Yesterday (Tuesday 26th May) I was at Cranford Park to carry out the UKBMS butterfly transect.
For those that don't know, this involves walking a set route around the park and counting butterflies and recording how many species seen. The route is split into nine sections so that a variety of habitats are covered. We normally start recording in March but due to the pandemic, restrictions were only lifted on May 14th.
I've been doing this since August 2016 so I have records for May 2017, 2018 and 2019 to compare yesterdays records to. Those records, as near to yesterdays date as possible, are below.....
27/05/2017 - temperature 23c
Large Skipper
Small Copper
Common Blue
Red Admiral
Peacock
Speckled Wood
21/05/2018 - temperature 20c
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Orange-tip
Small Copper
Speckled Wood
Small Heath
24/05/2019 - temperature 21c
Green-veined White
Orange-tip
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Now compare the above to yesterday.....
26/05/2020 - temperature 24c
Speckled Wood
Small Heath
A massive drop in the amount of species seen !
I must admit I did see a couple of other species elsewhere in the park after I had finished the transect, but numbers are really low at the moment.
So what has caused this ? I have a theory, and some people may disagree with me, but here goes anyway.....
Since the Covid 19 outbreak, and the consequent lockdown that restricted people from travelling, the park has become increasingly busier. People who don't normally go to the park were going there for their daily exercise. Some people who weren't respecting the government guidelines, were gathering at the park in large numbers to have BBQs and picnics. The amount of rubbish and litter has increased dramatically, and areas of the park that were not often used, were busy with families walking and playing. Dog walkers that usually used other parks, were coming to Cranford as some of their regular parks/dog walking areas were closed off to the public.
I'm wondering if this extra human and dog traffic has had adverse effect on the butterflies. The only way to be sure is to, of course, compare the numbers again in May 2021.
I was first at the park on May 18th to do the transect and it was very busy. There are a couple of transect sections where I normally never see anyone, but on the 18th I found myself often stepping off the path to let people pass. And I only recognised one regular visitor the whole time I was there. Yesterday the park was quieter, probably due to travel restrictions being slightly lifted, and the same transect routes were quiet again. I also saw more of the regulars over there (it was great to catch up with Phil, Allan, Nikki, Yvonne, Serge amongst others)
Sadly some of the new visitors to the park have had no respect at all for our lovely green space, and there was evidence of numerous bonfires and BBQs all over the park and in the woods. Litter was scattered everywhere, and probably scattered even more by the local foxes and crows. So just a quick message to any new visitors to the park...…...please continue visiting but do NOT light bonfires or BBQs, and take home any rubbish with you instead of leaving it in situ, or next to an already brimming over full bin. Also please stick to the purposely mown grass paths and do not go into the longer grassy meadow areas.
Rant over. Back to yesterdays lovely visit.
As mentioned in the transect report, there were plenty of Speckled Wood butterflies on the wing, and most have already set up their territories now. These characteristic butterflies are very territorial and I saw several pairs swirling up in to the sky going round and round in circles. Males who have already got their 'patch' were seeing off any other insects that dare come near, but always coming back to the same leaf or twig to settle down. If you want to see one for yourself look for dappled sunlit glades within the woods and on the edge of the woodland.
The wildlife pond in front of the Information Centre was very low water-wise, but was still attracting lots of critters. The pond was only renovated in September 2018 and is doing really well with Marsh Marigold, Flag Irises and Water Forget-me-not all blooming so far this season.
Last spring I recorded a male Broad-bodied Chaser at the pond, a species of dragonfly. Yesterday there was another one there. And just like the Speckled Wood butterfly, they are very territorial and often do laps of 'their' pond. This one kept returning to exactly the same twiggy perch, which was partially hidden by foliage so made getting a photo a little bit difficult....
I also saw a female Large Red damselfly at the pond....
and along the River Crane I spotted a Blue-tailed damselfly....
and my favourite of the Odonata family, a male Banded Demoiselle, the most colourful and striking of them all....
I was in the scrubby area in the corner of the park by Cranford Woods when I spotted a butterfly feeding that I didn't recognise at first....
I crept closer for a better look and was amazed to see it was actually one of the day flying moths, the oddly named Mother Shipton.....
I have never seen one feeding on nectar with its wings up.
They get their name from the pattern on their upper wing which is said to resemble the face of a famous Prophetess, Ursula Sontheil, who became known as Mother Shipton in her later years after marrying Tobias Shipton. He died just a few years after the marriage and Ursula kept his surname. She was an odd looking woman with a large crooked nose, bent back and twisted legs. The markings on the back of the moth are just like the outline of Ursulas' face......
She apparently predicted the fates of several rulers during her lifetime, as well as the invention of iron ships and the Great Fire of 1666 that destroyed London, along with the defeat of the Spanish Armada. She died in 1561 aged 71, childless and a widow.
And that concludes your history lesson for the day ! Hahahaha
As I was leaving the park I heard the familiar 'mew' of one the parks more regular sights, a lovely Common Buzzard soaring above....
I will be carrying out another UKBMS butterfly transect next week, so will report back if numbers have lifted or stayed down.
Keep well everyone and stay safe
