Brown Hairstreak Bulletin 114
Dear Brownhairstreakers,
The Brown Hairstreak in Worcs has a new champion! After 10 years in the job I am stepping down as Species Champion and Simon Primrose, who many of you will already know, is taking over. Simon has been involved in Brown Hairstreak work in the county for many years and has been an active Thurs Streaker as well as co-ordinating our work on assembly trees, so the Brown Hairstreak will be in good hands. For my part, I am taking on a new role as Publicity and Marketing Officer for West Midlands Butterfly Conservation. Still the same old volunteer but just wearing a new hat!
Looking back over more than 100 issues of the Brown Hairstreak eBulletin is a reminder of just how much the fortunes of the butterfly have improved in such a short space of time. Back in 2005, when the series began, the Brown Hairstreak was found in only 40 1km squares mainly around the Butterfly Conservation and Wildlife Trust reserve at Grafton Wood. Last winter, we topped 200 squares and the known distribution spreads from the outskirts of Droitwich in the west across to Redditch in the east and extends southwards to almost Pinvin and Harvington. Some of this, of course, we recognise may be down to improved recording. There are now more people involved, particularly since the advent of the Thurs Streakers, in regular searches for Brown Hairstreak eggs over the winter months but this is not the whole story. In areas we have searched for eggs repeatedly in the past without success, we are now finding eggs and, with further improvements in the way hedgerows are managed, there is no reason why this expansion cannot continue, although we still wait with some apprehension to see the impact of new agri-environment schemes which come into place next year. The great thing about the Brown Hairstreak is that it is very much the flagship species for hedgerow wildlife in general and expansion in range for the butterfly has to be good news all round so long may it continue.
The success story of the Brown Hairstreak is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people who are owed our thanks. Not least are the volunteers at Grafton Wood who do so much to ensure good Brown Hairstreak habitat within the wood Weekly work parties start there on Wed,13th August meeting at 10 am outside Grafton Flyford church and the Sunday conservation tasks on 14th Sept (2nd Sunday in every month) - same start time. Private woodland owners and farmers also have an important role to play and, on Sun, 3rd August, we are organising our annual Blackthorn Bash at Bob Steele's wood. This is always an enjoyable session and we are made to feel very welcome. Usually, we only work to around lunchtime and Bob takes us on an afternoon walk around the wood. There is a healthy population of Brown Hairstreaks present with always a chance of an early sighting. We meet 10 am at Grafton church and will then drive on to the wood. New volunteers are always welcome at any of these sessions.
This summer has proved a very early season for many butterflies with emergence of species like Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and Peacock well ahead of the usual dates. Each year, Butterfly Conservation nationally organises a Big Butterfly Count (www.bigbutterflycount.org) which involves thousands of volunteers undertaking a 15 minute survey in a place of their own choosing and then submitting their records online. It is fun to take part and one suitable for all the family. The count runs through until 10th August so do give it a try. Brown Hairstreaks are now on the wing in Worcs with the first male seen along the nature trail at Grafton Wood this very morning (see photo). Last year, we experienced problems with over-enthusiastic photographers straying on to adjacent farmland away from official footpaths and we are asking all visitors to stick to public rights of way. In co-operation with the Wildlife Trust, we plan to mark the main route into the reserve for people to follow. An innovation this year will be a map showing the latest Brown Hairstreak sightings which will be erected at the main entrance. Do take a look at this if you come to the reserve as it will help visitors maximise their chances of finding the butterfly and will be regularly updated as the season progresses. The best chance of spotting the butterfly is, of course, the annual Brown Hairstreak open day which this year takes place on Sun, 24th August (see attached poster). The day follows the usual format of guided walks starting at 11 am from the Three Parishes Hall next to Grafton Flyford church with pre-ordered lunchtime refreshments available on our return and the opportunity of a further walk in the afternoon. Always a very enjoyable social occasion with the opportunity of sampling the much sought after butterfly beers, courtesy of our friends at From the Notebook (www.fromthenotebook.co.uk) now augmented by a range of moth beers. Who could resist a brew calling itself Death's Head Hawk-moth Stout! The new batch of Hairstreak Jelly produced by the Wayside Farm Shop at Wickhamford (www.waysidefarmshop.co.uk) should also be available so do bring a full wallet and a large bag if you plan to come along!
Talking of moths (and refreshments) we have arranged a moth breakfast at The Stables Farm Shop in Astwood Bank near Redditch (see flyer) for the morning of Sat, 9th August starting at 8.30 am. We shall be running a moth trap overnight and Mike Southall, who is the Worcs moth officer of West Midlands Butterfly Conservation, will be helping us to identify our catch followed by breakfast in the Farmshop Tearoom and then a butterfly walk around the farm. For those who are existing customers of the farm shop, there is already a display in place advertising the event and also asking people to keep a look out for the Brown Hairstreak in the Redditch area. For the last two years, we have appealed to the public via the local press to send in sightings of the butterfly with some success.
If you miss out on any of these events, then a final chance to become involved comes on the day after the Open Day (Mon 25th August) when West Midlands Butterfly Conservation will be running a stall at the Pershore Plum Fayre. This is always a very busy day but do drop in to say hello. There will be lots of information on offer, a live moth display, a chance to sample a range of beers and the opportunity to join Butterfly Conservation and the West Midlands branch free for a whole year which has to be the bargain of all time. If anyone is free to help out on the stall we would be pleased to hear. Please contact Simon with news of Brown Hairstreak sightings and other news @email
Mike Williams
ex-Brown Hairstreak Champion,
West Midlands Butterfly Conservation
West Midlands Butterfly Conservation is now on Facebook