FLORA / BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS / OTHER INVERTEBRATES / BIRDS

Nineteen species have been recorded on the reserve. The first to be seen in Spring are ones that have hibernated as adults in the vicinity such as the Small Tortoiseshell. A few are seen in April - May with more in July to September. Peacocks were first recorded on the 30 July 1995 and have been seen in late July and August each year since with occasional ones in April from 1996.

The first non-hibernating species to appear is the Green Veined White usually in April. This is resident, the larvae feeding on Mayflower. A second brood can be seen in summer. Large Whites occur in May - June and July - September. This and the Small White are frequent and have bred on the reserve.

The Common Blue is indeed common here during May - June and July - September. The larvae feed on Birds' Foot Trefoil.

The Small Heath appears in late May and Meadow Brown in June. Both are very common, the former until September, the latter to August. The Gatekeeper is local and not very common being most reliable at the extreme south of the reserve in July - August. Wall Browns appear in small numbers in May and again in August - September. These last four species feed on grasses.

Small Copper occur locally in small numbers in May - June and August - September with odd ones to October. The larvae feed on Docks and Sorrels.

The Large Skipper was first recorded in 1982 and very small numbers have been seen in June each year since, especially at the extreme south of the reserve.

Graylings tend to be coastal in distribution with those on the dunes tending to be larger and sandier than in other habitats. They have the remarkable habit of tilting the closed wings so as to cast minimum shadow on the ground. Although nationally they are an endangered, priority species they are found here in large numbers in July and August.

Migrant butterflies such as the Red Admiral are annual in small numbers. Painted Ladies were abundant, as elsewhere, in 1996 with a few occurring most years, early ones in June and most in August - September.

Clouded Yellows vary in numbers in Britain from year to year being first recorded in the reserve in 1980. Singles have been seen on several occasions since, including the pale form helice in August 1996.

Speckled Wood have colonised the Fylde during the 1990's. The reserve habitat is not ideal but there are records on 5th August 1992 and 25th September 1996.

Orange Tip is another species which has increased locally with singles recorded 8th May 1994 and 9th June 1996. Its favourite food plant, Mayflower, is common on the reserve.

There is just one record of Dark Green Fritillary on the 30th June 1979. This species was resident in what is now St. Annes Town Centre up to the 1920s.

There are records of over 350 species of moth found in the sand dune system, amongst them the rare Sandhill Rustic which is a National Biodiversity Action Plan top priority species. Several others found in the area are nationally uncommon and include the Coast Dart, Sand Dart, Archers Dart, White Colon, Portland Moth, Shore Wainscoat, Dark Tussock, White Satin and Mother Shipton. It is likely many more remain to be discovered, especially the smaller microlepidoptera moths.

Red Admiral photograph courtesy of Stephen Dunstan

FLORA / BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS / OTHER INVERTEBRATES / BIRDS