Cornwall Butterfly Conservation Butterfly and Moth Field Meetings 2009
Compiled by Lee Slaughter – Field Trip Organiser (Cornwall Butterfly Conservation).
Saturday 25th April – 10:30am – Murrayton Monkey Sanctuary, Millendreath, Nr Looe.
We are very grateful to Paddy Saunders for agreeing to lead this special early visit to the Millendreath to Seaton coastal footpath to search for Britain’s earliest flying Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies which will take in some brilliant scenery looking out to sea on this excellent habitat for this rare species. Yes! You can see the Pearl-bordered Fritillary in April in Cornwall given reasonable weather! This unique habitat, some of which is an ancient landslip, provides the ideal microclimate needed for this species to be on the wing up to 3 weeks earlier than elsewhere in Cornwall! This is the first field meeting to be especially arranged here so don’t miss this opportunity to see this for yourself. Walking boots are a must due to steep terrain and bring food and drink too! If the weather on this date is unsuitable, then the walk will be rearranged for the following day (26th April) also at 10:30am and you should phone Paddy Saunders to confirm you will attend the following day. Access is through strictly private land at Murrayton Monkey Sanctuary which will be closed so all attending should be ready to be guided through to the cliff path by the leader at 10:30am from the Monkey Sanctuary car park. Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Common Blue, Orange-tip and possible Dingy Skipper will hopefully be seen today.
Leader - Paddy Saunders.
Meet at map ref. - SX285546, in Murrayton Monkey Sanctuary car park.
For full details and directions phone Paddy Saunders on 01503 262567.
Sunday 26th April at 13:30. – Bracken pulling at Deer Park (Luckett, East Cornwall)
We will be clearing the Heath Fritillary site of bracken and this will only take a couple of hours maximum. Bring along garden gloves and any implements suitable for getting bracken out of the ground. Please wear stout shoes.
Meet at the Deer Park pull-in at SX380735.
Leader Paul Browning
Tel.01736 763677 for further details.
Saturday 9th May – 1:00pm – West Goss Moor, Nr. Indian Queens.
The course of this old railway line harbours one of only two surviving colonies in Cornwall. We will be looking for egg laying female Grizzled Skippers noting their egg laying sites. We may also try a nearby area of Goss Moor to see if there is possibly another population extant of this species where there was a recent reliable record. Dingy Skippers should also be seen!
Leader – Phil Harris.
Meet at map ref. - SW931599, on lay-by along the old A30.
For details and directions phone Phil Harris on 07845 984426.
Saturday 16th May – 2:00pm – Bunny’s Hill, Nr. Cardinham, Bodmin Moor.
Bunny’s Hill is an easily accessible site and is one of the best places in Cornwall to see the Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly at close quarters. Please do bring your camera as photography is comparatively easy at this locality. Brimstones are usually seen together with Small Heath, Holly Blue, Orange-tip and possible Dingy Skipper. There is plenty of easy parking available.
Leader – Lee Slaughter.
Meet at map ref. - SX117675, at the fork in the road.
For details and directions phone Lee Slaughter on 01726 817505.
Thursday 21st May – 11:00am De Lank Quarry, St. Breward, Bodmin Moor.
*** Please note that this trip is on private land and must be pre-booked with Sally Foster in advance by ringing her on phone number below giving your name & numbers wishing to attend. Strictly limited numbers only as De Lank Quarry is a working quarry! ***
We will seek out existing colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillary and look carefully if these have spread, or for new ones, which is a distinct possibility as large amounts of habitat management work has been carried out over the last few years in this area of Bodmin Moor by various organisations and local landowners hoping to benefit this species. Other spring species should be seen also. Bring a packed lunch and good walking boots.
Leader – Sally Foster.
Meet at map ref. - SX098754, in De Lank Quarry car park.
For details and directions phone Sally Foster on 01736 753259.
Saturday 23rd May – 1:00pm – Fellover Brake, Tuckingmill, St. Breward.
This site still holds one of Cornwall’s finest colonies of the nationally threatened Pearl-bordered Fritillary which can be seen over a wide area of well managed bracken covered hillside. Walking boots are essential as the site slopes quite steeply and can be quite uneven in places. Orange Tip & Brimstone should also still be on the wing.
Leader – Phil Harris.
Meet at map ref. - SX089779, in the small lay-by at Gam Bridge.
For details and directions phone Phil Harris on 07845 984426.
Saturday 30th May – 1:00pm – Breney Common, Nr. Lanlivery.
Our annual visit to probably Cornwall’s largest Marsh Fritillary colony. Good numbers of this species should be seen together with Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Heath, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak and usually a few interesting moths too! Photography is almost always easy here so do bring your camera and good walking boots.
Leader – Phil Boggis.
Meet at map ref. - SX053610, Breney Common car park.
For details and directions phone Phil Boggis on 01726 66124.
Saturday 6th June – 1:00pm – Carkeet (River Vale Farm), Bodmin Moor.
A new locality, which during 2008 has turned up possibly Cornwall’s largest Marsh Fritillary colony! Good numbers of this species should be seen together with Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. Photography is usually easy with Marsh Fritillaries so do bring your camera and Wellington boots, as this privately owned site can be wet underfoot!
Leader – Paul Browning.
Meet at map ref. - SX215728, at edge of road by track running northeast sign-posted Carkeet Farm.
For details and directions phone Paul Browning on 01736 763677.
Saturday 13th June – 1:00pm – Greenscoombe Woods, Luckett.
One of Britain’s rarest and most threatened butterflies, the Heath Fritillary, still exists in Cornwall in the specially managed habitat at its original main Cornish colony at Greenscoombe Woods, Luckett. It became extinct there after 2002 and was reintroduced to parts of the woodlands in the summer of 2006 where it re-colonised and became re-established. The site has been much improved by clearance and management work. We are very grateful to local recorder and expert on this species, Richard Vulliamy, who will lead us around and show us the best areas to observe this butterfly and advise what past and current management work is benefiting this threatened species. The butterfly is breeding well now at Greenscoombe Woods and it is always a joy for enthusiasts from Cornwall, Devon and often much further a-field, who visit these woods, to marvel at the many Heath Fritillaries that can be seen throughout June each year. Bring a drink and your camera.
Leader – Richard Vulliamy.
Meet at map ref. - SX389737 in Luckett Village car park.
For details and directions phone Richard Vulliamy on 01579 370411.
Friday 19th June – 9:30pm – Kilminorth Woods, West Looe Valley, Looe.
Midsummer Mothing For The Scarce Merveille du Jour Moth.
We have high hopes of seeing this RDB3 moth here again near the Oak trees that it breeds on. The sedentary Scarce Merveille du Jour moth has almost certainly continuously bred in the West Looe Valley since shortly after the last Ice Age! This meeting is organised by Cornwall Moth Group. The moth light will be on from dusk until late but meet at 9:30pm. Please bring a torch and wrap up well.
Leader - Phil Boggis.
Meet at map ref. - SX248538 at entrance to Lower Kilminorth Woods, sharp left 250 yards before Looe Bridge coming from a westerly direction on the main road.
For full details and directions phone Phil Boggis on 01726 66124.
Saturday 20th June – 2:00pm Perran Sands and Penhale Sands, Nr. Perranporth.
A mid-summer ramble over Britain’s highest sand dunes complex to see large numbers of freshly emerged Silver-studded Blues. We would also hope to see Large Skippers, Small Skippers, Meadow Browns, Common Blues, Dark Green Fritillaries, Scarlet Tigers and Humming-bird Hawk-moths. This event always turns up unexpected surprises in moths or butterflies. Please bring a drink, a sun hat, sun protection and good walking boots.
Leaders - Lee Slaughter and Phil Boggis.
Meet at map ref. - SW774553, in lay-by on the edge of the road opposite the turning to Rose.
For details and directions phone Lee Slaughter on 01726 817505 or Phil Boggis on 01726 66124.
Sunday 21st June – 11:00am Gwithian Green, Nr. Hayle.
A mid-summer visit to this local nature reserve which is managed and monitored carefully by a number of enthusiasts. We should see good numbers of Silver-studded Blues, Meadow Browns, Large Skippers, Small Skippers, Small Heaths and Dark Green Fritillaries. We should then be able to explore the dunes during the afternoon for more butterflies given time. Good walking boots, packed lunch and sun cream are all essential.
Leader - Sally Foster.
Meet at map ref. - SW586412, close to the track entrance. Heading from Portreath towards Hayle on the B3301 coast road, past Godrevy and take the track to your left just before Gwithian.
For further details ring Sally Foster on 01736 753259.
Friday 26th June – 9:00pm – Ponts Mill, Nr. St. Blazey.
Mid-summer Moths At Ponts Mill.
A moth evening of recording together with the Cornwall Moth Group and the Friends of Luxulyan Valley commencing at 9.00pm for 9.30. Please bring a torch and warm clothing. Free parking at the Ponts Mill car park. Past moth-ing events here have attracted more than 125 species in one evening’s recording at a single locality!
Leader - Phil Boggis.
Meet at map ref. SX073562. Spacious car park at the end of the single-track road.
For details and directions phone Phil Boggis on 01726 66124.
Saturday 4th July – 11:00am Upton Towans, Nr. Hayle.
A lovely walk through the extensive coastal dunes by Gwithian at Upton Towans. We hope to see many Dark Green Fritillary butterflies and would like to count/estimate numbers seen and also any behavioural features in either the males or females of this spectacular species. The 2nd brood of Small Heaths should now be appearing and it would be good to look closely at each adult seen with particular attention to some of the females, which we have noticed seem to be larger than other females and much deeper in colour. Other summer flying species will also be seen including Silver-studded Blues, Common Blues and maybe Brown Argus too! Please bring a packed lunch, drink, sun cream, and good walking boots.
Leaders - Dick & Maggie Goodere.
Meet at map ref. - SW579398, at the entrance by the gate to the CWT area.
For full details and directions phone Dick or Maggie Goodere on 01736 753077.
Saturday 11th July – 10:30am Penlee Battery CWT Reserve & Penlee Point (possibly moving on to Seaton during the afternoon).
This event is held in conjunction with Caradon Field And Natural History Club (CFNHC).
This reserve usually has excellent numbers of Marbled Whites, which are absent from mid and west Cornwall but often more than 100 can be seen here without much trouble. Small Heaths and Dark Green Fritillaries as well as Gatekeepers, Large and Small Skippers are always present. Six-belted Clearwing and Thrift Clearwing moths will be searched for with pheromone lures. We may move on to Seaton during the afternoon to search for Clouded Yellows at a location where they have been observed over-wintering and walk up the Seaton Valley to see Silver-washed Fritillaries and possibly, Purple Hairstreaks.
Leader - Leon Truscott.
Meet at map ref. - SX436491, in Penlee Battery car park.
For full details and directions phone Leon Truscott on 01752 812023.
Saturday 18th July – 1:00pm Bunny’s Hill, Nr. Cardinham, Bodmin Moor – Also Treslea Downs.
We will be searching for Dark Green Fritillaries and keeping an eye out for the remote possibility of High Brown Fritillaries too! Silver-washed Fritillaries will also be on the wing as well as Grayling butterflies at Treslea Downs, which is just 2 miles distant from Bunny’s Hill. There must be new discoveries to be made at both these two valuable sites as they are only normally visited in May for the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
Leader - Phil Harris.
Meet at map ref. - SX117675 Bunny’s Hill at the fork in the road.
For details and directions phone Phil Harris on 07845 984426.
Saturday 25th July – 11:00am Delabole Quarry, Delabole, Nr. Camelford.
This is a new site for our field trips and we are extremely grateful to Dave Conway for leading this for our group. Previous visits made here by Dave have produced many sightings of Marbled Whites and Graylings, which are not often seen on our field meetings. Graylings are not often found inland in Cornwall and the discovery of good numbers at this location is good news for the species in our county where it is now mainly restricted to parts of the coast. Good walking boots essential.
Leader - Dave Conway.
Meet at map ref. - SX074836, in Delabole Quarry car park.
For details and directions phone Dave Conway on 01208 77686.
Saturday 8th August – 11:00am Kynance Cove, Nr. The Lizard.
Be prepared for a beautiful walk at this famous locality for lepidoptera. We would certainly hope to see most of the following species: Grayling, Dark Green Fritillary, Clouded Yellow (including Helice), Small Heath, 2nd brood Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Common Blue, Wall Brown, Gatekeeper, Painted Lady and Red Admiral. Please bring a packed lunch, drink, sun cream and good walking boots. Park in the main Kynance Cove car park and meet near the toilet block at the southern end of the car park.
Leader - Phil Boggis.
Meet at map ref. - SW688132, in main Kynance Cove Car Park.
For full details and directions phone Phil Boggis on 01726 66124.
Various Dates – Lepidoptera House, Bodelva, Nr St. Blazey.
County moth expert John Gregory has very kindly offered to set moth traps on various occasions in his large garden and the following morning will look to see what moths have turned up the previous night. This would normally be about mid-morning (exact time to be agreed with John Gregory in advance). He invites anyone who is interested in identifying moths, both micro and macro, to (by pre arrangement) take part in identifying and recording whatever moths arrive at Mr Gregory’s garden. There is a wide range of habitats surrounding the property (including The Eden Project) so a large variety of species of moths can be recorded throughout the year.
Leader - John Gregory.
Meet at map ref. - SX050554, at “Lepidoptera House”, Bay View, Bodelva, St. Blazey.
For details and to arrange to take part and visit John Gregory, please phone John Gregory on 01726 813265.
Other websites which may be of interest:
- Butterfly Conservation organises hundreds of events around the UK every year. You can brush up your identification skills, help on a conservation task, see a rare species or just enjoy a beautiful site.
- Cornwall Moth Group events page
- Cornwall Wildlife Trust events page
- BTCV Conservation days