WELCOME !
WHAT CAN BE FOUND ON SITE
OUR VOLUNTEER WORK
PICTURE GALLERY-Page 1
OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY OPEN DAY
GROUP PICTURE GALLERY
DOG WALKERS AND THEIR DOGS.
PICTURE GALLERY -Page 2
ANTI-SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
WILDLIFE PICTURE GALLERY
WILD FLOWERS OF KINSON COMMON
HISTORY of KINSON COMMON
BIRDS
BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS
PAST MEMORIES IN PICTURES AND WORDS
FUNGI OF KINSON COMMON -Page 1
INTRODUCTION OF GRAZING MANAGEMENT
PLANT LIST FOR KINSON COMMON
NAMED AREAS OF KINSON COMMON
FUNGI OF KINSON COMMON- Page 2
GEORGE'S NATURE ALBUM-Page 1
GEORGE'S NATURE ALBUM -Page 2
GINNY'S PAGE
MEMBERSHIP & LATEST NEWS
LAURA'S NATURE GALLERY
RICHARD'S PAGE
BIRD SURVEY
MEMBERS VIEWS
VAL PEPIN'S PHOTO'S OF THE PAST
Contact Information for FRIENDS OF KINSON COMMON
Links for FRIENDS of KINSON COMMON
Message Board
Guestbook
Event Calendar
Mail Form
|
Butterfly recording on Kinson Common
 | I am a member of the Dorset branch of Butterfly Conservation- dedicated to saving wild butterflies, moths and their habitats.
I began voluntary recording work on Kinson Common in April 2005 in order to help Butterfly Conservation in its vital work to protect endangered species of butterflies and moths and to monitor the progress or decline of others over the years . Data collected is also useful for local reserve management.
The regular weekly monitoring starts at the beginning of April and continues through until the end of September. Severe weather during crucial stages of a particular butterfly's life cycle can result in a dramatic fall in numbers for that year, and vice versa. Similarly problems with parasites, pollution and other environmental factors also take their toll. Kinson Common LNR is particularly important to all flora and fauna because of its location within a heavily built-up area and its rich variety of habitats. In 2005 I recorded 22 different species of butterfly here ( total seen thoughout the British Isles being approx. 60 species). In 2006 I recorded 24 species.
I hope to add interesting updates to this page to include special news/ sightings and also some amazing facts about these beautiful insects and their fascinating life cycles.
If you are interested, do take a look at the relevant butterfly conservation websites with links below.
|
|
2005 Recording results.
 | Most individuals seen:- Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood , Gatekeeper and Small Skipper.( pictured above) . (It should be noted that some species have longer flight periods than others and some, such as the Meadow Brown, are found in a wide range of habitats. Individuals also live for varying lengths of time). |
|
2006- Recording results
Most individuals seen :- Speckled Wood, followed by Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small Skipper and Comma.
The Speckled Wood numbers increased considerably on the previous year. It's chocolate-brown colouring with cream patches makes it easy to identify. It is unique in that it can overwinter either as a caterpillar or as a chrysalis which results in broods appearing as early as late March and continuing into October. The dappled shade of the woodland areas of Kinson Common suits it very well; many are seen around Great Oaks. The Speckled Wood has a preference for aphid honeydew from leaves.
The Comma ( pictured below) had a particularly good year, doubling its numbers from 2005. It is one of the first butterflies to appear after hibernation in March and April; its wonderful ragged outline is very distinctive, but care must be taken not to mistake it for a fritillary when in flight.
Other species recorded in 2006 were:
Green-veined Whites, Holly Blues, Red Admirals, Brimstones, Graylings, Small Whites, Peacocks, Common Blues, Orange Tips, Small Coppers, Small Tortoiseshells, Marbled Whites, Painted Ladies, Clouded Yellows, an Essex Skipper, a Large Skipper, a Purple Hairstreak, and a Silver-Washed Fritillary.
The splendid Silver-Washed Fritillary which was recorded on the 2006 transect walk, with a few individuals having been reported seen in another area of the Common, appears to be making a steady recovery throughout the south of the country after a number of years of decline. It's particularly pleasing to note its presence on Kinson Common. There is just one brood each year flying, from mid-June to early September, with wonderful twisting glides and swoops.
Grayling numbers were sadly down a little compared with 2005. The population in the U.K as a whole is in serious decline. It may be that fires on Two Barrow Heath destroyed some of the caterpillars which hide at the base of grass tussocks; this larval stage lasts for ten months. However, there may well be other factors to consider. It will be interesting to find out how this butterfly has fared in other parts of Dorset. I will know in the spring when all the data for the country has been collated and analysed.
|  |
|
Butterfly Gallery
Here are some more of the butterflies that can be seen on site.
Starting with the Brimstone.
|  |
|
and now...
| the Green-veined White |  |
|
and..
| Small White |  |
|
followed by..
| the Small Copper |  |
|
and..
 | | the Holly Blue |
|
and finally...
 | | a female Orange Tip |
|
April '07 Update
County recording results for 2006 reveal that the Grayling didn't have a particularly good year in general. This is a priority species which means that it's being closely monitored to find out the conservation measures most needed to improve its chances of survival and increase.
The first three weeks of regular transect recording on Kinson Common have been quite amazing ! The unusually high temperatures and numbers of sunshine hours have encouraged the early appearance of species such as the Small White and Holly Blue not often seen before the end of the month. Also, numbers of Speckled Woods on the wing are up considerably on this time last year and I have also seen more first-brood Peacocks than previously.
|
October' 07: Update and Recording Results
This year's mixed-up weather has clearly produced unusual recording results. The mild winter and very warm late spring resulted in a number of species emerging earlier than usual. Butterflies then had to cope with the wettest June and July for many years, with low counts of species being recorded during these months. Interestingly numbers of Speckled Woods remained fairly constant during July and August, though a little down on last year. The species coped extremely well overall, being only one of two butterflies to increase its total count on 2006. Its ability to produce broods on a regular basis from March into October obviously proves beneficial when it comes to balancing the highs and lows of erratic weather, but populations of this species have been known to decrease after drought years.
This year I recorded a total of 15 species, a huge difference compared with 24 species last year and 22 in 2005 !
Completely missing from my walks in 2007 were the following :-
Small and Essex Skippers- Large Skipper- Clouded Yellow-
Orange Tip-Painted Lady- Small Tortoiseshell- Marbled White
I did not see any Purple Hairstreaks, but I only recorded a single specimen last year.
There's an important point to make here !
My eyesight is no worse than it was last year !!
A few of the Friends of Kinson Common have quite regularly told me that they have just seen some Orange Tips or a Clouded Yellow, for example, while out walking. I know that we have more than 15 species resident here and it's important to make a note of those observed anywhere on the Common, but my transect recording results are necessarily restricted. Yes, it can be quite frustrating ! In order to ensure that data obtained remain comparable over subsequent years, certain rules have to be adhered to. Habitat changes can be noted when appropriate.
Some Transect Recording Rules.
1- Always follow exactly the same route each week counting all butterflies seen within 2.5. metres either side of the transect line and 5 metres ahead.
2- Walks should only be carried out with no more than moderate winds.
3- Minimum temperatures must be either 13-17 degrees C with at least 60% sunshine or above 17 degrees C with at least 40%sunshine. ( Temps taken in shade).
4- Walks should preferably be made between 10.45 and 15.45.
2007 Recording Results.
Most individuals seen :-
Speckled Wood, followed by Meadow Brown ( down 50% on last year), Gatekeeper ( about 40% down), Holly Blue ( the same figure as in 2006), Large White, Peacock ( a few more than in 2006) and Comma.
The Peacock benefitted from a mild winter for hibernation ; there were more butterflies than usual on the wing in April.
Both the Holly Blue and the Small Copper appeared in the same numbers as last year.
Climate change has definitely been affecting the life cycles of butterflies and moths over the past few years now. It remains to be seen whether or not food plants for larvae, and suitable nectar plants, will be available at the required times. |
Comparison with Results from the whole of Dorset
It comes as no surprise, because of the unusual weather, that 2007 was not a good year for butterflies in general. The species that are most often seen on Kinson Common fared similarly in other parts of the county.
The Red Admiral, no longer regarded as a migrant, had a moderate year here and throughout Dorset.
The Peacock did well because of the warm spring. Its post-hibernation brood was the second best recorded since 2002; April certainly saw several at Kinson.
Although our Holly Blue numbers were the same as those in 2006, the data collected from all sites in Dorset show that the species had its second best year since 1997. This butterfly tends to follow a boom/slump journey through the years, depending on the weather and parasite activity, but it seems to be gradually increasing over the long term.
Apart from these species, the picture was rather gloomy for most. We hope that 2008 has some much better results !
|
This page has been visited  times. |
