Notes on Observations of Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) in the Field.

The contents below are extracts from email-reports made by members of the UTB branch of Butterfly Conservation on the progress of the Brown Hairstreak season 2004/05. Contributions welcome from other members and branches!

Field Trip Photos

Latest distribution map
3rd November 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers (this time with distribution map),
 
In my last communication I reported 280 eggs found in 41 km squares of which 4 were new for 2005. Well just ten days later the figures have risen to an incredible 
 402 eggs found in 56 km squares of which 14 are new for 2005. 
 
It all started last Thursday when Tom Dunbar, Dave Wilton and myself searched a site just east of Bicester due for development. We only searched a fraction of the blackthorn there and found 10 eggs and in the process added four new 2005 squares as the site just conveniently sat on the junction of four squares. It also provided our most northerly record to date. On the Saturday Tom returned to add the two squares south of the site. This block of six new squares can clearly be seen on the attached Dave Wilton distribution map.
 
Dave Wilton then added three new squares along the east of the known range - interestingly two of these he scoured for a total of two and quarter hours last winter without success, this winter he managed an egg in each in an hour and twenty minutes.
 
Finally I managed to add a new one down south with a find of three eggs in the green lane immediately south west of Wheatley.
 
Other egg finds in another five 2004 squares have swelled the egg count to 402. The major contribution was 52 eggs in SP6714 by Dave Wilton - last winter this square did not even make double figures.
 
The two SW "detached" squares (SP5605 & SP5606) still remain detached from the main range in spite of on-going efforts to infill the gaps. The count in SP5605 has doubled from 2 to 4 with two single egg finds at different locations within the square. One of these was definitely in the Shotover complex as it was on sucker growth alongside the stand of blackthorn at the north of the western meadow.
 
These egg finds have all been made in non-ideal conditions as, owing to the lack of a decent frost, the majority of blackthorn leaves are still in place.
 
The relative ease with which we have added these new squares, many of which have been searched in past winters, does make one wonder whether this Brown Hairstreak population is currently expanding its range. One can never be totally certain, owing to the increased effort, but how much further out do we have to find eggs before we come to this conclusion? 
 
Regards, David Redhead (Upper Thames Branch Brown Hairstreak Champion).
24th October 2005
Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Now safe to say the last 2005 UTB adult Brown Hairstreak sighting was 4th October at Whitecross Green Wood and down to Tony Croft, for the second year running. Final adult total 203.
 
However two later sightings heard of elsewhere - 9th October in North Wilts by Matthew Oates, 10th October in Surrey by Alan Wingrove. Alan's sighting was especially exciting as it was egg-laying - incontrovertible evidence that they egg lay throughout the flight period. The only previous evidence I had of this was somehat anecdotal. Becky Woodell told me that on the first (aways first weekend in October) Whitecross Green Winter Workparty several years ago one of her workparty, who was trimming blackthorn, claimed a female Brown Hairstreak landed on some blackthorn he had just cut and laid an egg. On examination the cut piece of blackthorn definitely had several eggs on it which he took home and bred through to adult Brown Hairstreaks. Unfortunately, the gentleman involved has moved out of area and Becky has lost contact with him so I have never been able to question him on this and satisfy myself that she did not just look as though she was laying an egg.
 
In spite of the fact that the official egg hunting season has not commenced (1st November) 280 eggs have already been found in 41 one km squares - 3 of these squares are in totally new territory which with Caroline Steel's Cutteslowe male makes a total of four new squares (target 45).
 
The third new square was SP6809 : on 21st October Tony Croft reported "I was walking home along the road between Long Crendon and Easington this afternoon. The road has quite a lot of blackthorn on both sides which has not been flailed for a couple of years. I found a single egg at SP688099 on the eastern side of the road near the 'Nursery Bungalow'."
 
On 5th October I had already reported the second "I am really excited to announce that we have a second contribution to the target of 45 new km squares. Wendy & Mick Campbell came across 5 eggs on the bridleway between Horspath and Littleworth (SP 57 05). This is about 2km south of any previous records - another flanking movement on Shotover? It must definitely now be worth a visit to Horspath Common and Shotover to look for eggs. If eggs could be found on Shotover I think this would furnish definite evidence that the Brown Hairstreak is extending its range."
 
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon inspired by the above find I set out from the allotments by Brasenose Farmhouse and followed the edge of Brasenose Woods up to the middle of three meadows and on the superb blackthorn hedge separating the middle and eastern most of these meadows I found two eggs at SP565053. Now these two meadows may not officially be part of Shotover Country Park but the western of the three, only 100 metres away, definitely is.
 
Another exciting find was made by Wendy & Mick Campbell on 13th October in Sydlings Copse. Altogether in this edge of range territory they found eight eggs compared to the one Dave Wilton managed last winter in the same sort of area.
 
One definitely gets the feeling the Brown Hairstreak is "straining at the leash" if not definitely expanding its range. Attached is Dave Wilton's latest distribution map.
 
One thing of interest to note at the moment is whether eggs found are on blackthorn devoid of leaves or still with leaves on. On Sunday there were patches of blackthorn where the leaves had totally fallen off and others where none or very few appeared to have fallen off. Did not seem to be associated with aspect or position so is this another variety effect? The two eggs I found were on "leaves still on" blackthorn but too small a sample to draw any conclusions from.
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).  
19th October 2005
 
News from the West Midlands Branch

Dear Brownhairstreakers,

 
After all the positive news of recent issues, it is really disappointing to have to start this bulletin off with the news that some of our best Brown Hairstreak hedgerows have been recently flailed with the loss of probably several 100 eggs.  Even worse, the hedgerows concerned are part of a countryside stewardship agreement agreed only recently between DEFRA and the local farmer.  This agreement clearly sets down that farm hedgerows important for Brown Hairstreak are to be cut on rotation and also cut between mid-July and mid-August.  It is also part of the agreement that suckering blackthorn at the base of the hedge be retained.  Despite all this, the contractor has simply made his way around all of the farm cutting every hedgerow and every blackthorn sucker at the same time.  Whether this is simply a matter of lack of communication or there are other reasons is still unclear but it is really soul destroying to those of us who have worked long and hard to encourage farmers into countryside stewardship agreements when this kind of thing occurs.  It also makes a mockery of the agri-environment schemes which are the mainstay of the Government's policies to encourage biodiversity back into farmland.  We have been in touch with local DEFRA staff to report the matter and hope that they will take appropriate action.
 
The adult Brown Hairstreak season has now drawn to a close.  Given the decent weather, it is perhaps surprising that we have had no reports this year of adults being seen into October.  Usually the butterfly lasts into the first week of October and indeed our latest record from the Forest of Feckenham was actually 14th October back in 1994.  Elsewhere in the country, we have received a report from Surrey of an egg-laying Brown Hairstreak seen on 10th, another in Wiltshire on 9th and a sighting in Oxfordshire on 4th.  Looking back, there seems to have been generally good numbers of adults this season and it will be interesting to see how this translates into numbers of eggs.
 
Since the last Bulletin, there has been further contact with our first School Brown Hairstreak champions at Feckenham who have decided that they would like a blackthorn hedge planted within their school grounds.  John and Miriam Tilt have offered to assist in this task and have planned a date in mid-November to go over to the school to help the children with planting.  In years to come, hopefully, the children will have the pleasure of seeing the new hedgerow attract female Brown Hairstreaks to lay their eggs.  As reported previously, Becky Lashley, the Worcs Biodiversity Partnership Community Wildlife Officer Officer (see Bulletin 16 for more details on Becky's project), will be taking children from the same school on an egg hunt early next year and with Becky's help we are hoping to encourage other local schools to become involved in a similar way.
 
Earlier in the month, we held our first work day of the season at Grafton Wood and were pleased to welcome Trevor Trueman who is one of our latest Brown Hairstreak champions.  Participation in practical conservation work is a really good way for people to get involved and it is great to see new faces.  We meet the 2nd Sunday of the month at Grafton Flyford Church at 10 am and usually work through to the afternoon, although people are welcome to stay for as long or as little time as they like.  The advantage of staying on at least until lunchtime is the prospect of a baked potato from the bonfire which has become a bit of a Grafton Wood tradition.  The next work day is 13th November - why not give it a try?
 
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion 
5th October 2005
 
Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Well they definitely made it through into October (again).
On Sunday 2nd Tom Dunbar got his first ever October sighting with a female sitting in Ash Tree A at Whitecross Green Wood - like last year we again have evidence that they frequent ash trees right through the flight period and not just in the early "assembly" period.
 
Then on Tuesday 4th received following report from Tony Croft "It being the 4th of October I thought I would go to WXGW to try to replicate last year's sighting and I am pleased to say I was successful. I saw a female in the open area on the left hand side of the NW-SE ride about 80 metres short of the green lane. I saw it flying and then it settled on a hawthorn branch. It had part of one wing missing but otherwise looked in reasonable condition."  
I reckon its still worth having a look if the weather is half decent - are we going to let Tony claim the last sighting two years in a row!.
 
This makes the total adult count 203 but the egg count is now in hot pursuit at 176.
We have adult and/or egg records from 48 km squares. I am really excited to announce that we have a second contribution to the target of 45 new km squares. Wendy & Mick Campbell came across 5 eggs on the bridleway between Horspath and Littleworth (SP 57 05). This is about 2km south of any previous records - another flanking movement on Shotover? It must definitely now be worth a visit to Horspath Common and Shotover to look for eggs. If eggs could be found on Shotover I think this would furnish definite evidence that the Brown Hairstreak is extending its range.
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
30th September2005
 
Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
 
The coming few days could be the last chance for seeing a Brown Hairstreak adult - in 2004 the last sighting was on the 4th October by Tony Croft in Whitecross Green Wood.
 The current last reported sighting for this year is Wednesday 28th September by a BBOWT workparty in Whitecross Green Wood - it was a marginal day for a Brown Hairstreak to be flying and I suspect their activities disturbed it out of the blackthorn.
 Prior to that on Saturday 24th September Wendy & Mick Campbell reporting seeing three females in close proximity to the east of Holton Wood. Unusual to see three in such close proximity so late in the flight period.
 The total reported sightings of adults this year is now 201 - somewhat down on last year when we got close to 300 (must check out the exact figure one day). This drop in numbers is due to reduced recording effort. I also think there may have been less about but it is hard to be sure.
 201 is still a magnificent total if you compare it to the numbers reported a decade ago (typically about 10 a year). This increase is due to two factors - (a) our better understanding of the behaviour of this butterfly, for example 120 this year were seen in the tree canopy whereas nobody was looking in the tree canopy a decade ago,    (b) increased recording effort. It would be nice to be able to say there was a third factor - that they are now more abundant, but I don't think this is the case. A decade ago three-quarters of the sightings were in Bernwood Meadows and the rides leading down to them - this year just 7 low level sightings were made in this locality indicating a similar abundance to a decade ago.
 Our egg total has now surpassed the 100 mark and stands at 110. We already have adult sightings and/or egg records for 45 one km squares which is 25% of the known range. As already reported these 45 include one extension of range. As several males were seen on the edge of the known territory this indicates that mating was occurring on the edge of the known range and perhaps we should be searching a bit further afield for eggs.
 
Therefore I should like to propose that this year we work inside out by tending to concentrate on the km squares immediately peripheral to the known range before the hedge flailers move in (today I drove past half a mile of freshly flailed hedges in the Ludgershall area). I would like to set an ambitious target of increasing the range by 25% or 45 new one km squares - thanks to Caroline Steel and her Cuttleslowe Male we only have 44 to go!  Attached is the latest Dave Wilton distribution map which indicates the first squares to attack ie those adjacent to a yellow one on the edge of the known range. But don't let me stop you going where the fancy takes you - hopefully there are some surprises out there!
 
Regards, David Redhead (Upper Thames Brown Hairstreak Champion).     
26th September2005

Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Not had the time to get over to Hairstreak land since my return from holiday but reports suggest there are still plenty of females on the wing.  Miriam Tilt is pretty confident that she saw one in her garden in Flyford Flavell during last week and Trevor Bucknall saw as many as five while carrying out management work in Grafton Wood on 24th September, including an egglaying female at the top of the new glade we have created north of the orchard.  While on holiday, I was fortunate enough to be invited to join a Butterfly Conservation South Wales branch field trip to a Brown Hairstreak site near Carmarthen.  The location was a very sheltered and steep sided stream valley with plentiful blackthorn growing along the stream and on the lower slopes - a site a long way removed from the intensively farmed landscape we are used to in Worcestershire.  Like us, the South Wales branch has been monitoring the site for eggs and trying to identify assembly trees. There was a good turnout of people and, during the course of the morning, 4 females were seen; all still in very good condition.  Low intensity farming at this particular site means that the Brown Hairstreak is pretty well able to look after itself, with blackthorn generally remaining uncut and being allowed to sucker freely.  Quite a contrast to Worcs, where the norm has been for highly intensive hedgerow management with annual flailing. 
 
While we are not yet into the egg counting season, a number of females have been witnessed egg-laying and casual searches of blackthorn have turned up several eggs.  There does seem to have been something of a time lag, however, between our first sightings of females and the appearance of eggs.  The impression is that despite females being on the wing, as we have discovered this year, from late July onwards, most of the eggs are not laid until September which on the face of it seems rather strange.  I think it would be interesting next year to set up an egg transect along a stretch of hedgerow that we know is generally good for egg-laying and undertake weekly counts from the beginning of August onwards.  This way we would get a clearer view of when the majority of eggs are laid.  As well as being interesting from an ecological point of view, it might help us in terms of the timing of practical management work.  If you might be interested in helping with this let me know.  If we can get a group of volunteers together we could perhaps share the responsibility between us.
 
Talking of volunteers, I would like to welcome two new Brown Hairstreak champions: Jan Kenyon from Arrow and Mrs Gent, Headteacher at Himbleton Primary School.  Jan has already attended several Brown Hairstreak events and is hoping to join in with our forthcoming local winter egg counts, while Mrs Gent is leading the way in involving the next generation of butterfly conservationists (see below).  Brown Hairstreak champions, as well as having the satisfaction of helping with the conservation of this very attractive butterfly, which is found nowhere else in the Midlands, are kept in touch with all the latest news via the ebulletin and are also eligible for free blackthorn plants for local planting.  If you know anyone who might be interested do put them in touch. 
 
We are also delighted to welcome our first Junior Champions in the shape of the children from Himbleton Primary School.  Brownhairstreakers will already have seen the email circulated by Becky Lashley who will be helping the children to carry out their own egg hunt in the area surrounding their school on Monday, 21st February, 2006.  The plan is to spend an hour or so in the morning making butterfly lifecycle wheels to get the kids tuned in (apparently they already raise their own caterpillars), to talk about why Brown Hairstreak is important and the type of habitat they will be looking at, and then to spend the rest of the day outside having a walk looking for any signs of spring and stopping at strategic sites to look for eggs.  These will then be marked so that the children can come back later and look for the caterpillars.  Becky, for those who have not yet met her, is the new Community Wildlife Officer with the Worcestershire Biodiversity Partnership and is working to encourage local people and groups within part of the Forest of Feckenham to learn more about and celebrate its biodiversity, undertake more recording, and work towards the eventual production of a biodiversity vision map.  This is an exciting initiative and we are hoping to work closely with Becky on a number of joint activities over the coming 18 months.  If anyone is free on the day to assist Becky with the Year 3 children at Himbleton School (8-9 year olds) do please get in touch. 
 
We have now set dates for our winter egg searches.  We have decided to start a little earlier this year and get in our first egg hunt this side of Xmas.  We know that a Sunday does not suit everyone, so we have fixed the first egg hunt for a Saturday.  The date is 17th December meeting outside Grafton Flyford Church for 10.00 am.  Depending on weather and turnout, we will probably go on to the early afternoon but if people need to leave earlier that is fine.  With plenty of adult sightings this year, this will be our first chance to see if this has been translated into good breeding success.  For those already with 2006 diaries, subsequent egg hunt days have been set for 15th and 29th January, both meeting at the Church for 10.00 am, but I will give people a reminder nearer the day.  Anyway, do make a note now of the December date as we are hoping for a good turnout on that day to ensure our annual count gets off to a flying start.  Finally, in the New Year, we are planning with other partner organisations a training day for local landowners on the new Environmental Stewardship scheme.  This new scheme has replaced Countryside Stewardship and offers further incentives to farmers to manage their land to the benefit of wildlife.  We have already seen considerable benefits for the Brown Hairstreak and many other forms of wildlife from the existing scheme so we are very optimistic about the potentially postive impact from the recent changes.  The provisional date for the training day is 26th January, 2006 and we will put full details in a future bulletin.  In the meantime, any enquiries should be addressed to jellis@butterfly-conservation.org 
 
.......and finally, finally just a reminder that we have now restarted our monthly management days in Grafton Wood and we would welcome new faces on the second Sunday of every month (next one 9th October) through to next March.  The meeting arrangements are the same as for the egg hunts - 10.00 am at the church.
 
Best Wishes,
 
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion 
West Midlands Branch
19th September 2005
Tom Dunbar had a good view of a female Brown Hairstreak on Saturday 17th September at Laplands Farm. 18 eggs were located.
Will we have any October sightings this season?
15th September 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers
 
As some decent weather is forecast for the weekend thought I ought to send out some encouragement for a spot of Brown Hairstreak watching.
We now have 192 reported sightings for 2005 from 34 one km squares - 5 adults & eggs, 27 adults only and 1 eggs only..
 
Two reports of recent sightings.
 
Monday 11th September.
I did the Shabbington Wood transect Monday afternoon, 19C & sunny. Parked in the small Bernwood Meadows car park so I could examine the hedgerows for egg-laying females. None seen on the way across and no Brown Hairstreaks on transect - in fact a near record low 7 only butterflies - 2 Red Admiral (and one of those was on dumped apple peelings in the old Hell Coppice car park), 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Green-veined White & 1 Common Blue. The mass of ride side Devilsbit Scabious was totally unoccupied except for the one Red Admiral. Becky Woodell later told me she had seen ~30 commas on the Scabious two days earlier on the Oakley Wood transect - had they all hibernated in the meantime! Back across the Meadows again no Brown Hairstreaks. Checked cricket score on car radio - Peterson made his century then off for tea - so some relaxation allowable. Then went up into Meadows north of car park looking in ash & oak trees as well as at hedgerows. In the ash tree at the narrowest point there was something orangey/brown flying about (time 3.20 pm) eventually it settled conveniently which allowed definite identification as a Brown Hairstreak and then opened it wings to show it was a female - appeared to be in reasonable condition. Flew again and disappeared round back of the tree. Did rest of northern spur without success and returned to successful tree just after 3.40 pm but could not refind her - was this proof that Brown Hairstreaks (along with Matthew) were devotees of Test Match Special? 
As usual having formulated a hypothesis it then got blown apart. Moved down to the Menmarsh Road ash trees which this year had proved totally frustrating in spite of several visits (2004 had 4 sightings here but 2003 none). Walked from western end to start of footpath back to Bernwood Meadows - just 3 Speckled Woods. Walking back to my car a movement in the ash tree just before the large oak on the opposite side of the road caught my eye.- a Brown Hairstreak female just opening her wings - she then flew over my head and I lost sight of her - think she went into the oak tree. This was at 4.15pm so obviously they are not devotees of Test Match Special.
So two females but both up in ash trees. I suspect the latter was settling down for the night.
 
Tuesday 12th September.
Report from Paul Huckle : "David, Yes they are still about. Lunch in Whitecross Green Wood today (Tues) produced one rather knocked about female. She was flying around the small clearing (meadow) just by the car park. She rested for about 2mins on a small oak tree, and I got a good look at her.
Arrived car park 13:25, started searching 13:29, saw brown hairstreak 13:30. It's just too easy! Regards, Paul
So as Paul says they are still about although the males seem to have done their usual disappearing trick. Besides examining blackthorn it is also a good idea to keep an eye on those trees especially if you out in the second half of the afternoon. Times of sightings especially useful at the moment along with weather details if possible. Last year they were seen several times to be active in temperatures as low as 16C and once at 15C and the sun did not have to be shining. Will they last until the first week of October again?
 
Good hunting, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
5th September 2005
Update from West Midlands

Dear Brownhairstreakers,
 
The analogy of Brown Hairstreaks being like number 11 buses was again borne out at the Local Champions Day last Sunday when, after waiting around for ages, we suddenly had 4 all at once!  Well, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but only just.
Around fifteen people came along to hear an update on the Hedgerows for Hairstreaks project from Jane Ellis, the West Midlands Regional Officer, and myself at the Three Parishes Village Hall, Grafton Flyford before heading off across the fields in very hot conditions to Grafton Wood.  We looked first at one of the assembly trees we have been trying to keep under review this year but, like the previous weekend, there was no sign of activity, rather confirming the view that dispersal has now mainly taken place.  In time honoured tradition, we then split forces with John Tilt taking a group through to the eastern side of the wood, Ron Hatton going on up to the orchard and myself leading a group to the south end. Then, also in time honoured tradition, absolutely nothing or nearly nothing happened.  Despite considerable peering into blackthorn thickets, scanning of ash trees through binoculars and telescopes and lots of walking up and down, the Brown Hairstreaks were keeping well out of sight.  Admittedly, both John and myself did have a couple of possibles in flight but not confirmed.  Eventually, after over an hour, when we had already decided to make a move, I received a call from Trevor Bucknall who was with Ron's group on my mobile to say they had one in view egg-laying in the orchard.  Moving off briskly in this direction, we had only gone a few hundred yards when we found one of our own.  This one, we subsequently found out, had probably been laying eggs on young blackthorn along the ride edge as we found several eggs, including three on the very same blackthorn plant I had found a caterpillar on back in the spring.  Perhaps those of a sentimental disposition might ask themselves whether this could this be the progeny of that same caterpillar I had watched complete its development now laying eggs on the very same plant that nurtured its own development? A rather beautiful thought but it has to be said rather unlikely.  In any event, the butterfly stayed close to ground level only for a minute or so but was very restless, making it difficult for photographers although Jane Ellis managed a quick shot.  It then disappeared skywards in true Hairstreak fashion.  Returning to the Village Hall for refreshments, my son Robert managed to pot a very fresh female still with tails intact just along the hedge leading to the orchard, while John's group found a very tatty specimen (almost certainly a male) down by the side of the farm pond apparently drinking!  This pond is within about a hundred yards of the village hall car park and we had all walked past it on our way down to the wood some two hours earlier .  I sometimes think these Brown Hairstreaks are having a laugh!  Near the same spot, Terry Knight who was in my group saw what he was pretty sure was another one hop over the hedge into the garden of Church Farm.  So four definite sightings and another 3-4 possibles constitutes a good morning.
 
Hopefully, those people who now have their eye in as a result of Sunday and those who have not yet seen a Brown Hairstreak this year, will be inspired to get out into the wonderful Worcs countryside over the coming weeks in search of the butterfly.  Most years, Brown Hairstreaks last into early October so there is still probably another month of the flight season to go.  Please don't confine your search area just to Grafton Wood itself as we are very keen to hear of records from further afield.  Although most sightings will now be of egg-laying females, don't give up totally on those ash trees.  Our colleagues from BC Upper Thames branch reported a mating pair in an ash over the weekend and there is also a suggestion that females use trees for roosting in late afternoon.  As always, I am pleased to hear of any sightings or other reports. 
 
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion
West Midlands
5th September 2005

Some thoughts on matters brown Hairstreak from Matthew Oates

We're starting to survey BH on the Oxford Clay in N Wilts, previously rather a black hole.  Various points, some raised by David's most welcome emails. 
 
Ash trees.  I've been aware of this since mid 1970s.  My feeling is that they are not Master Trees (whatever they are) or Assembly Trees, but primarily feeder trees (to use Heslop's old Purple Emperor terminology).  Obviously, mating can occur in ash trees (I've seen it once, in the late 70s).  The term I favour most is 'ash-budding', for that is what BHs do in ash trees, at least intermittently.  I've been looking closely at the characteristics of favoured ash trees in N Wilts this summer.  All favoured trees have large, black prominent buds and don't have sparse, weak yellow foliage + lichens (Caroline & Dave Steel's lichen sighting here is at odds with this).  The butterflies are seen on the down-wind side, even if that's in the shade.  Shelter does not seem to be a pre-requisite, though desirable, and small trees are used well.  Various other insects go ash-budding too - wasps, hornets, hive bees, various flies and Speckled Wood, Purple Hairstreak, Comma, Red Admiral, White Admiral and Purple Emperor, in probable descending order.  It would be good to work the big picture up here better. 
 
I have found scanning ash trees with good bins a very good way of turning up the species.  Interestingly, I have counted more adults than eggs at 5 out of 7 N Wilts sites surveyed for eggs last winter and adults this summer!  Maybe I'm not very good at finding eggs.  I do find that Test Match Special gets the butterflies nicely active: turn it up loud. 

Matthew Oates
5th September 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
A quick report on the joint UTB/BBOWT meeting at Whitecross Green Wood on Saturday, 3rd September.

Summing it up in one word : phenomenal! A total of 12 individuals seen - including, yes we did it again, a mating pair! This time they were in an oak tree (actually an outlier of the ash tree C complex). Again there was a third in attendance but this time just sitting close by and not attempting to interfere. Jim Asher managed an amazing photo (attached) - not as high up as last time but further back in the tree. As you can see the male is extremely faded and hardly recognisable as a Brown Hairstreak (not a trick of the camera as this was the way it looked through binoculars)
 

 .

 
Another much brighter male was seen perched in an oak comprising part of the ash tree A complex. The other eight were all low level females - three being in the car park when the remnants of the party returned to their cars  One of these was actually viewed egg laying - Daphne Macfarlane-Smith (Una & Margaret's younger sister) found the egg to prove it. Another eleven eggs were found - 2 at the first intersection, 2 on the main hedge in the car park and 7 on the north facing hedge in the car park. These last 7 were all found by Una Fenton (it runs in the blood, except for Margaret who tells me she does not have the patience to look for eggs) - interestingly Tony Croft and I were unable to find any along this hedge when we carried out our intensive search last March. 
 
Over the weekend the total number of reported adult sightings has risen to 184 in 34 different km squares and eggs have already been found in 5 km squares. The number of 2005 "active" ash trees is now 44  - this exceeds last year's total by one.
 
Thought you might find the table below interesting. Obviously one of these dates will change and a couple may still change.
 
2005

First

Last

Interval

Egg hatching

7-Apr

1-May

24

Pupation

9-Jun

10-Jul

31

Male

18-Jul

3-Sep

47

Female

30-Jul

4-Sep

36

Mating

6-Aug

3-Sep

28
 
From all the observations made and received over the last couple of years I think I am now able to propose a model for the life and times of the Brown Hairstreak butterfly which will read somewhat differently to what appears in the books. However, I will wait until the end of the current flight period and, hopefully, time made to check out the scientific literature before daring to put fingers to keyboard.
 
Thank-you for all your contributions to this effort but please keep observing & reporting the Brown Hairstreak as, based on last year, females should be on the wing until the first week in October. Still keep a weather eye on those ash (and other) trees as last year it appeared that the females kept returning to them especially in the late afternoon to roost.
 
Best wishes,
David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
2nd September 2005

Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
 
An update up to the end of August. This one is a bit long, so I have done a summary of the highlights first for those short on time.
  • Total number of reported adult sightings by end of August = 161
  • Males still about and it is still worth looking in those ash and oak trees
  • First female seen in act of egg-laying
  • Second resident of the City of Oxford seen exhibiting new and bizarre behaviour
  • What should we call these trees? Master - definitely no. Assembly - not sure its any more appropriate.
Our end of August total of 161 sightings compares interestingly with the writings of E B Ford in 1945. "My own impression is that most people look for this butterfly too early in the year." He than goes on to recount how he saw ten specimens in an hour and a half in Oxfordshire in the second week of September implying that "too early" is before September. Global warming? Possibly a factor but also I don't think the great man had any conception of looking in ash trees for them.
 
Reported sightings in the last week of August showed amazing variability with plenty of the activity still in the tree canopy and nearly half those seen were males..
 
25th August - Span Green (Nick Bowles & myself) = 1 female & 1 unsexed in ash, 2 females in an oak and 1 female egg laying
25th August - Asham Meads (Wendy & Mick Campbell) = 0 adults seen - their first nil return there this year - but they did find some eggs 
26th August - Arncott (Tom Dunbar) = 6 males and 2 females in six separate ash trees
28th August - Whitecross Green Wood (Jim Asher) = 5 females all at low level but none actually egg laying
29th August - Otmoor (Gerry & Penny Kendall) = 1 male in oak in Ragnall's Lane and a female on bramble at the end of Otmoor Lane
29th August - Widnell Lane (Dennis Dell & Tom Dunbar) = 1 female low down on a mixed blackthorn and elm hedgerow and 1 male nectaring on a thistle
29th August - Bernwood Forest (Mike Mobbs) = 1 female low down on hawthorn
30th August - North of the Vicky Arms, Oxford (Caroline & David Steel, Shelagh Harlow & myself) - the second resident of the City of Oxford. Seen in an ash tree right alongside the blackthorn where the first two City of Oxford eggs were found in the winter. It was crawling up and down a dead twig covered in yellowy/orange lichen and appeared to be feeding on the lichen. It was disturbed, by David's efforts (balancing on fence) to reach up and get a bit of twig for lichen identification, and flew a little further up into the ash tree where it settled on a leaf and settled down for the night as it was getting on for 5 pm. During the short flight no orange flashes were observed and it was presumed to be a male - it kept its wings firmly closed the rest of the time.
 
At the end of August the total number of trees in which activity has been seen this year is 52 comprising 41 Ash, 5 Oak, 2 Elm, 2 Hawthorn, 1 Beech & 1 Field Maple. With so many trees involved we have already decided the term Master Tree is inappropriate. I seem to have slipped into calling them Assembly Trees but since for over half these trees we have no evidence of assemblage occuring (58% of them we only have a single butterfly recorded) is that term any more correct?
 
Stop press - in the first two days of September we have added 7 more sightings - one low level female (initially prospecting blackthorn and then basking on a hazel leaf) in Rushbeds by Phil Coles, three low level females in Bernwood Meadows by Paul Huckle (including our second egg layer) - ah you are about to say no more need to suffer neck strain looking into trees and no more males. Sorry but today I saw a female in a "new" ash alongside the field south-east of Bernwood Meadows and Dave Wilton saw a male in a "new" ash at the east end of the track leading to Lapland Farm. The seventh sighting was by Dave as well - a female on blackthorn in Lapland Farm but she did not deign to lay an egg.
 
Attached is the latest Dave Wilton distribution map showing the 30 km squares where adults have been recorded up to the end of August (actually now 31 as my "new" ash today was in a "new" 2005 km square).
 
A final word of praise for Gerry & Penny's sighting in Ragnall's Lane. This lay in SP5813 - a kilometre square that drove us to distraction last winter trying to find some eggs in it (finally cracked by Dave Wilton). This winter we won't need to bother!
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
25th August 2005

Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
 
The count of 2005 adult observations is now up to 135 of which 94 (70%) have been in the tree canopy. Sightings have been made in 32 sets of ash trees and in half there is evidence of assemblage taking place ie more than one seen at any one time. 
 
Wendy & Mick Campbell have been visiting the NW boundary of Asham Meads regularly and are coming up with a series of very interesting observations with the butterflies being found in the elms just as much as the ashes.
 
Attached is the new Dave Wilton distribution map - showing the 22 km squares we already have records for. There is a 23rd - the Dorothy Bolton Meadow sighting. But as this small site actually strays into three different km squares we are not sure which one to place it in until the original reporter is re-consulted.
 
From Tom Dunbar's recent report you will be aware that egg-laying has commenced - West Midlands beat us to this one with fresh eggs being found last Saturday and egg-laying was also observed on the same day on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border. However, there is still activity in the tree canopy and males are still observable. Based on last year, tree canopy activity will continue throughout the flight period. In 2004 the last female observations were made in the first week of October but males were with us only until the end of August.
 
So if you intend going out looking for Brown Hairstreaks this weekend aim for the blackthorn but also keep a wary eye on those trees and to a lesser extent nectar plants. In the latter case bramble flowers are now very few and far between and the Wild Angelica is beginning to go to seed, so it may be worth looking at Hemp Agrimony (a favourite at Noar Hill in Hampshire) and thistles.
 
Also remember the Adonis Blues (UTB Field Meeting at Lardon Chase 2pm Sunday), Silver-spotted Skippers and Chalkhill Blues, although the last are on the wane now. Have to confess that some of my time this weekend will be spent on chalk grassland giving the neck a rest.
 
Best wishes, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
News from East Midlands branch

22nd August 2005
Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
 
The Brown Hairstreak year in Worcestershire can increasingly be divided into four distinct phases all of which bring their own particular challenges.  Firstly, there is the period which usually in our case starts post Xmas and goes on to March, when we risk hypothermia and look for eggs.  The second phase runs from roughly mid-April to the middle of June when, in generally milder conditions, we try to follow the caterpillars from first hatching through to when they are fully grown and ready to pupate.  Probably the main risk here is getting jabbed in various parts of the anatomy by blackthorn spines and surrounding vegetation.  Mid-July to late August, as we have newly discovered this year, is the time to look for Brown Hairstreaks on their assembly trees and almost certainly develop a stiff neck.  Finally, and slightly overlapping, phase 4 is from now to the beginning of October when there are good chances to find female Brown Hairstreaks low down basking in the sunshine or egg laying on blackthorn plants.  The main risk here is feeling foolish when people turn up from all points of the compass on an organised event in expectation of seeing a Brown Hairstreak and you fail to find one..... but more of this later.
 
Following our report in the last Bulletin, there have been several more sightings of Brown Hairstreaks both on assembly trees and at low level.  Firstly, on 14th August, Bob Steele had another view of a male on angelica quite late in the afternoon further along the same ride where we had captured the individual in the beer glass the previous week (perhaps we should call this one the Brown Ale Hairstreak).  Two days later, John Tilt managed a photo of another male (see attached) within the south ride in Grafton perching on pendulous sedge and also bramble.  His subsequent transect walk on the same day produced a female on the south side of the wood and, even better, two females egg-laying on the hedge to the west of the wood which we had only cut last year.  Appreciative lot these Brown Hairstreaks. 
 
I suspect that male Brown Hairstreaks are already on the wane.  Rob and Rose Mabbett returned to the assembly tree at the south-west corner of the wood on 20th where they had previously seen up to 5 adults on their previous visit and, despite another marathon stint with the telescope, failed to locate any more.  They did find, however, six freshly laid eggs on a single small blackthorn plant just a few metres from the tree so obviously it was mission accomplished as far as the males were concerned.  The sighting of Silver-washed Fritillary and Brown Argus was also some compensation.  I had a bit more success the following day when I returned to the ash tree mentioned in the last bulletin, below which a female had been seen on 7th, and saw two male Brown Hairstreaks involved in aerial combat.  Eventually, managed to locate the two individuals in my scope, high in the canopy but some distance apart.  They both looked fairly worn, with tears in their wings and missing tails.  Moving a little further along the track, I then found two more, this time a male and female noticeably fresher, again quite high up on a tallish ash.  Their behaviour was interesting as they were facing each other on a stem but after a few seconds would fly off only to return to the same part of the tree.  They repeated this behaviour two or three times before I eventually lost them in the foliage.  I can only presume this was part of a courtship ritual and would be interested to hear from anyone who has witnessed similar behaviour.
 
Anyway, back to phase 4 and potentially feeling foolish.  Our Brown Hairstreak Local Champions Day this year is set for Sunday, 4th September meeting at the Three Parishes Hall at Grafton Flyford for 10.00 am.  Our Regional Officer, Jane Ellis and myself will be giving a presentation on the Brown Hairstreak in Worcs followed by a walk in the hopes of finding at least one adult on the wing but no guarantees.  John Tilt has already received a number of phone calls from people planning to attend so we hope to have a successful day.  With the Brown Hairstreak, it is definitely a question of the more eyes the better, so please try to come and bring with you binoculars, telescopes and mobile phones!  There will be refreshments on offer at the Village Hall courtesy of Miriam Tilt, so hopefully see you all then.  In the meantime, if you have any Hairstreak news do get in touch.
 
Mike Williams,
Brown Hairstreak Species Champion       
West Midlands Branch
22nd August 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Adult sightings are continuing to come in regularly and at close of play yesterday, based on reports received, the situation was as follows (figures at 11th August given in brackets for comparison)
 
Total number of individuals seen : 120 (90)
 
Number in ash trees : 71 = 59% (58 = 64%)
Number in other trees : 12 = 10% (9 = 10%)
Number at low level : 37 = 31% (24 = 26%)
 
There is no definite evidence that egg-laying has commenced. Although the proportion of low level sightings has increased slightly this is not particularly attributable to the sighting of females on or near blackthorn. Paul Huckle had one of the best candidates for egg-laying with a low level female in the main ride at Whitecross Green Wood last Thursday. 
 
We now have sightings in 30 different sets of ash trees but only 17 of these are 2004 repeats, the other 13 are all "new" trees - so the combined 2004 & 2005 ash tree total is now 56. Three "new" ashes were added yesterday - Dave Wilton saw one in an ash in a copse just NE of Spa Farm and saw another fly up into an ash in Chinkwell Wood. After three years of trying I finally managed to locate one in an ash at Noke Wood.  
 
We now have adult sightings in 21 km squares or about 12% of the known (from egg searches) distribution area. These include one totally new square SP5110 where Caroline Steel saw her Oxford resident at Cutteslowe. Dave Wilton is currently drawing up a revised ditribution map.
 
All records gratefully received but sorry no prizes for the first evidence that egg-laying has commenced.
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
15th August 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Records of adult sightings are now being received regularly with things hotting up noticeably from the 5th August. I have just collated the records received to close of play on 11th August and come up with the following stats (2004 figures to same date in brackets) :-
 
Total number of individuals seen : 90 (108)
 
Number in ash trees : 58 = 64% (89 = 82%)
Number in other trees : 9 = 10% (10 = 9%)
Number at low level : 24 = 26% (9 = 8%)
 
The total count is down because Dave Wilton & Tom Dunbar have been on holiday for the last week. Thanks go to Wendy & Mick Campbell for helping to fill the breach and all others who have been out there looking. The high proportion of early nectarers is still the oustanding feature of the above figures - three times that seen in 2004. Surely a sign of a lack of honeydew up in the trees.
 
This year we now have sightings in 21 different sets of ash trees - several new for this year, whilst activity has not been detected yet in some that were "hot" last year. The classic example is Widnell Lane where the extremely hot and only active tree last year has failed to produce this, whilst adults have been seen in two others nearby. The hottest tree to date this year is Piddington Ash Tree A with a score of 7 with in joint second the NW boundary trees at Asham Meads and Ash Tree A in Whitecross Green. The maximum number seen in any one one tree is 4.
 
Whitecross Green is the leading site with 27 sightings but 21 of these were made in just two visits - 6th August (Day 1 of the Brown Hairstreak Weekend, already reported in detail) and a visit I made on Friday 11th. This second visit was in total contrast to the first with no nectarers seen but a total of ten seen in three sets of ash trees. Four were definitely identified as males and I am pretty certain the other six were as well. So, along with other very recent records received, there does seem to be a reduction in the proportion of early nectarers but on the same day at Span Green the Campbells came across a female nectaring on a thistle  - an addition to the nectar plant list.
   
One of the sets of active ash trees on Friday was a "new" set. This means this year activity has already been detected in 7 separate sets of ash trees (and one oak) at Whitecross Green. Of the 11 ash tree sets viewable from the major ride network we have now seen activity in 10 of them over the last two years (and three oak trees). The only outstanding ash set are those scattered around the turning circle - this is probably because they are rarely visited (only twice as far as I am aware and then not in ideal conditions). I think we can conclude that the Brown Hairstreak uses the ash trees throughout the reserve and to a lesser extent the oaks. The same sort of conclusion can be reached about the Piddington Area and Span Green (4 active ashes identified at each) and possibly Widnell Lane (3 active ashes).
 
So please keep looking and reporting - up in the ash trees (and to a lesser extent oak, elm, hawthorn and beech - the latter recently added to the list by Andy Middleton) but still worth looking at the bramble flowers, wild angelica and thistles. Finally I have to add the blackthorn as, although not yet reported, the females must be thinking about egg laying if they have not already started. 
 
Where to look? Anywhere within the distribution area shown in the map attached to the last communication. Records from any of the sites already covered and mentioned above are also very useful - please make your reports as full as possible. For those visiting Whitecross Green I have attached for reference a document designating the ash tree sets.  
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).  
8th August 2005

Dear Brownhairstreakers

 
I made my fourth visit to Laplands Farm today with high hopes of breaking my zero count of Brown Hairstreak for this season at this site.
 
On arrival at 1.30 the usual 'hotspot' near the railway bridge again failed to deliver. A tour of the hedgerows followed. I finally located a male on the ash adjacent to the large dead oak where DW saw 4 last week. A second sighting quickly followed, a female on a luscious young ash in the gateway into the Green Lane.
 
It was very interesting to observe its behaviour. It was seemingly feeding on leaf surfaces as well as showing the usual interest in ash buds. This particular ash looked amazingly 'fresh' and stood only 6 meters tall. It was evident that a small number of leaves had glistening spots on them in the bright sunshine. I picked one of these leaves and found the 'honeydew' (?) to be a dry 'toffee-ish' texture. This was in contrast with the many ash buds I have inspected recently which mystify me as to their attractiveness to many insects including Brown Hairstreak. (I have yet to find aphids or honeydew on the buds of ash trees.) Was this manna from the stars? (or loose tile filler!)
 
My route back along the Green Lane produced no further sightings despite the many eggs we have found here. However my arrival at the original 'assembly tree' overlooking the entrance gate to Laplands Farm NR delivered the Golden Ticket with a further two females and one male. They were all firmly in feeding mode with no apparent pairing activity whatsoever.
 
All five individuals seen today seemed fresh. They were all active in ash trees. I spent three hours at the site, a good deal of which found me searching blackthorn, bramble and any other available nectar sources.
 
I was very pleased to find the three adults on the 'Assembly Tree' ; still in use this third year. I will continue to closely monitor it in coming years.
 
I never manage five-a-day on the fruit and veg front but would settle for this daily total of BrH any old day!
 
 
Tom Dunbar
8th August 2005

Dear Brown Hairstreakers,

 
Nine others joined me in the RSPB Otmoor car park to explore the Noke Wood area. John Harrison & Dennis Dell who joined us later were both talked in by mobile phone.
 
Taking the footpath immediately south of the RSPB reserve I was pointing out the good quality blackthorn in the hedge to our right, which frustratingly cannot be searched for eggs owing to the intervening ditch, when Wendy Campbell called a halt. She had spotted our first success of the day a male Brown Hairstreak perched in a small elm growing in the hedge. We watched as it flew back and forth between this elm and another a few yards away. A bit further along a Clouded Yellow and fresh Painted Lady were spotted - the former a 2005 first for most of the party, including myself. As we approached the only ash growing in the hedge another cry went up but it took us a long time to make a decision on this one. However, when Gerry Kendall got his scope lined up on it we were able to decide it was definitely a worn male Brown Hairstreak, as the very first sightings were some 20 days ago perhaps not surprising to come across one or two worn individuals by now.
 
We progressed to the north-west face of Noke Wood (eggs found here last winter). At this stage Gerry had to return home to attend to malfunctioning domestic hardware. His presence, or rather that of his scope, was immediately missed as a pair of Hairstreaks flew in the ash trees high above us - their elevation and insistence on settling on the wrong side meant their identify remained unresolved. They were to be our last possible encounter with our quarry. However, Gerry proved more fortunate as nearing the RSPB car park he came across a nectaring pair (see photo) - a male & female being introduced?
 
At this stage we became rather concerned about Dennis who was rather agitated and threatening not to eat his lunch. Something to do with a wingless spherical object travelling at high speed. However, the joyful news eventually arrived by mobile phone and he settled down to lunch.
 
A diversion up the Oxfordshire Way and back down the footpath to the west, south-west and southern faces of Noke Wood produced plenty of ash trees, a few Purple Hairstreaks but no Brown Hairstreaks. One set of ash trees in the western face, bordered by oaks and fronted by blackthorn, looked ideal but was devoid of activity of any sort. So the lack of identified assembly trees in the south-west of the known Brown Hairstreak range remains.
 
However, Noke Wood was by no means a disappointment. Flying along the south-west and southern faces we found Silver-washed Fritillaries. They could also be seen flying within the wood itself. This colony, unrecorded before 2005, had been discovered earlier in this summer by Peter Bugg - our count was 11 and I am sure if the interior of the wood had been fully searched the count would have been much higher. This was my first sighting of Silver-washed this year and, although most of them were far fom perfect (see photo), it seemed rather difficult to re-concentrate on the original target species.
 
Another excellent day - with a total of  21 species seen of which, I have to admit, the Silver-washed were the stars, closely followed by the Brown Hairstreaks and the Clouded Yellow.
 
Finally the photos you have really been waiting for - Saturday's Mating Pair in an Ash Tree and the Ménage a Trois. Both taken by Richard Rogers of East Midlands Branch. To me these photos are amazing and may well be unique, just remember they were about 30 feet up above Richard. So thank-you for coming Richard and bringing your camera and associated skill and telescope (which allowed everybody to get a really good "close-up" view). Richard has also supplied me with stunning photos of nectaring and basking males but I will keep them for other occasions and uses. 
 
With the weather set fair for a few days I look forward to receiving news of more Brown Hairstreak sightings. Where to look? Please refer to the attached Dave Wilton distribution map but I am especially interested in the south-west of the area where, besides the ash trees in the Otmoor Spinney, we still have a lack of sightings in ash or oak trees. What to be looking at when you are there? Well the list grows longer - ash  trees, oak trees, and now even elm trees, bramble flowers, wild Angelica & other umbellifers and we can't be too far away from the commencement of egg laying (may even have already started), so add blackthorn to your list. A report of a sighting is much more useful in helping us to understand the needs of this enigmatic butterfly if it includes a bit of commentary on what the butterfly was about, as well as the usual date, location etc.
 
Good hunting, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).

7th August 2005
Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
The Upper Thames Brown Hairstreak Field Meeting to Whitecross Green Wood today was an immense success - with an excellent turn out from both humans and butterflies. Thanks go to all those who participated.
 
Brown Hairstreakers from around the world would have paid god money to be there as the first sighting made by Tony Roberts (Cambridgeshire & Essex Branch) was truly memorable - a mating pair at the top of an ash tree! At last evidence that they do actually assemble in ash trees to mate. Whilst we watched a third flew in the tree and, choosing my words delicately, apparently tried to join in. In all 12 Brown Hairstreaks were see - 6 in ash trees, 1 in an oak tree, 3 males nectaring on wild Angelica, I male sunning itself on a bramble leaf and the twelfth a female in the grass in distress - we think she had only just emerged and been disturbed whilst pumping her wings up, the hind wings being crumpled & showing no signs of inflating.
 
So once again a significant proportion (25%) were nectaring. This is in contrast to a visit made to Whitecross Green Wood by Andy Middleton & myself on the same date in 2004 when we saw a total of 14 of which 12 were in ash or oak trees, 2 were flying over the blackthorn but none were seen nectaring. This year I think there is a lack of honeydew up in the trees forcing a proportion to seek sustenance lower down. 
 
Half of a dozen of us then went to Asham Meads and met another couple from Cambridgeshire who we were pleased to introduce to their first Brown Hairstreaks after three consecutive summers of unsuccessfully visiting Bernwood Meadows. 3 were seen along the northern boundary of the reserve - one initially in an elm tree but later moved to an ash tree and two males nectaring on bramble flowers. We then moved over to the copse in the centre of the reserve and saw a fourth, a male nectaring on an umbellifer  - so an even higher proportion here were nectaring.
    
These sightings obviously drastically alter the stats table I circulated yesterday and I think we can now safely say the Brown Hairstreak season has really taken off. It will be interesting to see how the Noke Wood area compares tomorrow.
 
In all eighteen butterfly species were seen at Whitecross Green Wood and at Asham Meads we were able to add a Holy Blue.
 
A truly memorable day and thanks again to all those who contributed to the day's success.
 
Best wishes, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion) 
6th August 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
After the initial 8 day lull following the first sightings on the 18th & 19th July, I have been receiving news of daily sightings since the 29th July. There is no doubt the 2005 season has started somewhat differently to the 2004 season. For example the first sightings this year were all in ash trees, in 2004 they were at low level. In the first 10 days when regular sightings began in 2004 they were almost exclusively in ash trees this year a third of the regular sightings have been of nectaring individuals (shades of the 2005 Black Hairstreak season?).
 
Below are some stats - to try and avoid observer activity bias, which was possibly a little higher in 2004, I have excluded the 20 high level males seen on the 1st August 2004 by Matthew Oates. As far as I am aware Matthew has not been able to carry out any observations in our area this year to date. If I included Matthew's data the differences below would be even more marked. 

Sightings to 4th August (inclusive)

2005

2004

Total individuals seen

20

37

First sighting

18th July

24th July

Regular sightings began

29th July

28th July

Number seen in tree canopies

13 (65%)

32 (86%)

Maximum number seen in one ash tree

2

5

Number seen at low level

7 (35%)

5 (14%)
 
It is obviously too early to draw any definite conclusions but in addition to the above positive data I have also received reports from several people (including myself) that they spent a lot of time looking without any definite sightings (these sort of reports were not received in 2004). It will be interesting to see how things develop.
 
Final reminder for the coming Brown Hairstreak Weekend - Saturday 6th August meet in Whitecross Green Wood car park at 9.30am - Sunday 7th August meet in RSPB Otmoor Reserve car park at 9.30am. Telescopes could prove especially useful and binoculars will be essential.
 
Finally thank-you to all who have sent me news of sightings and non-sightings - please keep the information coming it is all being gratefully received and logged.
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
30th July 2005

Female Brown Hairstreak
Mr Win and I attempted to achieve our first sighting of Brown Hairstreak today. Several sites were visited in a mix of weathers. Laplands Farm and the associated weather looked promising but nothing showed. Persistence finally paid off at a Piddington site. Having waited a good half hour for the rain to clear, and two Purple Hairstreaks giving us a false alarm atop the ash in view, we were finally rewarded with a pristine female Brown Hairstreak during a short sunny spell.

We saw very few Peacocks in the last two days. Is this being repeated elsewhere? How have Small Tortoiseshells fared?

Best wishes

Tom

29th July 2005

Hi Brown Hairstreakers,

 
Since the first Brown Hairstreak sightings on the 18th July (singleton north of Piddington) & 19th July (singletons at Asham Meads & Lapland Farm) things have gone totally quiet with no further reported sightings.
 
Today Wendy & I went to Whitecross Green Wood and whilst there was activity in several ash trees it was Purples only. Meanwhile Dave Wilton was having more luck in Bernwood Meadows with singletons in the first & second ash trees north of the small car park and a third flying along the blackthorn between them. So it looks as though things may now be starting off in earnest.
 
The trees where Dave saw activity today are "new" ones - although they were examined a couple of times last year no activity was detected in them but a low level female was seen near them and lots of eggs were found in their vicinity. However, an ash/oak complex on the southern boundary of the Meadows was known to be active in 2004.
 
So a second call to arms! With a reminder to beware of those Purple Hairstreaks, Speckled Woods, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Large Skippers (noy many around by now) & Commas which all fly up into the canopy of ash & oak trees at times.
 
Please let me know of any sightings, active or inactive ash trees.
 
I think I forgot to let you know what happened to Socrates - he was last seen on 10th July when he was 80 days old! When Tony Croft looked on the 13th (whilst I was chasing exotic beasties up north) he had disappeared presumably to pupate. Thus pupation appeared to occur over a month with the first pupation occurring on 10th June and the last on the 10th July (or thereabouts). Although we can't say with certainty this is the spread of pupation it seems sensible when compared to the spread of egg hatching which we can be certain about. The first egg hatched on the 7th April and the last on the 1st May - just over a three week spread. Thus a gap of over 10 days between the first adult sightings and emergence in any sort of numbers is perhaps not surprising. Presumably the prolonged emergence also accounts for the realtively long flight period.
    
Best wishes, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).  
18th July 2005

First sighting of adult Brown Hairstreak recorded in UTB area today - a male.
28th June 2005
 
Dear Brown Hairstreakers,
Thanks to Terry Smith for keeping a watchful eye on our tagged Hairstreak caterpillars while I was away.  The good news is that they seem to have flourished and, while on a return visit to Grafton Wood on 19th June I could only refind two, both were fully grown at 18 mm in length.  These were amongst the two smallest larvae that I had found on a previous visit, so I hope this means that the others had already made their way down to ground level to pupate.  The pupal stage of the butterfly's life cycle is probably least understood of all and there appears to be little experience of finding Brown Hairstreak chrysalises in the wild.  It may be like some of our blue butterflies that they are tended by ants but again no-one really knows for sure.  So if you really want to make a name for yourself go find a pupa! 
According to some of the literature, the caterpillars turn a rather fetching purple/pink before they descend to pupate but this, on the face of it, seems unlikely given that they have spent their entire larval stage trying to blend in to the leaves of the blackthorn.  It seems much more likely that they descend first, then change colour later.  Anyway, I thought some people might enjoy a picture of a 'purple cat' albeit a captive bred one courtesy of David Redhead of Upper Thames branch with again my apologies for those not on broadband.  There is no doubt that there is still a lot to learn about the life cycle of the Brown Hairstreak.  One clear conclusion of our larval study this year is that caterpillars do not always sit motionless on leaves during the day only becoming active at dusk as has been previously suggested.  On the contrary, larvae can be surprisingly mobile during the day, moving some distances up and down the blackthorn bush at a fair pace.
The next big event on the Brown Hairstreak calendar is of course the emergence of the adult butterfly.  Again, there seems little agreement over the length of the pupal stage and no doubt this is weather dependent and will vary from year to year.  2005 has all the signs at the moment of being an early season for butterflies with White Admiral, High Brown and Silver-washed Fritillary already well on the wing in the Midlands so I think around 20th July would be a good time to start looking for those elusive male Brown Hairstreaks.  If you spot one please let me know.  Our own branch foray (or folly as it is termed in the latest West Midlands branch newsletter) is on Sunday, 31st July meeting at Grafton Flyford Church starting at 10.30 am when we hope to search for Brown Hairstreak assembly trees.  Please try to come along and bring binoculars and telescopes if you have them.  The more people that turn up, the more potential territory we can cover.  The following Sunday, 7th August, we shall be doing some blackthorn management in a piece of privately-owned woodland that is being specially managed for the Brown Hairstreak so also please try to support this if you can.  This has become an almost annual event and is greatly enjoyed by all, especially after partaking in the lunchtime refreshments on offer!
 
The other Brown Hairstreak news is that we did a display last weekend in the Three Parishes Hall as part of an event aimed at drawing up a Parish Action Plan.  The results of a recent public consultation were on display and it was very encouraging to see that many respondents had singled out wildlife including birds and butterflies as one of the reasons why they liked living in the area.  Several respondents specifically mentioned the importance of Grafton Wood nature reserve.  As a result of discussions on the day, we hope to be able to contribute a piece on local wildlife to the finished report.  The support of the local community for Brown Hairstreak conservation is vital and if you know of anyone who might be interested in being added to the email list please let me have their details.
 
Mike Williams,

Brown Hairstreak Species Champion 
25th June 2005
Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
Socrates still there at 4pm this (Saturday) afternoon, now grown to 16mm. He can now collect his pension being 65.
Assuming he does not attract the attention of a predator I think he should be around for another 3 to 4 days.
 
Attached is a graph comparing the growth curves of Jezebel & Socrates. Jezebel was the first of our pupators and the fastest growing of those that pupated.
 
Regards, David Redhead (UTB Brown Hairstreak Champion).
24th June 2005
Hi Brown Hairstreakers,
 
As of Wednesday (22nd) there was just one Brown Hairstreak caterpillar left at Whitecross Green Wood - Socrates 14mm in length and 62 days old. In my e-mail of the 16th June I reported Socrates as 16mm in length. No he has not shrunk just a case of mistaken identity - we got him confused with Tallulah. So Socrates has remained a thinker and one of our slowest growers and longest survivors.
To date we believe seven have managed to pupate i.e. they became fully grown (18mm +) before they disappeared. The pupator role call, in order of pupation, is as follows :-

Name

Last date seen 

Age

Max size

Jezebel

9th June

51 days

19 mm

Galileo

17th June

?

18 mm

Tallulah

18th June

56 days

18 mm

Ulyanov

18th June

56 days

19 mm

Isambard

19th June

63 days