Wednesday August 29th
Westfield Farm, Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
8.50 to 10.11: Small White 70, Green-veined White 13, Small Copper 1 & Meadow Brown 2. Tony Roberts
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Walked the transect and recorded very low numbers of butterflies; Chalkhill Blue 23 all females, Common Blue 8, Small White 7, Meadow Brown 4,
Speckled Wood 1 and Small Heath 3. However the real highlight of the day was walking back alongside the lower parallel bank on Nemarket Heath where there is a sandy vehicle track and counting 100 Small Heath
in about 15 minutes! Sharon Hearle
Tuesday 28th August
Langenhoe (just E of Abberton reservoir) (Grid ref:TM007188)
A rather tatty Camberwell Beauty was found in garden. Hugh Owen per Philip Smith
Braiswick, Colchester (Grid ref:TL979268)
Camberwell Beauty. per Joe Firmin
Monday 27th August
Chigborough Lakes (EWT Reserve) (Grid ref:TL877086)
Single Clouded Yellow. Simon Wood
Lawford, Manningtree (Grid ref:TM106310)
Two Clouded Yellows. Reg Fry
Dogsthorpe, Peterborough (Grid ref:TF199013)
In a 25-minute walk, just inside the Parkway, I saw: Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoisheshell (Welland Estate, Painted Lady (on my front driveway), Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and
Holly Blue. Not spectacular, but good to see something after such a poor summer. David Withrington
Thundersley (4 miles E of Basildon) (Grid ref:TQ7988)
For an hour mid-morning, had two Camberwell Beauty butterflies
feeding on rotting plums in a back garden. He managed a photo of one which I have enclosed. Andy Jarret per Vince Kinsler.
Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire (Grid ref:TL512534)
Small Tortoiseshell settling on dandelions. Kathryn Grumball
Odsey (5 miles NE of Baldock) (Grid ref:TL2986)
Camberwell Beauty spotted sunning wings on garden bench and then on Fuschia at 11:00am (2 photos
attached). Barbara Needham
Sunday 26th August
Alton Water (Grid ref:TM155358)
Two Clouded Yellows. Joe Firmin
Fleam Dyke (Grid ref:TL544545)
Transect - Total count 60 - an end-of-season feel to the walk. The cold and wet weather has taken it's toll it seems!
Brimstone 12, Small White/Green Veined White 28 (mainly GVW), Brown Argus 1, Common Blue 3, Holly Blue 1, Painted Lady 5,
Small Tortoiseshell 1, Speckled Wood 3, Meadow Brown 2, Small Heath 4. No Chalkhill Blue seen at all.
Outside transect - Red Admiral, Small Skipper and some more Meadow Browns, Brown Argus and Common Blue - some females egg-laying in the short grass - picture
enclosed. Nick Ballard
Foxton & Newton (Grid ref:TL425489)
Approx 2.5 hour walk around the local footpaths White spp. 19++ , Large White 1 male, Small / Green-veined White 2, Small White 2 (1 male), Green-veined White 3-4, Holly Blue 2,
Red Admiral 18-19, Painted Lady 4, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 2, Speckled Wood 1. Guy Manners
Woodwalton Marsh (CWT reserve 6m N of Huntingdon) (Grid ref:TL212813)
Red Admiral 3, Painted Lady 1, Small Tortoiseshell ~5, Peacock ~10, Brimstone 1 male, Green-veined White a pair, Speckled wood - several. Vince Lea & Louise Bacon
Kingfisher's Bridge (3 miles NW of Wicken Fen) (Grid ref:TL544732)
Red Admiral - about 15 on over-ripe plums. Peacocks - 16 in a bat hibernaculum and one on top of a wooden bat-box. Vince Lea & Louise Bacon
Saturday 25th August
Westfield Farm, Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
Essex Skipper 1, Small White 15, Green-veined White 16, Red Admiral 4, Painted Lady 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 2, Speckled Wood 1 & Gatekeeper 1. Tony Roberts
Hardwick Wood (Grid ref:TL352575)
Transect - Red Admiral 4, Speckled Wood 5, Holly Blue 1, Green veined White 1, Brimstone 1 & Small White 1. Louise Bacon
Fleam Dyke (Grid ref:TL544545)
Transect - a smattering of butterlies including several Painted Lady. Vince Lea
Great Totham (between Maldon & Tiptree) (Grid ref:TL854115)
While working in the garden today a superb and most unexpected CAMBERWELL BEAUTY flew in to feed on one of the buddleia davidii bushes. It gave very good views, being only two or three yards from the
house, but stayed only about three minutes. Also in the garden today single Painted Lady and Peacock along with small numbers of Large White and Green-veined White. Bob and Debbie Graves
Near High Easter (8 miles NW of Chelmsford) (Grid ref:TL635162)
4-30 pm. I was sitting, in my garden, in the sun watching Red Admirals feeding on over-ripe greengages, when a perfect CAMBERWELL BEAUTY joined them! To my astonishment it then
landed on the path beside me (1m away) and 'sunned' itself. Flew off whilst getting my camera. Ken Hoy
Friday 24th August
Hardwick, near Cambridge (Grid ref:TL373586)
This evening, when the sun finally came out, my daughter saw a Camberwell Beauty in next door's garden. Tried to get a shot of it on the house wall from over the fence before it flew off over the roof. See pic attached. Trevor Sawyer
Witcham (Grid ref:TL465806)
Small White 2, Green-veined White 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1 & Peacock 1. Tony Roberts
Sunday 19th August
Barton, near Cambridge (Grid ref:TL408555)
One Painted Lady seen on a gloomy wet evening at 7pm in Barton village farmland - presumably a migrant that was grounded by the weather. First one seen around here since about May! Vince Lea
Friday 17th August
Devil's Dyke/Burwell Railway Cutting, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Afternoon - A couple of dozen Chalkhill Blues, a few Small White's, some Painted Ladies, Brown Argus and Common Blues and my first Clouded Yellow of the year - snatched photo enclosed. Nick Ballard
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Late morning: 75+ Chalkhill Blues, 8 Brown Argus, 4 Common Blues, 2 Small Heaths, 4 Meadow Browns, 2 Gatekeepers, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, 3 spp Whites (90% Small Whites).
On other side of A1304 (TL624610): 5 Chalkhill Blues, 2 Speckled Woods, 2 Red Admirals,
Painted Lady, Meadow Brown + whites. Martin Peers
Sunday 12th August
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
A few Insects despite the constant SW wind and mainly overcast conditions: 25 Small White, 8 Common Blue (all males), 2 Painted Lady, 17 Meadow Brown (1 mated pair) & 2 Gatekeeper. Mike Harris
RSPB Old Hall Marshes (Grid ref:TL965125)
Painted Lady 8, Common Blue 12. Peacock 1 & Essex Skipper 20+. Bruce Brown
Saturday 11th August
Earith Gravel Pits (Grid ref:TL388763)
Lots of Cinnabar moth caterpillars (photo attached). Mark Hows
Over Railway Cutting (Grid ref:TL382687)
One Wall this evening in a brief visit (photo attached). Mark Hows & Stephen Patmore
Friday 10th August
Fleam Dyke (Grid ref:TL544545)
Chalkhill Blues on Fleam Dyke again! Stella and Roger Wolfe met Rachel Gray on the Fleam Dyke at TL5443854588 (if GPS is to be believed, says Roger,) Rachel had just seen a female apparently egg-laying. Stella then saw 2 males.
This is the stretch of good chalk grassland between the disused railway and Mutlow Hill.
The corner of Mutlow Hill near the gate leading towards Fulbourn is very sheltered and is now full of flowers. On 10th August both that part and the area near the southern gate were full of
colour and lively with butterflies. Years of mowing and raking off are bearing fruit wonderfully now. As an example of restoration conservation based on an area of surviving flora, this is worth a visit.
When I first walked through in summer 2001 there would be one small white and a Meadow Brown.
TL5452, across the A11 on the way to Balsham. Stella and Roger Wolfe saw 2 more male CHBs at TL5599753902, (near the junipers) both being seen off by aggressive Whites (same behaviour as when we fist
saw CHBs here two years ago). As then, there was a stiff breeze today from the north - could it have brought some 'blow-ins' as they say in Suffolk - from Devil's Dyke?). Julia Napier
Hanningfield Reservoir (Grid ref: TQ735977)
Gatekeeper 68, Meadow Brown 24, Brown Argus 7, Common Blue 7, Large White 4, Small White 9, Peacock 2, Small Tortoiseshell. 1, Painted Lady 1, Small Skipper 5 & Small Copper 1.
Moths:
Latticed Heath 2, Common Carpet 1, Yellow Shell 2 & Shaded Broad-Bar 1.
Dragons: Emperor 1, Black-tailed Skimmer 1, Migrant Hawker 3, Common Darter 7, Ruddy Darter 4, Common Blue Damsels 2,
Azure Damsels 1 & Banded Demesoilles 2.
Very disappointing especially as weather was perfect. Especially Common Blue & Meadow Brown numbers and total lack of 6-spot Burnets. Jim Smith
Copt Hall Marshes (Grid ref:TL981146)
Joe Firmin reports that he and his wife, Linda, visited Copt Hall National Trust land by Salcott Channel and found literally thousands of Painted Ladies. There were large numbers of them on the approach
road to the car park and it was evident that there had been a massive influx of the butterfly. On the circular walk there is a stretch of about a quarter of a mile of Ragwort and walking among this the butterflies 'rose up in clouds'.
Beside the sea wall, he says, there were vast numbers of them on Golden Samphire, and again the Painted Ladies rose up in clouds as they walked along. He says ' In all my years, I have never seen so many butterflies
in one place - quite an experience'. Philip Smith
Cudmore Grove CP, East Mersea (Grid ref:TM964147)
Dougal Urquhart reported yesterday that there were hundreds of Painted Ladies on his reserve at Cudmore Grove. Philip Smith
West Bergholt, near Colchester (Grid ref:TL961277) In my own garden there were a dozen or so visiting Buddleja and
basking on my gravel drive. Philip Smith
Abbots Hall Farm (Grid ref:TL962139)
A quick walk around Abbots Hall this morning produced high numbers of Painted Lady - at least 30, with a high concentration on the strip of clover near the Salcott hide. Sean Nixon
RSPB Old Hall Marshes (Grid ref:TL965125)
Literally hundreds of Painted Ladies along the southern sea wall. Tim Mendham
Thursday 9th August
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
Fantastic (Cambs first for me) Silver-Washed Fritillary on thistles in large sunny glade in wood at TL180700
(next to path just north of two ponds). Also: Brimstone, Peacock,
Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Ringlet, Grenn-veined and Large White. Nige Crowhurst
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
This evening - several Holly Blues, with a few Gatekeepers and old Meadow Browns. Also Speckled Wood, Large White and a few Small Whites, with a ragged Red Admiral - amazing how tough they are! (see attached photos) Nick Ballard
Wednesday 8th August
Thrift Wood transect, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL792018)
This week the numbers of butterflies are dropping in spite of the good weather. Most prevalent are Gatekeepers, 30 this week as against 40 last week and 59 the week before.
Meadow Browns come second with 5, 14 and 26. Speckled Wood, Peacock and various Whites (unidentified) make up the total. Is it a bad year for Purple Hairstreak, or are they generally scarce in Essex ?
I have spent much time scanning the oaks over the last few weeks but have only seen one. I would expect Thrift to be an ideal habitat. Some photos attached. Richard Bigg
Westfield Farm, Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
Essex Skipper 2, Small White 10, Green-veined White 8, Brown Argus 1, Holly Blue 1, Peacock 1, Gatekeeper 8, Meadow Brown c60 & Ringlet 4. Tony Roberts
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
Over the last few days, several Holly Blues (photo attached) and a diminishing number of Gatekeepers and a few Meadow Browns and Small Whites. Nick Ballard
Tuesday 7th August
Markshall Estate (4 miles E of Braintree) (Grid ref: TL841257)
Visited Marks Hall and there were well over 30 Painted Ladies feeding in the Walled Garden and good numbers elsewhere on the estate, most looked fresh. There were a few Peacocks, Speckled Woods, Meadow
Browns and Gate Keepers, but no Silver Washed Fritillary. Walking by the water we saw Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed and Blue-tailed Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Ruddy and Common Darter. David & Pam Petts
River Stort, near Bishop's Stortford (Grid ref:TL491184)
Butterflies noticeably low with just 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue & 5 Small Whites only. Jono Forgham
Monday 6th August
Witcham (5 miles W of Ely) (Grid ref:TL465806)
Small White 10, Green-veined White 15, Peacock 3, Comma 1, Gatekeeper 12, Meadow Brown 20 & Ringlet 6. Tony Roberts
Chigborough Lakes (EWT Reserve) (Grid ref:TL877086)
The pick of the butterflies were 24 Speckled Woods and 9 Painted Ladies. Martin Peers
Sunday 5th August
Easton Lodge Gardens, near Great Dunmow (Grid ref:TL593239)
I managed to catch up with my first Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the year and also seen were 2 Painted Lady's, 4 Brown Hawkers, 5 Emporer Dragonfly's, 2 Migrant Hawkers, Large Red Damselfly and good numbers of the commoner butterflies. David Morrison
Wormington Airfield (6 miles NW of Colchester) (Grid ref:TL920305)
10 Painted Ladies. Martin Peers
Epping Green, Essex (Grid ref:TL432054)
1 Painted Lady. Jan Hein van Steenis
Saturday 4th August
RSPB Old Hall Marshes (Grid ref:TL965125)
Steve Bacon and I walked the sea wall at Old Hall and found upwards of 10 Common Blues, also > 10 Painted Ladies, 1 Marbled White as well as good numbers of Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and Essex Skippers. Sam Shippey
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
A midday visit to catch up on the Insects. The windy conditions again made things difficult, but the second brood of Common Blue Butterflys had started to hatch this morning.
1 Large White, 10 Small White, 6 Common Blue (4M 2F), 1 Peacock, 20 Meadow Brown, 10 Gatekeeper & 3 Small/Essex Skipper. Mike Harris
Burwell Railway Cutting (Devil's Dyke) (Grid ref: TL575650)
Wonderfully flowery. Chalkhill Blues everwhere. I counted roughly 85. Not much else. Meadow Browns, a few Gatekeepers, new Brimstones, Whites, frequent Skippers, 2 Brown Argus, a few Common Blues, 5 Peacocks especially on Hemp Agrimony.
(Park on verge near Stud Farm, footpath goes past the farm fence to the bridge.) Julia Napier
Editor - See 19th June entry for interesting observation and request for any feedback.
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Despite a lot of wind, many Chalk-hill Blues (photo attached) a few dozen Common Blues,
Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small White, 2 Large White, 1 Small Heath, 1 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Essex Skipper (other skippers left unidentified). Also c.10 Six-spotted Burnet Moths. Jan Hein van Steenis
Friday 3rd August
Brabaham Park & Ride, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL476543)
I did a circular tour of the flowery area and a cut across the middle at about 3.15pm, warm, windy and sunny. Meadow Browns 30 plus, Gatekeepers 5 (but there were more at the edge of the hedge/copses), Large White 5,
Small White 5, Essex/Small skipper 2, Common Blue 8, Six Spot Burnet 2, Brimstone 2. It does seem a pity that there is no path for the public, especially for children to walk round before or after being trapped in a car!
I shall suggest it to the man in charge.
From there, a beautifully planted path leads up to the Beechwoods. The Bird's Foot trefoil looks like the non-native variety, but clearly the butterflies don't mind,
especially because it is nice and sheltered. Usually a place for Common Blue, Brown Argus, Skippers, MBs and GKs. Julia Napier
Hatfield Forest, Essex (Grid ref:TL539205)
Spent about three hours at the forest this afternoon. 16 species of butterflies included 3 Commas on the buddleias at Shell House, 2 Large Skippers, 7 Small Skippers, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Brimstone (male),
2 Purple Hairstreaks, 1 Holly Blue (male), 12 Peacocks, 28 Gatekeepers, 6 Speckled Woods 10 Large White, 30+ Small White, 6+ Green-veined White, 3 Red Admiral, 36 Meadow Brown and 8 Ringlet.
Dragonflies included 9 Brown Hawkers, 6 Migrant Hawkers, 1 Southern Hawker, 1 Black-tailed
Skimmer and 2 Ruddy Darters. Martin Peers
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
20+ Gatekeepers, 10+ Meadow Browns (all v. worn), 15+ Small White, 10+ Burnet sp. Stephen Patmore
Wednesday 1st August
RSPB Vange Marsh (Grid ref: TQ730872 )
201 Gatekeepers - the highest count on the transect. Marc Outten (RSPB South Essex Reserves Warden)
Orwell Quarry (7 miles SW of Cambridge) (Grid ref: TL362523)
Small Skipper 1, Essex Skipper 3, Small/Essex Skipper 3, Large White 2, Small White 6, Green-veined White 15, Small Copper 1, Brown Argus 2, Common Blue 3, Speckled Wood 1, Gatekeeper c70, Meadow Brown c150 & Ringlet 6. Tony Roberts
Willow Park area of Langdon Hills, Essex (Grid ref: TQ695868)
Warm glorious sunshine. Did not make exact counts but saw Small Skipper 20+, Essex Skipper - a few identified, Large Skippeer 1, a few Large and Small cabbage Whites, Purple Hairstreak 1, Small Copper 4, Brown Argus - about 10,
Common Blue 15+, Red Admiral 1, Peacock several, Comma several, Speckled Wood several, Gatekeeper 50+, Meadow Brown 30+, Ringlet several,
Small Heath 5. Also several Common and Ruddy Darters, Brown Hawkers, Migrant Hawkers and a Southern Hawker. Plus Adder and female Marsh Harrier. Mark Bunch
Hanningfield Reservoir (Grid ref: TQ735977)
Day flying insect transect today produced:- Small/Essex Skipper 12, Large White 1, Small White 6, G-v White 2, Small Copper 1, Brown Argus 5, Common Blue 1 male,
Red Admiral 1, Peacock 19, Speckled Wood 1, Gatekeeper 101, Meadow Brown 29.
Dragons:- Emperor Dragonfly 3, Ruddy Darter 2, Black-tailed Skimmer 4, Banded Dem. 4,
Common Blue dams. 19, Red-eyed Dams 2.
Moths:- Six spot Burnet 2, Shaded Broad bar 5, Yellow shell 2, Sharp-angled Carpet 1. Jim Smith
July 2007
Tuesday 31st July
Markshall Wood (4 miles E of Braintree) (Grid ref: TL844261)
This afternoon, we saw three Silver-washed Fritillaries within fifteen minutes, in the small area near a small pond, not together, but they seemed to be 3 different ones. Viv & Tim Mendham
Comberton (4 miles SW of Cambridge) (Grid ref: TL388563)
Tony Roberts has sent in his July maximum counts for his garden: Small White 4, Green-veined White 6, Brimstone 2, Comma 1, Small Copper 1, Common Blue 2, Red Admiral 2, Speckled Wood 1, Gatekeeper 5, Meadow Brown 8.
Hatfield Forest (Grid ref:TL539198)
Peter Herring reports a Silver-washed Fritillary in the forest (see earlier reports in first 2 weeks of July). Editor - Taken from posting on the Stort Valley Wild forum
Monday 30th July
Tolleshunt D'Arcy (Grid ref:TL932118)
I had a Wall Brown today in the garden at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, last record was eight years ago. Andy Cook
Days Lane (4 miles SE of Chipping Ongar) (Grid ref:TQ592983)
23rd butterfly species [of the year at this site] at 7 a.m. was Small Copper. Numbers of butts down due to recent weather but if they've had time to mate it bodes well for next year. Gatekeepers have timed it right
and are numerous. Jim Smith
Sunday 29th July
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
We counted over 700 Chalkhill Blues in a two hour period during a 'Save our Butterflies' Week field trip. Other species seen: Brown Argus, Essex Skipper, Gatekeeper, Six Spot Burnet Moth, Peacock, Red Admiral,
Green-veined White, Large and Small Whites, Meadow Brown and Holly Blue. Kathryn Grumball
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
This morning in the graveyard, several Gatekeepers (photo attached), a few Meadow Browns, with a couple of Holly Blues and a Large White. Nick Ballard
Saturday 28th July
Banister Green (Grid ref:TL697206)
A White-letter Hairstreak in my garden, my first record here. Graham Geen
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
Four hours steady searching revealed only a single, rather tatty, White Admiral. The most impressive butterfly event must be the Peacock emergence - there were over 100 present, with several groups >10
feeding on Hemp Agimony, Bramble, Thistles etc. Other species - Small & Large Skipper, Brimstone, Brown Argus, Red Admiral, Comma, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown & Ringlet. Vince Lea & Louise Bacon
Westfield Farm, Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
9.30-11.15 am. Small/Essex Skipper 10, Large White 3, Small White 8, Green veined White 25, Red Admiral 11, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 14, Gatekeeper c35, Meadow Brown c200, Ringlet c40. Tony Roberts
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
On the racecourse section, dozens of Chalkhill Blues, including some females, a few Brown Argus, a Red Admiral and Brimstone, and some Essex Skippers.
Over the A14, several Peacocks on a patch of thistles, a small colony of Common Blues and some Essex Skippers. On both sections, a few Meadow Browns. Some photos attached. Nick Ballard
Friday 27th July
Devil's Dyke, Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Sharon Hearle, the Branch's Regional Development Officer and the transect walker for this site has reported that Chalkhill Blues are much lower on the transect this year:
- 144 on 24th July
- 156 on 16th July
- 3 on 8th July
Wilburton (4 miles SW of Ely) (Grid ref:TL484748)
Small White 1, Green-veined White 3, Gatekeeper 3 & Meadow Brown 4. Tony Roberts
Haddenham (5 miles SW of Ely) (Grid ref:TL465750)
Small White 2, Green-veined White 3, Gatekeeper 3 & Meadow Brown 4. Tony Roberts
Witcham (5 miles W of Ely) (Grid ref:TL460798)
Small White 3, Green-veined White 5, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 1, Gatekeeper 2 & Meadow Brown 2. Tony Roberts
Witchford (2 miles SW of Ely) (Grid ref:TL500788)
Small White 1, Green-veined White 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Gatekeeper 2 & Meadow Brown 2. Tony Roberts
Tuesday 24th July
Fleam Dyke (Grid ref:TL538555)
Reasonably sunny, warm day though wind a bit stiff for the exposed parts of Fleam Dyke. Nonetheless, 249 butterflies were logged on transect; mainly Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper
and Small White, but a handful of other species such as 4 Brimstone, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Comma and a Small Heath. Vince Lea
Roman Road near Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire (Grid ref:TL499541)
The BBC five day forecast, and the superior Harrison forecast, (thanks so much, Jack) proved to be right. I did the transect walk on the Roman Road. Worth going for the flowers alone. At the top of the rise from Worsted
Lodge, where I saw the Marbled White on 20th June, another one came to meet me. Could it have survived a month? It looked quite smart, unlike the battered Meadow Browns and older Gatekeepers. Then a bit further along
there was another one on the eastern side. I think it was a female, but had stupidly failed to remember the detail of the brown costa and brownish underwing. No camera, again. So if anyone can find a gap in the clouds and
go and check, I should be very interested. Otherwise there is not a lot of variety, but lots of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns to keep one going. Julia Napier
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
Lunchtime today - several Gatekeepers & Meadow Browns; 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 3 Red Admirals, 2 Speckled Woods, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White. Not bad for centre of Cambridge. Nick Ballard
Sunday 22nd July
Westfield Farm, Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
Small/Essex Skipper 10, Brimstone 1, Small White 15, Green-veined White (Some mating) c.35, Common Blue 1, Red Admiral 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Peacock 5, Gatekeeper (some mating) 30, Meadow Brown (some mating) c.150, Small Heath 1, Ringlet c.30. Tony Roberts
Saturday 21st July
Abberton Manor Flood (Grid ref:TL996201)
White-letter Hairstreak showing well on thistles by footbridge over the river at Blackpipes. Banded Demoiselle common here. Adrian Kettle
Coton, Cambridge
12 species seen during the Save Our Butterflies week event: Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Large, Small & Green-veined Whites, Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Peacock,
Red Admiral, Comma, Small Skipper. Vince Lea, Louise Bacon, Julia Napier and members of the public
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
5 Large White, 3 Small White, 5 Green-veined White (the emphasis has shifted), 1 Peacock, 1 Small Copper, 1 Speckled Wood, 10+ Gatekeeper, 25+ Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet, 2 Essex Skipper & 3 Small Skipper. Mike Harris
RSPB Old Hall Marshes (Grid ref:TL965125)
A slow circuit of the 'short walk' in generally bright conditions: Essex Skipper 4, Small/Essex Skipper 50+, Large Skipper 10+, Gatekeeper 100+, Meadow Brown 50+, Ringlet 10+, Large White 1, Peacock 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1. Tony Moverley
Thursday 19th July
Coploe Hill Quarry Reserve (Grid ref:TL495425)
Windy weather hampered things on Thursday evening but several Large Whites, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet, lots of Gatekeepers and a rather worn Painted Lady were seen. Mark Hows
Thursday 19th July
Haslingfield Quarry, Cambs (Grid ref:TL394516)
Small/Essex Skipper 2, Small White 4, Green-veined White 5, Meadow Brown 10, Gatekeeper 8, Small Heath 1, Ringlet 7, Peacock 1, Red Admiral 1. Tony Roberts
Orwell Quarry, Cambs (Grid ref:TL362523)
Small/Essex Skipper c.40, Small/Green-veined White c.30, Meadow Brown c.150, Gatekeeper c.80. Ringlet c.70, Large White 2, Marbled White 1, Common/Chalhill Blue 2, (only seen at distance). Tony Roberts
Cambourne transect - 120 butterflies today of 12 species. The first
Brown Argus (1) and Common blues (2) of the year and new generation Holly Blue (1)
were welcome additions to the four browns;
Gatekeeper (24), Meadow Brown (59), Speckled Wood (9)
and Ringlet (8), with Green-veined & Small Whites (6 & 2) Small and Essex Skippers (2 of each
and three undetermined).
Comma on transect and Peacock earlier in the day were the only nymphalids. Louise Bacon
Wednesday July 18th
Hatfield Forest (Grid ref:TL539198)
Peter Herring reports that 3 Silver-washed Fritillary have been sighted by 3 observers on 2 transects (see earlier reports on 7th, 9th, 10th & 14th July).
Editor - Taken from posting on the Stort Valley Wild forum
Telegraph Field, Barton, Cambs (Grid ref:TL408543)
Green-veined White 3, Meadow Brown 60,
Ringlet 20, Gatekeeper 8. Tony Roberts
Holt Field, Barton, Cambs (Grid ref:TL403544)
Essex Skipper 3, Small White 25, Green-veined White 40, Speckled Wood 1, Marbled White 1, Gatekeeper 50, Meadow Brown c.200, Ringlet 45. Tony Roberts
River Stort, near Bishop's Stortford (Grid ref:TL491184)
Large White 2, Small White 24+, Meadow Brown 5, Gatekeeper 3 (1st record for 2007 along here), Peacock 1, Red Admiral 7, Comma 2, Ringlet 3, Small skipper 1. Dragons: Blue-tailed damselfly 16, Banded demoiselle 6,
Large red-eyed damselfly 5, Brown Hawker 2, Common Blue damselfly 1 (1st record for 2007). Jono Forgham
Tuesday 17th July
Between Over and Willingham, Cambridgeshire. (Grid ref:TL387703)
Purple Hairstreak: 2+ in isolated oak tree. Richard Thomas.
Monday 16th July
Catworth, Cambridgeshire (Grid ref:TL 100719)
5 White-letter Hairstreak. Charles Nicol.
RSPB Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire (Grid ref:TL405456)
First site record of Marbled White at Fowlmere NR this morning. I actually caught it in my hand while it was feeding on a black knapweed flower, but then bungled the transfer into a jar and it was off. I shall start carrying my net around again... Doug Radford
Westfield Farm Comberton (Grid ref:TL380550)
Small/Essex Skipper 4, Brimstone 2 (1 male 1 female), Small White 30, Green-veined White 21, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 7, Gatekeeper 47, Meadow Brown 138 (pair mating), Small Heath 1 & Ringlet 39. Tony Roberts
Kingshead Meadow, Colchester (Grid ref:TL996258)
Found a Comma laying eggs on my Golden Hop (Humulus Lupulus Aureus). Neil Philbrick
Sunday 15th July
Pound Wood, Southend (Grid ref:TQ823888)
Sunny afternoon - 4 Heath Fritillaries (2 still looking in good condition).
Prior to this, went to Thrift Wood (Grid ref:TL792018) & saw no Fritillaries,
just 1 Essex Skipper & some other regular species. Cloudy start with breaks of sun. Darin Stanley
Wallasea Island (Grid ref:TQ983942)
Clouded Yellow on the new seawall at eastern end of Wallasea island. Jeff Delve
Saturday 14th July
Beggars Hall
Coppice, Hatfield Forest, Essex (Grid ref: TL529203)
Andrew Sapford reports seeing a male Silver-washed Fritillary in exactly the same place as the one seen on the 7th July.
Friday Wood, Colchester (Grid ref:TL987204)
4 Essex + 20 Small Skippers, 4 Small Coppers, 4 Peacocks, 6 Commas, Small Heath, 6 White Admirals & 2 Purple Hairstreaks. Martin Peers
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
5 Large White, 30 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 60 Meadow Brown, 10 Gatekeeper, 8 Ringlet & 10 Small/Essex Skipper. (Dragons: 2 Emperor, 25 Black-tailed Skimmer,
50 Common Blue Damsel, 15 Blue-tailed Damsel, 30 Emerald Damsel.) Mike Harris
RSPB Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire (Grid ref:TL405456)
First of the second-generation Holly Blues today. Doug Radford
Beachet Wood (2 miles E of Epping) (Grid ref:TL493013)
Along footpath next to the wood, I saw 8 Ringlets along with Meadow Browns. Steve Stuart
Thursday 12th July
River Stort, near Bishop's Stortford (Grid ref:TL491184)
Had a long walk along the river (Twyford locks to Spellbrook locks) this evening. Spent time searching for insects without too much success.
However, I recorded my first Ringlets on the towpath, plus more over the thin footbridge (Roly Croke) in amongst the nettles and brambles adjacent to the footpath. Small White 11,
Large White 6, Meadow Brown 7, Red Admiral 4, Ringlet 3. Dragons included: Brown Hawker 1, Banded Demoiselle 8, Blue-tailed Damselfly 4, Large red-eyed Damselfly 1. Jono Forgham
Wednesday 11th July
Thrift Wood transect, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL792018)
Last Heath Fritillaries were seen in mid-June. Quite a short flight season no doubt due to the poor weather.
Ringlets appeared in large quantities (75) at the end of June and fewer Meadow Browns (27). First week of July, Small and Essex Skippers appeared and a single Purple Hairstreak.
This week in poor weather conditions most butterflies were roosting. Ringlets are getting quite worn but saw the first Gatekeepers in pristine condition. Three photos attached. Richard Bigg
Tuesday 10th July
Hatfield Forest (Grid ref:TL539198)
Andy Sapsford reports seeing a female Silver-washed Fritillary in the forest (see earlier reports on 7th & 9th July).
Editor - Taken from posting on the Stort Valley Wild forum
Telegraph Field, Barton (Grid ref:TL408543)
Small White 3, Green-veined White 3, Gatekeeper 4, Meadow Brown c.80, Ringlet 30. Tony Roberts
Holt Field, Barton (Grid ref:TL403544)
Small Skipper 1, Essex Skiper 3, Small White 30, Green-veined White 40, Marbled White 2, Gatekeeper 10, Meadow Brown c.100, Ringlet 40, ,b>Small Heath 1. Tony Roberts
Old Nags Field, Barton (Grid ref:TL398545)
Small White 8, Green-veined White 12, Gatekeeper 2, Meadow Brown 8. Tony Roberts
Waresley Wood, Brownes Piece (Grid ref:TL262548)
2 Marbled White with several Meadow Browns and one Gatekeeper at 7pm. Vince Lea, Louise Bacon and lots of Wildlife Trust wardens.
Cambourne transect - the butterflies are finally on the up - a total of 84 seen this afternoon, 53 Meadow Browns and 16 Ringlet had a supporting cast
of
Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Large & Small skippers, Whites. Louise Bacon
Monday 9th July
Hatfield Forest (Grid ref:TL539198)
Peter Herring reports a Silver-washed Fritillary in the forest (see earlier report on 7th July).
Editor - Taken from posting on the Stort Valley Wild forum
On private land today, five Marbled Whites. This is no surprise as there is superb habitat and I have
been expecting them for the past two or three years. Cambs / Essex / Herts border, Jack Harrison
Sunday 8th July
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
50+ Meadow Brown, 10+ Ringlet, 2 Small Heath, 2 Small Torts, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 30+ Small/Essex Skippers, 10+ Large Skippers, 20+ Small Whites, 5+ Large Whites, 15+ Shaded Broad Bars, 2 Silver Y. Stephen Patmore
Coploe Hill, Great Chesterford (Grid ref:TL492425)
2 Marbled Whites, 150+ Meadow Browns, 3 Gatekeepers, 10+ Ringlets, 5+ Small Skippers, 4 Small Heaths, 2 Red Admirals. Stephen Patmore
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
Ringlet 300+, Meadow Brown 127, Gatekeeper 2, Speckled Wood 2, Large Skipper 50+, Small Skipper 4,
Essex Skipper 5,
Green-veined White 12, Large White 3, Comma 17, Red Admiral 3, White Admiral 3, White-letter Hairstreak 12. Roger Orbell
Devil's Dyke, near Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
I saw 3 Chalkhill Blues on my transect walk today. Sharon Hearle
Chettisham Meadows, near Ely (Grid ref: TL541830)
25 Marbled White accompanying lots of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and small numbers of Large
Skipper (2), Small and Green-veined White, Gatekeeper, Comma (about 10) & a single Red Admiral.
Vince Lea & Louise Bacon
Saturday 7th July
Butts Hill Pond, Canewdon (3 miles N of Rochester) (Grid ref:TQ897946)
Small Skipper and Holly Blue - the former seems scarce here this year. Jeff Delve
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
20+ Large White, 15 Small White, 2 Small Tortoishell, 65 Meadow Brown, 14 Ringlet, 1 Gatekeeper, 9 Small Skipper, 4 Small Heath. Mike Harris
Beggars Hall
Coppice, Hatfield Forest, Essex (Grid ref: TL529203)
I saw a Silver-washed Fritillary feeding on bramble flowers along a ride. It afforded good, close-up views for
about 5 minutes before
flying up into the canopy. Other species present - Ringlet (30+),
Red Admiral (2), Meadow Brown (20 - 25), Large White (4), Essex Skipper (2), Peacock (1),
Comma (1). Andrew Sapford
Over Railway Cutting (Grid ref:TL382687)
Large numbers of Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns, Ringlet and Large White.
Several Small Tortoiseshells and Commas were of note. Mark Hows
Hardwick Wood transect (Grid ref:TL355575)
Not huge numbers of butterflies; Ringlets and Meadow Browns most common, but the star was a
Purple Hairstreak resting under a leaf at head-height. Vince Lea & Louise Bacon
Friday 6th July
Devils Dyke, Burwell - Swaffham end (Grid ref: TL580648)
A report of a large Fritillary on Thursday from the car park would probably relate to Dark Green Fritillary. This species was last recorded here in 1996.
Further sightings from this area would be appreciated.
Phyllis Currie Reserve, Great Leighs (Grid Ref TL723182)
2 Large Skippers; several Ringlets, lots of Meadow Browns, 1 Large White, several Green Veined Whites, 5 Commas (some photos attached). Ian Birch
Transects: many of us who walk transects have been really suffering from this poor weather, but today I finally made it out around.
Cambourne, Cambridgeshire for the meagre reward of 4 Ringlet, 4 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Small White and a Red Admiral. Louise Bacon
A recent transect at Coton, Cambridgeshire, also had lots of Meadow Browns and Ringlets with a scattering of other butterflies. More transect updates would be most welcome.
Thursday 5th July
I was searching in vain on Royston (Therfield) Heath (just over the border in Herts) for
Marbled White but was then directed by a non-butterfly man who gave a perfect description to the location of the colony.
He told me that he was a regular on the heath and first saw Marbled Whites there in 2005 at approx TL351402.
The density of butterflies is as good as you ever get anywhere with sightings of two per minute or greater. Often five visible at once. Jack Harrison
Tollesbury Wick EWT Reserve, Essex (Grid ref: TL972105)
100+ Small & 20 Essex Skippers, Peacock, 3 Small Heaths & 4 Gatekeepers. Martin Peers
Abbots Hall Farm (Grid ref:TL962139)
2 Painted Ladies, Essex & Small Skippers, 2 Ringlets & 3 Gatekeepers. Martin Peers
Abberton, Essex (Grid ref: TM005188)
For the last 2 years we have been getting small numbers of White-letter Hairstreaks visiting the garden here in Abberton.
This year my wife saw a green coloured individual, I was not at home at the time & told her to try & catch it. She said she had already got some photos but it had flown off.
On returning home I saw the photos; I was actually expecting to see a Green Hairstreak, but sure enough it was a WLH.
The photos are quite poor & out of focus but you can still see what it is. The colour is definitely not reflection from the vegetation.
I have not heard or seen anything about colour varietes of this species any ideas? Adrian Kettle
(Note from Editor: We would welcome any thoughts or comments about this unusual observation, particularly if anyone else has observed anything similar. Low quality photos available upon request.)
Tuesday 3rd July
RSPB Vange Marsh (Grid ref: TQ730872 )
17 Marbled Whites - the highest count on the transect. Marc Outten (RSPB South Essex Reserves Warden)
Comberton (4 miles SW of Cambridge) (Grid ref: TL388563)
Green-veined White (1), Small White (2), Small Copper (1) & Comma (1) in garden. Tony Roberts
Abberton, Essex (Grid ref: TM006190)
Had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden this evening. Not so common this year in fact this is the first I have seen. Adrain Kettle
Monday 2nd July
Roes Well area of Hainault Forest (Grid ref:TQ470932)
At least 7 White Admirals in forest today, didn't have to dodge to many showers. Yesterday I think I saw a single Ringlet in the forest, that would be a first here for me. Could not see it today however. Steven Stuart
Sunday 1st July
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
Nick Ballard has sent in a photo of a Meadow Brown with an interesting patina.
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
30 Small White (no GV's seen), 3 Large White, 1 M Clouded Yellow, 25 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 10 Small Heath, 2 Small Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Silver Y & 4 Shaded Broadbar.
(Dragons included 1 F Banded Demoiselle 1 M Azure Damselfly, 60+ Common Blue Damselfly, 20 Blue Tailed Damselfly, 18 Emerald Damselfly, 1 M Emperor, 3 MMF Black-tailed Skimmer, 2 TT Common Darter.) Mike Harris
June 2007
Saturday 30th June
Maldon, Essex (Grid ref:TL848072)
A Hummingbird Hawk briefly in the garden. Simon Wood
Friday 29th June
Hillhouse Wood (near West Bergholt) (Grid ref:TL946280)
Philip Smith reports that Joe and Linda Firmin found two White-letter Hairstreaks in this Woodland Trust site at low level today.
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
Passing through before the rain at lunchtime - 6 Meadow Brown, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady. Nick Ballard
Thursday 28th June
Friday Wood, Colchester (Grid ref:TL987204)
Hugh Owen and I found six White Admirals by the riverside path. Philip Smith
Days Lane (4 miles SE of Chipping Ongar) (Grid ref:TQ592983)
20th Butterfly species for year seen today was Ringlet. Also Small, Large & Essex Skippers, many Meadow Browns and, best of all a very probable Marbled White in 2nd Set-aside field. Too far to bee
100% but more or less certain. Plus Emperor Dragonfly. Maybe 25 Butt. species for year is on!. (On any visits please keep to footpaths or field-edges - several pairs of Skylarks nesting). Jim Smith
Cornmill Meadows (near Waltham Abbey) (Grid ref:TL380016)
I had a walk around Cornmill Meadows, mainly looking for dragonflies, but found my first and second Gatekeeper of the year. Also Red Admiral, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Ringlet, Comma,
Small Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper and Meadow Brown. (Dragonfly highlights: male Emperor, White-legged and Red-eyed Damselfly.)
I also photographed a Ladybird that I can not identify, I've attached a photo - any help on the id would be great. Steve Lane and Dave Beer
Two Tree Island, Leigh-on-Sea (Grid ref:TQ818848)
1 Marbled White, 1 Essex Skipper (photo attached), lots of Green Veined Whites (photo attached), also several Small Tortoiseshells and Meadow Browns. Ian Birch
Click here to see the photos that Mark Bunch has kindly sent in following his visit to Belfair's Wood and Hadleigh Castle Country Park.
Wednesday 27th June
Woodwalton Marsh (CWT reserve 6m N of Huntingdon) (Grid ref:TL212813)
Marbled White (98), Grizzled Skipper (3), Large Skipper (7), Ringlet (17), Common Blue (4), Meadow Brown (37), Small White (5), Small Heath (5), Green-veined white (1), Comma (1) & Small Tortoiseshell (3). Roger Orbell
Severalls Business Park, Colchester (Grid ref:TM014284)
Had my first Purple Hairstreak of the year today. Low down in oaks. Chris Balchin
Sunday 24th June
Thrift Wood, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL792018)
1 Heath Fritillary, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, 20+ Ringlets. Martin Peers
Langdon Hills (Grid ref:TQ664873)
1 White letter Hairstreak, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Painted Lady also several Comma, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large Skipper. Vince Kinsler
Saturday 23rd June
Maldon Wick (Grid ref:TL865067)
Butterflies out and about before the afternoon showers. Large Skippers (several), Small Skippers, Comma (4), Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoishell (2), Painted Lady (2), Red Admiral (4), Meadow Browns, Ringlet (10),
Purple Hairstreak (4) & Common Blue. Also 6 spot Burnet. Russell Neave (reported via Essex Moth Group)
Friday 22nd June
Maldon Wick (Grid ref:TL865067)
11 species butterfly including Small and Large Skippers, Purple Hairstreak (4), Ringlet (10+) and Small Tortoisehell (2). Russell Neave (reported via Essex Moth Group)
Thursday 21st June
Jones' Covert (2 miles S Peterborough) (Grid ref:TL160935)
Much better this lunchtime:1 Marbled White, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Comma, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, also Meadow Brown, Large Skipper,
Silver Y, The Cinnabar, Burnet Companion. For photos see blog. Brian Stone
Langdon Hills area (Bulphan, Essex) (Grid ref:TQ680868)
Returned for 2nd visit during flight period and had White-letter Hairstreak at 10km level first along Lower Dunton Road to Langdon Hills - some
large hedgerow trees.
Also seen a Ringlet.
Having searched in March the 1km (TQ6285) square thoroughly with
only a small area of elm found that had not been hammered by DED, started to watch the better quality elm which had flowered but was at
2km level, Andrew returned to the scrappy bit which was in the 1km and after a few minutes had a flight around a small elm.
Then 20 mins later, one flew in and perched! An amazing success which was
almost hard to believe! In addition to previous visit,
Small Skipper and Small Heath seen. Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton
Wednesday 20th June
Belfairs NR (Grid ref:TQ817879)
50 plus Heath Fritillary in Dodds Grove alone. Photograph attached. Vince Kinsler
Hadleigh Castle CP (Grid ref:TQ800860)
(From St Marys Road entrance) 12 White-letter Hairstreak, 4 Comma (including 1 abberant) 6 Holly Blue, 4 Large Skipper, 20 Marbled White, 1 Red Admiral. Some photographs are attached. Vince Kinsler
Thrift Wood, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL792018)
My first visit here and identified 10 butterfly species. Good numbers of Meadow Brown and Ringlet also Heath Fritillary(6),
Large Skipper, Speckled Wood, Small White, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and some splendid, freshly emerged, Commas which confronted me as I approached.
Paul Bowyer (UTB member)
Hainault Forest (Grid ref:TQ480929)
Two White Admirals today and one on Monday 18th June. Would these be hatching from eggs of butterflies seen in the forest the end of last year? Steve Stuart
(Note from branch - there were several instances of second brood White Admiral in southern England
last autumn in this normally single-brooded species - ref British Wildlife magazine)
Wat Tyler CP (Grid ref:TQ735864)
Between 1300 and 13:45, Ringlet (1) (is this early?), Large Skipper (5), Meadow Brown (30+), Marbled White (4), Red Admiral (4). Alan Shearman
Tuesday 19th June
Bedford Gap, Fleam Dyke (Grid ref:TL554535)
Doing my transect walk, I saw first 3 and then 5 and then 8 Small White butterflies harassing a female Brimstone. They dived up and down as she did, as flew up from one side of the dyke and
down to the other, rising and falling as if they were all attached to a pupeteerıs strings. After several minutes she seems to have managed to settle in some greenery at the bottom of the east
bank and put up a 'Closed for Business' sign that I could not see, and they all fluttered away on the wind. Any comments? Julia Napier
Sunday 17th June
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
1 Painted Lady, 4 Red Admirals, 1 Small Tort, c.5 Large Whites, 5 Large Skippers, 3 Small Heaths, 10+ Meadow Browns, 5+ Burnet Companions, 1 Six-spot Burnet, 2 Yellow Shell.
Dragons included 6+ Emperors, 2 Four-spots, 10+ Black-tailed Skimmers, 2 Common Darters, 45+ Emeralds, 200+ Common Blues. Stephen Patmore
D'Engaynes Fen (2 miles East of Cambridge) (Grid ref:TL514593)
16:30pm - Overcast. 12 Large Skippers (photograph attached), 2 Small Skippers, 20+ Meadow Brown, 10+ Small Heath, 1 Common Blue. Nick Ballard
Giant's Hill, Rampton (Grid ref:TL432682)
I came across a nice spot for butterflies on the north side of Giant's Hill where there were lots of flowering brambles
and butterflies and other insects, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Comma, Large Skipper, Red Admiral, Green-veined White, and a probable White-letter Hairstreak (brief view only). Vicki Harley
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
Looks like all this rain has not helped butterfly numbers but saw 7 Red Admiral, 2 Large white, 7 Speckled Wood, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Common Blue, 27 Meadow Brown, 1 Painted Lady.
Black Hairstreak counts - I spent 30 mins at each site:
- Site 1 - 5 bright
- Site 2 - 26 sunny
- Site 3 - 3 cloudy and dull
- Site 4 - 7 sunny
- Site 5 - 5 bright
Also had 1 at cross rides low down on elm sucker and 5 and 2 at two spots near the lodge house where they were last year. Roger Orbell
Bedford Purlieus (Grid ref:TL040990)
Robin and I reconfirmed Black Hairstreak here but I didn't see any at the Warboys / Wistow Wood site the same day. Val Perrin
Saturday 16th June
Pound Wood, Southend (Grid ref:TQ823888)
14:30 - 16:30pm. Overcast with heavy showers. In between the showers, dozens of Heath Fritillaries - across more areas of the wood than last year it seems (two photographs attached).
Also, several Meadow Browns and a Purple Hairstreak in the pond clearing - too quick to get a photo! Nick Ballard
Thursday 14th June
Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge (Grid ref:TL462582)
At lunchtime, a freshly-emerged Meadow Brown (male - photo attached).and a couple of Holly Blues (regularly seen here since April).
In the evening, a pair of Red Admirals on the gravestones and flying together through the bushes and trees (photo attached). Nick Ballard
Wednesday 13th June
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
Did the Black Hairstreak survey:
- Site 1 - 8
- Site 2 - 29
- Site 3 - 19
- Site 4 - 7
- Site 5 - 20
Barry Dickerson
Hadleigh Castle CP (Grid ref:TQ785857)
1500-1600hrs. 2 Brown Argus, 4 Holly Blue, 2 Comma, 4 Large Skipper, 40 Small Skipper, 20 Meadow Brown, 8 Marbled White, 5 White-letter Hairstreak. Vince Kinsler
Belfairs NR (Grid ref:TQ817879)
Between 16:20 & 17:15hrs, 200 plus Heath Fritillary - incredibly high densities with often up to 5 spiralling together, 2 Brimstone and 12 Meadow Brown. Vince Kinsler
Tuesday 12th June
Visited TQ58 as part of our White-letter Hairstreak project.
The target square was TQ5488 but we already knew there was no elm so we revisited the located elm at Emerson Park Romford (Grid ref:TQ545891) (2km level).
Two White-letter Hairstreak were seen to clash from elm on the edge of the community open space immediately the sun came out.
White-letter had not emerged in the more rural TQ68, however around Bulphan (Grid ref:TQ640859) whilst watching elm we saw Large Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell,
Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Small White and Holly Blue.
Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton
Monday 11th June
Abbots Hall Farm (Grid ref:TL962139)
On the basis of records of "good numbers" of Heath Fritillaries in Hockley Woods from a participant in yesterday's field trip, we ventured to Essex this morning.
Given the weather, we detoured by Abberton Reservoir for some birding. One unidentified nymphalid flew through...
With no sign of the required (and promised) break in the clouds, we headed only slightly south to Abbotts Hall Farm (Essex WT Reserve), where we had:
Large Skipper (5+), Common Blue - (6+ males), Painted Lady (2+), Red Admiral (2), Meadow Brown (many) & Small Heath (3). There was absolutely no sign of the
sun, so we aborted the proposed Hockley trip for another day. Guy Manners & Alan Wadsworth
Sunday 10th June
Warley Place, near Brentwood (Grid ref:TQ583906)
Single pristine Purple Hairstreak seen on oak foliage on the west side of the EWT reserve at Warley Place 7.15 onwards. Colin Jupp (sent via Elizabeth Goodyear/Andrew Middleton)
Devil's Dyke, near Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Spent the morning here and found these Common Blue variants (see photos page) 1/4 mile from the National Stud end.
Otherwise apart from a couple of Brown Argus and Small Heath, little else seen. Nick Ballard
Saturday 9th June
Wallasea Island (Grid ref:TQ983942)
Mother Shipton and Cream Spot Tiger together with a few Painted Ladies and masses of Small Heath. Jeff Delve
Canewdon (3 miles N of Rochester) (Grid ref:TQ897946)
Over 20 new Peacock in garden. Jeff Delve
Butts Hill Pond, Canewdon (3 miles N of Rochester) (Grid ref:TQ897946)
Speckled Wood, Essex Skipper, Comma, Small White, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Browns. Jeff Delve
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
1 Brimstone (male), 3 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath, 7 Common Blue, 1 Silver-Y, 35 Burnet Companion & 1 Cinnebar. Dragons included 200+ Common Blue Damselfly, 8 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 8 Emperor Dragonfly (1F),
3 Black tailed Skimmers (all teneral males), 2 Broad Bodied Chasers (teneral males). Mike Harris
Over Railway Cutting (Grid ref:TL382687)
10+ Large Skippers, including several in the meadow area, 12 Meadow Browns, 4 Small Heath, 2 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral, 6+ Brown Argus, 6+
Common Blues. No Grizzled Skippers, Peacocks, Tortoiseshells or Brimstones. Charles Nicol
Cockway Lane Spaldwick (Grid ref:TL122727)
Again many Large Skippers & 2 Meadow Browns. Charles Nicol
Brampton Wood (Grid ref:TL180702)
7 Black Hairstreaks at site 2 and 1 at site 1. Didn't have time to visit the other sites. Roger Orbell
Friday 8th June
Weald Park Way (next to A12), Brentwood (Grid ref:TQ574931)
One White-letter Hairstreak over elm in 45 mins searching. Colin Jupp (sent via Andrew Middleton)
Tuesday 5th June
Fulbourn (Grid ref:TL512534)
Painted Lady on the wing and settling on mallow at Lodge Farm. Kathryn Grumball
Thrift Wood, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL792018)
Heath Fritillary's have appeared in Thrift Wood this week. I saw at least three on transect this afternoon and another member reported seeing some in another part of the wood.
Some photographs are attached. Richard Bigg
Monday 4th June
Spaldwick (Grid ref:TL122727)
1 Cinnabar, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Thistle Ermine, 2 Speckled Woods and about 9 Large Skippers.(some photos attached). Charles Nicol
Grafham Water (Grid ref:TL158666)
3 Red Admirals (photo attached). Charles Nicol
Godmanchester (Grid ref: TL250695)
2 Mother Shiptons. In addition, I have sent in photos of a green caterpillar on vetch, a group of black caterpillars on bramble and a pretty yellow moth. ID suggestions for all three welcome. Charles Nicol
Sunday 3rd June
Over Railway Cutting (Grid ref:TL382687)
Visited the condemned site this afternoon (not a bad list): Small / Essex Skipper (2+), Large Skipper (1), Grizzled Skipper (1 "freshly minted"), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip (2 male), Small Copper (3-7+),
Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral (I&SC), Small Tortoiseshell (I&SC), Heath Fritillary (2-3 !!!), Speckled Wood (1), Meadow Brown (3++), Small Heath, Burnet Companion (many). Guy Manners, Ian & Sue Collins
Devil's Dyke, near Newmarket (Grid ref:TL616616)
Guy Manners then went onto Devil's Dyke and from 16:45 onwards recorded White sp/p (2+), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (1 male), Small Heath (5-6+), several micro spp. Guy Manners
Backwarden, Danbury (Grid ref:TL781041)
4 Brimstones, all males; I am afraid attached photo is poor due to distance and shadow of leaf falling on wing, 1 Speckled Wood photo attached but again a little too far away (photos attached). Ian Birch
Thrift Wood, near Bicknacre (Grid ref:TL790017)
1 Heath Fritillary unfortunately would not settle for a photo! Ian Birch
Offord Weirpool (Grid ref:TL214669)
I saw 2 large skippers (the pictured one is a male) taking nectar from red clover & the blue flower. Charles Nicol
Godmanchester (Grid ref:TL251695)
1 Brown Argus and an unidentified caterpillar (see photo). Charles Nicol
Saturday 2nd June
***HEATH FRITILLARY*** Ken Ulrich has just informed us that Essex now boasts 5 reserves containing the Heath Fritillary. The warden of Pound Wood, David Harris, advised that
he had seen them flying yesterday 1st June, in Starvelarks Wood (Grid ref:TQ811889) in the Essex Wildlife reserve of Little Haven. This has most probably been colonised
from Pound Wood where many were flying last year. The first in Thrift Wood were on the wing today.
Friday 1st June
Orsett, Thurrock (Grid ref:TQ635815)
I saw one single Grizzled Skipper in Orsett, Essex in their wildlife area (High Road, Orsett) early afternoon, very hot. P Wakeling
Stansted Airport Lagoons (Grid ref:TL550216)
11m Common Blues, 1 Small Heath, 1m Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 5+ Burnet Companions, 1 Mother Shipton, 1 Silver-Y. Dragonflies: 2 Emeralds, 10+ Red-eyeds, 10+ Common Blues & 7 Banded Demoiselles. Stephen Patmore
Godmanchester (2 miles S of Huntingdon) (Grid ref:TL251695)
1 Brown Argus & 1 Cinnabar moth (photographs attached). Charles Nicol
Port Holme (S Huntingdon) (Grid ref:TL239709)
Silver Y moth (photograph attached). Charles Nicol
May 2007
Thursday 31st May
Ellington, near Grafham Water (Grid ref:TL152700)
1 Peacock butterfly & several moths including Cinnabar, Thistle Ermine and Mother Shipton (photographs attached). Charles Nicol
Friday 25th May
Kingshead Meadow, Colchester (Grid ref:TL996258)
2 Holly Blues. Neil Philbrick
Thursday 24th May
Little Thurrock (Grid ref:TQ629807)
6 Common Blue, 3 Small Heath and a Mother Shipton. Alan Shearman
Broads Green (Grid ref:TL686118)
My visit to an old gravel pit near here last week was made in dull weather. I had hopes of it being a suitable habitat for Grizzled Skipper - cinquefoil is present though not in great quantity.
On a second visit this afternoon no GS were seen but there were Brown Argus (14), Common Blue (21), Small Heath (7), one Small Copper and one Large White.
A couple of photographs are attached. (Editor: Thanks to VK for the providing the ID of The Magpie caterpillar which RB found in his garden.) Richard Bigg
Wednesday 23rd May
Langdon Hills, Essex
In Rough Field (Grid ref:TQ688869)
2 Brown Argus (photo attached), 15 Small Heath and 40+ Common Blue.
In Knight's Field (Grid ref:TQ688876)
2 Grizzled Skipper, 1 Green Hairstreak
