Butterfly surveys are an excellent way to gather information on the health and prevalence of butterfly species over time in certain areas.

Cumbria Branch Survey Involvement

Morecambe Bay Anania funebris

Mountain Ringlet Survey 2013

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey

Morecambe Bay Anania funebris Survey

Graham Jones, Butterfly Conservation Project Officer - Northern England, is making a request for help in surveying for Anania funebris, a day flying moth, within the Morecambe Bay area, April - June 2013.

This year, Butterfly Conservation will be undertaking an extensive survey of Anania funebris - a UK Conservation priority species - within the Morecambe Bay area, which Graham will be coordinating.

At present, knowledge of the distribution and abundance of Anania funebris is patchy at best, particularly in areas away from the Arnside and Silverdale AONB. A more robust dataset is sorely needed to help us determine the current status of funebris within the Morecambe Bay area.

Results obtained from this survey will also be used as a baseline to assess if current woodland management work, aimed primarily at threated fritillary butterflies, is also benefiting species such as funebris. The results willhelp to determine the direction of any future conservation work aimed at funebris.

Those interested in taking part can help in two ways:

1. By letting Graham know of any Anania funebris you record this year, ideally as soon as possible after the sighting so that further surveys can be undertaken if needed.

2. Agreeing to undertake a specific survey for funebris at a particular site throughout April, May and June. Survey work should not be too onerous and should only involve a 1-2 hour walk, on a weekly/fortnightly basis.

An Anania funebris 'crib-sheet' will be available to help with identification for those who are keen to submit casual records, which is aimed particularly at butterfly transect recorders. Identification and survey workshops will be advertised shortly for all those interested in taking part.

Anania funebris is a colourful, day-flying moth that will fly prominently in sunny weather. So please don't be put off in getting involved by thinking that you may not have the necessary expertise. This is most definitely a project that anyone who has an interest in watching butterflies and day-flying moths can make a very positive contribution towards!

To submit records, request a crib-sheet, or to volunteer for a survey area the contact details are:

Graham Jones. gjones@butterfly-conservation.org, telephone: 07583 209231 or 01772 617 221.

Mountain Ringlet Survey 2013

Cumbria branch are organising a felltop survey for the Mountain Ringlet this summer. If you would like to get involved, or simply send in a sighting to the survey co-ordinators, please read & download one of the linked documents below.

The Information Sheet is designed for those people, perhaps visitors to the area, who would like to send in a casual sighting.

The Surveyors' Notes and Record Form are aimed at people who would like to get more involved with our structured survey.

Enjoy your days on the fells..!

Best wishes, Martin Tordoff & Steve Clarke, Survey co-ordinators.

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey

Many 'common' butterfly species have undergone serious declines and are in need of greater attention. The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) organised by Butterfly Conservation, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is a new national survey of common and widespread butterfly species. The WCBS will enable us to more effectively monitor the changing abundance of these species in the general countryside. The survey will also help us to measure the future impacts of climate change on butterflies and assess whether environmental grants to farmers and woodland managers are helping to restore butterfly populations across the landscape.

A minimum of two visits per year to each square are required to take part in the survey. These should take place in July and August, with at least 10 days between the two visits.

To find out more or take part please contact Zoë Randle, Surveys Officer. survey@butterfly-conservation.org, telephone: 01929 406006.

Please refer to the WCBS Newsletter for further details.