Butterfly Conservation - Upper Thames Branch

Butterfly Sightings for May 2025 (Species seen this year: 26)

This page shows recent sightings in the UTB region. By default, sightings for the current month are displayed (if there are none, 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 emailing sightings@upperthames-butterflies.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk or via the web form. 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.

18-May-2025

From Justin Davey : "On a longish walk in Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP610110) and Bernwood Meadows, saw lots of Common Blue (10+) and Small Heath (6) in the meadows. In Bernwood Forest itself numerous Speckled Wood (30+), Red Admiral (2), a Common Blue, Green-veined White, and a number of Large White and Small White."

Small Heath, Bernwood Meadows, Bucks, 18-May-2025 (© Justin Davey)

Speckled Wood, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 18-May-2025 (© Justin Davey)

Common Blue, Bernwood Meadows, Bucks, 18-May-2025 (© Justin Davey)

From Tom Dunbar : "I had a Painted Lady late morning today while gardening at home in Aylesbury, Bucks (SP823143). Dull weather but PLs are known to fly in that. No camera was immediately available before it took flight."

From David Hastings : "I saw my first Large Skipper of the year in my garden in Aston, Oxon (SP338032) this afternoon. Other species were a Small Heath (which spent a long time nectaring on Ox-eye Daisy flowers), a Painted Lady, a Large White and a Brimstone."

Large Skipper, Aston, Oxon, 18-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

Small Heath, Aston, Oxon, 18-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

Brimstone, Aston, Oxon, 18-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

14-May-2025

From Justin Davey : "On a lunchtime visit to Sydlings Copse, Oxon (SP558095) I saw a Painted Lady (1) on the track leading to the access gate on the NE edge of the copse. Within the copse itself, Green Hairstreak (2) on the SE-facing bank of vegetation and oaks; Brown Argus (2); Speckled Wood (3); Brimstone (1); plus several of the three common Whites."

Painted Lady, Sydlings Copse, Oxon, 14-May-2025 (© Justin Davey)

Green Hairstreak, Sydlings Copse, Oxon, 14-May-2025 (© Justin Davey)

From Geoff Dymott : "Minimum of 4 Green Hairstreak along the northern hedge line on the permissive path from Letcombe Bassett, Oxon (SU369845) to the Devil's Punchbowl, across the open access land. Also 5+ Dingy Skipper, 3 Common Blue (2m, 1f), 5+ Small Heath, 2 Burnet Companion and 2 Peacock. "

Green Hairstreak, Letcombe Bassett, Oxon, 14-May-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

Burnet Companion, Letcombe Bassett, Oxon, 14-May-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

13-May-2025

From Denise Harper : "Walking along approach track to Oven Bottom at Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (SU537836) today, I saw 3 Peacocks, 2 Brimstones, 1 Speckled Wood. In Oven Bottom, numerous Brown Argus (approx 14), approx 16 Blues, (Common Blue and Adonis Blue), approx 8-10 Dingy Skippers, 5 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Small Heath, 4 Green Hairstreaks, and 1 Painted Lady which flew strongly up the hill and away. "

Green Hairstreak, Oven Bottom, Oxon, 15-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Brown Argus, Oven Bottom, Oxon, 15-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Adonis Blue, Oven Bottom, Oxon, 15-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

From Bob Theaker : "A return visit to Wicken Wood, Bucks (SP731406) today, arriving earlier in the day, hoping for 'less friskiness' and the chance of some pictures. As last week, good numbers of Wood White (30+), as well as 6 Common Blue, 3 Orange-tip, 3 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Large White."

Wood White, Wicken Wood, Bucks, 13-May-2025 (© Bob Theaker)

From Andy Bolton : "A Painted Lady seen perusing the plant offerings at Hilliers garden centre, Aldermaston, Berks (SU589655) this afternoon."

11-May-2025

From Geoff Farrell : "Small Copper (5) and Common Blue (4) were seen on the A4/Henley Road area of the Maidenhead Thicket, Berks (SU854813) today."

From Denise Harper : "Walking to/from Juniper Valley from the grain store and in Juniper Valley itself at Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (SU545835). Estimated 35 Peacocks, 25 Brimstones, 25 Grizzled Skippers, 25 Dingy Skippers, various Whites, 35 + Small Heaths, 12 Common Blues, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus. "

Common Blue, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon, 11-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Small Copper, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon, 11-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

09-May-2025

From Bob Theaker : "At Wicken Wood, Bucks (SP731406) today were 30+ Wood White, Brimstone 10+, Peacock 5, Orange-tip 2, Green-veined White 1."

03-May-2025

From David Hastings : "After Crog Hill I went to Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU357851). Most of the activity was down in the punchbowl where it was sheltered. Species seen were Dingy Skipper (4), Brimstone (2), Large White (2), Common Blue (9), Small Blue (4), Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak, Peacock and Small Heath (22). I also found an Oblique Striped moth which is a nationally scarce species."

Painted Lady, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 03-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

Oblique Striped, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 03-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

From Denise Harper : "At Hartslock, Oxon (SU617794) today with my grandson spotting and recording, and me trying to keep up to take the photos: 17 Dingy Skippers, 7 Brimstones, 5 Small Heaths, 4 Large Whites, 4 Common Blues, 3 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Small Whites, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Grizzled Skipper, 1 Holly Blue. On the walk to Hartslock - 1 Speckled Wood."

Common Blue, Hartslock, Oxon, 05-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Green Hairstreak, Hartslock, Oxon, 05-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Dingy Skipper, Hartslock, Oxon, 05-May-2025 (© Denise Harper)

From Hugh Smith : "Small Blue now out in reasonable numbers at Crog Hill, Oxon (SU322834). Brimstone, Orange-tip and most surprisingly a Wall Brown seen on the track at the end of the beech wood. No Duke of Burgundy seen."

From David Hastings : "Along the bridleway to Crog Hill, Oxon (SU322834) this morning I saw at least 14 Small Blue, 1 Dingy Skipper, 1 Large White, 2 Duke of Burgundy, 1 Small Heath, 1 Peacock, 1 Orange-tip, and to my surprise a Wall Brown."

From Sally Japp : "I saw 10 Wood Whites in Wicken Wood, Bucks (SP728405) today. 15 in total including the ones across the border in Northants."

From Nick Board : "A stroll around Wicken Wood, Bucks (SP728403) this morning produced first sightings of 3 Wood White, a little earlier than would have been expected. Other species seen male and female Orange-tips in good numbers, Speckled Wood (3), Large/Small White (10) and Peacock (2)."

02-May-2025

From David Bristol : "Yoesden Bank, Bucks (SU788982) was brimming with butterflies today. In the two hours I was there I saw Marsh Fritillaries (20), Small Heaths (20), Common Blues (15), Dingy Skippers (15), Brimstones (6), and solitary Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper and Burnet Companion."

From Geoff Dymott : "A good morning in the Devil's Punchbowl area at Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU357851), although the best butterflies were at the eastern end of the open access area along the track halfway up the slope. 10+ Common Blue, 2 Brown Argus, 1 Small Blue, 1 Green Hairstreak, 20+ Small Heath, 10+ Dingy Skipper, 5 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady and, very surprisingly, 1 Marsh Fritillary."