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| European Map Butterfly |
Yesterday morning I attended my first meeting of The Jersey Butterfly monitoring Scheme. Anyone reading this blog will know of my love of butterflies. I’ve signed up to walk a transect in the middle of the island. The meeting was to give me training and help me with butterfly identification. All good stuff. It seems we may have a few new continental visitors including the European Map. This, to be honest, was an unknown butterfly to me, but very beautiful. Hopefully I’ll get to see one this year.
In the next week I get to do my first walk around an arable field with help. From then on I’m on my own. Walking along in an imaginary 5 metre box, recording any butterflies in the box, as I walk steadily. Hopefully they won’t flit past too quickly before I’ve worked out what they are. Fortunately I have a list of likely butterflies, so I’m doing 'in depth' research about each one. At least I’m getting better at my Peacocks, Red Admirals and Speckled Woods.
It seems you have to pick your day each week. No colder that 13°C, no windier than force 5. And preferably some sunshine, definitely no rain. I feel there might be a few weeks of no recordings!
After my morning, we went in search of a spot on the island that neither I or my better half had ever been too. How is that possible do I hear you ask? Victoria Tower overlooking Gorey is evidently an excellent place to spot butterflies. You can see why I wanted to find it. We dragged along birthday boy and finally found the tiny lane that led to the tower. Owned by the National Trust for Jersey, it is the last Martello tower to be built on the island in 1837. It even had its own moat. Around the tower is a brilliant mix of woodland, gorse and wild flowers that I’m sure will attract the butterflies in the months to come. I will return very soon.
Moving on reluctantly from this very peaceful spot we finished our walk with a visit to a Neolithic passage grave, built around 6,000 years ago. This grave is one of many on our island, probably the most famous being at Hougue Bie. Unlike Hougue Bie this one is now exposed to the elements, with no earth mound over it. The 24 ton capstone is very impressive. I loved the way you had to walk along a sunken green alley to reach the stones, giving a very atmospheric feel to the site.
Everywhere in the grassy banks primroses were nestled. It has certainly been a good year for them. No doubt all the rain.
Everywhere in the grassy banks primroses were nestled. It has certainly been a good year for them. No doubt all the rain.
So I’m off to peruse my pocket guide to butterflies; hopefully working out the difference between a large and small white, among other conundrums. I’ll keep you updated with my butterfly progress and let you see my transect field very soon. I feel wellies may be needed.
Have you signed up for anything lately? I look forward to hearing about it.
Barbara xxx
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