2020

Updated guidance for butterfly and moth recorders relating to Coronavirus Covid-19

04^th June 2020

Further significant changes and clarification relating to outdoor activities have been made to the government restrictions that were brought in March to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Across the UK, the key message remains to stay at home as much as possible and to follow social distancing rules. However, the specific details vary from country to country.

In England and Northern Ireland, it is now possible for butterfly and moth recording to resume for people who are not shielding or self-isolating.

In Scotland and Wales, it is also now possible for people who are not shielding or self- isolating to resume butterfly and moth recording. However, guidance in Scotland and Wales remains more restrictive in terms of travelling, so you should only record at sites within your local area (roughly 5 miles from home).

Recorders in all four nations must, at all times, continue to observe the appropriate social distancing guidelines for their country. This includes remaining at least two metres away from anyone outside your household. If you have coronavirus symptoms, or if you or any of your household are self-isolating, you should stay at home. Restrictions on the number of people from other households that you can meet vary across the UK so check the current guidance from the websites below.

You should also be aware that nature reserves and other sites may not be open to the public or may be maintaining local restrictions that do not permit butterfly and moth recording. Further advice on staying safe outdoors is available.

We will continue to monitor advice from the UK Government and the devolved administrations, and will produce revised guidance when the time is right. Please check for any updates at www.butterfly-conservation.org. If you have any queries regarding this advice, please contact the recording team at [email protected]

Thank you for your continued co-operation.

Please continue to follow the latest guidance from your appropriate administration:

England: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus,
Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19
Wales: https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19

Sunday 14^th June

White-letter hairstreak, Small and Essex skippers and White Admiral reported our country recorder Andy

Saturday 15^th June

Dark Green Fritillary reported from Holkham

14^th May News Round Up

What funny weather we’re having! One day its sweltering and the next we’re back in our winter woollies.

I’ve printed out a list supplied by County Recorder Andy Brazil of butterflies seen in our area up to 7 May. You may not have seen all of them in your neck of the woods, but they are about, so keep spotting and recording. Next to fly should be the Common Blue and the Swallowtail….and I’ve just heard Swallowtails have been seen already!

Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White,

Brimstone, Clouded Yellow, Orange tip, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper,

Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock,

Comma, Speckled Wood, Wall, Small Heath, Meadow Brown,

Small Tortoiseshell, Large Tortoiseshell

I have highlighted the Large Tortoiseshell because there have been eleven sightings of this rare butterfly recently in Norfolk and Suffolk. Some of you may have seen the write up in The Times:

“Not to be confused with the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, a very common household species which frequents gardens across the UK during the summer months, the Large Tortoiseshell is an immigrant species.”

Kiri Stuart-Clarke, one of the Branch Committee members, says

“We’re asking the public to help us by recording any sightings they make. The weather and wind direction has been favourable for immigration so they could pop up just about anywhere. If you are lucky enough to spot a Large Tortoiseshell either in your own garden or while on your daily exercise you can record your sightings and contribute to our data. Go to Butterfly-conservation.org/mysightings to download the iRecord app. And don’t forget to share a picture of your sighting too.

“It’s important to provide a positive identification when submitting a recording as it could be easy to mis-identify the butterfly as a Small Tortoiseshell or Comma. The native Small Tortoiseshell is obviously much smaller, while the Large Tortoiseshell also has distinguishing features including uneven forewing bars, an extra black forewing spot and is a paler orange in colour.”

And finally, a very early Meadow Brown was spotted in Norwich on 7 May, the earliest ever recorded!

Jen Dawson Membership Secretary, Norfolk Branch

9th April

First Green Hairstreak reported and I've now had several Large White sightings so it seems they were just late.

Here's all sightings of Green Hairstreak since 2011. They have been reported in gardens - but not often

From County Recorder Andy

Due to the current circumstances we are unable to produce our Spring Newsletter. Below are three reports covering Butterflies, Moths and Transect. We plan to produce an Autumn Newsletter Later in the year.

Please click the link below the picture to access the articles.

Butterfly Report 2019 by Andy Brazil Country Butterfly Recorder

Moth Matters Report by David Norgate Norfolk Moth Officer

Transect Report from Alan Dawson Transect Co-Ordinator

Due to Coronavirus Covid-19 all Butterfly Conservation Norfolk events have been cancelled until further notice.

There is such an important link between mental wellness and being outside in nature. Here’s a few activity ideas to consider if you’re isolated at home:

Take a break in nature and spend some time outdoors butterfly spotting.

• You can identify the species you spot the Identify a butterfly page
• We’d love you to share your sightings on Twitter@BC_Norfolk and Facebook @ButterflyConservationNorfolk. Butterfly Conservation will be sharing interesting facts, updates and images under the hashtag #feelbetterwithbutterflies.
• You can also contribute your sightings online to the Garden Butterfly Survey scheme which is run by Butterfly Conservation.

Speaking of sightings, have you submitted all your butterfly and moth records? Why not get out your old notebooks and check if all those records from previous years are safely lodged with your county recorder? You can submit even your old butterfly records online or using mobile apps.

Plant some wildflower seeds for our summer pollinators. Seeds are easy to buy online, or perhaps there’s a few left over in your shed from last year.

Build an Insect A&E. We are encouraging people to help build special areas to support butterflies and bumblebees with the help of Channel 5’s Dr Amir Khan. You can find out more on our website and enter a competition to win some garden plants.

Please look after yourselves