Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 94

country life

Island Life - October/November 2010

Photo: Southern Damselfly by Ben Rushbrook

decline and has become extinct in many

April to early June. Studies have shown

UK. Not found on the Island, it has

places in the past decade. The total

that population numbers have declined

very particular habitat requirements

population of wall brown butterflies in

by up to 50% in the last decade,

including streams of shallow water

the UK has decreased by 61% in the

leading the species to be placed on

with a slow flow, relatively high water

past ten years. In Hampshire it is now

the Amber List of birds of conservation

temperatures and plenty of soft-bodied

restricted to Lymington Reedbeds and

concern. Its distribution seems to be

plants on the margins. Populations have

Keyhaven Marshes, though it is more

moving south and east in England and

declined in the UK by 30% since 1960

numerous on the Isle of Wight. It is

although the exact reasons for this are

due to a variety of factors including

found on short open grassland, coastal

not known, the pressures of migration

unsympathetic habitat management,

cliffs, dunes, old quarries and some

and habitat loss may be the cause.

habitat fragmentation and land

grassy farm tracks.

drainage for water abstraction.

5. Southern damselfly

Hampshire is a recognised national

4. Nightingale

The southern damselfly is one of

stronghold for the species and there are

Nightingales are a charismatic species

Europe’s rarest and most threatened

still some good places to see southern

with a distinct song which can be heard

damselflies and up to 25% of the

damselflies, including Crockford Bottom

day and night in British woodlands from

global population is found in the

in the New Forest and Itchen Valley

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