Colchester Natural History Society

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February 2008

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STOP PRESS

The warm sunny weather of mid-February brought many butterflies and bees out of hibernation. Red admirals reported from Mistley, Colchester and Coggeshall, also a Peacock seen by Len Cornwell in Baden Powell Drive, Prettygate, Colchester on February 5 and a small tortoiseshell seen by the same observer between Layer-de-la-Haye and Layer Breton on February 10.

There may yet be a sting in the tail of winter but we can be cheered by signs that spring is well and truly on the way. Milder and wetter winters are bringing forward garden blooms with a profusion of snowdrops, crocuses and aconites and in some sheltered places even daffodils in bloom by the end of January and early February. Lots of bird courtship, establishment of territories and a growing chorus of early morning song. There are always some blackbird and song thrush nests reported in February and, sadly, if we get a serious cold snap some of these come to grief from weather or predation. Lots of noisy activity in rookeries as nests are repaired or built. There is evidence that the number of rookeries of 100 plus nests has increased since the 1990s and like all other members of the crow tribe, the wily rook adapts to farming and landscape changes and is a true survivor. By the end of the month ponds will have mating frogs and spawn.

Interest in moths and species recording is a growth area of UK natural history and almost every county has an active moth group with its members using moth lamps and traps in gardens to assess species distribution and population as well as conducting surveys in all major habitat types in the countryside. Essex Moth Group was formed in 1996 and I have been involved as chairman from the outset. The Group, which has close on 100 members countywide, will be holding its popular annual meeting and exhibition on Saturday, February 23, at Venture Centre 2000 Bromley Road, Lawford (10.30am - 5pm). There is a full day’s programme of illustrated talks, exhibits and discussions with a lunch and refreshments (£5 admission, pay at reception on arrival). Anyone interested in moth butterflies and insects generally very welcome and a chance to learn lots about these colourful and fascinating insects and their life history.

One of the attractions is the brilliant display of colour photos as well as exhibits of specimens. I will be talking about the Group's 12 years of recording and field activities and showing some of the surprise discoveries of rare resident and migrant species over that period. There will also be a presentation by Ian Rose, one of the Group’s leading photographers, on British and immigrant hawk moths and their colourful life histories. If you are interested in joining us please let me know on 01206 241389.

Sometimes by the end of February there's a spell of warm weather when the sun tempts some butterflies out of hibernation . It's quite a thrill to see a bright yellow male brimstone fluttering along the edge of a wood or in a large garden where there are some early nectar-bearing blooms. The brimstone hibernates in evergreen trees and bushes or among ivy clumps. It is one our longest—lived butterflies as after going into early hibernation in late summer it can still be flying in early summer of the following year giving it the best part of a year's life span. After spring pairing female brimstones, which are greenish—white in colour, lay their eggs on buckthorn bushes. In Essex buckthorns are far from common and the females roam over a large area in order to find this sole caterpillar foodplant.

At Essex Moth Group's annual meeting at Lawford on February 23 Dr Zoe Ringwood, who has conducted a special conservation project to save the rare Fisher's Estuarine Moth in NE Essex, will be describing how farmers, landowners and nature reserve mandgers are helping by planting the moth's special uncommon larval foodplant, hog's fennel, away from coastal areas where there is a threat from tidal erosion.

Photo: Ian Rose.

The song thrush is both an early songster and nester and if there are mild conditions in February some mud-cupped nests will be built though sadly many of these fall victim to weather change and predators.

Rookeries are busy and noisy as the birds repair and build new nests. In recent years there has been an increase in rookeries with several having more than 100 occupied nests as the wily birds adapt to agricultural and landscape changes.

If there is a warm and sunny spell before the end of the month brimstone butterflies may be tempted out of hibernation in evergreen bushes or ivy clumps (male pictured).