A Cheshire Birders Blog

Friday, June 20, 2025

LARGE BLUE-DANEWAY BANKS-GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Jenna and I had been planning this trip for the past month, aiming to see our final British butterfly of the year, the Large Blue (Phengaris arion). In addition, we had booked a moth event in Wiltshire with Butterfly Conservation before beginning our butterfly search. We set off at 5:00 a.m., accompanied by Jenna’s son, Harley, and I also picked up my mother from Holmes Chapel, as she wanted to join us for a family day out. By 10:00 a.m., we arrived at Great Chalford Manor in Wiltshire.

Great Chalford Manor

The house itself was impressive, and the traps set overnight were brimming with moths. I was astounded by the sheer number of species captured! After a few hours of careful identification, I added over forty moths to my list, including some stunning specimens:

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

Four-spotted-Footman

Elephant Hawk moth

Poplar Hawk-moth

Scalloped Oak

Drinker

Swallow-tailed Moth

Yellow-tail

After a fantastic start to the morning, we moved on to our main target: the Large Blue butterfly. We visited Daneway Banks nature reserve in Gloucestershire.

The quality of the habitats at Daneway Banks made it an ideal site for the reintroduction of the Large Blue, which became extinct in the UK during the 1970s. Eggs collected from a Swedish island were brought to the reserve, and in just a few years, Daneway Banks became world-renowned for its population, with the largest recorded in 2019.

One striking feature of the reserve is the numerous ant hills created by the Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus), known locally as “emmet casts.” These small mounds stand out in winter, creating a lunar-like landscape, and are sometimes visited by woodpeckers digging for the ants inside. Daneway Banks has been protected from modern farming methods, providing an excellent example of limestone grassland. The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) has leased it since 1968 and purchased it in 2016 following a major fundraising campaign. Chief Executive Roger Mortlock describes it as “one of our most treasured and diverse limestone grassland sites.”

Upon arrival, the sheer number of people searching for Large Blues was remarkable, and it wasn’t long before we saw our first one.

The Large Blue has a fascinating and unusual life cycle. After hatching, the caterpillar feeds on thyme plants for three weeks before dropping to the ground. There, it mimics the scent and sounds of the Myrmica sabuleti ant, which carries it back to its colony and cares for it as one of their own. Inside the nest, the caterpillar becomes carnivorous, feeding on the ant pupae while continuing to mimic the ants. Occasionally, it may even cannibalise other larvae within the nest.

All smiles after seeing the Large Blues

By the end of our visit, we had observed four Large Blues, a thrilling conclusion to another successful day of wildlife exploration.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

DAINTY DAMSELFLY-OARE MARSHES-FAVERSHAM-KENT

After finishing work at midday, I drove to Oare Marshes near Faversham in Kent. It was my first visit to this reserve, and I was keen to add the Dainty Damselfly (Coenagrion scitulum) to my life list.

Oare Marshes

Walking along the inland side of the reserve toward Dan’s Dock, I enjoyed excellent views of Ruddy Darters (Sympetrum sanguineum), Scarce Chasers (Libellula fulva), Scarce Emerald Damselflies (Lestes dryas), Black-tailed Skimmers (Orthetrum cancellatum), and two Norfolk Hawkers (Aeshna isosceles).

Ruddy darter

Scarce Emerald Damselfly

Black-tailed Skimmer

Reaching Dan’s Dock, I was greeted by the calls of Marsh Frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus), and to my astonishment, I counted 37 individuals.

Dan's Dock

The Marsh Frog, Europe’s largest frog, is not native to the UK. A small number were introduced in Kent during the 1930s, and over subsequent decades, they spread across surrounding wetlands. Releases are now illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but these frogs have become firmly established in southeast England. Among the Marsh Frogs, I finally spotted the Dainty Damselflies—around fifty in total, some in tandem and others forming the characteristic heart-shaped copulation wheel. This species is unique to Kent, with green-yellow markings on the underside. Males display a distinctive “wine-goblet” mark on segment 2 below the wing base, while females show “rocket-shaped” markings along the abdomen.

Historically, the Dainty Damselfly was recorded in the Hadleigh area of Essex between 1946 and 1952, but became extinct there after the severe coastal floods of 1953. The species successfully recolonised in England around 2010, primarily on the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, and a new population was discovered at Sandwich Bay in 2019.

After enjoying prolonged views of these spectacular damselflies, I spotted a Yellow Wagtail nearby as I made my way back to the car—a perfect finale to a day of exceptional wildlife sightings.

Another damselfly added to the list and another fantastic site explored!

Chasing the Elusive Clearwing Moths

During a trip to Scotland with my good friends Phil Jones and Dan Pointon, I discovered a world I hadn’t explored before: Clearwing moths. Phil mentioned he knew a few local sites near Newcastle-under-Lyme that were perfect for trapping these fascinating insects. One day spent there changed everything. I was hooked.

Clearwing moths (family Sesiidae) are some of the UK’s most remarkable moths. Unlike the majority of their nocturnal relatives, these are day-flying insects that have evolved to mimic wasps and bees. This clever disguise protects them from predators, but it also makes them incredibly elusive to the casual observer.

There are around 16 resident species of Clearwing moth recorded in the UK, though new discoveries and rediscoveries continue to surprise recorders. In recent years, species once thought exceptionally rare have been found more widely thanks to the growing use of pheromone lures. Some have only been discovered or rediscovered in Britain relatively recently. The Sallow Clearwing, for example, was only first discovered in Britain in 1926, while the Dusky Clearwing was believed extinct in the UK after disappearing for almost a century before being rediscovered in 2021. Species such as the Raspberry Clearwing have only been discovered in Britain within the last couple of decades, first being recorded in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire in 2007.

The rediscovery of the Dusky Clearwing has been one of the most exciting recent developments in British moth recording. Before 2021, it had not been seen in Britain since 1924. Yet, the increasing use of specialised pheromone lures has since revealed populations in several counties, suggesting the species may have been quietly surviving undetected for decades.

Since that first day, I’ve spent countless hours following their trails, armed with pheromone lures designed to attract males. Watching these delicate, transparent-winged insects dart among willow, poplar, and apple trees is an unforgettable experience.

Why They Captivate

Mimicry Masters: Many species resemble Hymenoptera, fooling predators and observers alike.
Diurnal Activity: Clearwings are active during the day, unlike most moths, making encounters both rare and thrilling.
Elusive Nature: Even when you know where to look, successful trapping and observation require patience and precision.

Tips for Trapping and Observing

Pheromone Lures: Synthetic female pheromones are essential, especially for the rarer species.
Flight Periods: Most species are on the wing from May to August, though timing varies with latitude and host plant growth.
Habitat Matters: Preserving host plants such as willow, poplar, apple, and currant is vital. Larvae often develop in older trees or dead wood, highlighting the importance of maintaining natural habitats.

The recent rise in Clearwing recording has transformed our understanding of these moths. Species such as the Red-tipped Clearwing and Orange-tailed Clearwing are now known to be far more widespread than previously believed, largely due to the effectiveness of modern pheromone lures.

Each successful trap feels like a small triumph, a fleeting encounter with a creature perfectly adapted to its world. What began as curiosity has quickly become an obsession, each new species adding another piece to the puzzle of Britain’s remarkable Clearwing fauna.