April 2025

[Devon Dave]

Spotted my first Common Blue of 2025 yesterday down here in Devon, just the one on the wing but I think the earliest one I have ever seen
Also a rather tatty Dingy Skipper that looked like it had been out and about for at least a week or more, once again a very early sighting for me,both species usually seen first or second weeks in Nay in the past
Weather looks perfect next week so who knows what might emerge next, happy hunting everyone.

[essexbutterflyer]

Walls are now emerging in Sussex, with multiple seen at various sites in the past days. Burnet Companion moths are also emerging, and Dingies in good numbers, but Grizzlies and Green Hairstreak still seem scarce (I have only seen one GH this year, and that was not in Sussex). Small Heath are also in good numbers.

Edit: A walk around Sussex Uni Campus/Stanmer Park today yielded very few results despite on and off sun… compared to last year this time it was eerily quiet. A mere three butterflies, one male Orange-tip, one Large White and one other White.

[millerd]

I detoured off a tedious southbound journey down the M1 this afternoon and popped into Totternhoe. I found several Dukes and Dingies, but no Green Hairstreaks, Grizzlies or Small Blues. However, I wasn't there long enough for a proper look.

Dave

[millerd]

Back on home turf today (26th) after an absence of a handful of days, and I was pleased to find my first Small Coppers of the year (four altogether, all males)...

...and also my first Brown Argus of 2025, a male too.

I then wandered down to Staines Moor, in case any Coppers had appeared there as well, but if they had, they were hiding. However, in full view I found a nest of at least 100 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars - a most welcome sight. By the size of them, I suspect their parents were flying back before the path down to the Moor had dried out enough to be passable - which is why I didn't see them.

Tucked in among the throng was a single Red Admiral caterpillar as well.

Over the day, I saw 13 species (if you include the ST cats!)

A very nice welcome back.

Dave

[bugboy]

Good day down along the sea wall near East Tilbury:

GVW 63
Peacock 49
Orange-tip 32
Small White 23
Wall 11
Large White 9
Speckled Wood 3
Green Hairstreak 2
Small Copper 1
Painted Lady 1

[David Lazarus]

… in full view I found a nest of at least 100 Small Tortoiseshell caterpillars - a most welcome sight. Tucked in among the throng was a single Red Admiral caterpillar.

That’s great news, Dave - I’m hoping to find the same over here too.

[David Lazarus]

Good day down along the sea wall near East Tilbury:

GVW 63
Peacock 49
Orange-tip 32
Small White 23
Wall 11
Large White 9
Speckled Wood 3
Green Hairstreak 2
Small Copper 1
Painted Lady 1

Good numbers and variety, Paul - looking forward to something similar tomorrow [plus a few Clouded Yellow, of course]

[David M]

..Good numbers and variety, Paul - looking forward to something similar tomorrow [plus a few Clouded Yellow, of course]

Indeed, David. Especially good to see Wall Browns in double figures.

[Butterfly_Julian]

The sun came out and the temperature has started to go up here on the North East Essex coast.
A few hours at Great Holland Pits, and for us a transformation in our butterfly numbers.
12 species seen, plenty of Brimstone, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Large and Small White and for us, 3 first for the year, Small Copper, Green Hairstreak and Speckled Wood.

Speckled Wood

Green Hairstreak

Small Copper

A much better day spotting

Julian

[Wurzel]

27th April

Compton Down (Dorset)
2 Glanville Frits, minimum of 6 Marsh Frits (one pair in cop), Grizzlies, Dingies, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange-tip, Large White, Brimstone, Small White, 5 Small Heath, 3 Holly Blue, 2 Green Hairstreaks.

Fovant Badges (Wiltshire)
3 Peacock, Dingy, Small Heath, Red Admiral, OT, Brimstone and Duke of Burgundy

None too shabby a day

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Jack Harrison]

You somewhat casually mention Glanvilles at Compton Down Dorset (near Compton Abbas). Is that a new or introduced colony?

Jack

[millerd]

Thirteen species on my local patch today, with the appearance of the first Small Heath of the year to add to the list.

There were also another six Small Coppers, all different individuals from those seen yesterday...

...and two more Brown Argus.

In fact, the first butterfly of the day was a new Holly Blue, which I couldn't resist.

A full report will appear in my PD at some future point...

Dave

[bugboy]

A selection of season debutants for me today in the Chiltons. Dukes obviously, but there were also plenty of Brown Argus, a couple of Common Blue and my first Holly Blue of the season did a flyby. Also got my first snaps of Small Heath. Plenty of all the other usual suspects enjoying the sun.

[Charles Nicol]

i found this Small Copper basking on some gravel this morning in Brampton

[David Lazarus]

Not quite wall-to-wall of Wall on the [sea]wall along Thames Estuary Path but Wall are up to 20+. Strangely enough they were all on the seawall, unlike when I discovered the third brood last year which were all on the paths and flowers and I saw none on the wall. Finally then, I got a Wall-on-a-wall shot:

Wall-on-Wall male
Thames Estuary Path 27.04.2025

I mean, all of them were on the seawall, and they were all males.

I had a 3-hour late afternoon ticket for the Spring Festival and there were whites all over the place, Walls on walls, tatty Peacocks still every ten paces, and between 4.30 and 5.00 it was like an oven behind the seawall.

195 butterflies in 3 hours - crazy - 40+ each of Peacock, Green-veined White, and Orange-tip [along a seawall ], and good numbers of Small White, which I was pleased about having seen very few in certain places.

Small White female
Thames Estuary Path 27.04.2025

Earlier in the day, a much more sedate wander around One Tree Hill where, indeed, I sat down in the dirt with my first little blighter of the year to tell him how much I missed them:

Wall - first of 2025
One Tree Hill 27.04.2025

And, would you believe, I saw my first Common Blue of the year which was very unexpected [and early for Essex ]

I saw a few lovely Small Copper and Small Heath

Small Copper
One Tree Hill 27.04.2025

Small Heath
One Tree Hill 27.04.2025

But I was unsuccessful in my pursuit of Grizzlies, in a field full of Common Carpet, Latticed Heath, and loads of bees and micromoths - very frustrating. There was a jewel of a Small Copper and another Silver Y, and a Speckled Wood pretended it was a Meadow Brown - so of course I chased it

What was there, other than a Grizzlie, was a swarm of Honeybees - very loud and super-exciting

Honeybee swarm on Carpinus betulus
One Tree Hill 27.04,2025

So, no Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak or migrants, but a Common Blue [but no photo ] and a Wall Day

Wall male
Thames Estuary Path 27.04.2025

[bugboy]

195 butterflies in 3 hours - crazy - 40+ each of Peacock, Green-veined White, and Orange-tip [along a seawall ], and good numbers of Small White, which I was pleased about having seen very few in certain places.

My total yesterday was 194! I too was a little surprised to see so many OT's along the sea wall, including a couple of females egg laying.

[essexbutterflyer]

So, no Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak or migrants, but a Common Blue [but no photo ] and a Wall Day

I was there at around 2pm and found only one Grizzlie. I’m just glad I’ve seen an Essex one!

I really must go to one of the sites you visit, I’d love to see more than 100 butterflies in a day (although recording that would be a nightmare (did you know you are the number one recorder for irecord butterfly sightings this year? By a 1K margin last time I checked!))

[David Lazarus]

I was there at around 2pm and found only one Grizzlie. I’m just glad I’ve seen an Essex one!

I really must go to one of the sites you visit, I’d love to see more than 100 butterflies in a day (although recording that would be a nightmare (did you know you are the number one recorder for irecord butterfly sightings this year? By a 1K margin last time I checked!))

It is no surprise - I was top last year with 5,500 records - some might call that obsessive

Congratulations on the Grizzlie (again)

You say 6 people were looking for Grizzlies when you arrived at 2? That’s exactly what we are trying to avoid - I honestly can’t see the point. I’m just about to see how much damage has been done by trampling over the vegetation

[Stevieb]

Some nice fresh Marsh Fritillaries out on the hill this lunchtime. Beacon Hill, Wiltshire

Dingy Skipper (2)
Brimstone (12)
Green-veined White (2)
Orange-tip (7)
Green Hairstreak (1)
Brown Argus (1)
Common Blue (1)
Red Admiral (2)
Peacock (7)
Marsh Fritillary (5)
Speckled Wood (5)
Wall Brown (6)
Small Heath (22)

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

28th April

[Charles Nicol]

i went to Totternhoe today to see if the Small Blues were out. I met up with two other butterfly enthusiasts on the same mission.

i was thrilled to find a single example on some vetch:

there were also several Grizzled Skippers and quite a few Dingy Skippers at the same location.

at the Hills & Holes the Dukes are going strong. i found a mating pair: