2024 - Large Tortoiseshell

[Pete Eeles]

It's that time of year to start the usual LT thread! We often get asked by 'the great and the good' to let them know what's been posted on UKB before the formal records are collated at the end of the year, and there's also a lot going on in the broader ecosystem (Twitter, Facebook etc.) that also warrant a mention. I intend to keep this list up to date so, if you have any additional sightings, do let me know (or post a reply to this thread). Thanks!

Mar 7th
RSPB Marazion Marsh, Cornwall
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 4769887362

Mar 8th
Kent
Source: https://twitter.com/WellManneredXS/stat ... jhYgA&s=19

Mar 8th
Private woods near West Chiltington (West Sussex)
Source: viewtopic.php?p=183898#p183898

Mar 9th
Hutchinson's Bank, Surrey
Source: viewtopic.php?p=183889#p183889

Mar 14th - same individual as 9th March?
Hutchinson's Bank, Surrey
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 7283983317

Mar 15th
Penshurst place ,Kent
Source: This thread

Mar 16th
"Undisclosed site in Surrey"
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 4543305591

Mar 18th
Near Frimley, Hampshire
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SurreyB ... d%3DK35XfP

Mar 30th
Orlestone, Kent
Source: This thread

Apr 13th
Potton Wood, Bedfordshire
Source: This thread and https://www.facebook.com/groups/659226225199279

Jun 9th
Larval web on disease-resistance elm reported in Sussex.
Source: This thread and https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/

Jul 1st
East Blean Woods, Kent
Source: This thread and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 4486296925

Jul 9th
Cranbrook, Kent
Source: Kent butterflies Facebook page

Jul 12th
Orlestone Forest, Kent (2 individuals)
Source: Kent butterflies Facebook page

Jul 12th
East Blean Woods, Kent
Source: Kent butterflies Facebook page

Jul 12th
Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent
Source: Kent butterflies Facebook page

Jul 11th - 16th
Several seen in Ashford, Kent, over this period
Source: https://x.com/Chequertree1

Jul 27th
A hibernating adult found in Benenden, Kent
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=782 ... 7863426229

Cheers,

- Pete

[Stevieb]

Another sighting at Hutchinson's Bank, Surrey yesterday 14th.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10 ... 7283983317

[Allan.W.]

Looks like the same individual from the 9th ( left forewing tip missing ,white "rub" patch top right hand forewing.

[Allan.W.]

Another reported from Penshurst place ,Kent ,photographed by Nancy Stone .........See Kent butterflies facebook .

[Stevieb]

One today at undisclosed site in Surrey

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=101 ... 4543305591

[Pete Eeles]

Will update the list soon. In the meantime ...

https://twitter.com/ShadoxhurstMan/stat ... 9289274565

Cheers,

- Pete

[Pete Eeles]

And another near Frimley …

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/uWWjWq ... tid=K35XfP

Cheers,

- Pete

[bugboy]

Looks like 2 are flying around somewhere in Ashford, Kent.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 9372231330

[Allan.W.]

The Large Tort; as reported above ie; Shadoxhurstman . is still present today ,fairly distant views at first ,but i got lucky a little later and had it on the floor for nearly 5 minutes . A first for me ............36 Species now for Orlestone !

Allan.W.

[Goldie M]

Thats fantastic Allan Goldie

[Neil Hulme]

Well done from me too, Allan. What a lovely example. Delighted for you.
BWs, Neil

[Allan.W.]

Thankyou Goldie and Neil .......Well pleased ! ,bit of a Red letter day for me .About 10 minutes before the Large Tort grounded I found a pair of in-cop Brimstone (another lifer ) just off to buy a lottery ticket !
Regards Allan.W.

[millerd]

Great to see that LT, Allan! It's quite a moment the first time you see one!

Cheers,

Dave

[Allan.W.]

Thanks Dave !............Very pleased !and it was in good nick too Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

Paul (Bugboy ) looking at the two pics from the Kent facebook group posted by the finder Hugh Nightingale of two individuals
found in Ashford .If you look closely at the two images in my opinion they are the same insect ie; same wing damage .......quite distinct .
Allan .W.

[bugboy]

Paul (Bugboy ) looking at the two pics from the Kent facebook group posted by the finder Hugh Nightingale of two individuals
found in Ashford .If you look closely at the two images in my opinion they are the same insect ie; same wing damage .......quite distinct .
Allan .W.

Agreed, Hugh's edited his post to state as such now too.

[Chris L]

If the weather was settled for a few days and a Large Tortoiseshell was loitering in an area for a while, I would be prepared to jump in my car and head out from South Derbyshire to see it.

In my mind, bird enthusiasts have it a bit easier. I imagine that weather is not an issue if a rare bird lands in Cleethorpes and the bird is likely to hang around a while too. (Disclaimer: I know nothing about bird watching so I might have just written some complete tripe).

[jasonbirder]

In my mind, bird enthusiasts have it a bit easier. I imagine that weather is not an issue if a rare bird lands in Cleethorpes and the bird is likely to hang around a while too.

Generally in Spring, birds are motivated to move on "quickly" as they're on the hunt for mates/breeding sites...so don't tend to linger - maybe only part of a day...
Autumn is usually a little less frantic (though there are plenty of one-day birds) but weather is key...clear skies overnight causes birds to move on rapidly.
Species has a big impact too...Gulls and Ducks often lingering...Perching birds being far more flighty with Seabirds only being brief flybys seen once and gone!
(To other birders I acknowledge this is a quick and dirty summary for non-birders!)

On the other hand Birders do have it ALOT easier, as news tends to be be disseminated far more freely/quickly/widely than with Butterflies.

[Allan.W.]

Another reported from Orlestone (Kent ),seen by the same recorder that reported one in Orlestone last season ,apparently around 2 Kilometres from the previous sightingS there (by "Shadoxhurst man" +myself ,Dave Brown and family +Josh Jones ) this one was seen on the 30th March see."Kent Butterflies "facebook page.
Allan.W.

[Trev Sawyer]

I saw a Large Tortoiseshell today in Potton Wood Bedfordshire (see April 2024 sightings forum post). Someone else must have seen it just before or afterwards as they posted on the Beds & Northants branch BC Facebook page...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/659226225199279

Trev