The Essex Naturalist
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and from South Woodham Ferrers, 3rd September (J. Dobson and J.
Hurley).
1580 Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus L. Had an excellent year in 1996. Largest
numbers reported from a single site was from Ipswich Road, Colchester,
where 32 were seen during April - May and 49 during July - August, both
generations flying round ivy (B. Goodey).
Nymphalidae
1584 White Admiral Ladoga camilla L. Appeared again at Friday Wood,
Colchester, where 16 were seen during July and August.
1590 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta L. Seemed to have a poor year with
sightings from only twelve sites, which, in view of the next species, is
rather surprising.
1591 Painted Lady Cynthia cardui L. Recorded from 29 localities. Probably the
best year ever for this species in Essex. The first report was of a singleton at
Danbury on 31st May (G. Bailey) but numbers rapidly increased. At
Mistley on the north east Essex coast, I. Rose estimated 60 - 100 per hour
from 11am to 3.00pm passing through his garden on 7th June. On the
same day in south Essex G. Bailey counted 30 inland at Pitsea, near
Basildon. A couple of days later, at Bradwell-on-Sea, A.J. Dewick reported
"hundreds" ovipositing on a room-sized patch of thistles. The migration
continued: 18th June - J. Young reported 50 - 60 per hour passing through
garden at Jaywick and this seemed consistent for much of the coast in this
area.
The resulting offspring began emerging during August. At Bradwell-on-
Sea, during an Essex Moth Group meeting on 3rd August, the now famous
thistle patch provided the members with orange and pink clouds and
estimates ranged from 10, 000 to 20, 000 adults. Further inland, during an
hour's walk at High Woods, Colchester on 12th August, I counted 450
adults nectaring on creeping thistle and other plants along a mile-long
hedgerow. The last sighting was 12th November at Langenhoe (H.
Owen).
1596 Camberwell Beauty Nymphalis antiopa L. Five were reported during 1996
in contrast to the 17 recorded in 1995 and so it was another good year for
this butterfly. A specimen that possibly hibernated successfully in Britain
was seen on 5th April at Hadleigh in the south of the county (G. Bailey).
The same recorder had another on 12th August at Rayleigh, and there
were a further three during September, at Thorpe-le-Soken from the 7 th
to 14th (R. Wood and J. Aird), at Mistley on 15th (I. Rose) and at
Jaywick on 19th (J. Young).
1607 Dark Green Fritillary Argynnis aglaja L. Hockley, sometime during
August (A. Osborne).