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Butterfly Conservation
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   Cambridgeshire and Essex Branch

SIGHTINGS 2024

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Other years' Sightings:

2024  2023  2022  2021  2020  2019  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  

First Sightings 2024

 Red Admiral 21st Jan Peacock 22nd Jan
 Brimstone 25th Jan Small Tortoiseshell 2nd Feb
 Comma 12th Feb Small White 14th Mar
 Speckled Wood 14th Mar Orange-Tip 17th Mar
 Green-veined White 24th Mar Large White 26th Mar

To best view photos on this page, JavaScript should be enabled. See also the complete gallery of photos for 2024

We do not post Hummingbird hawkmoth (or other moths) records on this sightings page. Butterfly Conservation UK records sightings of migrant moths centrally at migrant watch

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
March 2024
DateLocationSpeciesReporterDescription
26thShepreth (TL3947)Comma, Peacock, Brimstone, Small WhitePaddy Grove
26thRamsey (TL2785)Large WhiteTony LackThe earliest date for this species in my garden.
26thMeadgate Park (TL719105)Comma, Peacock, Brimstone, Speckled WoodDavid LazarusFirst Speckled Wood of 2024. Also, 5 Peacock; 2 Brimstone; 1 Comma in the local park & a Brimstone in the garden 12C full sun & light breeze (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
26thHobson's field (TL453550)Brimstone, Orange-TipScott Boyd1 Orange tip and 2 brimstone in wooded area beside Trumpington community college, opposite Hobson's field. Sunny. No wind.
26thHawkwood allotment. (TQ3795)PeacockAnthony Hare2 peacock.
26thFowlmere RSPB (TL4045)Peacock, BrimstonePaddy GroveLoads of Brimstones and Peacocks about. Another visitor reported a Speckled Wood but I didn't see it myself
26thChurch Lane LNR and nearby, North Weald (TL496046)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, BrimstoneIan WattsWarm and sunny morning. 1 x Comma, 4 x Brimstone and 2 x Peacock in the nature reserve, 2 x Small Tort and further 4 x Peacock in nearby agricultural field margin.
26thChigwell Row Wood LNR, Essex (TQ464930)Comma, Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Speckled WoodTom Simon
26thCambridge (TL4557)Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Speckled WoodLouise Bacon
24thSoham (TL596720)Green-veined WhiteScott BoydSingle green veined white. 7.15 am sunny and cold
23rdRaphael Park (TQ518899)Red AdmiralZayed AhmedOne Red Admiral on nettle
21stFairlop Waters CP (TQ4590)Peacock, Orange-TipAlan BellEarliest Orange-tip at site. Also a Peacock
20thSwavesey (TL3670)Small Tortoiseshell, PeacockDavid BradleyMy first definite Small Tortoiseshell of 2024, although I may have seen a glimpse of one a couple of weeks ago in Cottenham.
20thMill Green Common (TL637013)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, BrimstoneRob Smith3 male Brimstone seen together, 2 Peacock clashing, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Comma. Also bumped into someone trying to photograph Orange Underwing moths that were on the wing
20thHolland on Sea, esplanade (TM202161)Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Small WhiteBrian GoodeyOur earliest small white. Nectaring on red dead-nettle.
20thHawkwood allotment. (TQ3795)Brimstone, Small WhiteAnthony Hare1 of each.
20thBarrington, South Cambs (TL499393)PeacockPhillip HastingsOne Peacock on footpath just south of village of Barrington, South Cambs. First Peacock seen this year - in exactly the same spot as first sighting last year on March 22!
20thBaddow Meads (TL720058)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Brimstone, Small WhiteDavid LazarusSurprisingly the sun appeared despite the poor start to the day with 16C and only a slight breeze with butterflies emerging from 11 o'clock:
15 PE; 10 BR; 3 CO; 2 ST; 1 SW (Photo(s) supplied: photo photo )
18thThaxted (TL610031)BrimstoneRichard BerrySingle Brimstone in flight, flying over gardens
18thBaddow Meads (TL716306)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, BrimstoneDavid LazarusFirst Small Tortoiseshell [4] and Comma [1] of the season with 15 Peacocks and a couple of Brimstone enjoying the midday sun 14C gentle breeze with gusts (Photo(s) supplied: photo photo )
17thCottenham (TL4568)Orange-TipDavid BradleyMy first Orange Tip of the year. Seems very, very early
16thRayleigh Mount, Rayleigh (TQ805909)Comma, Peacock, BrimstoneGraham BaileyMidday in warm sun - 3 peacock, comma, brimstone.
16thLitlington, South Cambs (TL311428)Comma, BrimstonePhillip HastingsFirst garden sightings of the year - two within half an hour of each other on warm sunny morning.
1 x Brimstone (m)
1 x Comma
16thHarrow Lodge ParkSmall Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Small WhiteZayed Ahmed15 Peacock, 3 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 1 Small White
16thGarden shoeburyComma, PeacockSteve Day
16thCottenham (TL4568) (TL4568)BrimstoneSimon IngateFirst Brimstone (male) seen in garden this year.
16thBeth Chatto's Gardens (TM069237)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Red Admiral, BrimstoneRichard GreatRexSingles
15thSt Osyth (TM1117)Small TortoiseshellSimon CoxSingle Small Tortoiseshell along footpath to Howlands Marsh
15thRomfordCommaZayed AhmedOne Comma
15thMonks Wood (TL2080)Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, BrimstoneRosalyn Payne & Phil Bromley12.30 - 13.45 - Sunny, 15c. Small Tortoiseshell 1, Comma 9,Peacock 5, Brimstone 7
15thCottenham (TL446673)BrimstoneDavid BradleyFirst Brimstone of the year and only the third butterfly I've seen in 2024
14thTree Top Meadow, Epping (TL453019)Small TortoiseshellTom Simon
14thRochford essexSpeckled WoodSteve Day (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
14thHill Rd Benfleet SS71HL (TQ818876)CommaDavid ChandleruSpotted by Mrs C Gardener in her garden
14thGarden on Meadgate Avenue (TL718505)Peacock, Brimstone, Small WhiteDavid LazarusFirst confirmed sighting for me of a butterfly in 2024. In fact, 3 including this fresh male Small White that looks almost pure white from a distance. Its black apex markings are only visible close up. The single forewing spot is so light as to be invisible until zooming in to the image attached. The inside edges of both forewings are a little crinkled and appear not to have completely dried out. Also, 1 PC in the local park & 1 BS flying over the garden. (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
9thThaxted (TL6131)BrimstoneStephen Dutton11 deg, sunny blustery Easterly.
1male Brimstone
9thLittle Warley Common (TQ606906)Comma, Red Admiral, BrimstoneRob SmithComma 3, single Red Admiral and male Brimstone
9thHolme Fen (TL2188)Comma, PeacockRosalyn Payne & Phil BromleySunny, 13 deg Peacock 1, Middle Covert. Comma 1, New Long Drove.
9thGreen Island Gardens, Ardleigh (TM056273)Comma, PeacockRichard GreatRex4 Comma and a single Peacock
9thFolkes Lane Woodland (TQ574898)Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, BrimstoneRob Smithsingles
9thEast Cliff, Holland on Sea (TM194156)Small TortoiseshellBrian GoodeyFive adults on a south facing section of cliff. The tamarisks have recently been cut back, exposing patches of soil and encouraging flowers.
9thComberton Garden (TL387546)BrimstoneTony RobertsBrimstone 1.
9thColchester (TL964246)Comma, PeacockJennifer MartinSunny Saturday, peacock on garden fence. Comma on hedge. Only got a photo of the comma. (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
6thEastcliff Footpath, Holland on Sea (TM192159)Comma, Peacock, Red AdmiralBrian GoodeyPeacock x7, red admiral X4, comma X1.
4thConnaught Gardens, Clacton (TM186155)Red AdmiralBrian GoodeyOur first butterfly of the year.

February 2024
DateLocationSpeciesReporterDescription
21stBemor Building Supplies, Waltham Abbey (TL381005)Small TortoiseshellTom Simon1 Small Tortoiseshell in Bemor's shop. (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
19thRomfordRed AdmiralZayed AhmedOne Red Admiral that attempted to feed on flowers but was buffeted away by wind.
18thSt Ives (TL306724)BrimstoneJeremy MilneSingle male flying in the early afternoon.
16thThorpe-le-Soken (TM179210)Red AdmiralRichard GreatRexA single Red Admiral flying in the garden in sunshine
16thHolme Fen (TL2089)Comma, Red AdmiralRosalyn Payne & Phil BromleyRed Admiral 1, Comma 1
15thnr St Osyth (TM144159)PeacockSimon CoxSingle Peacock settled on pale matting in our garden this morning
15thgarden Eaton Socon (TL166594)Peacock, BrimstoneSteve Bindinga lone male Brimstone flying around the garden followed by a lone Peacock ,in the lovely warm sun
15thWistow Huntingdon CambsBrimstoneRon HaroldOne male along garden hedge
15thLordsbridge (TL3954)Comma, PeacockVince LeaSingle Comma and Peacock around my home at lunch time, 10th and 11th butterflies seen by me this year. Butterflies 1-9 were seen in the previous hour.
15thLeigh on Sea, private gardenBrimstoneNicholas BarnettAmazed to see my first Brimstone of the year whilst putting the washing on the line. Male.
15thHoughton (TL284723)BrimstoneJohn WinterbottomOne female and at least one male in my back garden early afternoon.
15thHaddenham Canbs.Comma, BrimstoneIan Dickerson2 brimstone 1 comma in the garden
15thGreen Island Garden, Ardleigh (TM055274)Red AdmiralClaire HarringtonOne butterfly enjoying the mild, sunny weather in the garden
15thCambridge (TL469570)BrimstoneEdward PollardSingle. First of the year for me
15thCambridge (Burrell's Walk) (TL442584)BrimstoneRob PopleMale Brimstone on the wing, c.13:05.
15thBovingdon Farm (TL7527)PeacockGeorge BrownVery mild with sunny spells. ! Peacock flying at field edge, 10.25a.m.
15thBasildon (TQ7087)BrimstoneChris Huggins
15thBarton (TL4155)Peacock, BrimstoneVince LeaOne Peacock and 8 Brimstones in Barton village and Lark Rise farmland. Very warm, but not very sunny and a bit of a breeze, nonetheless good enough to tempt out many hibernators - my first butterflies seen in flight this year.
12thSt Ives (TL306724)Small TortoiseshellBrian MilneA single Small Tortoiseshell flying in the afternoon sun.
12thCopperas Wood (TM202316)CommaRichard GreatRexA single Comma flying in the sun as we were coppicing chestnut.
11thNoak Hill, RomfordPeacockMartin Whitetwo peacocks basking in sun at 1pm
10thCottenham (TL4468)PeacockDavid BradleyMy first butterfly of the year. Peacock flying over a hedgerow on the edge of Cottenham.

Also, friend reported a Brimstone on the busway on Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, opposite Kirkwood Road, 10am
4thGarden, Barton Road CambridgeRed AdmiralJeff RileyA single specimen in the garden at midday
3rdEssex wildlife Trust, The Naze , Walton (TM264243)BrimstoneJulian SidneyMale Brimstone seen, 12c light breeze,sunny, flying along hedge. Recorded on IRecord app
2ndWeald Common, North Weald Bassett (TL498039)Red AdmiralTom Simon1 Red Admiral on northern edge of Weald Common. (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
2ndGreat Staughton back yard (TL132645)Small TortoiseshellSteve Binding15.30 pm Sunny a lone Small Tortoiseshell
flying around the yard. Also saw another one
in a Eaton Socon garden in St Neots.
1stpath near Woodditton (TL673576)BrimstoneJeremy Aldred1 male

January 2024
DateLocationSpeciesReporterDescription
29thNoak Hill, RomfordRed AdmiralMartin WhiteFeed on Mahonia, then settled on ground
28thRomfordRed AdmiralZayed AhmedOne quite small Red Admiral fluttering rapidly in the afternoon sun, 10°.
28thBarrington (TL4049)Red AdmiralPaddy GroveOne flying in cold but sunny conditions (Photo(s) supplied: photo )
26thFoxton (south) (TL417477)PeacockGuy MannersSurprisingly one Peacock heading north on east (leeward) side of hedge
25thDry Drayton, Cambs (TL381624)BrimstoneVal PerrinMale brimstone flying in garden at lunchtime. Temp 11.5 degC. Damp, mainly overcast conditions, faint sun. Could be my earliest ever year's sighting of this species.
24thHollow Pond, Leyton FlatsRed AdmiralNicholas BarnettMy first butterfly of the year bolting out of the gorse eastern borders of Hollow Pond.
24thA13 Tarpots Crossroads South Benfleet (TQ882773)Red AdmiralDavid ChandlerFlying above the traffic in a moderate breeze.
22ndSutton Gault (TL4279)PeacockRob PatridgePresent in garden during short spell of sunshine.
21stHardwick garden (TL372594)Red AdmiralTrevor SawyerRed Admiral searching around the garden for somewhere to shelter from the increasing wind. Quite active in 9C and rapidly rising temperatures even though no dull, cloudy weather. (Photo(s) supplied: photo )


 
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