following on this year. Anyway, the stats for these 9 visits are: 81 butterflies from 12 species – we think! My co-observer, the previous Volunteer Reserve Manager  knows much more about these things than I, so I am having to learn fast.

The small whites can be difficult to distinguish when they flutter by without stopping – we see Small White, Green- veined White  (shown below) and the female Orange Tip. Most of us can spot the male Orange Tip with its eponymous wing markings but the female (on top at least) is pretty well just white. They very seldom rest while you get your binoculars focussed.

Other problem species are small Blue jobs. Early season ones are probably the Holly Blue rather than the Common Blue. The following example of the former was photographed at the end of April on a hedge near the Dungeon. The underwing markings are indicative. These small blue butterflies are not to be confused with the Little Blue which is extremely rare!

Holly Blue

Less problematic is the speckled Wood. However, the numbers are currently disappointing. We will keep watching!'

Speckled Wood