This week Fairburn Ings was delighted to take part in Chris Packham's UK Bioblitz 2018. We were one of 50 wildlife sites chosen to undertake a wildlife audit, the results of which will be used to create a benchmark to measure the rise and fall of many different species in future years. Visitors to the reserve joined RSPB staff and volunteers to identify and count bugs, birds, plants and pondlife.
I spotted a Packham
I had a wander round the site to see what was happening. There was pond-dipping, although water levels are rather low after such a long, dry spell.
These three found plenty to keep them interested at the pond-dipping platform.
There was birdwatching.
Is there a collective noun for birdwatchers?
Then I found the Bugs & Plants field and got busy with the butterflies. Here's a selection of my favourites:
Green-veined White – Pieris napi - distinguished from the other white butterflies by the dark green lines along the underside wing veins. Like the Small White, this has a dark spot on its forewing. Widespread, and prefers damp places. This is a medium-sized butterfly – 4-6cm. The caterpillars like a variety of foodplants, including Mustard and Nasturtiums, both plants that you could grow in a your garden or even a window box.
Green-veined White on purple-loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Peacock – Aglais io – Resident, widespread. Large – 6-7cm. This nomadic butterfly can be found pretty much everywhere. Its vivid eyespots are designed to discourage predators. The caterpillars love to munch on Common Nettles, and there are quite a few of those at Fairburn.
Peacock butterfly has its eye on you
Meadow Brown – Maniola jurtina – Resident, widespread. This medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of around 5cm is mostly brown with an orangey patch on its upper forewing, and a black eyespot. It likes sunny, grassy places, but will fly on dull days when most other butterflies take a break. Although this is one of our most abundant butterflies, liking many habitats, it has declined due to intensive agriculture. The caterpillars can be found on many different grasses.
Meadow Brown on a bramble flower
Gatekeeper – Pyronia tithonus – Resident, widespread. Slightly smaller than the Meadow Brown with a wingspan of 4cm, and also differs in having two white pupils in the black eyespot on its forewing, and much more orange on its upper wings. The Meadow Brown only has one pupil. Also, this butterfly has small white spots on its hindwing underside – useful to know as you will quite often see these two with closed wings. The Gatekeeper, also known as the Hedge Brown, likes long grass, hedgerows and woodland.
Gatekeeper on ragwort. Beware of ragwort – it is poisonous to horses and cows, and can irritate human skin.
Gatekeeper showing its double pupil – compare with the Meadow Brown's single one.
Brimstone – Gonepteryx rhamni – Resident, widespread. This is one of our larger butterflies with a wingspan of over 6cm. Males are bright yellow on top, while the females are paler, and the undersides of their wings are greenish. They like woodland, hedgerows and roadsides – and Fairburn Ings.
Brimstone
Small Copper – Lycaena phlaeas- Resident, widespread. Beautiful stained glass-like forewings. The Small Copper, as the name suggests, is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 3 - 4cm. It likes dry grassland and brownfield sites, as well as moorland and heaths. The males are rather territorial and will chase off passing insects while waiting for females to happen by. The caterpillars mostly eat Common & Sheep's Sorrel.
Small Copper
Speckled Wood – Parage aegeria – Resident, widespread. The Speckled Wood is a medium-sized butterfly of around 5cm wingspan, found in parks, gardens and woodland. They love honeydew from aphids in the treetops so only really feed from flowers when aphids aren't available. These butterflies having been doing quite well in recent years, spreading north and east.
Speckled Wood checking out a thistle
The butterflies didn't quite have the sky to themselves, and they need to be watchful for dragonflies, which are rather partial to a butterfly as a snack.
Ruddy Darter female (Sympetrum sanguineum)
Ruddy Darter male (Sympetrum sanguineum)
Common Darter male (Sympetrum striolatum)
Want to support Chris's #WeWantWildlife campaign with a donation? Visit https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chris-packham-bioblitz
Although this Bioblitz was just one day at Fairburn, you can still take part in watching nature on your doorstep by joining the Big Butterfly Count between 20th July and 12th August. Take a break from your busy day and spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot to see what butterflies are fluttering by. Record your sightings on the website, or you can download a free app to your smartphone.
Or book to take the children on a Fairburn Wild Challenge: Summer Bug Hunt on Fridays in August, or a Wild Challenge Wednesday: Bug Hunting at St Aidan's.