From Daniel Marshall
This summer has generally been acknowledged as a poor one for butterflies, yet personally I have seen more different species this year than ever before. This is mainly due to my pursuit of them! BRERC's latest publication 'Butterflies of the Bristol Region' has inspired me to get out to some sites mentioned in the book with the aim of actually seeing, recording and if possible taking a picture or two, of some of the wonderful butterflies that in some cases I'd only seen in books before.
Compared to some other groups, butterflies are very well recorded. I used to think this was merely due to their pleasant appearance and that they are mainly seen in nice sunny weather when recorders like to be outside. However, having endeavoured to learn my butterflies this year, I now believe there's more to it than this. As a group, our British species don't take that long to learn and there's a nice gradation from the commonest species to the rarest. Learning certain identification features is a challenge, but by no means an overwhelming one. And best of all, butterflies are often excellent subjects for photography – again a challenge in waiting for them to pose correctly, but its all part of the fun!
Back in February the Avon Butterfly Group held its AGM, I was thoroughly interested by the 'target' species such as Grayling, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper and Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. I decided to look for some of these species at the appropriate times, as a quick look through our records showed that historically, some of the target species had been recorded near to where I live.
In late May I visited Crooks Peak (about 500 metres outside the BRERC recording area!) to search for Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. I saw one Grizzled Skipper, but the proliferation of Walls at the peak was a welcome distraction. Sifting through our database back in the office Walls had not been recorded there before!
I returned to this general area in early July, but this time I visited Barton Hill, which falls within North Somerset. It was a windswept day with the threat of rain, but on the hill it was evident that along with the Meadow Browns there were also less common species such as Marbled Whites. I also knew that the elusive Grayling had been recorded here in the past, so a return trip was required! In late July, with the weather hot and sunny, I spent a wonderful morning taking photographs of, not only butterflies like the Common Blue, but also various grasshoppers and moths.
The summer has bought many delights – Common Blues have featured in several locations – but it is some other species of blue butterflies, namely the Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, that have really been the highlight. It was during a trip to Wiltshire in mid- August that I came across a fantastic colony of these butterflies – you literally could not take three steps without disturbing at least one butterfly!
What was also immensely pleasing was how photogenic these butterflies were. A male Chalkhill sat calmly whilst I got to within a few inches of it, for some amazing macro shots. The Adonis' were just as co-operative. I was thoroughly excited to be in the presence of so many butterflies that are so rare in most places.
There's so much more to see though – those elusive Fritillaries have to be the next target! And despite having seen them, I still haven't got a picture of a Marbled White, Brimstone or even a Small White, none of which like to sit still! Next year promises to offer just as many experiences and challenges.