Butterfly Conservation - Upper Thames Branch

Butterfly Sightings for August 2025 (Species seen this year: 45)

This page shows recent sightings in the UTB region. By default the most recent sightings are displayed. You can select a month and year from the drop-down menus. First reported sightings are shown in bold red text. Clicking an image will show a larger version.

You can submit sightings either by completing the web form or by emailing sightings@upperthames-butterflies.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk . Records which appear on the sightings page wil be added to iRecord, unless you state that you have done this yourself.

If you are submitting images, please read the copyright statement, and please don't submit more than three images per report.

14-Aug-2025

From Hugh Smith : "At White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) and surroundings today: single Clouded Yellow seen near Dragon Hill, also 5 Wall Brown, 5 Chalk Hill Blue and 2 Painted Ladies. Numerous Small Heath but very few other Browns. At least 6 Wheatear seen in Manger mostly flying from fences. "

From Michael Hunt : "A Hummingbird Hawk-moth visited our Verbena Bonariensis in Buckingham, Bucks (SP703333) again this morning."

12-Aug-2025

From Steve Nixon : "Following up on the recent sightings of Clouded Yellow, I went to Court Hill Road near Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU393852) today. There were at least 2 Clouded Yellow flying fast across the adjacent field and its grassy margins. Eventually one settled and I managed to get the attached photo."

Clouded Yellow, Letcombe Regis, Oxon, 12-Aug-2025 (© Steve Nixon)

11-Aug-2025

From Michael Hunt : "A Hummingbird Hawk-moth visited the Verbena Bonariensis in our garden in Buckingham, Bucks (SP703333) today."

10-Aug-2025

From David Hastings : "At Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (SP601145) this morning I found two female Brown Hairstreaks on the main ride. There wasn't much else about, just a few Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns, Common Blues and Brown Argus. Then at Otmoor, Oxon (SP570129) I found two more female Brown Hairstreaks, one along the roman road and the second on the bridleway, where it was feeding on blackberries."

Brown Hairstreak, Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© David Hastings)

Brown Hairstreak, Otmoor, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© David Hastings)

From David Wright : "I visited Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP611116) this afternoon and saw the following: Small Skipper (1), Small White (6), Large White (10), Brimstone (3), Clouded Yellow (3), Common Blue (20), Brown Argus (12), Small Copper (2), Purple Hairstreak (1), Holly Blue (1), Red Admiral (1), Peacock (2), Silver Washed Fritillary (6), Meadow Brown (6), Gatekeeper (10), Speckled Wood (6)."

Clouded Yellow, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 10-Aug-2025 (© David Wright)

Silver-washed Fritillary, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 10-Aug-2025 (© David Wright)

From David Wright : "I visited Otmoor, Oxon (SP569129) this morning and saw the following butterflies: Speckled Wood (3), Meadow Brown (2), Small White (2), Brown Hairstreak (3f)."

Brown Hairstreak, Otmoor, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© David Wright)

From Karen Saxl : "There are at least two Clouded Yellows on the national cycle network route 544 between Didcot and Upton. The specimen in the photo was seen near West Hagbourne, Oxon (SU518877) today just after 1600. I was pretty sure I saw one yesterday afternoon in the same place at roughly the same time. The route is currently very dry and not much in flower though there are several buddleia in the area mentioned that are doing well (having been cut back during the winter), and this area generally yields a good species count if not many individuals."

Clouded Yellow, West Hagbourne, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© Karen Saxl)

From Geoff Dymott : "Three Clouded Yellow sightings today, one in the Devil's Punchbowl at Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU351849) that I think was a pale helice form, one at the top of Gramps Hill near Letcombe Bassett and several on Court Hill in Letcombe Regis. Also a second brood Dingy Skipper near the punchbowl at SU347845. Generally, that area was dominated by many Small Heaths with the odd tired Chalk Hill Blue and Common Blue. At the top of Gramps Hill were five Painted Lady, two Small Tortoiseshell, and many Small Whites and Large Whites."

Clouded Yellow, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

Dingy Skipper, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

Painted Lady, Gramps Hill, Oxon, 10-Aug-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

09-Aug-2025

From Paul Bowyer : "UTB walk at Yoesden Bank, Bucks (SU791976) today produced Meadow Brown (30), Gatekeeper (3), Speckled Wood (1), Small White (2), Common Blue (3), Holly Blue (1), Chalk Hill Blue (43), Brown Argus (1), Adonis Blue (3), Large White (2), Clouded Yellow (1), Small Heath (1), Yellow Shell, Lesser Treble-bar, Silver Y."

08-Aug-2025

From David Hastings : "I visited Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU393851) this morning. As I got out of the car at the top of Court Hill Road I saw a Clouded Yellow in flight, and walking down the slope I saw at least nine more in the field margins. Some of them were very fresh. I also saw at least 25 Small Whites, plus a few Large Whites, Common Blues, Brown Argus and Small Heath."

Clouded Yellow, Letcombe Regis, Oxon, 08-Aug-2025 (© David Hastings)

07-Aug-2025

From Bob Theaker : "A warm, but overcast afternoon at Incombe Hole, Bucks (SP959159), with target species 2nd brood Dingy Skippers in mind, resulted in a token single specimen. Given the high 1st brood numbers regularly seen at this site, I was hoping to see more. 10+ each of Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large White, Small White, Small Heath, Common Blue and Chalk Hill Blue. Single sightings of Small Blue, Comma and Speckled Wood. "

From Paul Bowyer : "UTB walk at Greenham Common, Berks (SU494648) today . Not a lot of butterflies about. Small Heath (5), Gatekeeper (7), Common Blue (7), Clouded Yellow (1), Red Admiral (1), Grayling (1), Rush Veneer (1), Lesser Treble-bar (1), and in the car park Meadow Brown (1) and Small White (1). Thanks to Bryan Williams for the photos."

Clouded Yellow, Greenham Common, Berks, 07-Aug-2025 (© Bryan Williams)

Grayling, Greenham Common, Berks, 07-Aug-2025 (© Bryan Williams)

Lesser Treble Bar, Greenham Common, Berks, 07-Aug-2025 (© Bryan Williams)

From Steve Nixon : "A good showing of butterflies at Lardon Chase, Berks (SU588806) this morning. I counted 14 Adonis Blue, 18 Chalk Hill Blue, 22 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath and 1 Small White over a 30 minute period."

Adonis Blue, Lardon Chase, Berks, 07-Aug-2025 (© Steve Nixon)

Chalk Hill Blue, Lardon Chase, Berks, 07-Aug-2025 (© Steve Nixon)

06-Aug-2025

From Trevor Lea : "There were several Brown Argus on the Oakley transect in Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP615112) this morning. The antennae in one photo can be seen be touching the flower, whereas in the other they are hoisted in their usual position. Butterflies have a muscle with which to do this. Also today, Silver-washed Fritillaries were in flight despite significant wing damage. I am curious as to why other strong fliers such as Large Whites avoid such damage."

From Paul Fisher & Steve Binding : "A midday visit to Aston Rowant, Oxon (SU729972) (north side) found the usual suspects together with 2 second generation Dingy Skippers at SU72675 96873 & SU72448 96970. plus a Brown Hairstreak egg laying at SU72408 97311."

From David Hastings : "I visited Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (SU727968) today. Beacon Hill (north side) was covered with flowers, and there were lots of butterflies too. The most numerous species by far was Meadow Brown, of which there were at least a hundred. Chalk Hill Blue was also numerous; I counted 34 males and 10 females. My target species was Silver-spotted Skipper, which were not that easy to find, but in the end I saw seven males and four females. Adonis Blues were out; I saw a dozen pretty fresh males. To my surprise I saw four Dingy Skippers; clearly these are second-brood individuals, which are not seen very often. Other species seen were Large White (12), Common Blue (11), Brimstone (10), Small Heath (10), Gatekeeper (6), Small White (6), Brown Argus (4), and one each of Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Peacock. The south side (Bald Hill) was more exposed to the wind, and there were fewer butterflies. Nevertheless I found 13 more Silver-spotted Skippers and another 14 Chalk Hill Blues there."

05-Aug-2025

From Heather Woodhams : "I was more than happy to find a single Clouded Yellow in the field margins at Court Hill Road, Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU392853) today (same spot as previously recorded by others). In windy conditions it clung to the same flower for about half an hour. "

04-Aug-2025

From David Cleal : "3 Red Admirals, 2 Comma, 2 Common Blues, 1 Painted Lady (looking fresh), 1 Clouded Yellow at Little Marlow Gravel Pit, Bucks (SU877878). I've seen the latter here before, but not for a few years (in an area not open to the public)."

02-Aug-2025

From David Bristol : "Acting on Geoff's sightings I was lucky enough to see 3 or 4 Clouded Yellow at Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU392853), one of which (with quite piece missing from one wing) hung about on a small patch of thistles between the field and the hedge by the side of Court Hill Road, allowing me to take these pictures. I did not see anyone else there, so must have just missed Hugh who I note had similar success. My thanks also to Geoff for his reports. "

From Hugh Smith : "3, probably 4 Clouded Yellows seen on field margins off Court Hill Road, Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU393853) this morning, one of which was a pale helice female. Roughly 200m below hostel. Many thanks Geoff."

From Michael and Diane Hunt : "10 Small Heath (a minimum count) seen at Hillesden, Bucks (SP693304), a good location for the species. Also 4 Common Blues, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Small White and 1 Speckled Wood."

01-Aug-2025

From Hugh Smith : "2 Wall Brown seen around Dragon Hill at White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) this afternoon. 15 Chalk Hill Blues also counted on transect count plus usual Browns and Blues."