Butterfly Conservation - Upper Thames Branch

Butterfly Sightings for July 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.

21-Jul-2025

From Hugh Smith : "Fresh Wall Brown found on the Ridgeway at White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) this morning. Good showing of Chalk Hill Blues also on Ridgeway and around Dragon Hill."

From John Clough : "Another good day for butterflies in Homefield Wood, Bucks (SU814866). I saw at least 50 Silver-washed Fritillaries, including three of the type Valezina. Gatekeepers were also abundant, and I also saw Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Comma, Large Skipper, Holly Blue and, best of all, two White-letter Hairstreaks."

White-letter Hairstreak, Homefield Wood, Bucks, 21-Jul-2025 (© John Clough)

From John Kearns : "In our garden in Caversham, Berks (SU727754) today two Brimstones emerged from our Alder Buckthorn. Attempted to settle on nearby shrubs however they were chased off by our resident Gatekeepers. Fortunately having been pursued around the garden one managed to settle on some Phlox. Also seen Meadow Brown, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, lots of Large Whites. "

Brimstone, Caversham, Berks, 21-Jul-2025 (© John Kearns)

Meadow Brown, Caversham, Berks, 21-Jul-2025 (© John Kearns)

18-Jul-2025

From Karen Saxl : "This Holly Blue tried flying down my throat this morning as I was near home on my way back from a jog. I thought it was a fly and spat it out only to notice that it was fluttering and blue. It looked a bit battered after its experience but seems to have survived.
I went out this afternoon along the Sustrans Route 554 near East Hagbourne, Oxon (SU520880) - good species count including Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, a few Marbled Whites (still hanging on), good numbers of Common Blues and Brown Argus, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Red Admiral, a Painted Lady and a Small Copper (lovely to see them back after not seeing any last year)."

Holly Blue, East Hagbourne, Oxon, 18-Jul-2025 (© Karen Saxl)

From David Hastings : "A Silver-washed Fritillary was an unexpected visitor to my garden in Aston, Oxon (SP338033) today. It landed briefly on a Buddleja flower before flying off. I saw thirteen other species in the garden: Large White (5), Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue (2), Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock (3), Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown (3) and Gatekeeper (12)."

Small Tortoiseshell, Aston, Oxon, 18-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

Red Admiral, Aston, Oxon, 18-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

From Geoff Dymott : "A Wall Brown made its way up to Letcombe Regis, Oxon (SU367866) today. It seems that the second brood each year make it this far, but rarely the first. Also, two Painted Lady plus the usual Gatekeepers, Common Blues, Large Whites, Small Whites and Green-veined Whites and several Small Skipper."

Painted Lady, Letcombe Regis, Oxon, 18-Jul-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

Wall Brown, Letcombe Regis, Oxon, 18-Jul-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

From Bryan Williams : "Seen at Emmbrook, Wokingham, Berks (SU797707) today were Large White (2), Small White (2), Gatekeeper (14), Meadow Brown (10), Red Admiral (2), Clouded Yellow (1) and surprisingly Brown Hairstreak (1)"

Brown Hairstreak, Wokingham, Berks, 18-Jul-2025 (© Bryan Williams)

Clouded Yellow, Wokingham, Berks, 18-Jul-2025 (© Bryan Williams)

17-Jul-2025

From Barry Stickland : "Silver-washed Fritillary in my garden in Finchampstead, Berks (SU768631), close to the Hampshire border."

16-Jul-2025

From Martin Kincaid : "I found a great butterfly hotspot on a steep bank of the River Ouzel close to Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, Bucks (SP881409). This scrubby bank was full of ragwort, thistles and teasels and was rich in butterflies. Almost the first thing I saw was a slightly tatty White-letter Hairstreak feeding on creeping thistle. Other species seen included Small Copper (2), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (12), Brimstone (2) as well as the usual browns, whites and skippers. I will certainly keep an eye on this spot in future."

From Karen Saxl : "The last two days I have been surprised by this Speckled Wood flying around a meadow area on Sustrans route 544 south of East Hagbourne, Oxon (SU522883) and pretending to be a Marbled White. Pictured with wings opened towards the sun and perching on knapweed. The first time I saw it it flew up exactly like a Marbled White and I was very surprised to see that it was actually a Speckled Wood. It seems to be a bit lacking in yellow pigmentation. There are plenty of speckled woods around along the route behaving as I would expect speckled woods to behave but this one just seems determined to stand out!"

Speckled Wood, East Hagbourne, Oxon, 16-Jul-2025 (© Karen Saxl)

From John Kearns : "In our garden in Caversham, Berks (SU727754) today - Gatekeeper x 15 (reside permanently in garden), Comma, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Large White x 3, Small White, Green-veined White, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Small Purple and Gold x 3."

Gatekeeper, Caversham, Berks, 16-Jul-2025 (© John Kearns)

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Caversham, Berks, 16-Jul-2025 (© John Kearns)

From Steve Nixon : "Following the recent report to this website, I decided to visit Fifty Acre Piece, Berks (SU633651) this morning. Delighted to report that numerous (10+) Grayling were easily visible as they flew from heather to ground and vice versa, interacting with each other and the numerous Gatekeeper. A special site I think!"

Grayling, Fifty Acre Piece, Berks, 16-Jul-2025 (© Steve Nixon)

From Hugh Smith : "14 Chalk Hill Blues, a record, counted on transect at White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) this morning. Most on Ridgeway and around Dragon Hill. 1 very worn Dark Green Fritillary seen on ramparts to castle."

14-Jul-2025

From Hugh Smith : "One very worn White-letter Hairstreak seen on bramble this morning at Hardwell Lane, Woolstone, Oxon (SU288877). Probably nearing the end of their season. None seen on elms."

From David Hastings : "During a butterfly survey on the MOD land at Otmoor, Oxon (SP570128) today I found a fresh Brown Hairstreak. Fourteen other species were recorded."

Brown Hairstreak, Otmoor, Oxon, 14-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

13-Jul-2025

From Peter Philp : "Transect at Swyncombe Down, Oxon (SU675915) today again saw 65 Chalk Hill Blues (56 males, 9 females) and Dark Green Fritillary 5. Despite searching for 2 hours after my transect, I could not find any Silver Spotted Skippers."

From Ian Preece : "A single Silver-spotted Skipper seen at 8.30am on a scrubby west facing slope at Watlington Hill, Oxon (SU699935) today."

Silver-spotted Skipper, Watlington Hill, Oxon, 13-Jul-2025 (© Ian Preece)

From Geoff Dymott : "No Grayling at Greenham Common, Berks (SU493647) today. Not much in the way of flowers, thistles, knapweed or heather to be found so mostly just many Gatekeeper and 20 Common Blue making an appearance. Sneaking just over the Hampshire border to Fifty/Hundred Acre Piece yielded 30 Grayling and 50+ Gatekeeper plus a Small Copper. Anywhere there was heather across the site was usually a Grayling or two close by. "

Gatekeeper, Greenham Common, Berks, 13-Jul-2025 (© Geoff Dymott)

12-Jul-2025

From Ross McIvor : "Purple Emperor spotted on the track to Buttlers Hangings, Bucks (SU820961), around 2.30pm, resting on beech in the vicinity of mature oaks."

From Peter Philp : "Seen on transect at Grangelands, Bucks (SP828048) today: Silver Spotted Skipper 3 (inc one still pumping its wings up!); Chalk Hill Blue 141 (114 males, 27 females); Dark Green Fritillary 3; plus loads of other stuff. At the Rifle Range Silver Spotted Skipper 4, Chalk Hill Blue 27 (21 males, 6 females); Dark Green Fritillary 2, etc."

From Denise Harper : "Approx 15 Grayling on a sandy/gravel area adjacent to old gravel extraction workings at Fifty Acre Piece, Berks (SU633651). Flitting around the heather and gorse. Also numerous Gatekeepers, but not much else."

Grayling, Fifty Acre Piece, Berks, 12-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Gatekeeper, Fifty Acre Piece, Berks, 12-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

From Michael and Diane Hunt : "A big surprise to see a Wall Brown this morning at Buckingham Canal, Bucks (SP709338), not having seen one in this area for some years."

10-Jul-2025

From Julie Bryan : "A Jersey Tiger was seen at Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxon (SU575948) today."

From Sally Japp : "On my lunchtime walk at Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, Bucks (SP847402) today I was surprised to see a Purple Emperor, I wasn't aware they were at this site. Also 7 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Brimstone, 15 Large White, 1 Small White, 15 Gatekeeper, 3 Speckled Wood, 4 Meadow Brown and 4 Ringlet."

09-Jul-2025

From Denise Harper : "Near the top of the ridge at Lardon Chase, Berks (SU583807) were 10 Chalk Hill Blues, 5 Common Blues, 6 Large Whites, 3 Marbled Whites. Closer to the entrance were numerous Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns."

Chalk Hill Blue, Lardon Chase, Berks, 09-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Common Blue, Lardon Chase, Berks, 09-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Large White, Lardon Chase, Berks, 09-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

From Paul Furtek : "Just a quick email to report an extraordinary sighting in my garden in Langley, Berks (TQ001795) this afternoon. None other than a Purple Emperor, which landed on my ivy right outside my patio door! My first thought was that it was a White Admiral, which would have been remarkable. It was above head height so I wasn't able to get a good view of it. It stayed there for a few minutes while I was able to get a few pictures. It was only when it slowly flew off and I saw the size of it that I realised it was an Emperor. I am pretty sure it's a female as I could not see the purple sheen on its upper wing. Amazingly, it returned 45 minutes later to nectar on next door's Buddleja! The nearest known Purple Emperors to me are approximately three miles away near Black Park."

Purple Emperor, Langley, Berks, 09-Jul-2025 (© Paul Furtek)

From Davie Gantzel : "Peacocks were the most numerous butterflies on my Buddleia in Hazlemere, Bucks (SU894963) today, followed by Large White. Two Red Admirals, one Comma and one male Brimstone were the other visitors, whilst in another part of the garden 3 Gatekeepers."

08-Jul-2025

From Steve Gardner : "A Jersey Tiger in my bedroom in Aylesbury, Bucks (SP820144)."

07-Jul-2025

From Michael Hunt : "A Humming-bird Hawk-moth paid a late evening visit (20:30) to our Verbena Bonariensis in Buckingham, Bucks (SP703333) today."

From Steve Nixon : "Two male Chalk Hill Blues seen at Swyncombe Down, Oxon (SU671915) this morning. Red Admiral, Peacock and numerous Marbled White also seen."

Chalk Hill Blue, Swyncombe Down, Oxon , 07-Jul-2025 (© Steve Nixon)

From David Hastings : "It was rather cool and breezy at Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU350849) this morning, but there were plenty of butterflies about. I found a fresh Painted Lady feeding on Burdock flowers at the top of the slope. Down in the punchbowl I saw about a dozen Chalk Hill Blues, including one female. Other species seen were Essex Skipper (1), Small Skipper (5), Large White (5), Common Blue (7), Brown Argus (1), Peacock (4), Dark Green Fritillary (2), Gatekeeper (35+), Ringlet (7), Meadow Brown (25+), Small Heath (2) and Marbled White (7). I was surprised to find an Oblique Striped moth. Presumably this was an early second-brood individual as it looked fresh. "

Painted Lady, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 07-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

Chalk Hill Blue, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 07-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

Oblique Striped, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 07-Jul-2025 (© David Hastings)

06-Jul-2025

From Sue Wagner : "A Jersey Tiger appeared in my kitchen in Bourne End, Bucks (SU892879) today."

Jersey Tiger, Bourne End, Bucks, 06-Jul-2025 (© Sue Wagner)

04-Jul-2025

From Denise Harper : "Walking along the main track at Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP612116) today we saw approx 15 Silver-washed Fritillaries, including 3 Valezina females,all of which landed on bramble or thistles. Also numerous Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, approx 10 Large Skippers, 8 Ringlets, 6 Marbled Whites, 2 Peacocks and 1 Speckled Wood. "

Silver-washed Fritillary, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 04-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

Speckled Wood, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 04-Jul-2025 (© Denise Harper)

From Bob Theaker : "A very brief, late afternoon visit to Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP615112) yielded a good number of Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Whites, Silver-washed Fritillary and 2 White Admiral, and finally a single pristine Brown Hairstreak, just to the side of the main ride from the car park."

From Peter Kendall : "At Maidenhead Thicket, Berks (SU853808) this morning we saw 2 White-letter Hairstreak, both on vegetation at about 5ft from the ground, and many (20+) Silver-washed Fritillary."

From Trevor Lea : "There were plenty of butterflies in the Botanic Gardens, Oxford, Oxon (SP520060) today: a Gatekeeper in one of the glasshouses on leaves of Plectranthus saccatus, a Peacock on an Eryngium and a Holly Blue in the herbaceous border. "

From Geoff Dymott : "Quite breezy at Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU353848) today so most butterflies were seeking sheltered corners of the site. 1 Dark Green Fritillary, 20+ Chalk Hill Blues, 10 Common Blue, 3 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Brimstone. As always, many Large Whites, Small Whites, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Marbled White. "

From Justin Davey : "Quick lunchtime loop around Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP611113). White Admiral (2); Silver-washed Fritillary (8), including one of form Valezina; Peacock (2); Red Admiral (1); and Comma (2); amongst the usual flotilla of Whites, Skippers and Browns."

03-Jul-2025

From Hugh Smith : "3 Dark Green Fritillaries seen flying in the ramparts on the east side of the castle at White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) this morning. Over 500 butterflies counted on transect including large numbers of Whites. This is more than double my previous record. Many are starting to look worn. Warm and sunny with little wind. Few butterflies in the Manger which is now quite burnt up."

From Nick Bowles : "6 male Chalk Hill Blue at Rainbow Ride on the Ashridge estate, Bucks (SP965142) made them the most numerous species. 3 were on fox scat. Very hopeful that I will hear of all sightings of Chalkies (contact nick.bowles@ntlworld.com)"

02-Jul-2025

From Denise Harper : "In the gully right at the bottom of Beacon Hill at Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (SU732966) approx 8 male Chalk Hill Blues and 3 females. On the hill, numerous Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Small Skippers, Large Skippers, 2 Peacocks, and 4 Dark Green Fritillaries (most looking rather worn), some Green-veined Whites and Gatekeepers."

01-Jul-2025

From Denise Harper : "A Silver-washed Fritillary flew into the house in Caversham, Berks (SU710754) (back door open due to hot weather) and landed on the skylight. We managed to get it into a pot, then took it outside to release it, at which point we were able to ID it. On release, it flew up and rested on the parasol outside for a few minutes before flying away. "

From Hugh Smith : "Whilst watching Purple Hairstreak on an oak tree on the main ride in Hailey Wood, Ashdown, Oxon (SU278830) this morning I spotted a Purple Emperor on a branch lower down, possibly on a sap run. It was there for around 20 mins before it flew off. Loads of Red Admiral, Commas and also fresh Peacocks also out but no Silver-washed Fritillaries seen."

From Karen Saxl : "Aberrant Gatekeeper has been around on Sustrans route 544 just south of Didcot, Oxon (SU522883) for a few days. Paler and more orange than the normal Gatekeeper.

Generally going out early in the morning (6am-8am) because of the heat. Plenty of butterflies around sunning themselves though I suspect that many are too low down for me to see. Marbled Whites, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Large Skipper, Small Skippers, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites, a few Brown Argus, Common Blue, Commas, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Painted Ladies and Speckled Woods (usually don't expect to see those until 10.00). Also seeing a few Small Tortoiseshells - which is a real relief after seeing none in the second half of last year. "

From Michael Hunt : "One Gatekeeper, one Humming-bird Hawk-moth, two Large White, one Peacock on Verbena Bonariensis this morning."

From Rikki Harrington : "Seen at Ivinghoe Hills, Bucks (SP959168) today were Chalk Hill Blue, Brown Argus, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper. "