2007 Archive White-letter Hairstreak news

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NOT ALL REPORTS CAME FROM TARGET SQUARES.
PHOTOS OF TARGET SITES WELCOME

December 2007

Wednesday 19th December
More elm found in target squares by Gavin Woodman. Elm continues to stand out more in the landscape as the buds expanded despite the cold weather. Thanks to everyone that has contributed during the first year of the project.

Tuesday 11th December
Egg found in Nottinghamshire by Martin Greenland. Elm flower buds expanding on elm and now quite visible even on elm thought to have died last summer.

November 2007

Monday 26th November
Elm continues to be found by Gavin Woodman

Found a really good link to the BC Kent Branch's Purple Hairstreak Survey. Gives lots of tips on searching for Purple Hairstreak eggs and many excellent photos. http://www.quercus2.co.uk/- LG

October 2007

30.10.07 - Buds already visible even though leaves still present Surrey © photo: Liz Goodyear	30.10.07 - Buds already visible even though leaves still present Surrey © photo: Liz Goodyear

Wednesday 31st October
Elm found in a target in Shropshire by Gavin Woodman "The quantity of elms at 1km level in SJ7402 is the largest concentration of hedgerow elms I have seen so far, even though most appear to be regularly cut, the plants that make up the hedge are very old." However, on the Kent/Surrey/Sussex borders elm (let alone healthy elm) was almost impossible to find in two 10km squares. However, what was noted was that although leaves are still hanging on, new season buds are already visible and should help with elm identification even in the early winter months (flowering elm)- Liz Goodyear

Wednesday 24th October
Another target square in Lincolnshire visited by Martin Greenland, the actual 1 and 2km contained no elm, just some dead elms with low regrowth just to the north, habitat comprised cultivated fenland with a power station, canal and railway. However, on the opposite side of the River Trent there was Wych and English elm distributed through Burton Wood and hedgerow running east. Egg was found at SE870167; eggshells (from 2006 eggs) at SE866162 & 870167. This appears to be a new 10km square!

Friday 19th October
Martin Greenland locates eggs in two Lincolnshire targets, 1 at 2km level when elm had previously been seen and 1 at 10km level. One of the eggs was found on recently cut material at the base of the tree and Martin recommends this as a useful technique whenever pruning has taken place!

September 2007

Monday 24th September
Eggs found by Gavin Woodman in Shropshire and more elm continues to be found at 1km or 2km level by Dave Wilton and others. The project can continue throughout the year!

August 2007

Wednesday 29th August
I saw a White Letter Hairstreak on my transect yesterday (28th August) on Figsbury Ring in south Wiltshire (next to Porton Down). This is a regular transect and although sampling has been difficult this year with the weather, this is the first one I have recorded - Jolyon Medlock (Wiltshire)

Monday 27th August
On Saturday at the London Wetland Centre, Barnes, there were at least 2 Painted Lady, Small Copper, Peacock, White-letter Hairstreak (not seen by me) and a Clouded Yellow (flying SW) - news from Martin Honey via Uk Leps (south London)

Wednesday 15th August
A visit to south Wales at the weekend, showed that there is plenty of elm along the M4 corridor from the M25 to the end north of Swansea. However, there appear to be a gap just over the Severn Bridge in Wales! Roadside elm could be seen from Cross Hands to Llanwrda and in the landscape at varying degrees of abundance. Unfortunately I was unable to encourage any family members to allow time to visit two targets! - Liz Goodyear

Wednesday 8th August
Enroute to north Wales, Andrew Middleton stops at Bugbrooke in Northants close to the M1 and finds a fresh egg on wych elm by church in a target square [SP6757] - news via text message. More elm was found in several target 1km squares and at 10km level in two high altitude squares.

July 2007

Sunday 29th July
Rousebarn Lane, which runs along one edge of Whippendell Woods in Watford: Sat 27 July: This classic country lane has elm trees and suckers along much of its length, but I failed to see any sign of white-letter hairstreaks as I walked along. I stayed in one place, at the corner of the Lane and the golf-club drive, catching tantilizing glimpses of possible WLHs for three quarters of an hour, the sun going in and out and quite a breeze all decreasing my chances, or so I thought. The matter was confused by what might have been WLHs flying up and challenging passing holly blues, but none of the sightings was conclusive. At that point, just as I was about to give up, I got a definite i.d. of a WLH, perched on a leaf about 20 feet away (viewed clearly through binoculars), in exactly the same location that I saw my very first, about 45 years ago. - Andrew King (Hertfordshire)

Sunday 22nd July
SK07 Did a quick circuit of Combs Reservoir, this being one of the lowest altitude areas in the 10 km square. Surprisingly, no elms in the fields. However, some shrubby elm by SW end of dam. In spite of overcast conditions, got brief glimpses of small dark butterflies or moths in canopy of sycamore nearby - but unable to establish whether wlh. Good nectaring field nearby with much creeping thistle and plenty of butterflies - gate keepers, meadow browns, skippers, commas etc but could see no wlh. Otherwise, a good deal of wych elm along road by the the Hanging Gate pub at Cockyard and also the odd shrubby bush along footpaths along railway leading to Chapel-en-le Frith station. Looked again at promising elms near Combs village in the Pyegreave Brook, but by then weather very dull and turning to rain. Rob Foster

WLh seen in south Wales in last week by Rob and Linda Nottage. 14 July 2007, 1 adult flying/ resting on wild clematis on a few scattered elms in regenerating scrub, near River Thaw and coast Not previuosly seen at this site in many years visiting but known to be present further up Thaw valley. On the 18th 2 adults in poor condition very worn and tattered - one elm on edge of small ex-quarry. First recorded at this site in 2006

Friday 20th July
Was out on Wednesday this week, but the weather is most frustrating, really only clearing mid-afternoon, when I saw 4 (1 nectaring; 3 in canopy, one sparring with a comma - I see someone else has observed this. Did my first serious search for this season's eggs and found this one, still greenish in colour. I suspect eggs this winter are going to be much harder to find than last, as this must be a very difficult breeding season for the species - Martin Greenland (Yorkshire)

I live 4 miles from ST 85 91, which is currently blank, and can give it a go. There’s a good chance of there being some wych elm there as it likes the geology. The butterfly is widespread in the district, though colonies are short lived. But I’m more likely to work the eggs, particularly this year. There is a large colony 1 mile SW at the W end of Silk Wood (ST834893) based on about 2 ha of a Himalayan elm called Ulmus villosa which the FC planted there as a DED experiment, and which is less susceptible to DED. However, numbers have been horribly low this year due to foul and abusive weather. This must be one of the most difficult White-letter Hairstreak seasons of our era…. Matthew Oates (Gloucestershire)

Tristan and I went to the SH61 and 62 sites yesterday. It was a lovely sunny day and we visited them all before midday.We didnt spend much time in Barmouth (10km level SH61), as Tristan felt I had seen WLH three times there, flitting around the tops of the same Lime and Sycamores next to two groups of elms. So we went to the monad in SH61 along the Barmouth estuary. Very hard to keep one's eye on the row of elms and adjacent ash, sycamore etc. But even so, Tristan felt we should have seen spiraling male activity. Then we went to Pont Fadog in SH62 and also looked at some roadside elms in that square. Again, no luck. On Wednesday afternoon, it was sunny, and I looked along the upper Harlech road elms. Again, no luck. But wherever the trees dont shade the wall , there are sunny scallops of bramble and I had Comma, Peacock, GVWhite, Speckled Wood-so if there are WLH there, they may nectar here eventually. I have tried hard, but the weather has been against me - Helen Bantock (in north Wales) (Photo of elm at SH611163)

Thursday 19th July
SK18 Peak District Derbyshire: Went round the elms in the 1 km and 2 km square today (19-7-07) in ideal sunny, still-air conditions; saw no wlh - difficult to prove a negative though. I only saw one wlh all day - on the tree in Castleton where I know they are present - Rob Foster (Peak District)

Whilst out doing a botanical woodland survey I counted 7 WLH in the canopies of three W. Elm trees. It was interesting to watch a pair of WLHs do battle with two Commas for control of the highest part of the canopy and win! They are feisty little creatures! They were seen Denbighshire, Wales on the 18/7/07 11am in sunny, warm conditions on the canopy of Wych Elm, young trees in clearing, dbh; 30-40cm - Rob Thorne (usually Shropshire but recording in north Wales)

Bruce Maxfield has confirmed that he is recording wlh in his patch in Wiltshire.

Our experience in East Anglia at some of the more remote and isolated sites is that activity is subsiding and active males are no longer easy to find. Watched a purple hairstreak yesterday mucking about in some elm pretending to be a wlh looking at suitable elm to egg lay except it should have been looking at oak! - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton (in south Norfolk)

Monday 16th July
It was dull and cloudy first thing and sporadic sun appeared around 9.30am.I went first to the elms in the SH61 monad outside Barmouth.Although sunny,and temps up to 16 degrees ,it was still windy and I just wonder if this site is not sheltered enough.I saw nothing between 10 and 10.45am. Further up the road there is a big dead elm and lots of new growth, but all under a canopy of other trees. So I returned through Barmouth and looked at the elms by the road at SH611163, just outside the tetrad. I arrived just on 11 am, and the sun was intermittent, but quite strong. In 20 minutes, I had four or five sightings of dark butterflies at the top of a big lime which overlooks the elms .There is another lime behind it and a sycamore and ash but no oak nearby. The butterflies had the typical hairstreak fidgety flight, but I saw no spiralling. I watched one disappear into the leaves of a branch below the crown of the tree and re-emerge briefly, but then it all went quiet and nothing more happened in the next 45 minutes. As I was watching , a Holly Blue flew across, lower down, but it was unmistakeable in flight and colour and not what was carrying on in the treetops. I also saw a Speckled Wood-again, low down and flying through.So I must check again tomorrow, but I am hopeful that they were White letter Hairstreaks - Helen Bantock (in North Wales)

I was in the Derby area (14-7-2007) and had a brief look at the target km square SK14 33. Flacketts Lane Farm falls more or less in the middle. Flacketts Lane itself runs more or less north-south across the square, another rural lane runs diagonally across the NE corner and the A50 runs E-W across the bottom ot the square. Most of my observations were made from the lanes. Elm occurs commonly in the hedgerows of the area, noteably, thickly in those outside Flacketts Lane Farm. Perversely, other than that, within the square, elm occurs as only as occasional bushes within the hedgerows, whereas just outside the square it often constitutes the complete hedge. Hedges like this can be found along the lane which runs NW- SE notably close to Oaks Green (in the tetrad) and Smithy Holding (not in the tetrad, but in the 10km square). The elm is mostly large-leaved and presumably wych elm, although there is also elm with smaller leaves in the hedgerows near Smithy Holding. The hedgerows are evidently regularly trimmed. No small elms or trees of any sort have been allowed to develop along their lengths (although there are tall ash trees in the fields behind them that might be attractive to WLH). Nevertheless, I found some small elm trees in the km square, for instance in the under-story of Merefield Gorse, a wood in the NW corner. In particular, I found a small elm (about 20 ft) oposite Flackett Lane Farm. It is over topped by a tall oak. In the late evening sunshine, as I was about to leave, I noticed that there were insects that looked like moths or butterflies zig-zagging around the top of this tree. However I was unable to convince myself that they were WLH; they seemed too small. Anyway, at least SK13 can be marked as having elm in the target km square. I will put some photos of the elms found on website www.whiteletter.multiply.com Rob Foster (Peak District

Saturday 14th July
Have just got back from St. Margaretts at Cliffe Where I found a colony last summer, then the cloud descended nothing seen. I had seen in March a couple of very large x. hollandica in a large garden nearby(the Pine garden, open to the public) walking past it I counted 11 of theese trees all healthy, despite scanning them with binoculars nothing seen. Saw more Elm to the north and set of to investigate 1 large Wych Elm and several smaller ones, and 4 lage Smooth-leaved Elm, a scarce tree in Kent. The sun was out again, still no WLH the wind was force 5 gusting 6, making observation of the leaves difficult. led a Kent branch field trip last Sunday to Burnt Oak and Warehorne.The WLH at Warehorne were all very tatty. Of note there were just 12 really tatty White Admirals in Burnt Oak on the 7/7, on the 8/7 only 6 were seen, my peak week back in June I had 38 on my transect.I don't work Sunday nights so I hope to walk my transect tomorrow, then visit Warehorne to get an idea of how many WLH are still about, then visit TQ8451, will drop in on the Ashford tetrad on my way home. Monday went to Elms at Folkestone Warren and Dover hill (Folkestone) the the cloud came over Torrential rain within an hour and the wind! Tuesday of to the Hythe town centre stretch of the Canal, the thick black cloud arrived at the same time as I did 1 Red Admiral was all I saw in 90 minutes, Friday I went to check Elms from Temple Ewell and acoss to the north of Lydden guess what the cloud came over and still that strong wind. This really sums up my summer - Alan Cooper (Kent)

Wednesday 11th July
Went out with Martin Greenland today looking at elms which had been found so far in SK18. Weather very windy and overcast, but nevertheless, in a brief sunny spell, saw WLH butterflies (3+) on large elm by Castleton Brook SK148 828 (190 m) see www.whiteletter.multiply.com in photo album SK14 82 Castleton Brook. Martin also found egg case on same tree. Searched trees in target km square and tetrad, but no luck. So the status of the square remains unchanged ie "LWT found in 10km square" as it was following Martin's finding of pupa near Hope in June - Rob Foster (Peak District)

Forecast supposed to be brighter in the west of our region so drove up to Cottenham first in Cambridgeshire (TL46) and walked along the drainage ditch (as it was cloudy) into the 1km target square. Along the ditch and 'garden' edge, lots of elm was visible but when we reached a point that the road through Cottenham was visible we could see underneath some roadside oak, several large elm trees in the target. We have probably driven past them at least six times since the survey started! Unfortunately it remained cloudy so we drove on. Next stop the Fens (TL3798) west of March. A landscape void of trees, let alone elm - just the occasional single small trees, and nothing in the target 2km square that could support wlh. We drove back along the March bypass with GPS in hand to pick up the 10km again and saw some elm by a church. It was in the target 10km square by metres, so we parked up and in a moment of sunshine Andrew saw two wlh fly around ash. No more sun but we think a new 10km square record. Driving through to the west side of the 10km the first elm we saw again was in Coates (TL3197). We didn't look at the Peterborough target as this requires local knowledge and drove on to a square near Tallington (TF07). We couldn't believe that the minute we drove into the target 1km square, the road was lined with elm and in particular two laybys (TF087079). Unfortunately remained cloudy and we weren't able to find any hatched eggs/larvae on our return. These elms need to be visited again! From Tallington we drove through Stamford and Oakham to a target near Braunston (SK80). It was possible to just drive through a small section of the target and again, we were amazed to find the roadside lined with elms (these were Wych elms) and a hatched egg was found. From here we drove to Harringworth and under the amazing Welland Viaduct to the target (SP99). The target was just outside the village with road access. Our luck continued... the road was lined with Wych elm although we thought the best elm was just into the 2km level. We drove back, parked up, selected a branch of elm, pulled it down and Andrew found the second hatched egg of the day! Considering the weather, this was an excellent day out - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Monday 9th July
Lots of news from Andrew Middleton who visited north Herts, Cambs and Beds today with 4 red squares completed!!!! Also news from Gavin Woodman - Liz Goodyear

I managed to see 5 or 6 White Letter Hairstreaks flying around one of the elms at Spellbrook (TL4816) at 4.35pm today. The elm in particular was one of the more prominent elms in the hedgerow opposite the American style carwash, and directly opposite a garden with two very large fir trees in it (and usually a couple of fluorescent red DynoRod vans!). I spent about 45minutes in the field behind the hedgerow, which was facing the sun, but quite windblown, without seeing anything. Only as I was leaving and walking along the opposite side of the very busy road did I spot a couple of WLH soaring up from the top of the elm. I stopped of course, and counted 5 or 6 flying in their distinctive erratic way around the top of this particular elm on the shady, but sheltered side. I am spurred on to check out the elms at Thorley Church now if I can find the time when the conditions are reasonably favourable - Bob Clift

Saw around 15 WLH in TQ2361 last Saturday and again Sunday - Richard Donovan (Surrey)

Saturday 7th July
I don't say this 4 Jul sighting (below) was the earliest WLH in Suffolk, but it is the first to come to me. It is a colony first discovered in 2006. What with the showers, no-one has been out looking lately. I took a look at TL8662 in the bright intervals this morning 7 Jul, and found nothing on the Nowton Park elms (apart from some interesting galls), and nothing at the other site I have been checking at the 2km level. However, at Hall Farm TL 865672, a copse I have found them in several times in the last 5 years, I saw 2 (or3) WLH - so that is success (of a sort) at the 10km level. Just a short note to let you know that today, on my first first visit this year, I was greeted by a single White-letter Hairstreak nectaring on bramble as last July, just beyond the northern perimeter of the Control Tower Car Park.[TM2345]. Clearly they have established a hold in this relatively small area. Purple Hairstreak also found nearby - Steve Goddard - News from Rob Parker (Suffolk)

Spent an hour or so watching the Parkland Walk trees this afternoon from Crouch Hill bridge where you can look directly into the mid-canopy of the largest elm. As expected, no territorial activity high up and a maximum of 2 wlh seen, but did locate one resting, crawling between leaves and occasionally flying small distances -record shot attached. Other butts around very active, Comma, Holly Blue and Small White - Tristan Bantock (north London)

Possible WLH in target square ST5029 today, seen briefly flying between elm and ash. Holly Blue-sized but appeared silvery in flight (definitely not Holly Blue, and appeared too small for Purple Hairstreak and no oaks were in the vicinity). A definite WLH at Chew Down (ST6053) earlier in the day - a new site for the species. Again flying from elm into ash; only a handful of small spindly elms in the hedgerow. Chris Iles (Somerset)

Friday 6th July
Visited two target Yorkshire squares where eggs/elms have been found but still no adults. Got some strange looks from the golfers and had to keep getting out of their way (there is a public footpath, but probably not well-used). To compensate for the lack of success here with wlh (saw 3 down the road at SE730353 at 10km level) I did see 2 marbled whites - looks like a new 10km square for them - Martin Greenland


News from Wed 27th June – one wlh nectaring on bramble near elms at SS888475 (wlh last records around 1970 for this 10km square), between Exmoor and the north coast, near Porlock - Diane Andrew’s postcard from Exmoor (confirmed as West Country branch not Devon - oops geography)

A tour of East Anglia in sub optimum conditions resulted in some good results and some moderates results and some negatives. Several 1/2km level squares need further surveying in better conditions as no sightings did not mean they were not present. Our best finds were always the first sites of the day, confirming our belief that morning is still the best time to see males on territory - Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Tuesday 3rd July
Another target square in the West Midlands (SO99) is completed at 10km level

News has been received that a WLH was seen at Gait Barrows in north Lancashire on 11 June

Monday 2nd July
Shropshire goes red - Gavin Woodman finds wlh yesterday in target 1km square (SJ72)! His first adults were seen on Friday 29th in Shropshire SJ6523 which may also be new location.

June 2007

Friday 29th June
I tried my Littleport square on Friday - found fair bit of Elm at 2km but all quite short re-growth and lots of new disease. Didn't record any WLH - very windy very frustrating - Sharon Hearle (also visited by AM and Bills Cutts on 1st July but likewise too windy)

Wlh was seen at Potteric Carr (VC63) on 19th June - a little earlier than a date on the branch website. This nature reserve in S. Yorkshire generally produces the county's first record - Martin Greenland (Yorkshire)

Thursday 28th June
Still haven't seen an adult this year! Martin Greenland (Yorkshire)

Wednesday 27th June
Weather conditions started favourable and were quickly able confirm wlh present at Thistley Green (TL71) and drove to Colchester TL92. Here we had to wait nearly 2 hours as the cloud cover had built up for a single wlh around a tall old elm. Driving out of square, we took a different route and found a long row of roadside elm at TL977250 on the Lexden Road. If we had found this on a earlier visit we wouldn't have had to wait so long.... We will probably revisit. Then to Long Melford (TL84) and we walked across fields to the better tree although further. After a short wait, a short burst of sunshine brought out 1 wlh. Tried the Cottenham elms (TL46) but by now threatening to rain, heavy cloud and very windy so left after 30 minutes and will return another day - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Tuesday 26th June
SE66, no adult activity, even in one prolonged sunny interval. But found intact pupa - Martin Greenland (Yorkshire)

We had been unsuccessful at both Chineham and the Hawley/Cove area last week despite sunny conditions So we returned today despite a rather poor forecast.....We arrived at our target square in Chineham SU6554 and started to watch the elm. Just as we arrived the sun came out and we could see as we were speaking to some interested people wlh flying around some ash and elm. As the people moved on the cloud returned........1 1/2 hours later some decent sun returned and a perched adult was confirmed. Minimum 4 or 5 individuals seen. We then drove back to the Cove/Hawley area target SU8556. When we visited in the spring we had not been able to find elm at 1km level and our feeling was there was none at 2km level either. We found some reasonable elm at SU858587 just about 1km+ outside the target 2km and after about 10mins an individual wlh was seen. As far as we can see this is the first record for this 10km square since before the 1970s??? We walked through Hawley Common just to double check but our feeling is that elm isn't present anywhere in the 2km square (we would like to be proved wrong). 1 individual seen What we did notice about Hawley Common is there is enough sallow to feed a 1000 Purple Emperors. Have they been seen there - if not they should be! Finally we stopped at Cranbourne south of Windsor Great Park to a square where we had a larva at 2km level on flowering elm. Target SU9273. Two males were seen to clash over hazel, sycamore and alder. 2 individuals seen in total. For information all these sites in Hampshire and Berkshire today were using non flowering elm. We had noted this in the spring and thought they would be difficult areas to crack! Not a great tally of individuals but still good fun - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Monday 25th June
Martin Greenland on a trip 'up north' was able to visit three target 10km squares and was successful in finding a hatched egg in NZ09, which too our knowledge is a new 10km square. In addition he found hatched eggs in the following 10km squares NZ08, NZ18 & NU00. NU00 would be the most northerly record to date as well as being a new 100km square!

Sunday 24th June
Just been checking the squares (TQ9323), I could probably have a look in this tetrad after walking my transect, instead of lounging under the big Elm at Warehorne.WLH is present on young Wych Elms along the Military Canal down to the Sussex border. Spent the afternoon with Kevin Tolhurst, I am surely injecting him with the WLH bug! Dry in Dover by early afternoon, left home about 1330 the sun shone briefly as I drove past the Wych Elms around Kearsney station. Then the rain started again halfway down the M20 to Ashford, we had intended to sample the bumper crop of White Admirals in the Orlestone! A quick change of plans when we met in the FC car park, saw us off to Lydd where I had 4 months ago seen a good clump of English Elm close to the cemetery Where I had noticed the hybrid 'lobel', found loads of English Elm on the northern edge of the cemetery, and this is not too far from New Romney where a BC member who came to a field trip I led last July to Burnt Oak and Warehorne, found the first ever record for the Romney Marshes! Lots of Elm on the way to Dymchurch, then largely absent to Hythe. Kevin has found a large Elm close to his house in Hempstead Valley. We first visited the 200 year old x.hollandica then the "Wych" Elm at Seabrook. It seems he has a very large "Wych" Elm on his "doorstep". For some reason the hybrid dodoens is healthy in Hythe town centre stretch despite the woeful condition of our native Elms nearby, We then drove back to Hamstreet across various back roads on the marshes and noticed many good Elm growths that surely support WLH. Recrossed the canal at Ruckinge and we found several young Wych Elms to my delight.Last looked here several years ago and the Elms were a mess, anyway salvaged something out of lousy weather! Still raining here - Alan Cooper (Kent)

Despite a forecast which said don't be stupid and go out, Andrew and I did today. The idea was to visit TL0124 (Houghton Regis) and try and visit at least one other random 1km in the area. Since it was still cloudy we bypassed TL0124 and went to Kempston and visited SP9746. Our first impression when we looked at the map was ugh! We found elm at 2km level easily and came into the 1km from the north but no elm and just open fields - but we could see at the bottom of the square was Meadow Farm and our experience is that often elm is retained around farm buildings. We then tried to reach it but hit narrow lanes which ended in dead ends (signs saying private no public access) with absolutely no where to park. (We should have just walked across from where we first parked but.....) We ended up having to walk over 1 1/2 km to the farm through metre high wet and muddy cereal crops with cleavers catching your boots!!! It was horrid but in the distance we could see the farm and a bank of trees which looked like limes with a possible elm beneath. Walking with my gps counting the numbers down, I was sure we were about to go out of the 2km square...... but then we realised this bank of trees weren't limes but ALL elms just a few metres in the target 1km, huge, beautiful tall and healthy and we hoped covered in wlh, but it then decided to RAIN! We waited and waited and eventually a small patch of weak sun appeared and 1 wlh flicked its way between a gap in the canopy at the most sheltered location. The snag was we then had to walk back to the car. So 1 white-letter Hairstreak recorded 1km level in SP9746. Hoping the sun would shine we drove back to Houghton Regis and waited for a glimmer of sunshine - we were being optimistic but it did appear and we were able to record Wlh at 2km level (TL0024) - the target elm was in the shade so it wasn't worth watching - this will need to be revisited in the morning when in the sun. We also noticed some more hedge row elm alongside the road on the road into Houghton Regis which hadn't flowered so that might be worth checking as well. We had 2 white-letter at 2km level in TL0024 - LG & AM

In the Peak District, WLH occur on Wych Elm at sites at and around 300m David Mallon Cheshire & Peak District Branch

Saturday 23rd June
Took a rather tentative look at this tetrad Thursday afternoon. Weather was mostly sunny but wind force 5 gusting 6 or more in exposed situations. Left home 1310, and went to some nice English Elm I found 4 weeks ago.TR236440. 1 Painted Lady struggling against a head wind. I will look here again when the wind abates I then set of to Bossingham. I have only driven through this village perhaps half a dozen times in the 34 years I have been driving. Very little Elm noticed on the way, but then I largely stuck to roads I knew, of the back roads I took they were so narrow and twisty, and the school run imminent I couldn't look for Elms as much as I would have liked. Arrived at Bossingham after 2pm I took the unclassified road going SE and noticed many good Elm growths(TR1548) in the village. Walked to some sheltered Elms at TR153488 One seen within 5 minutes. encouraged I then took the footpath heading North east. Scrub Elms noticed upon entering the tetrad. Then at TQ157493 good English Elms.25' tall tree 12 inches in diameter, 30' tall tree 10 inches in diameter, much Elm suckers here mostly12-15 feet high. 1 plus one proboable seen(beating its way bask to a sanctuary Ash tree,Have seen this at Warehorne in these conditions Meadow Browns only active in the sheltered spots.5 Small Tortoishell seen! this is good away from the Romney Marsh.The NW of this square is arable, but the southern area is a mix of light grazing and hay meadow. The main footpath has an amazing variety of shrubs and tree species. Other Elms found in the North of this tetrad and others seen in binoculars in the SE - Alan Jackson (Kent)

Coppetts Wood, Midday; 6 White-letter Hairstreak on ash clashing - Tony Clancy (north London)

Friday 22nd June
WLH in Newmarket yesterday - Sharon Hearle (Suffolk)

A long sunny period between 8.30 and 10.30 this morning (22nd June) provided the opportunity to have a good look around the site during my day off work. Best sighting were the numbers of White-letter Hairstreaks on Horsenden Hill, with 19+ recorded there along with another 2 in Perivale Wood - Andy Culshaw (Middlesex)

Thursday 21st June
TQ68 (Bulphan, Essex): Returned for 2nd visit during flight period and had wlh at 10km level first along road to Langdon Hills. Having searched in March the 1km square thoroughly with only a small area of elm found that had not been hammered by DED, started to watch the better quality elm which had flowered but was at 2km level, Andrew returned to the scrappy bit which was in the 1km and after a few minutes had a flight around a small elm. Then 20mins later, one flew in and perched! An amazing success which was almost hard to believe! LG & AM

Earlier, drove around Hertford and found wlh at three sites before meeting Andrew. We met at Cheshunt Park, Herts and found 12 healthy planted elms and watched just for a few minutes, within seconds at least 6 individuals seen - LG

Having tried various sites, both past WLH haunts and target square in Chesham, I am yet to have a WLH positive result. On the first weekend following notification that beast was on the wing (8th June) I visited 4 known sites with no sighting. I have pesisted since then but been very limited by poor weather. The black Hairstreak seems to have had a protracted emergence this year. Is the WLH doing similar? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? - Tom Dunbar (Upper Thames Branch/Bucks)

Wednesday 20th June
1 yesterday and 2 seen today at Ryton Wood, Warwickshire - Mike Slater (Warwickshire)

Still absent in north Hertfordshire (TL33) today despite fantastic row of elm - just too early and site 150m above sea level - LG & AM

Tuesday 19th June
First White letter hairstreak on my Ware Park transect since 1998 today (it must have heard about the survey). Different place (and tetrad) to the old sightings. Also good numbers of Red Admiral and Meadow Brown feeding on privet flowers - Andrew Wood (Hertfordshire)

The first W/L hairstreak today in Abney Park Cemetery - at the spot with the oak, ash and elm combination – Garry James for TeRNS (north London - Hackney)

Revisited some of the central London areas for White-letter today, whilst it was sunny. First stop Gibson Square in Islington and several white-letter seen flying around an ash and the giant elms in the square. Nothing yet as nearby Barnsbury Lane. Then to Westbourne Green open space, almost beneath the West Way, and where there are at least 5 medium sized planted elms and some very active white-letter. Lots of clashes and flights around lunchtime. From there we went to look at the elms near to the Broad Walk in Regents Park and again active white-letter. Nothing around the elms in Kensington Gardens but still a chance one might get seen. However, the highlight for us was being asked by Paul Whitehouse what we were looking at. When we explained he was very interested although I fear we might just end up as characters in one of his TV shows! Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Went out over the weekend as requested and looked at elms in Mam Tor carpark in the target km square. No butterfly sightings I am afraid. However the effort was not wasted; I found a new large elm at Knowlesgates Farm in the target tetrad and v large 80ft elm in Edale in the 10km square. I also obtained permission to photograph a "200 year old elm" in gardens at Castleton. Details and photos of all these elms are on blogsite www.whiteletter.multiply.com. No butterflies or pupae seen on these either. However, its early days yet for northern sightings; the weather was dull and, following several days torrential rain, not many butterflies of any sort were in evidence - Rob Foster

White-letter Hairstreak appear to be flying better in the more urban landscapes such as London. We are still struggling to pick up sightings even in relatively sunny conditions, although yesterday started dull and wet and was windy throughout. Yesterday, we found a perched wlh high on an elm at Crays Pond, completing SU68 but didn't 'connect' at our two Hampshire targets visited in April. Elm has been found in the West Country by Chris Iles and Rob Foster and in West Midlands by Gavin Woodman - LG & AM

Thursday 14th June
Despite the forecast went to the London Borough of Hackney today to seek out the elms mentioned in this leaflet and in particular elms in Millfields Park South, St John of Jerusalem Church and Hackney Downs. The trees at these sites are truly huge, and in moments of sunshine between cloud we had white-letter activity at all three sites. The problem is that because the trees are so tall, the butterflies look absolutely minute and it takes awhile to be certain that the small skitty thing seen on the top of the elm really is white-letter. Quite amazing and probably the first records from these trees. For instance around Millfields Park there was no visible nectar so they must be surviving on the elm or London Plane honeydew and its not surprising that no one has seen one there - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Wednesday 13th June
4 WLH seen playing chase and doing spiralling flights at the top of 30ft high ash trees on West Road, Midsomer Norton today (ST665550). The elm here is hedgerow elm, about 15ft tall, in front of the ash trees - Chris Iles (Somerset)

Checked out the target square (TQ39) in north Enfield but still no activity so went home! - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Recently published research in Spain has identified the role of Triterpenes and other organic compounds in deterring the disease-carrying bark beetles from colonizing the White Elm Ulmus laevis - Andrew Brookes (University of Portsmouth)

I visited the project square TL8662 (Nowton Park, south of Bury St Edmunds) yesterday, and this morning 13th June 2007, I checked my favourite local colony near Cavenham. In neither case did I find any WLH. TL8662. There are about 8 unpromising elm growths in the north of Nowton Park (5 English, with unhealthy signs and Dutch Elm Disease present, plus 3 Wych, all seriously overshadowed by oak & sycamore). The situation does not look promising. There is some leaf damage (species unidentified) and I checked accessible branch ends for pupae, but found none. TL8661. Several clumps of elm in the next tetrad south (still in Nowton Park) look more promising and have bramble nearby. No WLH 12 Jun 07 (and none in the last few years that I have looked either). Cavenham. Weather OK (but not perfect) this morning. None flying 13 Jun 07. Searching for pupae at Cavenham, I noticed the delicate leaf damage quite often present, but in this case, there was an interesting-looking item right at the tip of the leaf (see attached photo). About 5mm long, it was white, with tiny ermine-like black spots. At first, I thought it was the cocoon of a micro, but closer on inspection, the protrusion does not look like the tip of a spent pupal case. The cocoon itself is firm and rounded, rather like a parasitic wasp cocoon. If anyone is interested, I have a better quality picture of just the tip/cocoon. - Rob Parker (Suffolk)

Tuesday 12th June
Targettted the two south Essex squares today. Weather was cloudy but about 18 degrees when we arrived at the first target - surburban elm in TQ58 (some good elm found just 130 metres outside the 1km level but at 2km level). We waited 40 minutes but immediately the sun appeared then so did white-letter. A brief movement on the top of the large elm and then two actively clashing from a small elm by the school boundary in the most sheltered area. The two were seen to clash high into the sky on more than one occasion. We then went to the next target TQ68, which is close Bulphan. We knew from the start this would be a difficult one to complete so we started with watching a good row of elm just outside the 2km. We watched for over an hour in variable conditions, but with sufficient sun for the butterflies to fly if emerged. Nothing was seen so we drove to the target elm and waited there for 45mins but still nothing. All the elm is very exposed and the conditions were windy, so not good weather for hairstreak watching. From there we drove towards Langdon Hills, away from the 'flat lands' and found some amazing roadside elm including two large trees. We walked along the road and watched for some time but still no white-letter. We have to assume that we were just too early in this more rural target, so will return again - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Monday 11th June
‘Parkland Walk - brief burst of sun at Crouch Hill at 4.15 and 3 WLHs appeared at once – Helen Bantock

Sunday 10th June
PURPLE HAIRSTREAK SEEN IN ESSEX - SO BE WARNED

Found this today (photo will be posted). At a good hotspot, mature 'Wych' Elm 10 yards away on the bank of the Royal Military canal.Your project has inspired me to look for this insect sooner than usual.Most of the millenium atlas records for East Kent Royal Military canal) were mine and have turned out Dover/Temple Ewell now to be the best area in Kent, for this butterfly! I am getting more people looking for WLH so hopefully the known Kentish distribution will expand - Alan Cooper (Kent)

South Yorks, been out to my local wood this afternoon (Sunday). Warm, though no sun until 3.45pm. Even then, no sign of activity - Martin Greenland

White-letter Hairstreak at Alexandra Palace (north London) - Mirroring occurrences elsewhere in the region I had a minimum of eight individuals this afternoon, flitting above the tops of ashes and a maple, and obtained good views when they landed. I was joined by Gareth Richards and Andrew Gardener, at this site traditionally known as the Seascouts. Opposite the allotments and adjacent to the Farmer’s Market, this glade is the most productive site within the park, and has usually hosted a few individuals in the past but this is the largest known gathering on one date. There are runt elms present. Also had my first Painted Lady for the year in the Conservation Area - Bob Watts (North London)

I checked my Newmarket hotspots and saw no WLH on Saturday but I guess it won't be long now - Sharon Hearle

Saturday 9th June
Minimum 6 WLH today at Tolworth Court Farm TQ2065 (not a target square but thought you'd like to know). Weather wasn't too clever in the morning but quite warm and had started to brighten up by midday. These butterflies were very active from 1239hrs when I first saw them, to 1315hrs when I left. On a couple of occasions, 4 were in the air together chasing each other about. They were on three roadside Wych Elm (right on the ). None in the morning in my local TQ2361 patch despite extensive searching. Weather was duller at that time. Will try again tomorrow - Richard Donovan (Surrey)

News from Essex this evening - Purple Hairstreak seen at Brentwood by Colin Jupp

After hearing that WLH are flying, I took the bright morning as a cue to visit my strongest colony near Bury St Eds (Cavenham). The conditions were perfect, with a large clump of bramble in blossom under the largest elm, in the full sun and buzzing with bees & hoverflies. But no WLH (and yes, I did look up too! Tried 2 other sites, also without success, so I will wait a few days before tackling my "allocated" target square at Nowton - Rob Parker (Suffolk)

Not part of the White-letter project but we went into central London today, to visit elms identified during winter searches. As it was still cloudy we went to Battersea Park first (south of the Thames). We had visited the park in January and identified all the areas of elm - this. We first stopped at Rosery Gate and after a few minutes we saw 3/4 white-letters flying around elm and ash just above gatekeepers cottage. We visited the other elms but nothing seen but returning a further two were seen on ash. From there we went to Hyde Park and found 4 Siberian elms close to Rotten Row which are discussed in LNHS literature, almost immediately we saw a White-letter fly, a second individual was also seen. We then tried to locate elm noted elsewhere in the Royal Parks but with less success. Since this is only the second day since emergence, not every site will be active yet - Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton

Continuing the early White-letter Hairstreak theme, Dave Howdon, Simon Smethurst and myself had at least two on Horsenden Hill this afternoon, 9th June. There has to be a question mark as to whether they will still be around for the joint LNHS/BC walk in 3 weeks time - Andy Culshaw

Friday 8th June
Stuck at work when all the White-letter news came in, so drove home for lunch past all the Ware elms, nothing but returning back walked the very long way back to work from the carpark past this elm (scroll down to Bowling Road) on the corner of Bowling Road, watched for only a few minutes and 1 White-letter was seen to fly out. Rushed back to work without looking for more - Liz Goodyear

Clay Hill area,3 white letter hairstreaks over roadside elms around 11.30am. Cheshunt Park – 14 small heath, 5 meadow browns, 2 painted ladys. Also Colin Jupp had one White-letter at South Weald, Weald Park Way by A12, Brentwood, Essex in 45 mins - Andrew Middleton

White-letter Hairstreak, had a look on Parkland Walk at midday today when sun came out properly. No bins, but 4-6 small dark, butterflies spiralling and clashing over a sycamore near the elms between Crouch hill and Mountview rd. On return at 12.45 did not notice activity. This site is very warm and sheltered and has a lot of heat loving insects, so might be a particularly early one even by London standards - Tristan Bantock

Monday 4th June
New photo from Martin Greenland added of a pupa from Derbyshire

Andrew Middleton has been searching in the London area for early White-letter but nothing found. Everyone needs to be on alert.

Thanks to Richard Southwell, Chairman of West Midlands Branch for finding so many volunteers to search his huge branch area

May 2007

Saturday 26th May
Found two more WLH larvae last weekend in TQ2361. One of them had already changed to the darker colour i.e. looks like it is starting to pupate. I will keep a regular eye on it. Guestimate mid-June emergence. The other was well developed but still bright yellow/green. Both about 7-7.5 feet off the ground on Wych Elm. At home, I am still waiting for the two that pupated to emerge but I reckon it will be within the next week or two max. I can't say for certain - but I thought I saw an adult in TQ2361 on Sat 19th. It was in the top of an elm but I just couldn't get a good enough view to be certain that it wasn't something else. I was very doubtful it could be one so early on but with what I have been reading about early emergence of other species, you never know! Richard Donovan (Surrey Branch)

Sunday 20th May
Stella and Roger Wolfe find a massive veteran elm in Suffolk. Not in a target square but still amazing. Click here to see the pictures - News via Rob Parker (Suffolk Branch)

West Midlands join the team, and Rob Foster and Matthew Billings are visiting areas in the East Midlands

Martin Greenland made a visit to Norfolk over the May Bank holiday weekend and completed several Lincs and Norfolk squares. In addition he visited three areas of elm found by Liz and at two found larvae!

Monday 7th May
I went back to Barmouth, as when I drove to Harlech 10 days ago, I thought I saw elms by the road where I hadn't seen them before, but I was too tired to stop. In fact, there are at least 9 elms in SH6317! And to think I parked in the lay by where I found them when I walked all over the monad at the beginning of April. I cant think why I didnt see them before, but just shows you have to go back to check. The wind had blown a lot of seed heads down , many of which had feeding damage. However, I couldnt see any WLH larvae or eggs using binos and only the very lowest branches were accessible. Elm is certainly a roadside tree in Wales. From the car, I counted at least 32 trees along the A458 from Welshpool to Llanfair Caerininion and there is a massive one at LC (SJ106062) just by the minature railway station - Helen Bantock

With my daughter Rachel driving at times, did a massive detour to Norfolk (and return journey), first stopped in TL8747 where some elm was seen but the row extended out into the adjacent 2km and the best elm was 68m out in a very convenient layby! Elm found at 2km level though but square needs a more thorough visit. The road to Bury St. Edmunds (A134)was virtually lined with elm for the entire route. Both TM28 and TM48 had elm at 1km level and my feeling is Suffolk has lots of elm. Row of elm opposite James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and a nice single tree opposite the Bure Park in Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) - Liz Goodyear

Friday 27th April
Not a target square but Chris Iles found a white-letter larva, today on elm in ST76 - about 50 yards away from his office on a tree he says he must have walked under most days for the last five years. Altitude about 170m. "It must have been beginners' luck - I was encouraged to look at a dozen or so other trees, but nothing similar to be seen."

Martin Greenland having filled in Yorkshire visited Nottinghamshire and found a hatched egg in SK5880!

Thursday 26th April
Liz and Andrew visited Berkshire and Hampshire on the 25th, and visited four squares with different levels of success. Without doubt elm is much harder to find in the areas we visited. We did find flowering elm but also a lot of non-flowering elm and we hope to return during the flight period to confirm whether white-letter is present at these sites as well - Liz and Andrew

News from Somerset - ST6745, no elm found in 1km square in 2 visits (also in mid-March 2007). Two woodlands in the 1km square - the larger is youngish beech plantation, the smaller coniferous plantation. Plenty of hedgerows bordering green lanes but there appears to be no elm there (not impossible I have missed some). None found at 2km level either. Nearest elm I have found to date is at ST646488, at 10km level Chris Iles

Warwickshire news from 22nd April - thought I would let you know, we found 5 White-letter Hairstreak larvae on the Elms which are in seed next to the Police Training Centre in Ryton Wood (Warwickshire). It’s the first time I have ever looked for WLH larvae... never expected to find any but they were very easy to find and most seemed to be in their final instar which seems very early to me although my experience of WLH larvae is nil!! On return journey to car following lunch at Country Park and a walk around Wappenbury, we could only find one larvae on leaf buds rather than around seeds and nearby leafbuds. The larvae we found earlier in the day were nowhere to be found but in hindsight, perhaps we should have paid more attention to the leading leaf buds at the ends of each stem. (non were found on the tree with serious Dutch Elm Disease). One of the larvae were found on a branch with seeds which was on the floor... knocked off in the wind... live larvae transfered onto a vacant seedhead attached to tree!! This was an interesting observation... I said at the time that the seed heads looked very floppy/dehydrated later in the afternoon heat/sun compared with just after we saw you (4 hours earlier)... Perhaps that’s why the larvae had moved from seeds to leaf buds?? - Steve Cheshire (Warwickshire Branch) (click here to see photos)

Monday 16th April
Liz and Andrew visit TL0124 just north of Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire. Elm found on very edge of target 1km square, but nearly all the elm was well out of reach for egg or larvae hunts

Thursday 12th April
Liz Goodyear helped by Andrew Middleton visit the two remaining squares in TL41 (in Essex) that were not visited last summer. Two areas of elm identified, one of which was 1km length of roadside elm just east of Harlow. Hatched eggs were found in both 2km squares, which means that Liz has recorded white-letter in each of the 25 x 2km squares See recording notes for images

Tuesday 10th April
Martin Greenland visits and completes two more target squares in his area.

March 2007

Tuesday 20th March
Visited two adjacent 10km squares in Essex, just south of Dunmow and west of Braintree, which despite being different 10km squares were close to each other. Weather pretty cold, with several sleet 'storms' and gale force winds! Both 2km squares were elm rich and although TL6616 look very unpromising, finding two mature elms was quite a find and infact a surprise and proof that mature elm can still be found in the landscape. At present type of elm species is unknown and no leaf samples could be found! Liz Goodyear & Andrew Middleton

Sunday 18th March
North London, we discovered that the elms I found last year, which were some way along the Parkland Walk (an old, disused railway line), had died. However, just 2 minutes from our door, Tristan and I found two clumps of elm in full flower-one with two trees viewable at head height from the bridge! Click here to see images Interestingly, most had several boles and some of the lower branches were defunct. We shall be watching them with interest. I have looked carefully with binos, but cant find any eggs - Helen & Tristan Bantock

Thursday 15th March
Martin Greenland visits two high altitude squares in Yorkshire, finds elm but as yet no eggs.

Martin Greenland adds photos of 1st instar larvae

The website is promoted on the Butterfly Conservation website and immediately we receive emails from other potential contributors

Over the weekend of 10th and 11th March, Tom Dunbar and Alan Wingrove visits squares in Buckinghamshire and Surrey. Rob Parker looks in Suffolk and finds elm in his target 1km square. A report from Suffolk is in preparation

On the 5th March, Andrew and myself visit south Essex. Visiting a few 'posh' housing estate with many old trees retained. Unfortunately none were elm but just outside the 1km square we found a row of planted elm. We then went on to Bulphan in the middle of the Essex fens, which we thought might be quite easy. Unfortunately as we descended into the valley, all healthy elm disappeared and we were left with field edges of unhealthy elm. Old pictures of Bulphan show lots of large trees perhaps they were elm?

Andrew Brookes of Hampshire & IOW and an expert on disease resistent elm volunteers for the Isle of Wight square.

February 2007

Wednesday 28th February
Message from Martyn Davies author of the BC Booklet on White-letter Hairstreak and project leader of the 1980s project "The best of luck to you!"

Monday 26th February
Found my first hatched eggs (5) of the year today, here in South Yorkshire. So the season has started! - Martin Greenland

Martin Greenland finds more eggs in Yorkshire on the 24th

Tom Dunbar adds his story from around Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. Tom has volunteered to take on several 1km squares in Bucks and in Surrey with the help of Alan Wingrove.

Dave Wilton and David Redhead volunteer for 2 squares in Oxfordshire.

Two eggs are found in South Herts by Andrew Middleton.

Liz Goodyear finds elm in a Cambridgeshire 2km and 4 x 10km squares in Norfolk [TG], although its much harder to find than in Hertfordshire! No elms but few low branches!

Saturday 10th February
The story from Carmarthenshire is added with articles written by Neil Matthew and Ian Morgan. Exciting news of White-letter in south Wales.

Martin Greenland continues to find eggs in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire.

Sunday 5th February
Eggs are being found by Martin Greenland in Yorkshire and Andrew Middleton in Hertfordshire. Elms are already showing signs of bud burst.

Visit the photos page for some up to date winter habitat photos taken by Liz Goodyear around Ware on the 4th February