** January to May 2004
Archive **
Monday 31st
May 2004
Phil Coles visited Aston Rowant NNR (South) today between 09:15 - 11:30 and recorded:
Common Blue (18);
Dingy Skipper (3); Orange-tip (1); Small Heath (3); Speckled Wood (1)
Derek and Cathy Brown went to Lardon Chase this
morning and report as follows: we saw
large numbers (>50) of Common blues and a few other species, (SC, SW, B,
GVW, DS). We then nipped to Aston Upthorpe and managed a single Small
Blue. We also saw a single very faded Duke there. I also finally
managed to see 3 Red admirals at last and also a Brown Argus that
unfortunately Cathy missed. Therefore I can add CB, SB, RA, and BA; while Cathy
adds CB and SB.
All in all we managed 15 species today between the three sites - SH, P, OT, DS
at Aston and several Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries (see photo)
and a Speckled Wood at Pamber Forest make up the numbers. Shame the SPBFs are
in Hampshire!!
Sunday 30th
May 2004
Dave Wilton, Tom & Rosaline Dunbar went to Finemere this
morning, 30th May, and recorded 13 species in moderate weather
conditions:
Grizzled Skipper 2, Brimstone 3, Green Veined White 4. Orange Tip 3, Common Blue 1, Holly Blue 1, Brown Argus 5, Small Copper 2, Comma 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Wall Brown 1, Speckled Wood 1, Small Heath 1.
Tom and Rosaline then went on to Greatmoor and saw:
Grizzled Skipper 23, Dingy Skipper 27, Large Skipper 1, Small White 2, Green Veined White 2, Orange Tip 1, Common Blue 29, Small Copper 3, Green Hairstreak 5, Small Heath 25, giving a total of 149 butterflies, 17 species for the day.
Dave Wilton decided, as the weather had stayed unexpectedly nice,
that he would make a quick sortie in the
afternoon to the disused railway line that runs along the western side of
Westcott airfield. He was very pleasantly surprised
at the number of Common Blues there (stopped counting at 50). Dingy Skipper
(20), Grizzled Skipper (6), Small Heath (7), Speckled Wood (3) and Cinnabar
Moth (5) were also present.
The UTB field trip to Ivinghoe Beacon yesterday, 29th
May, saw a turnout of 8 people, led by Tom Dunbar.
The morning bouts
of sunshine gave splendid views of the target species the Duke of Burgundy.
As the day progressed the sun broke through more regularly to give a pleasantly
warm afternoon. Visits to the Duke 'hotspots' built a successful total of 19
Dukes which was considered a great success. Species seen were:
Brimstone 1, Dingy Skipper 7, G.V. White 1, Duke of Burgundy 19, Green
Hairstreak 3, Common Blue 3, Brown Argus 2, Speckled Wood 1, Small Heath 11.
UTB has no records of Grizzled Skipper at this site since 1999. There was
discussion about a coarse grass that was thought to be associated with the Duke
of Burgundy. This was later identified as Brachypodium Sylvaticum or Slender
false broom.
Moths seen included: Pyrausta Nigrata, Mother Shipton, Common Carpet, Burnet Companion, Cinnabar, Green Carpet, Clouded Silver and (by a process of elimination) a Wood Tiger, spotted by Tony and Sarah Johnson.
Saturday 29th
May 2004
Welcome to Phil Coles who sent in his first
report to the website today:
Early evening Friday 28th (17:00 to 18:30) in
less than ideal conditions produced the following: Rushbeds Wood -
Speckled Wood (2). Lapland Farm - Small Heath (5+), Common Blue
(64) all but a few roosting.
Friday 28th
May 2004
Keith Mitchell spent a couple of absorbing hours this afternoon, 28th
May, at the Blue Lagoon Reserve in Bletchley. The following were seen: Small Blue (2); Common Blue males (3);
Grizzled Skipper mating (2); Dingy Skipper (6); Large White (1); Burnet Companion
(15+).
Dave Wilton visited Finemere Wood Reserve,
Bucks, on Fri 28th May: “Another pleasant couple of hours
spent here in the sunshine this morning produced 10 butterfly species:
Grizzled Skipper (6), Brimstone (1), Large White (1), Small White (2), GV White
(10+), Orange-tip (4), Small Copper (3), Speckled Wood (2), Small Heath (2, my
first sighting) and Common Blue (3). This brings the number of butterfly
species that I've recorded here during the second half of May to 14, the others
being Comma (which I was surprised not to see today), Peacock, Small
Tortoiseshell and Holly Blue. A lone Mother Shipton was also noted
this morning, as were several Lackey caterpillars which were sunning
themselves beside the track leading up to the reserve”.
Mick
& Wendy Campbell visited Pulpit Hill today, 28th, where
they recorded 9 butterfly species, including 55+ Common Blues and 9 Dingy
Skippers. 2 Burnet Companions were also seen. They then decided to visit the Bradenham Wood area to check for the possibility
of Duke of Burgundy which used to populate this site. None was seen and as it
was quite cloudy only small numbers of butterflies were flying. However, they
were extremely pleased to find 2 Small Blues despite there being no
obvious patches of the usual foodplant of Kidney Vetch, 1 Grizzled Skipper, 5
Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, Common Blue, Orange Tip, 3 Holly Blue, Peacock and
a Speckled Wood.
Sixteen
people joined the Aston Rowant Field Trip meeting on 25th May. The
weather was moderate with sunny periods but a chilly northeast wind:
The following 12
species of butterfly were seen: Dingy Skipper; Grizzled Skipper;
Brimstone; Green-veined White; Orange-tip; Green Hairstreak; Small Copper;
Brown Argus; Common Blue; Holly Blue; Speckled Wood; Small Heath
and these moths: Adela
reaumurella; Aethes tesserana; Pyrausta purpuralis; Pyrausta nigrata;
Silver-ground Carpet; Common Carpet; Green Carpet; Mother Shipton; Burnet
Companion. Click
here for Mike’s full Field Trip report.
Thursday 27th
May 2004
Wendy & Mick Campbell walked through Lodge Hill today and were
stunned by the sea of Rock Rose in flower. Expecting to see a few Brown Argus,
they then counted 25 (and no doubt missed many more). They were all in pristine
condition. They also saw 2 Grizzled Skipper, 4 Common Blue, 13 Small Copper, 4
Small Heath, 6 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, a rather worn Holly Blue, a single Dingy
Skipper and Green-veined White. Daytime moths seen were Cinnabar (17), Pyrausta
Nigrata, Lesser Treble-bar and Burnet Companion.
Later on at
Yoesden Bank there were far fewer butterflies on the wing, with zero Brown
Argus, only 2 Common Blue, a single Grizzled Skipper and a couple of Speckled
Woods.
A number of butterfly and daytime moth records received from David
Redhead today:
Wednesday 26th - A fresh looking Small Tortoiseshell seen in our garden. Then an afternoon visit to Sydlings Copse gave a tatty Small Tortoiseshell plus a few each of Common Blue, Orange Tip and Small White, a pristine Large White, a Small Copper & a Holly Blue. On the daytime moth side numerous Grass Rivulets and a singleton Latticed Heath, Burnet Companion and Lesser Treble-bar were seen flying. The grassland area was awash with Yellow Rattle (foodplant of the Grass Rivulet) and the Large White appeared to be nectaring on it. After leaving Sydlings Copse I went to Whitecross Green Wood to check on Brown Hairstreak caterpillars (four found, largest 10mm) and saw a Mother Shipton moth.
Thursday 27th - A cry of Small Copper has just rung out from the garden - our first for a few years (more evidence of the "comeback" of this beautiful beast) but by the time I got outside it had gone, a Green-veined White, Comma & Small Tortoiseshell had to act as compensation.
Wednesday 26th
May 2004
There was a good turn-out at the Field Trip to the Aston
Rowant Nature Reserve yesterday, led by Mike Wilkins. Despite
somewhat overcast conditions a high number of butterfly and moth species was
seen. Full report from Mike to follow soon.
During David Redhead’s walk through Bernwood Forest yesterday, which
included a detour into the meadows, he had quite a varied haul - 2 Grizzled
Skippers Several Common Blues, Small Coppers & Speckled Woods 2 Orange Tips
plus eggs. Also a number of moths and moth larvae (see moth sightings page).
David Redhead has just returned from a couple of days in
Pembrokeshire and sent in this report:
Saw Wall Browns nearly everywhere - inland at Llawhaden Castle (just off
the A40, 5ml E of Haverfordwest - this was a very pleasing sighting as I saw a
pair here over 10 years ago) and near Esgryn Wood a few miles inland from Fishguard.
But the greatest numbers were to be seen on or near the coast path where we saw
well into three figures. On the coastal path we also had an early Large
Skipper (21/5), Common Blue (numerous down near St Anne's Head) and Small
Copper & Green-veined White (widespread but both nowhere as numerous as
Wall Browns). Flowers fantastic but in spite of Kidney Vetch everywhere did not
see one Small Blue (presumably too early, although already out here). A pair of
Green Hairstreaks at the edge of Esgryn Wood completed my 22 species for 2004
although not all were in UTB of course. Blackthorn on coast path covered in
nests of Lackey moth caterpillars, also found a couple of Oak Eggar
caterpillars but no Brown Hairstreaks.
Tuesday 25th
May 2004
Francis Gomme recorded the following butterfly species over
the weekend: Small Copper, Small Heath, Small Blue and Brown Argus at
Grangelands on Saturday and Wood White at Whitecross Green, Sunday.
Cathy and Derek Brown saw 2 new species for the year today,
23rd May: two Small Heaths at Greenham Common and 10 Wood
Whites at Whitecross Green Wood this afternoon. I finally managed to get some
half decent pictures of the latter.
Tom Dunbar and AJP Wingrove visited a site near Saunderton today Sunday
23rd May. Sightings were: 6 Dingy Skipper, 3 Grizzled Skipper, 2 Brimstone, 5
Duke of Burgundy, 5 Green Hairstreak, 1 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small
Copper, 1 Peacock, 1 Comma. They moved on to Lodge Hill to check for
Dukes. They saw: 12 Grizzled Skipper, 7 Dingy Skipper, 5 Brimstone, 1
Orange Tip, 3 Brown Argus, 4 Holly Blue, 7 Small Copper, 3 Small Heath. Then on
to Hewins Wood in search of Wall Brown. They found: 8 Grizzled Skipper,
5 Dingy Skipper, 4 Small Copper, 5 Common Blue, 2 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 4
Small Heath.
Better numbers of Grizzled Skippers today but they seem to be suffering a decline in numbers at some sites. Conversely Dingies appear to be having a splendid year. Small Coppers are now emerging in numbers at many sites. Will they do as well as last year's fantastic showing? No Wall Brown at Hewins but one was seen there on Saturday.
Saturday 22nd
May 2004
A
first report to the website today from Dave Wilton who visited Finemere Wood Reserve, Bucks today:
Active despite the chilly breeze this afternoon (22nd May)
were Small Tortoiseshell (1), Comma (1), Peacock (1), Small White (1), GV White
(several), Orange-tip (several), Brimstone (2), Speckled Wood (3) and my first
sighting there of a Small Copper (1).
Tom Dunbar accompanied by AJP Wingrove started
the day with a visit to Church End Chalkpit near College Lake. Sightings
there were: 28 Dingy Skipper, 18 Small Blue, 3 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 7
Small Heath.
They then moved on to Salden
Disused Railway Line SW of Milton Keynes where they spotted: 1 Grizzled
Skipper, 3 Dingy Skipper, a very early Large
Skipper, 4 Wood White, 1 Small White, 3 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1
Small Copper.
Their next port of call was Wicken and
Leckhamstead Woods on the Bucks / Northants border. Butterflies seen there
were: 3 Orange Tip, 18 Wood White, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 GV White, 2
Small Copper, 2 Small Tortoiseshell.
[A remarkable 101 butterflies, 15 species in less than perfect weather
conditions.]
Jan Haseler finally caught up with a
slightly tatty Duke of Burgundy at Aston Upthorpe today.
I finally got out into the country today, up to Grangelands
Reserve near Cadsden, and saw:- Common blues (35+ males, 2 females),
1 Holly blue, 1 Small copper, 1 Green hairstreak, 10 Small heaths, 1 Grizzled
skipper, 18 Dingy skippers, 2 Brimstones, and 2 Green-veined whites. Taken me
up the butterfly league a bit! Dave Maunder.
Wall Brown was the target species today at Hewins Wood Drain for
Wendy & Mick Campbell. Unfortunately it was quite cloudy and cool, down to 14º
during the morning and chances of seeing the Wall Brown looked remote. After
12.00 noon however, the clouds started to part and the sun broke through
warming up the clay banks.
They finally sighted a single Wall Brown, which
landed just long enough to be identified and flew off at speed. Other
butterflies seen on the day were 8 Grizzled Skipper, 20+ Dingy Skippers, Small
Tortoiseshell, 5 Small Heath, a very worn Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue, 2 Small
Coppers, Green Hairstreak and 2 Orange Tip (male and female).
Thursday 20th
May 2004
Field Trip to Greenham Common today, joint with Hampshire
& Isle of Wight Branch. Very well attended. Report to
follow from FT leader Frank Banyard.
Wednesday 19th
May 2004
David Redhead went to Aston Upthorpe and Lardon Chase today: Managed 11 species at Aston Upthorpe including four Duke of Burgundy's and a Brown Argus. Far less species at Lardon Chase, only three, but about the same number of butterflies with over 40 Common Blues being seen. Also a couple of Small Blues. Interestingly there were no Common Blues to be seen at Aston Upthorpe. The four species named were all firsts for me this year. Day flying macro-moths included Burnet Companion, Latticed Heath, Mother Shipton and Cinnabar.
Jan Haseler saw Common and Small
Blues at Lardon Chase this afternoon (and met David Redhead!).
Paul Bowyer and Mick Campbell visited four sites today, starting at 2.00 p.m. at Whitecross
Green where they recorded 3 Wood Whites. They then went on to Bernwood
Meadow: Common Blue, Peacocks and several Small Coppers seen. The third
site was Watlington Hill where a lot of scrub clearance has been done. 5 Common
Blues, 1 Brown Argus, Holly Blue and a Small Copper. Finally onto
Swyncombe where they found a single Small Blue and several
Sm.Tortoiseshells flying around nettles.
Peter Hall was at Grangelands today and reports
seeing: Orange Tip, Brimstone,
Large White, Common Blue, Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper (1), Small Heath.
At Grangelands all day yesterday (not specifically looking at
butterflies), Martin Albertini recorded the following 12 species of butterfly:
Grizzled
Skipper – only 1 (early in day); Dingy Skipper – lots; Brimstone - lots;
Green-veined White – few; Orange-tip – lots; Small Heath – moderate numbers; Green
Hairstreak – about a dozen; Small Copper - 1; Holly Blue – around 20;
Common Blue – few; Speckled Wood – 1; Peacock – 2
Dave Hutchinson reports seeing one Grizzled Skipper at College Lake on Sunday 16th May.
Tuesday 18th
May 2004
David Redhead went to Whitecross Green Wood today and was delighted to see the first Wood White in the UTB area for this year. He
also reports a Grizzled Skipper.
Tom Dunbar visited Prestwood Picnic area today and managed his first sighting of the elusive Small White! The SW was accompanied by 2 Dingy Skippers, 4 Orange Tips, 5 Brimstones, 1 Common Blue, 1 Green Hairstreak. At Cadsden Woods the lack of Duke of Burgundy was noted. Finally on to Grangelands where reasonable numbers of Dingy Skippers and Brimstones were still flying up to 6 pm. No sign of Small Blue nor Brown Argus but they can await another day.
Paul Bowyer and Mick Campbell visited Sands Bank today and spotted their first Common
Blues of the season.
Richard Soulsby visited the Benson/Ewelme area today and achieved the first
UTB sighting of a Brown Argus along
with 13 other species, including Small Blue.
14 butterfly species were seen on the well attended Field Trip to
Aston Upthorpe on Saturday 15th May, led by Mike Wilkins, as
follows: Brimstone,
Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Dingy Skipper, Green-veined White,
Grizzled Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Small Copper, Small Heath,
Peacock, Comma and the target species Duke of Burgundy. Click
here for Mike’s full Field Trip report.
Tony Croft went to Wytham Wood yesterday, 17th, in search of Green Hairstreak. “I'm trying to visit sites away from the Chiltern edge when I can. I was rewarded with five sightings in two locations.”
Monday 17th
May 2004
Tom Dunbar visited Grangelands after work on Monday. Between 4.45 and 6pm he saw 10 Dingy Skippers, 2 Orange Tips, 10 Brimstones, 2 Holly Blues, 1 Common Blue (my first for the season), 1 Peacock, 5 Small Heaths (my first for the season).
A new species for the season reported by Dave Fuller who visited
Homefield today:
Brimstone 6; Dingy
Skipper 3; Grizzled Skipper 2 first this year at this site; Common Blue 2 males the first sighting and
please add to my total on the First to 22 League; Peacock 1; Burnet Companion
3.
News from David Redhead today: “Conscious that we were plummeting to the bottom of the 22 Species League Table, Wendy & I went to Seven Barrows this afternoon. We counted 15 Dingy Skippers, 6 Small Heath (both new for us this season but they have probably had little impact on our lowly placing) but sadly no Marsh Fritillary or Grizzled Skipper. Also surprisingly (in view of Nick Bowles' sightings yesterday) no Small Blues. Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshells, Small Whites, a Cinnabar and a Burnet Companion also seen.
Later along the Ridgeway by Waylands Smithy we saw several Orange Tips and Small Whites and a male Brimstone spiralling around a female, gradually they rose together into the air so high that they eventually disappeared from view. On the way back waiting for the traffic lights in the centre of Wantage a Holly Blue was seen.
Thanks to
Trevor Chapman from BC
Herts & Middlesex Branch for the following report:
”I went over to Ivinghoe Beacon on Sunday 16/5/04 to photograph Dukes. I
saw 10 Duke of Burgundy, 2 Dingy Skippers, 1 Green Hairstreak, 5
Brimstones, 2 Orange tips, 1 Small Tort, 1 Mother Shipton, 2 Burnet Companion,
Cinnabar and a Tree Pipit.”
Sunday 16th
May 2004
Paul Bowyer and Wendy & Mick Campbell went to Cadmore End today
to check on a
new site they found last year for Grizzled Skipper. They were delighted to see
that it was on the wing today – 3 seen altogether, quite early on in the day at
about 11.00 a.m.
They then
went on to an area in Penley Wood where
they had previously found wild strawberry plants on a south-facing chalk slope,
in the hope of finding another new colony of Grizzled Skippers. After about 10
minutes of searching they were rewarded with a single Grizzled Skipper
and plan to revisit in a week or two to see how many are in the colony.
7 other species
were seen during the morning, including 3 Holly Blue.
Nick Bowles had an unexpected 5
Small Blue today near Pitstone but has
yet to see Common Blue or Brown Argus anywhere. Also 28 Dukes (5 at
Dancers End - where I searched hard and 23 at Ivinghoe Beacon - where I
didn't). Also very good numbers of Pyraustra spp at Ivinghoe; 3 species I think
aurata, nigrata and purpuralis. Perhaps commonest species of the day went to
Cinnabar at Pitstone. Masses of the beauties.
Several sites today had Dingy but not Dancers End and no Grizzled
anywhere. Holly Blue at every site and same too for Green Veined
White, Orange Tip and Brimstone. No Large White yet this year and only one
Small White today.
Tom Dunbar went on a quest for Dukes today. Here are the results of
his search (in and just outside of UTB area):
- In 3 hours at Ivinghoe I saw: 5 Dingy Skippers, 4 Orange Tips, 20 Brimstones, 1 GV White, 50+ unidentified whites, 31 Duke of Burgundy (6 in first 5 minutes!), 8 Green Hairstreaks.
- In 2 hours at Totternhoe Knolls - 6 Dingy Skippers, 4 Brimstone, 3 Orange Tips, zero Dukes despite 4 reported by others.
- Late in the day at Whipsnade Downs -
8 Brimstones, 2 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Duke of Burgundy, 2 Peacocks. Tom
had a reliable report of 20+ Dukes being seen on site earlier today.
This afternoon David Redhead called in at Westwell Gorse, BBOWT's most westerly reserve,
where the butterflies were disappointing with only Brimstones, Orange Tips and
a Peacock flying, but there were several Burnet Companions and Latticed Heath
and a Common Heath.
Keith Mitchell left Stevenage at lunch time in unbroken sunshine. He arrived at Blue Lagoon in
Bletchley in thick cloud. Managed to track down a single Dingy Skipper (photo
provided) in brief brighter interlude. Other butterflies included:
6 Orange Tip; 3 Brimstone; 1 large White; 2 Small White; 1 Speckled Wood; 1
Holly Blue. Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper were both seen Sunday morning at
Blue Lagoon (per Kerry Taylor).
Jan Haseler went to Chimney Meadows
yesterday, which was interesting, but a bit short of butterflies. “We saw a Dingy
Skipper at Seven Barrows on the way back.”
Saturday 15th
May 2004
Thanks to Mike Wilkins for an excellent and well attended Field
Trip to Aston Upthorpe today where the target species of Duke of Burgundy was
seen. Full
report to follow from Mike shortly.
At Otmoor today, David Redhead counted 16 Small Coppers and his first Large White of the year. He also saw his first Small Tortoiseshell (extremely tatty) for some time, 3 male Orange Tips, several Brimstones, Green-veined Whites and a couple of Peacocks. On returning home his wife, Wendy, told him there had been 3/4 Holly Blues in the garden plus 4 Brimstones and 6 other species.
[Editor
note: There have been a lot of Holly Blue sightings so far this year, after a
poor year in 2003.]
At Hewins Wood today Tom Dunbar says he saw surprisingly few butterflies. The total was Grizzled Skipper 4, Dingy Skipper 1, Brimstone 2, Orange Tip 6, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 2; no sightings of target species: Wall Brown, Small Heath, Small Copper, Common Blue.
He then visited a number of other sites accompanied by Dennis Dell:
Small Dean Lane NW: Grizzled Skipper 1, Dingy Skipper 3, Brimstone 1, Peacock 1.
Small Dean
Lane South: Dingy Skipper 1, Brimstone 2, Peacock 1; no
Duke.
At Saunderton: Grizzled Skipper 2, Dingy Skipper 11, Brimstone 3, Large White 1, Orange Tip 1, Holly Blue 1, Small Copper 1 (new species for this year), Duke of Burgundy 8, Small Tortoiseshell 1
Butlers Hanging: Dingy Skipper 9, Orange Tip 1, Brimstone 1, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 1.
[A total of 70
butterflies, 10 species]
David
Fuller has sent in his new species sightings from the last two days- Dingy
Skipper Watlington Hill on 10/5/04, Green Hairstreak Watlington Hill
10/5/04, Grizzled Skipper, Duke of Burgundy and Small Copper today at
Aston Upthorpe.
Friday 14th
May 2004
During a visit to three sites today – Hewins Wood Drain,
Ragpits and Rusbeds Meadow - Mick Campbell recorded a total of 10 species,
including 2 new ones for the year:
Orange Tip (10), Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock (4), Speckled Wood (2),
Green Hairstreak (4), Dingy Skipper (3), Small Copper (6 – very fresh),
Large White, Small Heath, Holly Blue
(2). Also a number of day-flying moths (see moth sightings page).
Thursday 13th
May 2004
Today at Shinfield Cemetery, Spencers Wood, SU719668, ie one of Jim Asher's empty tetrads, Jan Haseler recorded Small Copper (her first this year), 4 Holly Blues and some uncooperative Whites.
Jan asks: “What is the Upper Thames definition of a
churchyard? This cemetery is a botanical gem - early purple orchid, ladies
smock, many more flowers, bushes, hedges, a few nettles. It was given to the
village in the 1920's, and is effectively an unimproved flower-rich meadow. It
is managed by Wokingham DC, so there are no churches involved.”
[Editorial note: The Living Churchyard and Cemetery
Project is a national project which aims to increase the awareness and
interest in churchyards and cemeteries as places where wildlife can thrive. The
Diocese of Oxford covers Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire and it is a joint project
co-ordinated by a committee of representatives from BBOWT, Butterfly
Conservation, The Botanical Society of the British Isles, the Diocese of Oxford
and independent ecologists. So a cemetery (i.e. a burial place with no Church)
can be surveyed independently.]
Derek Brown reports:
“Just to let you know that Cathy managed to see a Large White in the
centre of Reading today within the grounds of where she works at Coley Park.
This takes her onto 14 in the “First to 22” league. I popped to Maidenhead
Thicket for 15 mins during lunch hour but only managed ~ 6 Brimstones and a
single Holly Blue. This leaves me on 12 as I still haven't seen a LW or RA.
Ten
species were recorded by Mick Campbell during a sunny spell this afternoon
between 2.00-4.00 p.m. in the Bradenham area: 4 Dingy Skippers, 2
Grizzled Skippers (his first sighting of the year), 2 Holly Blue, 3
Peacock, 2 Small Torts, 4 Orange Tips, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Large White, 5
Brimstone and a Comma.
Tom Dunbar visited Grangelands after work today - 5 to 5.45 pm. Butterflies were in short supply but he did manage to see 2 Dingy Skippers (new species for him this season); 1 Grizzled Skipper; 1 Brimstone; 4 Peacocks and 1 Red Kite. He didn't have time to check out the Duke site nearby.
From RSPB
Otmoor Nature Reserve Nick Droy reports seeing the first 3 Small Coppers on the
reserve yesterday and first common blue damselflies.
Wednesday 12th
May 2004
On a generally cloudy day, Mick Campbell decided to pay a
short visit to Prestwood Picnic Area today and was
impressed with the amount of scrub clearance that had been carried out. He
waited for quite a while for the sun to come out in the hope of seeing Small
Coppers, but wasn’t rewarded for his patience, although he did manage to see 3
female and 2 male Orange Tips.
Tuesday 11th
May 2004
David Redhead saw 2 pristine Small Copper at Otmoor today
plus a Green-veined White. They were in a the field just to the north of the
MoD land where I saw 100+ second/third brood Small Coppers at the end of last
summer.
Also, David reports that his Shabbington wood Transect yesterday (10/05) did not produce anything exciting - 7 Green-veined White, 5 Speckled wood, 4 Small White, 2 Brimstone, 1 Orange Tip = 5 species, 19 butterflies. This was actually marginally better than the same week last year when 4 species and 17 butterflies were recorded.
However, I
did find a Brown Hairstreak caterpillar on the blackthorn at the top of the
field bordering Hell coppice where we found eggs on the UTB field trip
last August. Also inspecting a row of 20 Lady's Smock (Cuckoo
Flower) plants I found 11 had a single white (showing they had been
laid in the last day or so) Orange Tip egg on. Also heard a Grasshopper
Warbler - never heard one in Bernwood Forest before - is
this as a result of the clearance work there?
Monday 10th May Paul Bowyer visited Farnham Royal churchyard after work at about 5.15 p.m. The temperature was still warm enough for me to see an Orange Tip, a Green Veined White, a Speckled Wood and a Holly Blue.
Monday 10th May
2004
Tony Croft took advantage of this afternoon's sunshine and warmth
to go Green Hairstreak hunting. He spent a long time at Watlington Hill with no
success. He then called in at Aston Rowant and was rewarded with a
single sighting flitting between bramble and elder on the hill side. He also
saw a pristine Small Copper basking in the sun. There were several moths
flying around but the only identifiable one was the tiny Pyrausta purpuralis.
News from Tom Dunbar today, as follows:
I visited the Duke site at Saunderton after work today between 5 and 6
pm. It is the best potential site for Dukes I have ever visited. The cowslips
are stupendous with an excellent mixture of shade and open areas. Despite the
excitement no Dukes, even though there was a report of some last
Friday. However picked up other species namely Grizzled Skipper x2,
Brimstone x6, Holly Blue x2.
Some butterflies seen in gardens today – David Redhead had flying visits from OT,
GvW, SmW, HB & P this morning and Mick
Campbell saw in his garden Holly Blue, Peacock, Small Torts,
Green-veined White and Orange Tips (M & F) – females showing interest in
the Lady’s Smock.
Sunday 9th
May 2004
Wendy and
Mick Campbell were walking through Homefield Wood today and decided to wait in the
meadow area hoping to see a Grizzled Skipper during one of the short sunny
spells. None were seen but they were rewarded instead with a pristine Dingy Skipper nectaring on a
dandelion, the first for the year. There were a few other butterflies on the wing:
Large White, Green-Veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock and later on at Hatchet
Wood, 2 Speckled Woods.
Tom Dunbar went to Hewins
Wood today with high hopes of getting some first sightings for the
year of Small White, Wall Brown, Dingy or possibly a Common Blue. He failed
miserably but did get: Grizzled
Skipper 1; Orange Tip 3; OT
eggs 3; Green Hairstreak 1; Small Tortoiseshell 1; Peacock 1. The adjacent woods brought another 4 OT
eggs which made a total of 7 for the day.
Tom also reported on yesterday’s field trip to Grangelands which went ahead in spite of the overcast skies and frequent rain. He says: “We set off in the drizzle and covered the whole site. The highlight was 60-70+ Roman Snails which took the place of Common Blues!”
Butterflies
seen in Aylesbury last week by Dave Maunder were as follows:-
Sm.
Tortoiseshells (3), Large white (1), Small whites (6), Green-veined white (1),
Orange tips (1 female, 2 males), Speckled woods (2), and a Holly blue - all at
our allotment at Ardenham lane on the 2nd. Also on the 7th in St. Mary's
churchyard in Aylesbury I saw a Holly blue, a Speckled wood, and a Small white.
Saturday 8th
May 2004
Wendy & David Redhead report a lone Large White in their garden yesterday.
Wednesday 5th
May 2004
Welcome to new visitor to the website, Jane Cockman, who is a
churchyard surveyor for St Andrew's Clewer, Windsor. Jane keeps an eye on
things in the churchyard, and snapped this Holly blue on Sunday (2nd May):
Monday 3rd
May 2004
Tom Dunbar, Wendy and Mick Campbell maximised their opportunities this afternoon. They visited Dancers End Pumping Station in search of Brown Hairstreak eggs, following a report of an adult being seen there two years ago. Despite a good habitat being found no eggs were located. However never being ones 'to look a gift horse in the mouth' they braved the weather to check out Dancers End Nature Reserve. They saw one butterfly (at 4.50 p.m.) - a Duke of Burgundy.
Yesterday,
2nd May, Jan Haseler saw a Green Hairstreak and Grizzled Skipper at
Whitchurch-on-Thames,
David Fuller
reports Holly Blue,
Orange Tip, Small White and Peacock all visiting his garden regularly.
Sunday 2nd
May 2004
Derek Brown had
a Small White in his garden at Beenham today and his wife saw a Red Admiral. He
also saw a Green Hairstreak and several Green-veined whites at Decoy Heath; and
a Grizzled Skipper at Aston Upthorpe - still no Dukes!!
Well done to Tom Dunbar who took advantage of the sunny afternoon
today and covered four sites:
Dancersend Brimstone 8; Orange Tip 1; Green
Veined White 1; Small Tortoiseshell 2; Peacock 4; Comma 1; No Duke of Burgundy
Ragpits - Brimstone 3; Holly Blue 2; Green Hairstreak 1; Peacock 2
Coombe Hill Bottom - Grizzled Skipper 2; Brimstone 4; Orange Tip
1; Green Hairstreak 1
Grangelands - Too late for any butterflies.
Wendy & Mick
Campbell walked a circular route from Hartslock today taking in
the Thames Tow Path from Goring to Whitchurch on Thames. They were pleasantly
surprised to see a large number of Holly Blues and Green Hairstreaks on the
wing, along with 9 other species of butterfly and several day flying moths.
They also paid a late visit to Aston Upthorpe in search of the Duke of Burgundy
and Grizzled Skipper but failed on both counts.
Butterflies seen last Sunday (25th) in Aylesbury
on Dave Maunder’s allotment were:-
Peacock
(1), Comma (1), Sm. Tortoiseshell (27 - 22 were near Fairford Leys); Holly Blue
(3), Speckled Wood (3), Brimstone (3), Orange Tip (1 male, 1 female), Gr. Veined
White (1), Small White (8), Large White (1). I didn't see anything else all
week, due to the adverse weather conditions.
Friday 30th
April 2004
Thursday 29th April David Redhead writes - What an awful day. In desperation
I decided to search the garlic mustard plants dotted over our garden (by kind
permission of the head gardener) for Orange Tip eggs. To my surprise on the
first plant examined I found a forlorn female Orange Tip roosting
on one of the flower heads. I wonder if any other adult butterfly sightings
will be reported for today.
My total
egg count was 5. I found my first Orange Tip eggs of the year on 20th
April. Both were light orange and on Garlic Mustard - one on rough ground
near where I live and a stone’s throw from the River Thames, the other was in
our garden. The garden one had extremely unusually been laid on the
underside of a leaf. Normally they are laid on the stem just below the flower.
Orange Tip eggs are readily visible to the naked eye and can be found on Garlic
Mustard (Jack-by-the-Hedge), Lady's Smock (Cuckoo Flower) and less commonly
on Honesty, Hedge Mustard & Sweet Rocket. When first laid the eggs are
white but turn orange after a day or so. (Note white eggs on the leaves of
these plants will usually belong to the Green-veined White.) The caterpillars
hatch out during May and can be found feeding on the seed pods through
into June.
Keith Mitchell reports seeing his first garden Orange Tip of the
year on 24th (see photo – click picture for larger image).
Here are some of Dave Maunder’s sightings from around Aylesbury
recently:-
Peacocks (2), Sm. Tortoiseshells (75+) on 23rd (45+ were near fairford leys),
Speckled Woods (3), Holly Blues (6), Brimstones (6), Orange Tip (1),
Gr.-Veined Whites (2), Small Whites (10), Large Whites (2) - nice to see
more Holly Blues this spring in town after last year's low numbers!
Tuesday 27th
April 2004
On 25/04/04 Tim and Colleen Watts were
pleased to have their first sighting of a Holly Blue for 3 years in
their garden at Whitchurch and one Orange Tip. Also on the same day at the
Calvert BBOWT reserve they recorded Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Small
Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip and Speckled Wood.
Monday 26th
April 2004
At Grangelands 26 April (all day) Martin Albertini reports seeing several Green Hairstreaks,
one Grizzled Skipper (at about 4pm), lots of Brimstones, a few Orange
Tips and G-v Whites, one or two Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma.
Tom Dunbar saw 1 Painted
Lady, 1 Large White, and 2 Speckled Woods in Hazlemere, Bucks,
today.
Sunday 25th
April 2004
Derek Brown - Nothing of real note to mention
but I seem to be seeing more Holly Blues in the garden (Beenham Nr.
Aldermaston Berks) this weekend than I can ever remember. I must have had at
least 15-20 sightings - perhaps double figure individuals! Normally I see at
most 4 or 5 a year with most in the second brood. Is it just me or is everyone
seeing these in large numbers. I also visited Aston Upthorpe Downs on
Sat 24th am. The hillside is bright yellow with the Cowslips but I didn't see a
single Duke.
Tom Dunbar went to Wotton Underwood, this morning, and saw 1 Brimstone; 1 GV White; 4
Orange Tips; and 4 Speckled Woods. Unfortunately no Grizzled Skippers. In the afternoon he visited Dancers End and
saw 8 Brimstone; 3 Small tortoiseshell; 1 Red Admiral; 11 Peacock; 1 Comma.
Unfortunately no Duke of Burgundy yet!
The following news received from Richard Soulsby: On my Swyncombe transect yesterday I saw: Small Copper, Green Hairstreak, Orange Tip plus the hibernators (Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tort, Comma). But no Grizzled Skips, despite looking hard. Then in my garden added 4 Holly Blues and Small White. Nice to see the Small Copper, which posed for photos.
Saturday 24th
April 2004
Nick Bowles recorded the first Grizzled
Skipper of the year during his transect at Coombe HiIl today, along
with 2 Green Hairstreaks.
I saw a Green Hairstreak at The Holies, Streatley today, perched at the top of exactly the same bush as the one I saw there last spring. Jan Haseler
Tom Dunbar spent 2 hours at Bernwood Forest today. He saw 7 species including 24 Speckled Woods, 1 GV White, 12 Orange Tips, 3 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 11 Peacock. It will be interesting to monitor, in the coming years, the impact of the major conifer clearance on butterfly populations.
Paul Bowyer and Wendy & Mick Campbell set out today in
search of Grizzled Skippers (although they didn’t find any!). They decided to
try Greenham Common again as it’s more southerly. On the way down they took in
Hartslock and on the return journey Moor Copse. They recorded 9 butterfly
species:
Hartslock – Brimstone
(12), Holly Blue (2), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Peacock (2), Green Hairstreak (3
on Wayfaring tree) and one Orange Tip.
Greenham Common - Small
Tortoiseshells, Peacocks and Orange Tips.
Moor Copse - Brimstone, Holly Blue (2), Peacock, Orange
Tip (9), Speckled Wood (4), Green-veined White
(2) and Comma (2). This is a very pretty wood and well worth a visit.
Temperature of 24 degrees recorded in the middle of the wood. The bluebells
were spectacular and in full flower!
Thursday 22nd
April 2004
Dennis Dell visited Dancers End today. The weather wasn’t
brilliant, but some sunshine - no Dukes seen, 4 Peacocks, 1 Speckled Wood, 1
male and 1 female Brimstone.
22nd
April - After a few cool, wet days, some sun at last – one male Orange Tip
in the garden. Mick Campbell, Holmer Green.
Nick Bowles reported a surprisingly early Green Hairstreak on his transect in Wendover, Bucks, last Friday, 16th April.
Monday 19th
April 2004
On
a very warm evening after work at around 5 o'clock on 16th April, I
stopped in Lent Rise near Burnham to talk to a friend. I saw 1 Holly Blue and a
Peacock there. Later encouraged by this I called in at the Warren local nature
reserve in Wooburn Green where I saw 10 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas, 2
Peacocks and 1 more Holly Blue. Paul Bowyer.
Sunday 18th
April 2004
In a bid for an early sighting of Grizzled Skippers this year (and
making the best of the sun), Wendy and Mick Campbell paid a visit to Greenham
Common yesterday. None were seen although a search for the larval foodplant was highly
successful in numerous areas of the site.
The temperature was a very cool 15-17 degrees, except in the NE corner
where it was more sheltered from the strong wind and registered 20°.
Butterflies which were on the wing included Small Tortoiseshell (10), Peacock
(6) and one Comma.
They also
called in to Aston Upthorpe on the home journey but when they arrived at 5.00
p.m. there was a very strong cold wind blowing across the downs and no
butterflies were seen.
Tom Dunbar got out briefly to Dancersend on 16th April and saw: Brimstone x8; Small Tort x3; Peacock x11; Comma x1; and...... Red Admiral x1
On 9th April, Keith Mitchell recorded the following butterflies in his garden in Stoke Goldington: Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone and Peacock in garden.
Wednesday 14th
April 2004
My first
Orange Tip of the year 14th April - a male about 3pm at Otmoor Rifle
Range. On return home Wendy told me there had been a couple in our garden. Full
count at Otmoor in addition to OT - several Small Torts, Peacocks and
Brimstones plus a Comma & Small White. David
Redhead
A few Easter sightings from Dave Maunder - on Monday 12th I saw my 1st Orange
tip, a male in Whitchurch; also on a drive to Adstock I saw 4 Brimstones, and
in Adstock I saw 1 more Brimstone, 1 Comma and a Sm. Tortoiseshell. Today
(14th) I saw 13 Sm. tortoiseshells in the Fairford Leys area of Aylesbury on
nettle beds.
Mick Campbell and Tom Dunbar spent the afternoon
today looking unsuccessfully for Grizzled Skippers.
However, at Wotton disused railway they saw Brimstone 2, Orange Tip 1,
Peacock 3, Comma 2, Small Tortoiseshell 6. They also had an encounter with a
large Grass snake! Then at Hewin’s Wood
drain: Brimstone 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 4, Speckled Wood 2, Comma 1.
In a half hour visit to Dancersend Tuesday 13th April,
Tom Dunbar saw
1 Orange Tip, 4 Brimstones, 6 Small Torts, 1 Comma and 8
Peacocks. No Dukes or Grizzled Skippers. The Tortoiseshells were very busy
around a clump of nettles but no sign of laying. Any such sights from
elsewhere?
News from Paul Bowyer on Monday 12th April Longstreet near
Hanslope Bucks:
During a fine and warm period at midday I saw a male and female Brimstone, 2
Peacocks and 3 Small Tortoiseshells. They were all in a garden nectaring on
dandelion and dead nettle flowers.
I was visiting relatives on
12th April and saw 1st
Small White at my daughter's and then Green Veined White, outside the UTB area
at my inlaws'. All along with 14 Brimstones and 4 Small Tortoiseshells and 2
Peacocks; I still haven't seen a single Comma though I must have seen about 50
Brimstones & Small Torts, 10 Peacocks, 2 Small White and 1 GVWhite so
far this year. Nick Bowles.
These are
David Redhead’s garden sightings for 12th April - 1 Holly Blue flying in top
of large laurel bush next to holly tree, 2 Small Whites, several
Brimstones & Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Peacock & 1 Comma = 6 species.
Plus 1 Small Tortoiseshell at WGW but it had clouded over by then.
Plenty of
over-wintering hibernators flying today, 12th
April, plus a few Orange tips and Speckled
Wood at Moor Copse, Berks. Terry
Hotten
Monday 12th
April 2004
While doing
my transect at Swyncombe Downs this afternoon, the first butterfly I saw was a
female Orange Tip exploring honesty
flowers. Also saw Brimstones, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells. On Friday 9/4/04 a Small White at
Dorchester-on-Thames, plus usual Brimstones and Small Torts. Richard
Soulsby
During their walk from Swyncombe to the Warburg reserve, Mick and Wendy Campbell saw Brimstones,
Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma. They missed seeing Richard and the
Orange Tip!
Sunday 11th
April 2004
Tom and Rosaleen Dunbar visited Hewins Wood area and saw 2 Brimstones, 5 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Peacock. They also recorded 8 Red Kites (+ 3 other 'possibles' circling at a great height) in the vicinity of the Calvert Landfill Site. Could they be resident? No Grizzled Skippers yet!
Saturday 10th
April 2004
News
just received from Derek Brown that he sighted a Small Copper yesterday at Decoy Heath Nr Aldermaston in Berkshire. This is
thought to be the earliest sighting of a Small Copper in the UTB area in the
last 20 years (subject to confirmation by our Records Officer). He also saw 6
Small Tortoiseshells.
Also on Friday 9th in his garden in Beenham Derek saw 3 Small Torts,
2 male Brimstones and a Holly Blue.
Homefield
Wood was visited yesterday by four UTB members looking for the Orange Underwing
moth. A probable sighting was made but couldn’t be confirmed. However, they did
see a number of butterflies which made the trip worthwhile:
6 male Brimstones, 4 Peacocks, 2
Commas and a Small Tortoiseshell. There
was an impressive bank of Primroses in full flower and they also saw several Bee
Flies.
Thursday 8th
April 2004
David Fuller reports the following butterfly sightings
during March:
1
Comma, 1 Peacock and 3 male Brimstones in Cookham, Berks, a male Brimstone in
Bourne End and another in Maidenhead all on 16/03/04. 1 Comma seen on 23/03/04 in Cookham. On 30/03/04 he recorded 1 Comma in his garden in Maidenhead, 2
male & 1 female Brimstone in Maidenhead, 1 male Brimstone in Cookham and 3
male Brimstones and 4 Peacocks in Marlow.
Finally, 1 Peacock on 31/03/04 in his garden.
Monday 5th
April 2004
Only 2 butterflies
seen during a walk from Cadmore End yesterday. Mick
& Wendy Campbell managed to spot a single Peacock and
a Small Tortoiseshell between rain showers.
Keith Mitchell saw a Small Tortoiseshell in his Stoke Goldington garden on 2nd April. He also reports 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Peacock whilst watching a Cetti's Warbler at Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes also on 2nd April.
Mick
Campbell saw a Comma
in his Holmer Green garden today, 2nd April.
Thursday 1st
April 2004
The last two days’ warm spring
weather certainly brought out butterflies in good numbers! Species I saw around
Aylesbury on 30th and 31st were:- Peacocks (2), Commas (2), Sm.
Tortoiseshells (60+) - very good numbers around this spring; also Brimstones
(11), Large White (1), and Small
Whites (2). The Tortoiseshells were pairing on nettle beds on Tuesday
afternoon - nice to see. Dave Maunder
Wednesday 31st
March 2004
The following sightings received from Paul Bowyer
today:
Farnham Royal churchyard: 7 Small Tortoiseshells
East Burnham Common: 2 Brimstones and 2 Small Tortoiseshells
Cocksherd Wood, Britwell, Slough: 2 Commas, 8 Small Tortoiseshells and 1
Brimstone
31.3.03 Harris Garden,
University of Reading – Jan Haseler reports 2 Small Whites, 7 Small Tortoiseshells, Brimstone,
Comma, Peacock.
Tony Croft and his wife were in Whitecross Green Wood today in the warm sunshine and saw
lots of male Brimstone butterflies as well as Peacocks, Small
Tortoiseshells and a couple of Commas. All in all a lovely day.
Tom Dunbar saw 5 Brimstones and 2 Peacocks
in Home Wood, Hazlemere today.
Mick Campbell saw 2 Small Tortoiseshells
and a Peacock in his Holmer Green garden today.
Tuesday 30th
March 2004
Don Potts rang from a car park in Marlow,
Bucks, today to say he had just seen 2 Red Admirals.
Paul Bowyer was in Windsor Meadow Estate, Cippenham in Slough
today and saw 7 Small Tortoiseshells.
Mick Campbell was walking through Penn Wood today and saw 4 Small
Tortoiseshells, 6 Peacocks, 6 Commas and 3 male Brimstones.
He also recorded a Comma at Mop End.
Sunday 21st
March 2004
News just
received from Dave Maunder: Saw my 1st Small
Tortoiseshells (2) in Aylesbury vale park on a warm morning on Wednesday
17th, also another one today.
Tuesday 16th
March 2004
I
was delighted to hear of the following sightings today, which seem to suggest
Spring has arrived. Apologies if you would prefer not to have your sightings
posted – please let me know and I will remove them immediately. Wendy Campbell.
Lunchtime
stroll produced 4 brimstones and 4 peacocks. Spring at last. Paul Huckle
At last my first butterfly, a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden this
morning, on lungwort. Now 17.4°C at 14:00 and three indulging in much chasing.
I guess from size and behaviour they are 1f & 2m. Mike Wilkins.
No Tortoiseshells here today, but one Brimstone in garden and one at H.
Bottom. It's great to have spring at last.
Frank Banyard
Saw my first Tortoiseshell in the garden (Aylesbury) on March 1st.
Dennis Dell
Nothing at Otmoor Rifle Range today but it was pretty breezy today. Wendy saw a
Brimstone on her way into Oxford today. David
Redhead.
Here in rural Oxon, 5 small tortoiseshells, a peacock and a comma
all spotted on a small area of wasteland. All were very worn, but are the first
butterflies I've seen this year! Chris Pickford
At Cookham today Brimstone male 3, Small Tortoiseshell 2,
Comma 1, Peacock 1. Bourne End Brimstone male 1, Small
Tortoiseshell 1. My garden Brimstone male 1, Small Tortoiseshell 2.
David Fuller.
Yes, what a wonderful day. I had Brimstone and Sm. Tort, latter
released from an outbuilding window. Margaret
Price
One Brimstone in Sutton Courtenay (early afternoon) and one Small
Tortoiseshell in Marcham (morning). My car thermometer was reading 18C. Jim Asher
Saw a brimstone and a small tortoiseshell in Berkshire (nr
Reading) yesterday (16/3). Maurice Budden
Saw my first FLYING small tort of the year yesterday!! David Dennis
Brimstone Grahame
I was at Dancers End on Tuesday and saw:
5+ male brimstone and a probable female, 1 Peacock, 1 Small
Tortoiseshell. John Stevens
I saw 14 Small Torts here in Tring about 4.15p.m. Largest number of
butterflies seen on day (so far reported to me) 37 (of which 32 Brimstone) in
Pamber forest Hants. Nick Bowles
Jan Haseler
sent in the following message today: I have just seen my
first 2004 butterfly - a Comma at
Shinfield Park, Reading.
The
following news received from Richard Soulsby today: I made my first butterfly foray of the season this warm,
sunny lunchtime - on my standard circuit of the grounds at work (Howbery Park,
near Wallingford) I saw 4 male Brimstones and 4 Small Torts. So
that's got things off to a good start.
Mick
Campbell reports a male Brimstone in his garden in
Holmer Green today.
14th March
2004
My
first butterfly sighting of this year was a Peacock,
which flew past my house in Aylesbury yesterday, 13th March. Look
forward to more spring sightings soon. Dave Maunder.
13th February
2004
News just
received from Mark Calway today that he sighted his first butterfly this year, a Small Tortoiseshell, on 6th January 2004 in
Shinfield, Berkshire.
10th February
2004
Maureen Cross was delighted to see her first butterfly of the year in Streatley on the 4th February, it was a very bright male Brimstone.
21st January
2004
First report for the year was received from Tom Dunbar today, who spotted a Small Tortoiseshell in Hazlemere, Bucks, struggling to remain active in what must have been about 7 degrees! He took it inside to try to feed it, unsuccessfully, but managed to warm it up enough to enable it to fly off over the rooftops.
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