Butterfly Conservation - Upper Thames Branch

Butterfly Sightings for May 2025 (Species seen this year: 25)

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.

03-May-2025

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 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 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."

Small Blue, Crog Hill, Oxon, 03-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

Wall Brown, Crog Hill, Oxon, 03-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

Duke of Burgundy, Crog Hill, Oxon, 03-May-2025 (© David Hastings)

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."

Wood White, Wicken Wood, Bucks, 03-May-2025 (© Sally Japp)

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)."

Wood White, Wicken Wood, Bucks, 03-May-2025 (© Nick Board)

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."