News for July 2009

Butterfly Days Reprint

Joe Fimin's little book 'Butterfly Days in High Provence - Flying Jewels along the Lavendar Route' fully illustrated in colour by Ted Benton is back in print. Published by CNHS in 2007 in a limited edition of 100, it quickly sold out with requests from all over the world including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and New Zealand following a very favourable national review.

Because of continuing interest a new limited run has been printed. To get a copy signed by the author please send a cheque for £12 (includes p&p) to 55 Chapel Road, West Bergholt, Colchester, CO6 3HZ or telephone 01206 241389 to reserve. Cheques payable to Joe Firmin.

The book not only describes and illustrates many of the butterflies of Southern France but it also describes Joe's butterflying adventures and some of the colourful personalities drawn to that sunny area. As well as supplying the photos Ted Benton has written a chapter abouthis own visits to Provence in search of its butterflies.

Huge butterfly immigration

There was a sizeable immigration of painted lady butterflies from Southern Europe in mid May while I was staying in Dordogne, SW France. Here large numbers were passing through heading north in the direction of the UK.

It was not then a surprise that on May 24 thousands of painted lady butterflies passed through Essex heading north. Peter Pearson and his wife saw a movement of several hundreds while at Colchester North Station seeing off relatives. They were accompanied by some yellow butterflies which Peter considered were most likely clouded yellows. On the same day I counted 30 or more during a brief visit to Copt Hall and Nigel Raynor of West Bergholt reported 330 between 8.30-11.30am with 200 just in one hour from 10am. Ian Rose at School Lane Mistley reported painted lady passing his large garden at a rate of one per minute between 9am and 1pm, all on a northern track.

Below:- Painted lady (L) and clouded yellow (R) butteflies have arrived from the continent in large numbers passing north through Essex

The immigration continued on May 25 with many scores seen flying north over Fordham Hall estate. This would seem to indicate that 2009 could be another painted lady year. The females lay their eggs on thistles giving rise to another generation in our gardens and fields in summer and early autumn.

Backing up Peter Pearson’s observations clouded yellow butterflies were seen progressing west/north west through Essex and other Eastern Counties in large numbers on May 24 and 25. Co-inciding with these huge immigrations is the amount of hummingbird hawk moth and silver-Y moth sightings. Ian Rose had two hummingbird hawk moth nectaring in his garden on May 25.

CNHS Awards and AGM

The Rose Bowl was awarded this year to Wendy Corben for her digital photograph called ‘Cape Gull’ (see below).

The award was presented by last year’s 2007 winner Peter Douch who judged this year’s competition. The runners-up were Adam Taylor with his digital photograph called ‘Red Deer’ (below left) and Joe Firmin with his digital photograph called ‘Two-tailed Pasha butterfly feeding’ (below right).

Chairman Ted Benton presented this year’s Bree Trophy to Sue More in appreciation of her services as a committee member and also in conservation work for Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve, with her association with her late husband Peter, over many years.

The evening finished with a few of our members’ digital images and slides of various wildlife studies, including one taken by Roger Hance of a mole peeping out of his mole hill in Ian Rose’s garden! Thank you to all who attended this year’s AGM.

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