There are two recent reports that show the extremes of the UK’s conservation efforts. The first, this year’s Big Butterfly Count, reflects the decline in our insect populations, while the second, from the RSPB, shows how rapidly the situation can be turned around if we create the right circumstances.
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As its name implies, the speckled wood (Pararge aegeriais) is a woodland species.
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Small coppers (Lycaena phlaeas) are one of the reserve’s late summer regulars. They favour ragwort and creeping thistles, of which we have plenty: keep an eye open for this bright and colourful butterfly.
Header image taken in the reserve by Clive Knight
The clouded yellow (Colias croceus) is an infrequent visitor to the reserve, seen only twice in the last decade.
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We are already a week into 2024’s Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation‘s annual call for citizen scientists to help them survey the UK’s butterflies.
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The distinctive marbled white (Melanargia galathea) is common and widespread in southern England. At this time of year it chooses unimproved meadow grassland, showing a preference for purple flowers such as wild marjoram, thistles, knapweeds and red clover. The caterpillars feed on grasses particularly red fescue.
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Last week, just in time for National Insect Week, Ian reported the reserve’s first nest of peacock caterpillars, late but very welcome.
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There are always drinker moth caterpillars (Euthrix potatoria) somewhere in the reserve at this time of year. You just have to know where to look.
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You might see all these butterflies on your buddleia this summer but they all need other, less garden-friendly, sometimes undesirable, plants if they are to complete their life cycles.
There are 59 species of butterfly resident in the British Isles and our native grasses are the major or sole foodstuffs of the larvae of around a fifth of them.
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Ashley Wicks, a regular visitor to the reserve, has sent us a picture of a very early red admiral.
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At this time of year, our peacock butterflies are leaving their hibernation sites to feed among the reserve’s spring flowers: welcome flashes of colour in all this rain.
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According to the National Trust, gardens in the south and west of England are coming into flower up to four weeks ahead of schedule. The warm weather and such an early source of nectar will bring our butterflies out of hibernation; one of the earliest reported in the reserve, nearly every year, is the brimstone.
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by Ian Bushell
After the article on Sunday about the Small Copper, I have noticed at the reserve that there are many Red Admirals flying around. I can guarantee seeing some almost every time I visit but I was stunned over this weekend to see so many. There is Ivy now in flower and the most I have seen around a flowering Ivy bush are at least a dozen.
I don’t know whether these are the latest hatchings [from the nettle beds] that will migrate or possibly over winter here, or if they are the latest wave of immigrants from mainland Europe. I suspect that they are hatchlings because they are all absolutely pristine and beautiful.
One of the delights of September is a pristine, newly hatched, late brood small copper butterfly.
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by Simon Knight
I have recently enjoyed a couple of early mornings in the reserve with my macro lens, and as I have said before, I really enjoy macro photography and hunting for the smaller in habitants of the reserve, especially on dewy, bright mornings.
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A walk in the park
by Ian Bushell
Just some thoughts and pictures on a pleasant Sunday afternoon walk in the reserve.
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The Big Butterfly Count ends on Sunday, August 6th. Are you still counting?
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by Simon Knight
Sunrise during summer for me means early starts in the reserve. And there is no doubt that the first couple of hours of the day is the best time to be there, especially after a clear night. As the sun rises, the dew-covered grass glistens and cobwebs sparkle as the golden light reflects off countless tiny water droplets. As the sun starts its morning climb and the first rays of light illuminate Lambrok Meadow then Kestrel Field, I love to stand in Corn Field and watch the Lone Oak as it soaks up the sun. It’s a beautiful sight.
Continue reading “Hope During the Harvest “
Here is a fascinating little video of a peacock butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Every year there are nests of peacock caterpillar among the nettles by the path in Simpson’s Field so, by the end of July, we should see this year’s beautiful adults in flight.
The peacock caterpillars will be growing fast at this time of year
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Three butterflies photographed in the reserve this weekend: a female orange tip by Sarah Gould, a speckled wood sent in by Clive Knight and the header picture, a peacock by Mike.
We love to get your photographs of the reserve, please send them in to friendsofscp@outlook.com. If you are using a camera phone, make sure that the pictures are not automatically reduced in size when you share them; we need all the pixels we can get.
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 