Sunday 16th
November
Some late sightings news just received from
Dennis Dell for October:
10th
October: several Speckled Woods seen in Ham Green Wood. Obviously a good Clouded Yellow year - one
seen at Stowe Park on October 12th.
Saturday 8th
November
Jan Haseler reports seeing a Red Admiral on 06/11/03
in Shinfield Park, Reading.
Thursday 23rd
October
A lone Red Admiral seen flying in Mick &
Wendy Campbell’s garden today.
Tuesday 21st
October
Butterflies
Dave Maunder saw around Aylesbury last week included:-
Painted Lady,
Red Admiral (7), Large White and a Small White. Nothing seen after the weather
turned colder from Wednesday.
And on a
rather cold day,
a single Large White nectaring on lavender was all that was seen in a UTB
member’s garden in Bucks yesterday.
Saturday 18th
October
Three reports received from Paul Bowyer of butterflies seen
during the last week:
Monday 13th: In a
back garden in Longstreet near Hanslope, I saw 1 Small Tortoiseshell
Sunday 12th: In my back garden in Flackwell Heath I saw 1 Small White.
Saturday 11th: At Thame United Football Club in the afternoon, the weather was
warm and I saw 3 Small Whites and a Small Tortoiseshell.
Tuesday 14th
October
Butterflies
seen by Dave Maunder at Eythrope Saturday 11th were:-
Small Copper (1), Small
Tortoiseshell (1) and 3 Red Admirals;
and on Sunday 12th at Waterperry Gardens he saw:-
Painted Ladies (4) - all fresh specimens, Red Admirals (4), Small
Tortoiseshells (4), Large Whites (2), Small White (1) and 3 Speckled Woods -
all very worn!
Monday 13th
October
The following message received today from Michael Robinson:
11 October - between Ibstone and Northend 1 male Clouded
Yellow and 1 pale winged female Clouded Yellow. Had a good
look at the female but not sure if it was just a Clouded Yellow or a rarer one.
I don't know if sightings of Small Heath are of interest but I saw two
at Broadwater Farm, South Bucks on 25 August and 6 Sept. Also there on 25
August was a Black-tailed Skimmer and a Red-eyed Damselfy on 6 Sept.
During a walk near Cuddington yesterday, Wendy
& Mick Campbell recorded 4 Red Admirals feeding on ivy flowers.
Sunday 12th
October
A tatty Clouded Yellow was spotted today at the
Calvert landfill by Tim and Colleen Watts.
Saturday 11th
October
Tom Dunbar went to Hewins Wood in Bucks 2.00 to 3.45 pm today
Saturday and had considerable success with the following 8 species:
Brimstone
1; Small White 1; Clouded Yellow 6; Common Blue
4; Brown Argus 2; Small Copper 5; Small Tortoiseshell 2; Speckled
Wood 1.
I had a 'maybe'
GV White but surprisingly no Comma or Red Admiral and I thought there might
have been an outside chance of a Wall Brown as they are still being seen in
Sussex. Also Large Skipper might have been on, this being an excellent site for
them. I have seen third brood, a singleton, at Somerford Common but that
was three weeks ago.
I was very
conservative in counting the Clouded Yellows - I probably saw 8 or 9 in total
and wonder if there has been a recent emergence?
On a warm October day, UTB members in Holmer Green report 2 Small
Tortoiseshells, 2 Large Whites and 2 Small Whites in their garden today,
feeding mainly on lavender and everlasting-wallflowers.
Tuesday 7th
October
Christine Hoskins saw two butterflies in her back garden in
Bourne End on Sunday:
One was a Small White and the other was a Peacock
feeding on Caryopteris. Luckily there are still plenty of things in flower in
the garden providing nectar sources for them!
Monday 6th
October
Butterfly species seen in Aylesbury last week by Dave Maunder
were:-
Painted Ladies(3), Red Admirals(24),
Large Whites(2), Small Whites(10) and Speckled Woods(2).
and Paul Bowyer reports seeing just a
solitary butterfly in his Flackwell Heath garden this weekend. It was a Small
White, sunning itself on bamboo.
Sunday
5th October
Tom Dunbar visited Whitecross Green Wood in the afternoon and saw
the following:
Comma x 3; Small Copper x 1,
Brown Hairstreak eggs x 41 + 8 eggs hatched from previous year. The air temperature was probably about 14
deg C but the site was bathed in glorious sunshine.
During a circular walk today which started near
North Marsden and took in Quainton Hill, Runt’s Wood and Finemere Wood, Wendy
& Mick Campbell saw 7 species of butterflies. The weather was sunny all day
with the temperature ranging between 8-15 degrees, but with a cold wind
blowing. All the butterflies were seen along south-facing field or woodland
edges where they were sheltered by trees or hedges:
Speckled Wood (4), Small Copper (5),
Small Tortoiseshell (4), Small White (3), Red Admiral (1), Painted Lady (1 - very fresh) and in the
Churchyard in Quainton a very surprising 2 male
Common Blues, one of which was a very large specimen in perfect
condition and the other just slightly faded!
Also seen were 2 Hornets and many dragonflies.
[It’s worth noting the long flight season this year for the
Common Blue, with the First Sightings record on the UTB website showing a start
date of 22nd April 2003.]
Friday 3rd
October
In Mick Campbell’s garden today, a Painted Lady (disturbed
from a Birch tree) and 3 Large Whites were the only butterflies to be seen in
the cool and overcast conditions.
Sunday 28th
September
Rosaleen and Tom Dunbar visited Rushbeds Wood and Laplands Farm in the afternoon and saw the following: Comma x1; Red Admiral x3; Common Blue x1; Small Copper x23; Speckled Wood x3.
Also seen were 2
Brown Hairstreak eggs, 1 in Laplands and the other in the Rushbeds 'Tramway'
adjacent to the railway bridge.
Saturday 27th
September
With the
weather rather cloudy and a cooler temperature than of late of just 18 degrees,
Wendy & Mick Campbell went to Chinkwell Wood hoping to see the White
Admiral again. They were disappointed, but still saw 4 other species of
butterfly: Speckled Wood (4), Small Copper (1), Red Admiral (2) and Small
White (1).
With the
season nearing an end, Dave Maunder noticed butterfly numbers diminishing this
week, except
for Red Admirals (60+) - all on ivy
bloom everywhere around town. He also saw Painted ladies (7), Comma (1), Large
whites (2), Small whites (9), and Speckled wood (5). Also in his in-laws’ garden in Adstock he saw a Painted lady, Red
admiral, Small white and Small Copper (2)
on Sat. 27th.
Thursday 25th
September
The following butterflies were seen by Mick Campbell in his
garden today:
Red Admiral, Large White (3), Small White and a Peacock.
Monday 22nd
September
Just a few
species seen at Finemere on Sunday 21st:-
Small Copper (6), Common Blue (7),
Small White (12), Green-veined White (2), Speckled Wood (5), and a Comma. It
clouded over after a while, but still warm.
Dave Maunder.
Sunday 21st
September
Whilst
exploring the Brill / Dorton area, Tom and Ros Dunbar and Mick Campbell located 1 Brown Hairstreak egg on
the railway line near Dorton - reputedly the most easterly yet recorded!
Other
species seen on the day were Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Common Blue,
Small White, Comma, Painted Lady and 20 Small
Copper, but on the day these sightings were eclipsed by Ros’s
staggering sighting of a pristine White Admiral
on the edge of Chinkwell Wood. This must be a second brood specimen?
Saturday 20th
September
Paul
Bowyer recorded 12 species of butterflies on a visit to Greenham Common today
with Mick and Wendy Campbell:
Small White (4), Small Copper (29), Common
Blue (19), Small Tortoiseshell (6), Painted Lady (3), Brimstone (3), Comma (5),
Red Admiral (4), Small Heath (13), Speckled Wood (5), Clouded Yellow (1), Brown Argus (2).
These 2 reports received today from Tom Dunbar:
Tom visited the Woodham to Wooton disused railway and saw the following 12 species:
Small White
x1; Brimstone x1; Clouded Yellow x2;
Red Admiral x4; Small Tortoiseshell x4; Comma x3; Painted Lady x3; Small Copper x13; Common Blue x16; Brown Argus
x8; Speckled Wood x1; Small Heath x2
Unfortunately no Brown Hairstreaks at this site today.
Tom also reports the following Brown Hairstreak egg sightings
today:
Vicinity of Ludgershall railway bridge: no adults; 4 eggs.
Vicinity of Piddington railway bridge - no adults; 2 eggs
Vicinity of Cows Leys railway bridge - 1 hatched egg (last year?)
Butterflies
seen in Aylesbury over the last week by Dave Maunder are:-
Painted Lady (7), Red Admiral (35), Comma (2), Sm. Tortoiseshell (15), Large
White (19), Small White (50+), Green-veined White (1), Speckled Wood (9), Small Copper (1), and Common Blue (1 -
female).
Wednesday 17th
September
Dave
Maunder noted the following butterflies in Aylesbury last week:
Painted Ladies (7), Red Admirals (33),
Commas (4), Sm. Tortoiseshells (5), Large Whites (11), Small Whites (50+),
Green-veined White (1), and Speckled Woods (4). The Red Admirals were mainly feeding on Buddleia and Ivy bloom in
St. Mary's churchyard - a good autumnal favourite!
Tuesday 16th
September
Tim &
Colleen Watts saw
a Clouded Yellow on13/9/03 when
they visited the Calvert BBOWT reserve and another on 14/9/03 at the
Calvert landfill site.
A UTB
Member spotted a Small Copper nectaring on Sedum in his garden today. Also Small White
(3), Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell.
Monday 15th
September
The Shabbington Wood Butterfly Monitoring Scheme transect today produced 15 Painted Ladies with over 10 of them in a short
stretch alongside the main ride from the Oakley Wood car park as it drops down
after the first intersection. Mainly nectaring on Devil's-bit Scabious. Also
two Small Coppers - but the real numbers of Small Coppers were to be seen
in BBOWT's Bernwood Meadows Reserve when I diverted off transect to look
(unsuccessfully) for Brown Hairstreaks.
Small Coppers were widespread, often in
highly active groups of 2 to 4 making an exact count impossible. I saw at least
two dozen and estimated the total population for the whole of the Meadows must
have run well into 3 figures.
David Redhead.
Two interesting notes received from Dennis Dell today:
On 1st
September, not a particularly sunny day, I was in Balmore Wood, which is
part of the Claydon Estate, when I came across a small clearing in the wood
which was a mass of Devil's Bit Scabious in flower. I don't think I have ever
seen so many Commas and Red Admirals in such a small area together, all
nectaring on the Devil's Bit. This is clearly a nectar plant to rival Buddleia!
Since this is my 1st summer back in the UK after 22 years abroad, I am in no position to make comparisons with previous years. In Switzerland, it had become a rare event to see a Small Copper in the last 10 years or so. I have seen quite a number here this summer, even in my garden. Has this year seen a revival for this species?
On Sunday afternoon at about 2 p.m. Paul Bowyer went to
Watlington Hill. Most of the hill was devoid of butterflies but at
the furthest area from the car park, numbers were quite good. He saw 8 species.
These were Meadow Brown (6), Speckled Wood (1), Small Heath (10+), Common Blue
(6), Small Copper (4), Painted Lady
(1), Small White (3) and Large White (2).
Sunday 14th
September
Dave Maunder and his family spent a day out at Quainton railway
centre and saw the following 9 species:-
Small
Copper (15+), Painted
Lady (1), Red Admirals (3), Sm. Tortoiseshells (4), Common Blues (4-all
female), Large Whites(6), Small Whites (30+), Green-veined White (1), and
Speckled Wood (1). I also saw my 5th Hummingbird hawk moth of the year
feeding on Buddleia here, also a Silver y and a Vapourer moth. The
railway line is probably a good breeding ground for the Small Copper, maybe all
along its length - especially this year, anyway.
Wendy & Mick Campbell decided to do a walk today which started
in Chilton and took in the surrounding area. Another very warm day and they
recorded the following 10 species of butterflies:
Red Admiral
(14), Small White (4), Small Copper (17),
Speckled Wood (2), Peacock (2), Painted Lady (4), Comma, Small Tortoiseshell
(2), Clouded Yellow, Brown Argus
(2).
Paul Bowyer sent this report in today: On Saturday 13th September at about 11 a.m. I made a brief visit to Sands Bank High Wycombe to find out how much was left of our summer. The weather was fine and warm but a little windy. I saw 8 species of butterflies and 2 macro-moths. These were:- Common Blue (6), Small White (10+), Large White (2), Comma (1), Red Admiral (1), Painted Lady (2), Brown Argus (1), Small Copper (1), Silver-Y Moth (1) and Hummingbird Hawk moth. There were also good views of a Red Kite especially when I was above the level at which it was flying.
Saturday 13th
September
Tom & Ros Dunbar and Mick & Wendy Campbell went to
Whitecross Green Wood today and saw the following:
3 female Brown Hairstreaks, one of which
of which was seen egg-laying. They also recorded Small
Copper (5), Red Admiral (3), Comma (7), Brimstone (2 – male &
female), Common Blue (3 – one very fresh), Large White, Small White (3), Small
Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood (2) and a Brown Argus.
This takes Tom’s Brown Hairstreak count for the season to
53.
Friday 12th
September
A UTB member reports seeing the following in his garden near
Amersham today:
Red Admiral, Small White (3), Large White and Small Copper.
Sunday 7th
September
Tom Dunbar hits his 50th! This report just in from Tom today:
A good day
despite the gloomy weather forecast. I set out determined to find adult Brown Hairstreaks in locations where only eggs
had been previously found. My intended focus was Piddington Wood and Span
Green, near Oakley. I stopped at several roadside spots to check out likely
blackthorn. Initial attempts proved fruitless but allowed me to note potential
combinations of ash and blackthorn for next year.
Revisiting a site near Piddington village (where I found eggs last
season) came up trumps - one female looking to lay! Also an ash which will be a
must for next season. Piddington Woods came up with another zero count of
adults but skirting a nearby field came up with two eggs.
Span Green is one of my least favourite butterfly sites, but 'needs
must' they say. By now the weather was hazy sunshine at best with dodgy
temperature to boot. Unsurprisingly no adults but 6 eggs found on the busy
roadside on my 300 metre walk back to the car.
A very successful day which takes my adult Brown Hairstreak count to 50 for
this season.
Have a look at my 'field notes':
Dave
Maunder sent in these 2 reports today:
On a visit to Waterperry Gardens today I noted the following species:-
Small Copper (6), Speckled Wood (3), Peacock (1), Red
Admiral (6), Painted Lady (3), Comma (1), Sm. Tortoiseshell (7), Large White
(15+), Small White (30+) and Green-veined White (6). Definitely a good year
for the Small Copper!
Butterflies I saw around Aylesbury during last
week were:-
Painted Ladies(13), Red Admirals(15), Commas(5), Sm.
Tortoiseshells(14), Large Whites(30+), Small Whites(90+), Green-veined
Whites(4), Common Blues (2- both female), and Speckled Woods(7). Most of the
Vanessids were seen on Buddleias in the town centre.
On a fairly cloudy and somewhat cooler day of about 18 degrees, Mick and Wendy Campbell went to Shirburn Hill in the Chilterns today and recorded the following:
Red Admiral (4), Speckled Wood (8), Comma (7), Small Copper (3), Meadow Brown (7), Painted
Lady (2 – 1 of these in very good condition), Large White (2), Small Heath
(12).
They then went on to Pyrton Hill where it was
slightly warmer:
Red Admiral (8), Speckled Wood (9), Small Heath (9), Meadow Brown (10),
Green-veined White (2), Painted Lady (2) and Comma (4).
Saturday 6th September
A group of 3 UTB members saw the following at Laplands Farm and
Rushbeds Wood today:
3 Small White, 2 GV White, 2 Clouded Yellow, 22 Small Copper, 4 Common Blue, 1 Brown Hairstreak, 3 Red Admiral, 8 Comma, 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath
Thursday 4th
September
Tom Dunbar sent in this report today :
I visited Coombe Hill, Wendover, on my way home from work today Thursday. I arrived at 3.45 and in the following 90 minutes saw 15 species:
L White x3; Small white x3; GV White x3; Brimstone x1; Common Blue x2; Brown Argus x3; Chalkhill Blue x3; Small Copper x10; Red Admiral x8; Comma x 18; Painted Lady x 12; Small Tortoiseshell x 8; Speckled wood x1; Meadow Brown x12; Small Heath x10.
Unfortunately no Silver Spotted Skipper or Clouded Yellow.
Tuesday 2nd
September
This interesting email has just been received from Bethan
Hopkins of Emmer Green in Reading:
I have just been to your web site for the first time and was
interested to see that Small Coppers
may be having a good year. I got into butterflies only a few years ago and have
never seen one before last Sunday, when I had 2 in the garden. One was
fluttering at the other, presumably to try to impress. I thought they were
really lovely little butterflies. I also confirmed Green-veined Whites had
laid eggs on the water cress in the pond when I saw laying taking place
(caterpillars present of various sizes but all green so I wasn't sure).
I have planted many buddleia in the last year but they are quite new so it was
the established lavender hedge all the butterflies loved throughout the
flowering period. I hope some will stay around for the sedums - we will have to
see.
Sunday 31st August
From about 400m across the Bucks border in Tring, UTB member
Nick Bowles reports the following:
Despite chilly air and some gloomy skies, there are still Large and Small
White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled
Wood in the garden.
2 UTB members visited Lapland’s Farm today. The sun managed to break through the clouds
for reasonable periods and the following 12 species of butterfly were seen:
Brown Hairstreak (4), Speckled Wood
(6), Common Blue (8), Small Copper (7),
Red Admiral (3), Small White, Small Heath (5), Comma (14), Peacock,
Green-veined White, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow
(2).
The Small Copper seems to be having a good year?
Saturday 30th
August
Tom Dunbar sent in this report of a visit to the Greater Bernwood district
today:
Two female Brown Hairstreaks were observed in the Worminghall area, adjacent to the M40 bridge. Three eggs were also found. In excess of twenty eggs were seen at this location last winter. It will be interesting to monitor the adjacent ash trees early next season. One female was then located at the Drunkards Corner end of Bernwood Forest. Again eggs have been found at this location in the past. A further female was found on the roadside near Holly Wood. Eggs have also been found here in recent years.
David
Redhead was then located on the BBOWT Meadow in the process of photographing a
female Brown Hairstreak. Tom was very pleased to record this as his 5th
specimen of the day and his 48th of the season (so far!). He hoped to
achieve his half century on a visit to Grafton Wood in Worcestershire the
following day.
Wendy & Mick Campbell saw the following in their Holmer Green
garden today:
Red Admiral,
Speckled Wood (2), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Small White (10), Large White (2).
They’ve noticed the numbers are now declining and less species are visiting
their garden.
Thursday 28th
August
Peter Hall, whose regular moth reports are listed on the moth sightings page, reports seeing a solitary Red Admiral
in his garden in Ballinger today, despite the inclement weather!
Wednesday 27th
August
Tom Dunbar went to Laplands Farm this afternoon:
He reported 2
female Brown Hairstreak which he
watched egg laying 30 cm from the ground. Other butterflies seen
were: Small White 1; GV White 1; Clouded Yellow
4; Common Blue 10; Small Copper 3; Red Admiral 3; Comma 4; Small
Tortoiseshell 3; Speckled Wood 9; Small Heath 2.
(This takes Tom’s Brown Hairstreak sightings to an impressive 43 so far this season.)
Also received today was another report from our first junior
spotter, Harriet Wilson. Junior
Spotters page
Tuesday 26th
August
Junior
spotter, and new to the site, Harriet Wilson age 10, sent in the following
sighting tonight:
I saw a Small White
butterfly in my back garden in Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
on 25/08/03.
Many thanks to Harriet for sending in her report.
Monday 25th
August
Reported today by Tim & Colleen Watts, sightings from 23/8/03
at the Calvert landfill:
3 clouded yellow, 1 wall brown, 6
painted lady, small heath (large numbers), red admiral, common blue, brimstone,
large + small white, small tortoiseshell, speckled wood, small copper(2),
meadow brown.
(and click here to see their moth
report.)
Sunday 24th
August
Tom Dunbar and Ali Latham went in search of the holy grail at Grangelands today and came up with some goodies. They saw 13 species in all, the highlights being: Silver Spotted Skipper x1; 3 Brimstones; Clouded Yellow x1; Common Blues x13; Chalkhill Blues x 22; Brown Argus x3; Small Heath x 40.
It was great to see the Silver Spotted Skipper which has only been present in these parts of the Chilterns in recent years. A success story!
Dave Maunder sent this report in today of a sighting at Coombe
Hill:
Last
saturday(16th) I saw 2 specimens of the Silver spotted skipper butterfly - an
excellent sighting!
I hope this is of interest, best regards from Dave Maunder.
(Dave also sent in a sighting of a number of moth species – see the Moth
Sightings page.)
Wendy
& Mick Campbell visited a chalk downland site near Goring Station today and
saw 13 butterfly species:
Brown Argus
(5), Small Heath (15), Meadow Brown (17), Common Blue (26), Speckled Wood (4),
Chalkhill Blue (25), Large White (2), Small White (6), Red Admiral (1), Painted
Lady (2), Small Tortoiseshell (6), Clouded
Yellow (2), Small Copper (3).
Also one possible second brood Large Skipper in fresh condition (unable
to get positive id)?
Saturday 23rd August
A party of UTB members saw a total of 9 Brown Hairstreaks at Whitecross Green Wood on Saturday 23rd August. Only 3 of these showed evidence of egg laying. All but one was at low level with the exception being on the ash canopy. Eight were confirmed to be female. Is this evidence that the females are not yet at the peak of their egg laying period?
A solitary Purple Hairstreak was identified on the ash canopy flying with the Brown Hairstreak as mentioned above. This sighting points to the need to positively identify all individuals and not to assume that canopy flying hairstreaks are all Brown.
Wednesday 20th August
This report just received from Dennis Dell:
The first reported
sighting of a purple hairstreak in the UTB area this year was on June 18th
and I saw one low down, and fairly fresh looking, in Finemere Wood today. I think we all realise that this species has
a long flight period: this suggests that it is about two months!
Tuesday 19th August
Mick & Wendy Campbell took a trip to Ardley Quarry in
Oxon on Sunday 17th. This
site is an old quarry and railway cutting. They
recorded Speckled Wood (9), Meadow Brown (4), Comma (2), Small White (4),
Common Blue (28+), Clouded Yellow (4),
Small Heath (7), Painted Lady (1), Essex Skipper (1), Gatekeeper (3) and a
Small Tortoiseshell.
Monday 18th August
UTB Member Paul Bowyer went to Sand's Bank local nature reserve on Saturday 16th. He reported large numbers of Common Blue butterflies and Silver Y moths. Of note were at least 4 Clouded Yellow butterflies, 2 of which were together on the Wycombe Wanderers' car park. Other species seen were Small White, Large White, Brimstone, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady and Red Admiral.
He then made a late
afternoon visit to the Butler's Hangings Nature
Reserve near West Wycombe and was pleased to see at least 3 Silver Spotted Skippers as well as Small
White, Large White, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Painted Lady, Small
Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Gatekeeper.
Saturday 16th August
On 09.08.03, Nick Bowles’ visit to reserves and private land
(5 sites) near Kimble, Bucks, produced a total of 7 Silver Spotted Skipper and about 70 Chalkhill Blue. Also Common Blue, Brown Argus,
Small Copper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Painted Lady and many Small
Tortoiseshell and Small Heath, in addition to 'the usual suspects'.
and on 08.08.03 Nick recorded: 2 Clouded Yellow at Coombe Hill, Wendover
along with many Chalkhill Blue (found around the base of the hill not on the
dog-walkers paradise at the top). A very old Large
skipper here seemed to be a late emerger, though I have heard
of records of such smart Large Skipper this
week that some are suspicious of a second brood.
Friday 15th August
A UTB Member was interested to see a Small
Tortoiseshell, presumably starting its hibernation, in a cool, dark corner of a
High Wycombe building today. He had noticed butterfly numbers diminishing in
his garden with only sightings of Small Whites during the last few days.
Thanks to Colleen Watts for sending in the following scanned
image of one of her butterfly paintings:
Tuesday 12th August
Nick Bowles reported seeing a second brood Dingy Skipper at College Lake
today and also ovipositing Clouded Yellows. He also searched several locales within SP
9214 9414, 9614 and found both Chalkhill colonies and stray males but no sign
of any new colonies or of a single Silver-spotted Skipper, though several sites
looked ideal.
Monday 11th August
Having attended
the open day at Ellesborough Church on Sunday I was able to enjoy the panoramic
views across Happy Valley. It inspired me to explore the area despite the
projected record temperatures for that day. Were those temperatures achieved?
Does anybody know?
To my
astonishment and delight I located small numbers of Silver Spotted Skippers in
three areas, namely Happy Valley, The Rifle Range and even Grangelands. What a
delight to see this species in this area. Friends in more southern locations
tell me that the Silver Spotted Skipper is indeed extending its range. Has it
been seen before in this area of Bucks? How can I keep up to date with such new
and exciting developments?
I do know the butterfly well at its stronghold in the southern Chilterns. UTB member.
Friday 8th August
Alan Wingrove and Tom Dunbar visited the
Greatmoor area west of Finemere Wood late afternoon today Friday 8th August. In
approximately 2 hours they saw:
Essex Skipper
x4; Large White x4; Small White x10; Clouded
Yellow x8; Comma x1; Small
Tortoiseshell x103; Painted Lady x4; Small Copper x1; Common Blue
x45; Gatekeeper x14; Meadow Brown x8; Wall Brown
x2; Speckled Wood x1; Small Heath x15.
It was absolutely wonderful to see such massive numbers of Small Tortoiseshell again. They seem well on the way back to their former abundance across a range of habitats following their enormous decline of recent years.
The above visit was light relief for Alan and Tom having spent most of the week craning their necks into tree canopies in search of Brown Hairstreak. One of the company has so far totalled 26 adult Brown Hairstreaks.
Thursday 7th August
Sydlings Copse is an unusual mixed woodland near Wheatley,
Oxon, with a number of large Oak trees. It has an area of flower-rich grassland
and an interesting fen area in the middle. 3 UTB
members went to the wood today looking for Purple Hairstreaks in the hope of
seeing better numbers than they had seen elsewhere. They were slightly disappointed to record only 5, but were very
impressed with the site otherwise. They recorded 17 species including Common
Blue (58), Brown Argus (9) and Small Copper (4).
Tim and Colleen Watts went to Aston Clinton Ragpits yesterday
looking for Chalkhill Blues and were rewarded with brilliant views of high
numbers of them.
Wednesday August 6th I went to Whitecross Green
Wood for a late afternoon walk. I started at about 3.30PM . I
saw 19 species. There were many species of which I saw only one each. Among
these were Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, White Admiral, Brown Hairstreak, Small Skipper, Brimstone.
Other more numerous species were Large Skipper, Large White, Green Veined
White, Small White, Common Blue, Small Copper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper,
Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Purple Hairstreak.
I had especially good views of second brood Wood
Whites. One was sitting quietly on some clover along the main ride. Paul Bowyer.
Wednesday 6th August
Report from Alan Wingrove (CPFC and Surrey BC) and Tom Dunbar:
Alan Wingrove (CPFC and Surrey BC) and Tom Dunbar had a glorious Brown Hairstreak day in Bucks / Oxon borders
today Wednesday. They made great progress in determining at least 2 areas where
the butterfly is currently congregating prior to mating. Each site consists of
a group of medium sized ash trees. One site had a minimum of 6 individuals
visible while the other site was smaller. The latter site has had adults
present for at least the last 3 years.
It will be fascinating to observe these sites in coming weeks and years to discover if these trees continue to be regularly used.
If you know of any other similar sites in the area please let us know.
Also seen today: 3 Clouded Yellows.
David Ferguson reports yet another sighting of a male Clouded Yellow, this time at Fulmer, Bucks
this morning.
Mick & Wendy Campbell continued their survey of local sites in
Bucks today and reported the following sightings:
- Mop End Wildlife Centre: Very good numbers reported at this small site, with Common
Blue topping the list at 65, and a very welcome sighting of a Clouded Yellow. Also recorded were Gatekeeper (5), Small Copper, Meadow Brown
(10), Painted Lady (9), Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Red Admiral, Small
Tortoiseshell, Ringlet, Comma, Green-veined White.
-
Prestwood Picnic Area: Common Blue (29), Meadow Brown
(9), Gatekeeper (4), Painted Lady (2). Also Silver-Y and Yellow Shell moths.
Disappointingly, there were no Chalkhill Blues.
- Yeosden Bank: Again, very good numbers of Common
Blue (42) and Small Copper (5). Also pleased to see a Brown Argus. Species count totalling 11, but no
Chalkhills. Hummingbird
Hawk moth was a bonus.
Tuesday 5th August
Tom Dunbar sent in the following report after a visit to
Grangelands in Bucks on Monday:
The
downland was at its splendid best with a magnificent display of downland flora.
The National Trust must be highly complemented on the excellent management
carried out on this site in recent years.
Large
Skipper x3; Small Skipper x2; Large White x1; Small White x2; G.V. White x3;
Brimstone x4; Painted Lady x5; Peacock x3; Comma x1; Small Tortoiseshell x18; Chalkhill Blue x150; Common Blue x22; Hedge
Brown x35; Meadow Brown x45;
Small Heath x29.
Mick &
Wendy Campbell also recorded good numbers of Chalkhill
Blue (x26) at the Ragpits site on Monday 4th:
16 species were seen altogether, including Essex Skipper
(x2), Small Copper and Common Blue (x34).
Monday 4th August
Paul Bowyer recorded the following species on
Saturday 2nd August at Longstreet near Hanslope in North Bucks:
Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell,
Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Holly Blue,
Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown in a garden in Hartwell Road.
Also in Longstreet along a bridal way known
locally as Scroggry Lane he saw the following :-
Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Large
White, Small White, Brimstone, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small
Skipper.
On Saturday 2nd August Derek and Cathy Brown went to
Whitecross Green Wood and reported:
3 Wood whites (second brood), 4 Purple
Hairstreaks and 3 White Admirals among other commoner species, but
unfortunately no Brown Hairstreaks.
Sunday 3rd August
Several UTB Members visited Greenham Common on what turned
out to be an extremely hot day. This is an excellent site and the following
species were recorded, although these numbers are undoubtedly far lower than
the actual number of butterflies inhabiting this large site:
Clouded Yellow (3), Gatekeeper(50+), Small Tortoiseshell
(60+), Common Blue (19), Small Heath (25), Painted Lady (36), Essex Skipper
(1), Meadow Brown(5), Small Skipper (2), Red Admiral (5), Grayling (25), Large White (2), Small Copper
(1), Ringlet (3), Brown Argus (3), Brimstone (4), Peacock (65+), Small White
(1), Speckled Wood (4).
In addition, Tom Dunbar
and Paul Bowyer struck gold on seeing a second
brood Dingy Skipper – has anyone else recorded second brood Dingies?
They then went across the road for a short time
to Bowdown Wood and, despite it being a bit late in the afternoon, saw the
following:
Comma (1), Meadow Brown (2), Green-veined White (1), Purple Hairstreak (2),
Gatekeeper (2), Grayling (2), Red Admiral (1), Brimstone (1), Speckled Wood
(1).
UTB Members visited the Asham Meads site,
where they recorded 18 species of butterfly:
Holly Blue, Small Copper, Green-veined white, Peacock, Meadow
Brown, Small Skipper, Common Blue, Ringlet, Large White, Gatekeeper, Speckled
Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Purple Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Small White, Large
Skipper, Comma and Brown Hairstreak (single male on Elm!). The whole party ended up with stiff
necks and sunburnt chins as a result of their endeavours. It was surprising to
see Brown Hairstreak on Elm and Purple on Blackthorn!
and then went on to Whitecross Green Wood in the afternoon
where they recorded the following:
Purple Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small White, Large
White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Essex Skipper,
Common Blue, White Admiral (2), Clouded Yellow, Marbled White, Brown
Hairstreak, Comma, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood, Small
Copper.
Dave Ferguson spotted a male Clouded
Yellow at Jubilee River, Bucks this afternoon.
C. Carwell sent in the following:
The morning rain gave me the opportunity to complete the 'Circular Walk' in the
Brill area of Buckinghamshire and note the butterfly species that were willing
to tackle the inclement conditions. The Browns were well represented, namely
Hedge Brown x5; Meadow Brown x10; Ringlets x2. The Whites failed to show except
in a sunny spell and then Large White x5 and a singleton Small White. It was a
pleasure to see both Small Skipper (x5) and their cousins from Essex (x3). The
stars of the show were undoubtedly the Vanessids with Peacock x1; Small
Tortoiseshell x6; Red Admiral x2 and Painted Lady x11.
Mick & Wendy Campbell visited Penn Wood in Bucks
in search of Purple Hairstreaks and, although it was quite late in the day and
rather overcast, were pleased to see 4.
More surprisingly they also saw Common Blue x 3 – is this a first
sighting of Common Blues in Penn Wood?
Also seen were Gatekeeper (24), Meadow Brown (6), Red Admiral (1), Comma
(2), Small Copper (1), Peacock (1), Small Tort (1), Small Skipper (5), Essex
Skipper (2), Ringlet (1), Marbled White (2).
Paul Bowyer sent in the following report:
On the way home from work I stopped to look at a Buddleia
bush in Yeovil Road on Slough Trading Estate. I counted 18 Small Tortoiseshell
butterflies perched and there were more flying around. I also stopped at a
piece of waste ground at the top of Juniper Lane in Flackwell Heath where there
are a lot of teasles. I was hoping to see Peacock butterflies on these. Perhaps
it was too late in the day because I saw none. However I did see Gatekeepers,
Meadow Browns, Small Whites, Large Whites, a Small Skipper and a Small Copper.
I hadn't seen the Small Copper at this site before.
At home in Flackwell Heath in my garden I saw a Large White, a Small White, a
Red Admiral, a Painted Lady and a Holly Blue.
27th July
UTB Members visited Bald Hill (Aston Rowant) and saw:
Essex Skipper, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Gatekeeper,
Ringlet, Chalkhill Blue (40),
Peacock, Small White, Common Blue (25), Large White, Brimstone, Marbled White,
Small Tortoiseshell, Dark Green Fritillary (very
worn!), Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small Heath, Silver-spotted
Skipper (16), Painted Lady.
21st July
Mick &
Wendy Campbell visited Bowdown Wood, near Newbury on a very warm, although
rather breezy, day. The following butterflies were recorded:
White Admiral x3, Red Admiral x21, Purple Hairstreak x2,
Comma x7, Peacock x6, Painted Lady x3, Grayling x4, Small Skipper,
Brimstone, Common Blue x 4, Small Copper x3 and good numbers of the browns,
fewer numbers of the whites.
Mick Campbell went to Hodgemoor Wood in Bucks where he
found a White Admiral. He also saw Red Admiral x5, Gatekeeper x6, Meadow
Brown x10, Ringlet x7, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White x3,
Common Blue, Marbled White, Gn-veined White x3, Speckled Wood, Peacock and
Purple Hairstreak x3.
** End of 2003 archive
**
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