Brown Hairstreak Bulletin 117
Dear Brownhairstreakers,
I thought now would be a good time to send out another e-bulletin, in order to coincide with the start of the Brown Hairstreak flight season in Worcestershire!
The first adults in the county were seen flying in Grafton Wood on Thursday 6th August by some of the members of the ‘Thursday Streakers’ (Mike Williams, Jenny Tonry and me), and what was unusual about these sightings was that one of them was of a female. Normally, the first few sightings are all of males, with the first females not being seen until about a week to ten days later. This year was different however, and may indicate that the Brown Hairstreaks had actually been on the wing for a few days before anyone had seen them.
Since then several more adults have been seen in Worcs, the majority at Grafton Wood, but also the odd one elsewhere. On Sunday 9th, the annual ‘Blackthorn Bash’ conservation work day took place at a private woodland to the north of Grafton, and this event was not only well attended but also produced a sighting of a male Brown Hairstreak. The day before that, a guided nature walk at Upper Hollowfields Farm near Feckenham, also produced a sighting. We are very grateful to the Terry family at the farm for their continuing support and for organising this walk, money from which was donated to West Midlands Butterfly Conservation.
This year, as some of you may have noticed, is a rather late one generally for butterflies with a lot of species emerging days, if not weeks (in some cases), later than normal. So, it would also seem likely that the same thing is happening with Brown Hairstreaks, and it’s true to say that there haven’t been a huge number of sightings yet. This, despite the fact that the ones that have been seen so far, have had a tendency to be spotted down nearer ground level, nectaring on flowers – typically Hemp Agrimony and Bramble – which is quite unusual. Brown Hairstreaks, especially males, are normally only seen flying high around trees and bushes, typically those of Ash and Blackthorn.
It therefore looks like the peak season for this butterfly is yet to occur, and this means that the annual Brown Hairstreak Open Day at Grafton Wood, on Sunday 30th Aug, could well provide even more sightings than it usually does! Please come along if you can, it starts at 11am at Grafton Flyford Church Hall, and is always a fun and exciting event and a great chance to meet other butterfly enthusiasts. There are also delicious refreshments available in the village hall, after we’ve walked down to and explored the wood. Like last year, Colin Bowler from ‘From the Notebook Beers’ will be there and there will be the chance to sample some of their wonderful range of butterfly and moth themed beers. The Open Day forms part of the annual ‘Pershore Plum Fayre’ and we are grateful to Wychavon Council for their help with producing publicity material and advertising for the day.
In the meantime, a quick reminder to everyone visiting over the next few days and weeks - the ‘orchard hedgerow’ is out of bounds and should be avoided. It is not on a public footpath but is on private land. However, the Brown Hairstreak is very widespread within the wood itself and can literally be seen anywhere! To aid visitors, there are now signposts and maps showing the best areas to find the Brown Hairstreak. And please write up any sightings in the Reserve Notebook which is to be found on the BACK of the notice boards at the main entrance to the wood.
Finally, a reminder of the regular work parties that take place in Grafton Wood. Conservation days are held virtually every week, on a Wednesday, and once a month on the second Sunday of each month. The weekly work parties have just started and the monthly ones will begin soon. Further details are available from reserve manager: John Tilt If you can help, it will be very much appreciated.
www.westmidlands-butterflies.org.uk
https://graftonwood.wordpress.com/
Simon Primrose,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion,
West Midlands Butterfly Conservation