Butterfly mapping is probably the most enjoyable form of recording there is.
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Butterfly Mapping
Butterfly mapping is probably the most enjoyable form of recording there is. It can only be done in fine, warm weather, and it gets you to different places you would never otherwise think of visiting, and gives you the best opportunity of making important discoveries.
There is nothing more satisfying than a long summer’s day, a pub lunch and dozens of beautiful butterflies at site after
site in far-flung corners of the countryside.
2005 was the first year of a new 5-year project to map the distribution of butterflies in Hertfordshire and Middlesex,
in which we shall be concentrating on getting as good a coverage as possible. This means that rather than visiting
the same site every week, you should aim to find a new tetrad (2 x 2 km square) each time you record. Borders of
tetrads are marked as the even numbered grid lines on Ordnance Survey maps; if you are not sure where tetrad
boundaries lie near you then for information. Try and make sure
that the places you visit have not been recorded by others. There are already more than 50 transects in which
butterflies are recorded every week, so do not visit sites in the same tetrad as these. For the latest map of
unvisited sites Click Here. As soon as all tetrads have been visited, then start going through tetrads again,
preferably in a different month of the year from before, or else at a different site in a different 1 km square.
A single site visit
should normally last about half an hour or more in good weather,
though if there are dozens of butterflies, 20 minutes will sometimes
be enough, then move on to the next tetrad. The butterflies will not
come to you, so do not stand still, but take a circular walk around
the site, visiting the different likely habitats such as woodland
edges or glades, grassland, clumps of wild flowers or overgrown
footpaths, or waste land, Buddleia bushes, and gardens in towns, and
note the numbers of each species of butterfly that you see.
Numbers of each species are easy enough when butterflies are
few and far between, but when faced with a field alive with clouds
of Meadow Browns and skippers it's not so easy. If you need help identifying
'skippers' a page has been added to help you with this. Click
here for more details
When numbers are
high it doesn’t matter too much if you accidentally leave some out
or count some twice; counting is always better than a rough guess.
Always make sure of the species; get a good view of the butterfly,
preferably settling, before noting it down. Remember that a smallish
white butterfly, for example, is not necessarily a Small White, but
could also be a Green-veined White, female Orange Tip, or even a
small specimen of a Large White.
Make sure you record the time you start
and end such a walk, to the nearest minute. Sites can either be visited by car, or another way of doing
it is to plan a longer walk that takes you through several different tetrads. Always give either a Post
Code or an Ordnance Survey grid reference. The grid reference should be to at least the nearest
1 km grid square; a six-figure (100 metre) grid reference is best of all. Always start a new column
on the recording form each time you cross into a new kilometre square, and note the length of time spent
in each. The best time for butterfly mapping is probably a heatwave in July or the first half of August,
when you will certainly see the most butterflies, but visits on fine days in April and May are important
as well to get the spring species such as Orange Tip.
Use the recording forms which can be downloaded HERE. If you are able to help, then please
or in the evenings on 01582 833544, who will put you in contact with your local decad (10 km square)
co-ordinator . Decad co-ordinators do not have to visit the tetrads themselves but will be responsible for seeing that each tetrad gets at least one visit per
year throughout the project. Mapping records and recording forms should be sent to John Murray.
Mapping Challenge 2005 - 2009
Decad co-ordinators
2005 was the first year of a new 5-year project to map the distribution of butterflies in Hertfordshire and Middlesex,
in which we shall be concentrating on getting as good a coverage as possible.
Our mapping of the
distribution of butterflies in Hertfordshire and Middlesex from 2000
until 2004 achieved 99% coverage.
To save the mad rush and to try and get
a more even coverage throughout the five years 2005-2009, it
was decided in 2005 to appoint Decad Co-ordinators for those 10 km
squares that are habitually poorly covered. If you would like to become a decad co-ordinator please
Map 1 shows the most poorly
recorded decads highlighted in yellow - those fully highlighted have a co-ordinator ~ see below for details.
Map 2 shows the tetrads that have not been visited during 2007 and where recording effort in 2008 should be concentrated. (Please refer to individual 10km pages for the most up to date information)
Click on images for full details
If any of you could act as co-ordinator for any of these decads, we will send you a map, and a list of which tetrads need the most attention. Further details will be posted on the website from time to time. All recorders please try to visit tetrads in these poorly recorded areas.
For more details
