Whitecross Green Wood: This autumn BBOWT are continuing essential tree work to remove conifers and open up the rides. The reserve will be closed on 13th October for three months. Look out for signs at the entrance and information on BBOWT's website.

Saturday 28th January 2012

Paul Bowyer reported the following: "On Friday 27th January I saw a Red Admiral in my front garden in Flackwell Heath Bucks on winter flowering heather in full sunlight at 12.00pm."

Wednesday 25th January 2012

Colin Williams sent the following report: "A Brimstone was seen at BBOWT's Homefield Wood NR, Bucks on Saturday 21st January by Pim Young from BBOWT."

Saturday 21st January 2012

Mary Payne sent this sighting: "I saw a butterfly in my garden in Stoke Mandeville, Bucks this morning, 21st January, but it was only a fleeting glimpse and I was unable to tell if it was a Peacock or a Red Admiral."

Bob Tunnicliffe sent this report on 18th January: "To add one more - belatedly - to your flush of early sightings of Red Admiral:- Trish and I saw a fresh-looking individual in Milton Keynes (Emerson Valley park) on 11th January."

Wendy Wilson reported the following: "I haven't yet seen a butterfly or moth in 2012, but I have found 20 Purple Hairstreak eggs in the Chalfonts area. Nearly all have been at head-height or above on the sunny side of oak trees, laid singly among the buds on the tips of small twigs. On Wednesday 11th January whilst reaching up to a branch near Gerrards Cross, Bucks a twig accidentally snapped off in my hand. I examined it closely and found a Purple Hairstreak egg (the white one in the picture below) and touching it was another egg with completely different markings. The second egg is smaller and more conical, grey with nine white ridges radiating from the centre. This egg slightly overlaps the Purple Hairstreak one so must have been laid at a later date. Dave Wilton has confirmed that it is a moth egg but, as so many moth larvae feed on oak, I have not yet been able to identify it. I would be delighted if someone out there can recognise it and let us know. I've taken the twig home to look after the larvae when they hatch."

Purple Hairstreak egg (left) and unidentified moth egg (right) Photo © Wendy Wilson

Tuesday 10th January 2012

Michael McNeill sent this report from Upper Basildon, West Berkshire: "First sighting of the year was a Red Admiral on my Flowering Cherry tree today. It didn’t stop for long, thus avoiding being photographed, but then spent the next few minutes flying furiously around the garden before disappearing."

Monday 9th January 2012

The following news came from Tony Croft: "At Rushbeds Wood (Bucks) tramway meadow on 8th January the work party were delighted to see a Red Admiral flying in the sunshine before alighting on a fence post giving us some lovely views."

Steve Croxford sent this news: "On Saturday 7th January I found this frail looking Red Admiral very active in my parents garden in Chinnor, Oxon. My personal last sighting from this location was the 3rd December 2011. However my parents report having seen other Red Admirals active in sunny periods between these dates."

Red Admiral Photo © Steve Croxford

Friday 6th January 2012

Jackie Newcombe sent the following report: "I saw a Red Admiral on 6th January in Little Marlow, Bucks basking on some bramble leaves in the sunshine at around 1pm."

The first butterfly sighting of the new year came via Jim Asher from Barry Stickland who had a Red Admiral in his garden in Finchampstead, Berks at 11.00 am on 2nd January.

Red Admiral Photo © Beryl Skinner

Monday 26th December 2011

Bob Tunnicliffe sent the following on 24th December: "A couple of surprise sightings on a mild and sunny day - 22nd December. Walking along the road from Whaddon to Nash, Bucks, Trish and I saw a Brimstone and a Peacock - both flying actively."

Friday 9th December 2011

Nigel Cleere reports seeing a fresh, active Red Admiral at Freemans Marsh, Berks on 3rd December.

[Sightings for 2011 have been archived.]