Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. Four species appeared this afternoon on a quagmire-restricted wander from 1400-1530. The temperature stood at 13 deg C under cloudy skies but there clearly has been some insect awakening since my walk on 27th when just three Red Admiral showed-up. Strangely this species was not seen today. Total: Peacock (10); Comma (6); Speckled Wood (M)(3)(F)(1); Small White (M)(1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Almost pristine Peacock Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood male and female (right) Photo © Francis Plowman | Comma Photo © Francis Plowman |
Havant Thicket. This morning I visited Havant Thicket walking the main track. Here I recorded Brimstone 13M and Comma 2. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
First Orange-tip, Bishop's Waltham. On a walk from Bishop's Waltham to Winchester today my wife and I encountered our first Orange-tip of the year, on the outskirts of the town, and later two Commas and a Peacock as well as numerous Brimstones which included two females. [Posted by Bob Whitmarsh]
First Orange Tip, North Baddesley. First sighting of the year of Orange Tip (M) today on my reserve at North Baddesley also 19 Brimstone only 1 female,14 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma. [Posted by kevin ross]
Brimstones galore at Havant Thicket!. A beautiful sunny day with temperatures hitting 14ºC at Havant Thicket this afternoon. I spent 2 hours there, taking a circular route to avoid double-counts, and saw 35 male Brimstones and 2 females, plus 12 Peacocks, 9 Commas and 2 Speckled Woods. You'll definitely need wellies if you wander away from the gravel tracks. [Posted by Adrian Hoskins]
Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Lee on Solent. My first report of 2024 and surprisingly not a butterfly - but a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in our Lee on Solent garden this morning. It seemed to be nectaring on daffodills if that's possible? Certainly it was moving from head to head and burrowing deep into the flower. Needless to say it disappeared as I sought a camera - it's time I had one to hand in the garden! [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
Small mercies at Great Fontley. Small White (m) seen at 3pm today at Great Fontley nectaring on blackthorn and dandelion despite an air temp. of only 11.4 C. Bright periods last week had seen emergence of Brimstones (all male), Peacock, Comma, and Small Tortoiseshell, but conspicuous by their absence were the Red Admirals. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. After six weeks in Cyprus (20 species) it was something of a rude shock to slither around the quagmire of Monks Walk (1310-1430) at just 8 degrees Celsius and with a very cool southerly breeze. Still, there was some hazy sunshine and three Red Admiral made the best of it. So two distant shots to start my UK recording year. [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Number 1 Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Number 2 Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman |
Peacock Butterfly at Testwood Lakes. Peacock butterfly at Testwood Lakes also seen Comma and Brimstone [Posted by Carol J Thorpe]
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| Photo © Carol J Thorpe | Photo © Carol J Thorpe | Photo © Carol J Thorpe |
Holly Blue at Itchen Abbas. First Holly Blue of the year flying around our garden in Itchen Abbas this afternoon. Earlier we saw Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell in the field edges around Tichborne. [Posted by Rupert and Sharron Broadway]
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| Holly Blue at Itchen Abbas Photo © Rupert and Sharron Broadway | Peacock near Tichborne Photo © Rupert and Sharron Broadway | Small Tortoiseshell near Tichborne Photo © Rupert and Sharron Broadway |
Titchfield Haven. Sunny and windy conditions, but good shelter to be had in the woods. 7 Peacocks, 4 Brimstones (all male), 2 Commas and a small white one that flitted by very quickly so I didn't get a good look at it. [Posted by Adam Jones]
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| Photo © Adam Jones | Photo © Adam Jones | Photo © Adam Jones |
Havant Thicket My First Sightings 2024. Today being a sunny day and the temperature reaching 16.5 degrees, I walked the main track through Havant Thicket. Here I recorded my first sightings of 2024 with a total of 7 male Brimstones. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Havant Thicket. A mostly cloudy day, but the temperature hit 14ºC, and there was enough sunshine to get plenty of butterflies flying at Havant Thicket this afternoon. I spent about 2 hours walking the trails, and counted a minimum of 19 Brimstones (all males), 7 Commas, 5 Peacocks and a Red Admiral. [Posted by Adrian Hoskins]
Brimstone in Winchester. Just seen my first butterfly of 2024, a Brimstone, flying vigorously in our garden in Winchester. [Posted by Bob Whitmarsh]
Havant Thicket. 4 Brimstones, 3 Commas and 1 Peacock seen on an hour long stroll around Havant Thicket on Friday. [Posted by Adrian Hoskins]
Youth Panel Butterfly Conservation. Butterfly Conservation would like to hear from young Lepidoptera enthusiasts age 16 - 25 years old, who may like to form a team of 10 volunteers for the charity’s first Youth Panel guided by Youth Engagement Officer, Emma Dakin. The closing date for expressions of interest is the 13th March 2024. See ‘How to apply’ on the Butterfly Conservation website https://butterfly-conservation.org/youth-panel or email Emma for the short application form on edakin@butterfly-conservation.org [Posted by Suzie Brown]
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| Photo © Suzie Brown |