Chequered Skipper Sites near Spean Bridge and along Loch Arkaig requiring surveys in 2009
The Chequered Skipper is associated with birch and oak woodland as it requires a warmer micro-climate provided by the shelter of trees. This association with woodland makes it vulnerable to habitat degradation from woodland regeneration. Previous research into Chequered Skipper ecology has identified that this butterfly
depends on a mosaic of clearings and wood edges and that suitable areas are created by occasional clearance of mature woodland and scrub. While Purple Moor Grass for the caterpillars is quite widespread in such habitat, it is the nectaring sites for the adults which may be a limiting factor as woodland regeneration results in open glades with the preferred nectaring plants, Meadow Thistle and Bugle. becoming too shady. At some sites, grazing by roe deer or low intensity sheep grazing may be sufficient to keep scrub regeneration in check, but where birch/oak woodland is well established and where deer numbers are low or where deer are excluded by fences, rotational scrub clearance is
required to maintain open glades of sufficient size.
Wayleaves under power lines and woodland rides also provide good habitat where they cross suitable ground with abundant nectaring plants but these also require regular scrub clearance to maintain an optimum width of 20-25 m and scrub height no higher than 2 m.
These requirements make Chequered Skipper colonies vulnerable to deterioration from woodland regeneration and therfore surveys are required in 2009 to identify any colonies which are currently threatened by woodland regeneration and may require scrub clearance. While Chequered Skipper numbers at three nature reserves where this species is regularly monitored are stable (Glasdrum (SNH); Allt Mhuic (Butterfly Conservation) & Doire Donne (SWT)), these sites are managed to maintain woodland glades. There are concerns that at some other sites outside Nature Reserves, the Chequered Skipper may be in decline from woodland regeneration.
There are two main aims of the surveys for Chequered Skipper in 2009:
- 1) to assess the extent of woodland regeneration and bracken in woodland glades, wayleaves and woodland edges to identify Chequered Skipper sites which may be in decline and which require management work
- 2) to record the distribution and abundance of Chequered Skipper at historical sites and to relate these data to the measurements of woodland regeneration and bracken extent obtained in 1).
The flight period of the Chequered Skipper is from mid-May to late June when surveys should be done. The Chequered Skipper Recording form should be used to record numbers of Chequered Skipper and the condition of the habitat in terms of woodland regeneration and bracken extent. If you are using a GPS device to record the position of each Chequered Skipper seen (see below for more details), then please email the data (tab-delimited text file or Excel spreadsheet) to
The ideal way of recording Chequered Skipper numbers and distribution is with a GPS device. There are some relatively inexpensive models available eg Garmin eTrex Venture is £106.10 from Amazon.co.uk and can store the positions of up to 500 butterflies with Waymarks. Data is then downloaded onto a computer using software provided with the GPS device. If you want to learn how to use GPS to record butterflies and learn more about the Chequered Skipper, then please come along to the Chequered Skipper weekend at Glasdrum on 30 & 31 May 2009. There are a few GPS devices owned by the branch that can be lended out to branch members after the Chequered Skipper weekend. Please
if you would like to borrow one.
Taking photographs of sites with a digital camera is a great way of providing information on the state of a site. A photograph must be linked to a grid reference, site and date, so please record these data in a long descriptive file name and
Travel expenses for Chequered Skipper Surveys in 2009 may be available should you want to make a claim but you will need to check with Paul Kirkland during late April to see if funds are available:
You can print out the following Word document to take out into the field which shows the map and table of sites below: Spean Bridge & Loch Arkaig Chequered Skipper sites.
The map below is clickable - if you hover your mouse over the Chequered Skipper site names, a little window with the site name and date of last record will appear, and if you click on the site name, a new window with a little OS map will open. You can print these OS maps out to take out into the field.
References
- Ravenscroft, N. The Chequered Skipper. Butterfly Conservation Leaflet.
- Ravenscroft, N. & Warren, M. (1996). Chequered Skipper Species Action Plan.
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