Mass Migration of Pained Lady Butterflies

We are currently experiencing the largest invasion of Painted Lady butterflies this century. This large, powerfully flying insect is orange-brown in colour, with black-and-white patterning at the wingtips. They are arriving in unprecedented numbers all along the South coast, having originated from their core breeding area around the desert margins of North Africa. They have travelled across Europe and the English Channel and are now heading northwards through Britain.

Painted lady Vanessa Carduip, feeding on buddleia - Grahame Madge (rspb-images.com)

Neil Hulme, Chairman and West Sussex Conservation Officer for the Sussex Branch of the charity Butterfly Conservation, said "this is one of the great spectacles of the natural world and everyone will be able to spot these butterflies whether they live in the middle of a town or in the countryside. I have been watching butterflies for over forty years, but have never seen anything quite on this scale. The species turns up here most years, but numbers have been very low for some while now. A migration on this scale may result in the Painted Ladies reaching as far as the Arctic Circle, a journey of two thousand miles — they have already reached Scotland. The butterflies will be travelling by day and night, often through poor weather conditions, snatching brief periods of rest as they glide."

He added, "on Sunday afternoon East Sussex Conservation Officer Michael Blencowe phoned me in a state of excitement, as he could not believe what he was seeing. I joined him at the end of a woodland ride near Lewes, where he was counting Painted Ladies coming over a five-bar gate. He told me it was like counting sheep and that he had already recorded 133 in an hour. A further hour walking around the wood gave us a total of 250 and literally thousands would have passed through this single wood during the day. We were fascinated by their behaviour, which is typical of a mass butterfly migration. They just wouldn't stop for a rest, only landing here and there for a second or two, just to take on a snack of nectar 'fuel'. All were heading purposefully north — they are on a mission. On Monday evening at 8.45pm Painted Ladies were still coming in off the sea in central Worthing, flying northwards up Chapel Road."

"Many people have already asked me what causes this phenomenon. It seems likely that when the population increases sufficiently in Africa, this triggers a change in their behaviour. They start to swarm and then head off in huge numbers. Painted Ladies will already be here in their millions. They will breed here this summer, so we will have them around until the autumn, but they won't survive the winter in the UK as a temperature below about 5°C is fatal to the species.

Get out and enjoy them while you can."

Those seeing Painted Lady butterflies are urged to send their records to the Butterfly Conservation National Painted Lady Survey page at www.butterfly-conservation.org/migrantwatch where an interactive map is being used to plot the migration.

Neil Hulme, Butterfly ConservationTuesday 26th May 2009

North Norfolk - Saturday 23 May

A gloriously warm sunny day with little to no wind, although it did cloud over for a while at Titchwell the weather could not have been better.

We left Pitsea at 06.30 arriving at our first site in north Norfolk around 09.30, looking out across a field of rape we were treated to 3 Marsh Harriers and a couple of what were probably Buzzards soaring distantly on a thermal. After thirty minutes one of the birds we were hoping to see appeared along the top of the field, following the hedgerow, a male Montagu's Harrier showed extremely well as it followed the hedgerow down the opposite side of the field, a stunning start to the day!

On to RSPB Titchwell Marsh which as always didn't disappoint, warblers were in full song, Blackcap, Willow, Chiffchaff, Sedge, Reed and Cetti's. Three Marsh Harriers showed well over the reedbeds and a pair of Cuckoos gave us a flypast. A single Turtle Dove showed well in a dead tree and Bearded Tits 'pinged' away in the reedbed occasionally giving brief flight views. On the freshmarsh a few pairs of Avocets now had chicks while many more were still sitting. Around fifty Black-tailed Godwits were still present some of which were now in their breeding plumage as were five Grey Plover.

Five Spoonbills flying over heading east were an unexpected bonus for some, unfortunately I missed them! On the beach summer-plumaged Sanderlings were seen alongside Turnstones and more Grey Plovers while on the sea two drake Eiders were a nice find as were 15 Common Scoter flying past.

We finished the day at Cley Marsh, A lapwing with three very young chicks showed extremely well. Marsh Harriers were constantly mobbed by Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits as they quartered the marsh. Dunlin, Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers were seen well. From the beach and north hide, Common, Little and Sandwich Terns along with another Spoonbill were seen.

We finished the day at 06.30 pm with another Marsh Harrier quartering the field beside the Visitor Centre car park. A great day enjoyed by all.

If you would like information on future trips email: alan.shearman1@btinternet.com

Southern Marsh Orchid - Alan Shearman

The Drinker moth caterpillar - Cley Marsh - Alan Shearman

Goldfinch - Cley Marsh - David Lee

Wren - Cley - Clive Woodward

Lapwing - Cley Marsh - David Lee

Lapwing - Cley Marsh - David Lee

Marsh Harrier and Avocets - Cley Marsh - David Lee

SPECIES SEEN 23/05/09

Blackcap, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow
Magpie, Wren, Rook,
Jackdaw, Collared Dove, Goldfinch,
Grey Partridge, Swift, Starling,
Chaffinch, Whitethroat, Mallard,
Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Kestrel,
Pheasant, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard,
Skylark, Montague Harrier (male), Blackbird ,
Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler,
Coot, Sedge Warbler, Ruddy Duck,
Cetti’s Warbler (H), Canada Goose, Avocet,
Shoveler, Gadwall, Shelduck,
Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Moorhen,
Swallow, Cuckoo, Turtle Dove,
Willow Warbler, Mute Swan, Red-crested Pochard (9 young),
Bearded Tit, Black-tailed Godwit, Brent Goose,
Oystercatcher, Redshank, Ringed Plover,
Herring Gull, Spoonbill (5), Sandwich Tern,
Sanderling, Robin, Greylag Goose,
Linnet, Little ringed Plover, Common Tern,
Sand Martin, Tufted Duck, Pochard,
Grey Plover, Common Scoter (c18), Eider Duck (2 male),
Cormorant, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail ,
Dunlin, Grey Heron, Meadow Pipit,
Little Tern.
Total of 73 species

New RSPB Visitor Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park to Open This Summer

An exciting new visitor centre is getting set to open at the heart of Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea this summer.

This new RSPB Centre will be the second of it's kind in the park and will include state-of-the-art CCTV putting the secrets of the outside world right in front of your eyes. There will also be informative displays enabling you to discover more about the South Essex marshes and a range of RSPB bird-care products to buy.

The centre will be powered by 100% sustainable energy provided by the same wood-burning boiler that powers the council's new Wat Tyler Centre.

Existing buildings within the park are being refurbished as part of the Parklands Project and are part-financed by Essex County Council, under the Thames Gateway programme of the Department for Communities and Local Government. These new facilities will complement the new Wat Tyler Centre, which is also due to open this summer.

David Hedges, the RSPB's South Essex Area Manager, said, "The new visitor centre will be a great new home for the RSPB in Wat Tyler Country Park allowing us to host bigger and better events and show people what a great place the marshes of south Essex are".

Alongside the new centre, another building will also be refurbished, as a children's Discovery Centre offering a variety of wildlife themed events and activities, and an extensive wildlife garden will be enhanced as an excellent environmental education area.

Cockleshell Islands at RSPB Vange Marsh Reserve

The RSPB nature reserve at Vange Marsh has recently seen a few changes and the wonderful site that attracts a wide variety of wildlife has been improved for breeding birds.

The islands on the saline lagoon habitat have been re-shaped and topped with cockleshells. These cockleshells are a by-product of the sustainable cockling industry at nearby Leigh-on-sea. The RSPB feels that in using the material from Leigh-on-sea, they are reducing haulage distance, therefore having less of an impact on the environment.

Added to this, the shells provide an excellent nesting area for many types of birds including Avocets. The islands have also been re-shaped so that there is a greater amount of muddy edge around the islands for birds to feed.

Excavator machines started the work at the end of March, taking two weeks to finish the work. The islands where covered in a geo-textile membrane then topped with shells. Capping the islands in this way will help stop vegetation growth allowing the birds to have clear sight lines enabling them to avoid predation.

Marc Outten, the RSPB South Essex Marshes Warden explains, ‘the work is essential for a wide variety of breeding birds, some of which are scarce in the area. This recently completed habitat will compliment the wide range of habitats already on the reserve allowing many species to move between different areas of the site to feed and seek refuge’.

The RSPB organises guided walks on Vange Marsh on the first Saturday of each month. So if you would like to discover more about the RSPB’s work on the reserve and have a chance to see the birds that live there, contact the RSPB South Essex Marshes office on 01268 559158.

Bird Trip to Minsmere 09 May 2009

Arriving at RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve the six of us headed off towards the northern footpath, stopping first to look at the sand martin bank, a few sand martins were overhead but none entered any of the nesting holes while we watched. As we approached the first bushes at the start of the trail a nightingale could be heard singing to our left and then another on the righthand side of the path. Both were in quite dense bushes, but moving past and looking back one showed well in the open and everyone had great views through the telescope. As we passed through the reedbeds, both sedge and reed warbler singing along with the loud bursting song of a cetti's warbler. We soon picked up the 'pinging' calls of bearded tits, the north trail is on a higher elevation to the reeds, so viewing was excellent looking down in to the large reedbeds on either side of the trail. A pair of bearded tits showed amazingly well, regularly calling as they crossed the path often between the gathered on-lookers! It appeared that they probably had a nest with young on one side, but were gathering food from the other. The views were down to just a few yards in the edge of the reeds in clear view and often dropping on the ground beside the track gathering food....wonderful!

A second-summer Mediterranean gull was first picked on call as it circled over our heads with the black-headed gulls. Four or five pairs are now breeding at Minsmere along with 1100 pairs of black-headed gulls. Later we found two Mediterranean gulls on the scrape sitting on their nests. As we approached the beach a male stonechat showed well sat on top of a small bush.

On the sea common and little terns were constantly flying backwards and forwards over the shingle beach to the scrape. An adult kittiwake flew past close to the shoreline heading north. From east hide excellent close views of a pair of avocets and a summer plumaged turnstone on a small island close to the hide. Around 40 black-tailed godwits were on the scrape, nearly all still in their winter plumage, these seemed really plain compared to the summer birds still around in South Essex! A good fifty or so dunlin were present, looking very dapper with their black bellies. Among the hundreds of black-headed gulls were good numbers of common terns, many of which were pair-bonding as they nosily offered their partners small fish titbit's.

On to the sluice and a female wheatear showed very well, the swallows were a photographers delight perching on the sluice fences and footpath signs and allowing a close approach. Beyond the sluice a single greenshank. On the footpath between south and west hide, was this large caterpillar, which I later identified as the drinker moth. This very dark, large hairy caterpillar can be seen from April to June and August to September. Cuckoos can eat them but probably no other birds. The caterpillars feed on coarse grass and reed, hibernating from October to April when they resume feeding. Their long-recognised habit of drinking drops of dew from plants gives us the common English name. The caterpillars pupate in June. This large moth is common and widespread in Great Britain, and can be found in gardens where there are stands of coarse and lightly managed grasses.

From west hide the little terns were sitting on the islands alongside common terns offering a great opportunity to compare size and plumage differences. Probably the scarcest bird of the day was picked up in flight as it headed south over the scrape, black-tips to some of the primaries identified it as an immature spoonbill, an impressive sight enjoyed by all.

Lunch was taken back at the visitor centre, where we also found a small copper butterfly before heading off to the woods. Coal tit was heard but remained elusive, but not quite so elusive were great spotted woodpecker and treecreeper, although everyone saw marsh tit, well almost everyone, I couldn't get on it! As we approached island mere hide a bittern could be heard 'booming' and continued to boom while we were in the hide. I never realised just how difficult it was to pin down where the sound was coming from, in fact it was hard to work out which direction it was coming from! Of course the marsh harriers performed beautifully, just as we knew they would, after all this is Minsmere!

Hobby was seen three times but each time we were on the woodland trails and only had views through gaps in the canopy. We moved on to Westleton and Minsmere Heaths which had three dartford warblers singing, none of which showed really well giving only brief perched or flight views. Whereas a pair of stonechats showed very well as did a yellowhammer and flypast green woodpecker. On Westleton two nightingales had a singing competition, one of which showed very well in the open. The last bird but not least bird of the day was a woodlark seen as we were at the cars preparing to leave, it showed fairly well but all too briefly in a gnarled stump of a tree. We finished the day having seen 78 different species and having had a very pleasant relaxed and friendly day.

The next trip is on Saturday 23 May to north Norfolk, visiting RSPB Titchwell Marsh Nature Reserve and a nearby raptor watch point. For more details or to book a place email alan.shearman1@btinternet.com

Out and about in South Essex

RSPB Vange Marsh

Yesterday 05 May a peregrine flew low over the marsh heading north at 2 pm and also heading north at 3.15 pm was a red kite, the first I have seen in South Essex.

Early on the marsh today were 11 greenshank, 1 spotted redshank in full summer plumage, 2 redshank, 2 oystercatchers and 3 summer plumages dunlins.

One Tree Hill

The green-winged orchids are still looking good.

Coombe Wood, Langdon Hills

Fantastic display of bluebells, photos just never do them justice!

International Dawn Chorus Day Sunday 03 May

Sixteen people gathered at the RSPB Visitor Centre in Wat Tyler Country Park at 5 am. With the dawn chorus just getting in to full swing a cuckoo was one of the first birds heard and two more were heard during the two hour walk, one of which showed well in flight. Blue and great tits along with robin were heard around the bird feeding area. A whitethroat, it's scratchy song was soon heard as we crossed the road to Holly Cottage, whitethroats were evident throughout the walk with one performing exceptionally well on the perimeter trail often song flighting above our heads. Reed warblers were singing from the reedbeds, even the smallest areas of reed held at least one. A cetti's warbler burst in to song but remained elusive as is often the case with this species. As we continued blackbirds and wrens were in full voice, and then we picked up the gentle 'purring' of a turtle dove, the first recorded in the park this year, the bird was sat on a pylon and every one enjoyed views through a telescope. On to the marina and a pair of oystercatchers made a noisy fly-past while two little egrets fed in the creek. Our first nightingale could be heard singing across the creek on the western end of the former county tip. Further along the trail a second nightingale sang in dense vegetation beside the track, and frustratingly stayed hidden, we stayed and listened to his full repertoire for a while and this was a highlight and new experience for many. Song thrush and blackcap were enjoyed as the walk came to an end, it really is worth getting up early at this time of the year, with no background noise to compete with the dawn chorus is a real experience.

Next Dawn Chorus walks at Wat Tyler.
Thursday 7th May: Up with the lark! at Wat Tyler Country Park, 5am
Come for an early morning wake-up stroll around the park, listening to the magical sounds of birdsong as the sun rises. Its worth the early start, and you can grab a free cuppa on your return. Guided walks cost 3.00 for adults and 1.50 for children. RSPB members and RSPB Wildlife Explorers receive 1 discount. Booking essential, call 01268 559158. Click here to book on-line for this event

Sunday 17th May: Up with the lark! At Wat Tyler Country Park, 5am
Come for an early morning wake-up stroll around the park, listening to the magical sounds of birdsong as the sun rises. Its worth the early start, and you can grab a free cuppa on your return. Guided walks cost 3.00 for adults and 1.50 for children. RSPB members and RSPB Wildlife Explorers receive 1 discount. Booking essential, call 01268 559158. Click here to book on-line for this event

Thursday 21st May: Up with the lark! at Wat Tyler Country Park, 5am
Come for an early morning wake-up stroll around the park, listening to the magical sounds of birdsong as the sun rises. Its worth the early start, and you can grab a free cuppa on your return. Guided walks cost 3.00 for adults and 1.50 for children. RSPB members and RSPB Wildlife Explorers receive 1 discount. Booking essential, call 01268 559158. Click here to book on-line for this event