Chalton Down. While visiting my father, I paid a visit to Chalton Down in the autumnal sunshine where the temperature reached 14 degrees. Here during a good search only a total of three different species were recorded, but importantly two Small Coppers were seen the first either of us had seen this year. Both were feeding on the last few blooms of Hemp Agrimony. Totals Small White 5, Small Copper 2 and Meadow Brown 1F. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Hillier Gardens - 9 butterfly species. The welcome return of some warm sunshine encouraged Linda and I to visit the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Braishfield, to see what butterflies we could see. Remarkably we saw nine different species in a relatively short visit. The total count was: Red Admiral (28), Large White (3), Small Copper (3), Comma (3), Peacock (2), Speckled Wood (2), Small White (2), Brown Argus (1), Painted Lady (1). It just goes to show that there are still butterflies to enjoy this late in the season. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Small Copper on Astrantia Photo © Andy Barker | Brown Argus (female) Photo © Andy Barker | Painted Lady (female) Photo © Andy Barker |
Late vanessid showing at Great Fontley. The afternoon sunshine prompted Red Admiral (3), Comma (2), and Peacock (1) to feast on the Verbena bonariensis and Buddleja 'Border Beauty' flowers. In the Plantation, Speckled Wood (5) reigned supreme. On Horsea Island, final instar Comma larvae (5) were found on elm. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Seafield Park & Monks Hill Promenade Field, Hill Head. The following nine species were seen on a ninety minutes' walk from 11:20 through Seafield Park and then across the coast road to Monks Hill promenade field which is still in flower and five species were noted here. Eleven days after my last visit, no Painted Lady was noted but the Clouded Yellow count rose to three (all quartering the promenade field) including a very patient male that settled for a well-earned breather when the sun was obscured. The temperature was approx 13 deg C with very little wind and cloud building towards the end of my time spent here. Total: Speckled Wood (M)(10)(F)(3); Small White (31); Comma (1); Common Blue (M)(7)(F)(3); Large White (7); Clouded Yellow (3); Small Copper (2); Red Admiral (2); Brown Argus (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Comma Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue female at right in the promenade field Photo © Francis Plowman | Clouded Yellow male, in the promenade field Photo © Francis Plowman |
FREE - RESISTANT ELMS TO HELP SAVE THE WHITE-LETTER HAIRSTREAK. Hampshire County Council's Hampshire Tree Partnership has announced its FREE elm supply service for the coming winter. Elms small and large will be available to local authorities (except unitary such as Portsmouth), parish councils, private estates, farmers, schools, conservation groups, homeowners etc. However, the numbers and types of elms allocated will be at the discretion of the Partnership, based on land type, area, and potential impact on the landscape. The cultivars available, all highly resistant to Dutch elm disease, are as follows:
As bare-root or 3-litre potted, 3000 in total: 'Ademuz', LUTECE, 'Wingham'.
As 45-litre potted, 8-12 standards, 150 in total: 'Fiorente', 'New Horizon', 'Rebona'.
All standards will be delivered free to the client, while whips and small potted will be available for collection from the nearest of four distribution hubs on specific dates:
o Tuesday 14 January 2025 Wade Road Depot, Basingstoke, RG24 8PL
o Thursday 16 January 2025 Hawk Conservancy Trust. Test Valley, SP11 8DY
o Tuesday 21 January 2025 River Hamble Country Park. Eastleigh, SO31 1BH
o Thursday 23 January 2025 Queen Elizabeth Country Park. East Hampshire, PO8 0QE
Application forms are attached / available from Andrew Brookes ya.brookes2018.AT.yandex.com [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Waterlooville. Well done to Mark for his garden Wall - what a sighting! A mere Common Blue for me last week but still a nice tick nonetheless [Posted by James Clark]
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. A 3-hours' wander (from 11:40) around my nearest butterfly haven produced sightings of eight species. These included many very new emergences ie Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Copper. The weather was mixed, starting out overcast and strong ENE wind to 22 degrees Celsius and full sun from around 1pm onwards. I still can't get enough of the stunning female Common Blue variant but can now show comparison photographs (below); the amazing technicolour variant against to the rather dull 'normal' female. The rise of Speckled Wood is obvious and is presently the most widely seen butterfly at and around Monks Walk. Total: Red Admiral (5); Small White (10); Small Copper (6); Common Blue (M)(5)(F)(2); Brown Argus (2); Speckled Wood (M)(23)(F)(3); Large White (4); Comma (4). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Brown Argus Photo © Francis Plowman | Variant Fb female Common Blue Photo © Francis Plowman | Normal Common Blue female Photo © Francis Plowman |
Wall in Farlington. I popped out into the garden to cut the grass this afternoon and disturbed a butterfly by the clothes line - I instantly recognised it as a Wall - something I haven’t seen in Hampshire for 40+ years!
I dashed indoors for my phone, hoping all the while that it was still there - which fortunately she was. A few quick snaps and she was on her way - albeit somewhat stutteringly as she had a damaged hind wing. Hopefully she has been laying some eggs on Portsdown ready for next year.
One that was never on my list of garden “possibles” so an extremely pleasing final garden tick for the year. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
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| Garden Wall Photo © Mark Tutton |
Old Winchester Hill, Nr Warnford. Ironically, on the day that Butterfly Conservation announced on Radio 4 that 2024 has been the worst year for butterflies for 14 years, I enjoyed my highest species' recording day since 3 August (Stockbridge Down). Today I was hoping to see Silver-spotted Skipper but nothing doing there. However, first of the year sightings for me of Adonis Blue and Brown Hairstreak certainly made amends and then finding (at last) a scarce Small Tortoiseshell was the icing on the cake. An early start (1050-1340, temperature 18-23 deg C) with a very strong NE wind sent me down the car park slope to explore the valley. This was quite protected from the worst of the wind and produced most sightings. At one stage I was overflown by a very large fritillary which descended rapidly to the valley hedge-line and disappeared; I took it to be a late Dark Green Fritillary which I have often found in this area. I circumnavigated the hill fort for just two Meadow Brown - I couldn't even keep my hat on in the wind! So back to the gate and onto the main path to the car park finding very placid conditions here. The Brown Hairstreak settled beside the path and I just about managed a shot before it took off again. Total: Small Heath (12); Meadow Brown (50); Dark Green Fritillary (1); Large White (M)(6)(F)(1); Small White (8); Common Blue (M)(3); Adonis Blue (M)(6); Brimstone (M)(8)(F)(2); Chalk Hill Blue (M)(1)(F)(1); Speckled Wood (M)(3)(F)(1); Small Tortoiseshell (1); Brown Hairstreak (1); Red Admiral (1); Comma (2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Adonis Blue male shimmers in the sunlight Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Tortoiseshell Photo © Francis Plowman | Brown Hairstreak Photo © Francis Plowman |
Haslar Sea Wall Car Park Scrub - Gosport. Just four species noted on a brief perambulation of the field from 1100-1130 when the temperature was 18 degrees Celsius and the ENE wind cool as it came across the harbour 'swashway' and Spithead. Usual suspects seen but an early start reduced numbers somewhat. Total: Small White (14); Small Heath (2); Common Blue (M)(3)(F)(2); Small Copper (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Heath Photo © Francis Plowman |
Gilkicker Point & adjacent Stokes Bay scrub, Gosport. Seven species were recorded including my first (and unexpected) sighting of a Wall on a wander from 1135-1320 (18 deg C strong ENE breeze). Crossing the golf course a fox approached - as bold as brass - to one of the players who handed out a handful of dog biscuits! Never been so close to such an amazing creature. My own reward came as I reached the wide expanse of gravel path beside Fort Gilkicker; a Wall sauntered past me on its way to who knows where? I have previously recorded a Wall here and at nearby Haslar sea-wall car park scrub; it's a pity it didn't stop for a photograph. Good to see a few more Small Copper at this site which has seen much ground disturbance as work continues on the fort project. Total: Small White (78); Red Admiral (6); Large White (3); Common Blue (M)(5)(F)(2); Green-veined White (F)(1); Small Copper (6); Wall (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Common Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Copper Photo © Francis Plowman | Large White female Photo © Francis Plowman |
Seafield Park & Promenade Field, Hill Head. My last record of the day was the best with my intention of finding Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow somewhere on the south coast finally fulfilled! From 1415-1540 during which time the temperature climbed from 20-22.5 deg C although the ENE breeze made it feel somewhat cooler I circulated the scrubby park before crossing to the field beside the promenade. In mid-Summer this field had been cutback severely, but today it was a spectacle of yellow with swathes of daisies, dandelions but mostly fleabane over which countless squadrons of whites played. Also making good use of the abundance of flora was Common Blue, even a Comma and at least two Painted Lady. While photographing one a Clouded Yellow zipped by heedless of the banquet of nectar and disappeared over the hedge, but not before I had taken three mid-air hopeful shots with one blurry success. At last, a Clouded Yellow seen along the Hampshire coast in 2024! Total: Small White (47); Large White (13); Speckled Wood (M)(3)(F)(2); Common Blue (M)(14)(F)(2); Small Copper (3); Small Heath (2); Painted Lady (2); Comma (1); Clouded Yellow (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Common Blue female Seafield Park Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady in promenade field Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady in promenade field Photo © Francis Plowman |
Stockbridge Down Butterflies. A morning visit to Stockbridge Down produced a very satisfying number of butterflies for mid September, these included 60+ Meadow Brown, 5 Small Copper (All very fresh), 6 Chalk Hill Blues (5 Male 1 Female), 4 Male Common Blue, 14 Small Heath, 15+ Red Admirals, 2 Commas and 2 Large Whites, but the highlight was a female Brown Hairstreak seen low down near the main track from the small car park. [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Brown Hairstreak (Female) Photo © Kevin Haggar | Location of Brown Hairstreak sighting Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Butterflies on Buddleia. Today there were 4 red admirals, a few small whites, a painted lady and a humming-bird hawk moth on my buddleia at various times. Sorry no photos as am unable to process them at the moment. [Posted by Sue Lambert]
Portsdown Hill, Paulsgrove. The temperature rose from a fresh 16 degrees to 18 deg C during an out-and-back walk along the top paths of Portsdown Hill from opposite Fort Widley to the start of the descent to Paulsgrove (1055-1350). Meadow Brown is still very prominent although most were females. The last of this Summer's Chalk Hill Blue were represented by just six rather jaded creatures. It was (as ever) pleasing to "rescue" butterflies from spiders and two (Meadow Brown and a male Speckled Wood) hopefully survived for another day or two! Total: Small White (30); Large White (11); Meadow Brown (137); Red Admiral (M)(6)(F)(3); Speckled Wood (M)(2)(F)(1); Green-veined White (F)(1); Chalk Hill Blue (M)(2)(F)(6); Small Heath (2); Common Blue (M)(2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Red Admiral female Photo © Francis Plowman | Chalk Hill Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood female Photo © Francis Plowman |
Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill. After a pleasant Route 66 luncheon we circulated Fort Widley's public accessible areas from 1425-1510 (18 deg C, SW breeze but mostly warm sunshine) recording nine species. Given the time of day numbers were low and it was a surprise to see a near mint condition Green-veined White (female) and a late Summer Peacock that didn't pose for the cameraman! Much of the flora has gone in the main field although Field Scabies is still prevalent. Total: Small White (9); Green-veined White (F)(1); Meadow Brown (1); Large White (2); Comma (2); Common Blue (M)(1); Speckled Wood (M)(1); Peacock (1); Holly Blue (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Green-veined White female Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue fresh male Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Chalton Down, Old Idsworth. Today I visited Chalton Down where the temperature reached 15 degrees. Very few butterflies were on the wing with a few female Chalk Hill Blues remaining. Totals: Small White 2, Chalk Hill Blue 3F, Meadow Brown 2. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Last of the summer wine at Great Fontley. My first Painted Lady of the year seen at Great Fontley this afternoon, nectaring on the irrepressible Verbena bonariensis. Also seen were Red Admiral (4), Large White (3) and Small White (4). [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
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| Painted Lady on Verbena bonariensis Photo © Andrew Brookes | Red Admiral on Verbena bonariensis Photo © Andrew Brookes |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. Eight species recorded this afternoon (1245-1450, 16-17.5 deg C) on a warm walk with hardly a breath of breeze and near constant sunshine. Perfect! Lovely to see late generation Common Blue and Small Copper, a Red Admiral egg-laying and a new female Speckled Wood among the total of 8 counted. Just one very pale and shabby Brown Argus was seen and photographed in the Butterfly Meadow. Two female Common Blue were photographed and each somewhat different in coloration so these have been included (below) for comparison along with a fresh male that doubtless they'll be fighting over soon! Total: Common Blue (M)(4)(F)(2); Small White (9); Large White (3); Speckled Wood (M)(7)(F)(1); Red Admiral (M)(3)(F)(1); Comma (2); Small Copper (5); Brown Argus (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Common Blue female Var Fb Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue female another variety ? Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Southsea Beach. After yesterday’s chill wind I took the opportunity to have a pleasant walk along Southsea seafront in glorious sunshine, even better the butterflies were flying and I clocked up a pleasing late season total of seven species. Small White were coming in off the Solent at the rate of three or four a minute, presumably from Europe, which always amazes me for such a fragile looking butterfly.
There is not much nectar available on the beach and the few Ragwort plants that still had flowers seemed to be the most popular. A solitary Painted Lady led me a merry dance and several tiny Common Blue were spotted, including a female, all about the size of a Small Blue, but best of all was my first Small Copper of the year - which sort of sums up the extremely poor season we have had. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
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| Female Common Blue Photo © Mark Tutton | First Small Copper Photo © Mark Tutton | One of many Small White Photo © Mark Tutton |
Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill. Returning to Fort Purbrook to search for the Brown Hairstreak, the temperature was 14.5 degrees. Totals: Large White 2, Small White 5, Meadow Brown 1, Red Admiral 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
St Catherine's Hill. After a week of wet and dull weather back to St Catherine's Hill. Chalk Hill Blue all but finished, over 30 Meadow Brown seen and a few Small Heath; a few Adonis Blue, one Brown Argus, one Common Blue and a Small Copper. More Large White and Small Whites than seen over most of the year at this site. [Posted by Chris Piatkiewicz]
Haslar Sea Wall Car Park Scrub - Gosport. Contrary to the local area weather forecast the morning saw much sunshine along the southern Hampshire coast. Despite the strong breeze and damp conditions the field adjacent to the sea wall car park at Haslar (near the golf club) produced sightings of five species. From 1135-1220 (15.5 deg C with warm sunny intervals) the strong WNW wind kept many butterflies in a secluded corner of the field. The area was very popular with Pieris today probably due to the proximity of private gardens. This has been a good site for Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady but the winds did not favour their arrival here today, I guess. Total: Small White (13); Large White (2); Common Blue (M)(3)(F)(1); Meadow Brown (1); Small Heath (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Meadow Brown female - the last of the many here? Photo © Francis Plowman | Large White female Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Heath Photo © Francis Plowman |
Browndown (North) Gosport. The sunny intervals continued so it was off to the Alver Valley otherwise known as Browndown (North) from 1235-1440. The temperature ended-up at 17.5 deg C and doubtless the warmth and frequent warm sunshine contributed to my recording a pleasing nine species incorporating a mating pair of Small White which specie appears to be making a welcome late season rally. Total: Small White (9); Speckled Wood (M)(8)(F)(1); Red Admiral (3); Small Heath (1); Common Blue (M)(4)(F)(1); Meadow Brown (1); Holly Blue (F)(1); Small Copper (2); Comma (3). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Holly Blue female on bell heather Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Copper (blue speck var) Photo © Francis Plowman | 2 x Common Blue males compete for a female Variety Fb Photo © Francis Plowman |
Hummingbird Hawk in Cosham. Illuminating an otherwise dismal day, I saw a Hummingbird Hawkmoth nectaring on Buddleja in Magdala Road, Cosham, at 8am; temp. was just 10 Celsius. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
West of Shipton Bellinger. West of Shipton Bellinger, bordering Wiltshire, a butterfly transect was set up some years ago to monitor Brown Hairstreak. I didn't see any Brown Hairstreaks today, but the warm afternoon sunshine produced plenty of butterflies, many of them making the most of the sunshine to take nectar. Not surprisingly, many Red Admirals were feasting on Ivy flowers along with bees and other insects. In total I saw 11 different butterfly species and 189 individual butterflies. The full list in descending order of abundance was as follows: Meadow Brown (119), Red Admiral (27), Common Blue (9), Speckled Wood (9), Large White (7), Small Heath (7), Small White (4), Green-veined White (3), Brown Argus (2), Brimstone (1), and Comma (1). Among the Common Blues was a beautiful blue-form female. The only moths seen were Vapourer (2), Light Emerald (2 - disturbed from rest), and Silver-Y (1). [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Common Blue (female - blue form) Photo © Andy Barker | Red Admiral on Ivy Photo © Andy Barker | Light Emerald Photo © Andy Barker |
Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill. Today I searched Fort Purbrook looking to find a Brown Hairstreak. With the temperature reaching 16 degrees butterflies were active. Totals: Small White 6, Holly Blue 3, Gatekeeper 1, Speckled Wood 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Browndown (South) Gosport. My first search for butterflies in September realised sightings of seven species from 1310-1500 when the forecast rain eventually brought proceedings to a premature conclusion. Initially with the temperature around 19 degrees but with low and threatening grey skies some late Summer species were noted. Two x Painted Lady were seen one of which was very sedentary as was a male Viper which was blocking a grassy path from which I made a prompt 180! No sign of the recently reported Long-tailed Blue and very little Sweet Pea was in flower to encourage it. Perhaps with some sunshine numbers may have been greater and the forecast for the next few days is pretty grim. So I had to be content with seven. Total: Large White (M)(2)(F)(1); Small White (M)(3); Small Heath (3); Painted Lady (2); Red Admiral (1); Brown Argus (1); Meadow Brown (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Large White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Moth trap in my garden at Leigh Park. I had my moth trap on overnight in my garden at Leigh Park from 1st Sept into the following morning. I caught 38 species, some of the highlights were L-album Wainscot 30, Silver Y 9, Vine's Rustic 35, Pale Mottled Willow 12, White Point 18, Setaceous Hebrew Character 7, Barred Sallow, Small Rivulet, Swallow Prominent, Bordered Pug, Oncocera semirubella, Burnished Brass, female Orange Swift, Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix, Rusty-dot Pearl, Garden Pebble 2 etc. [Posted by Barry Collins]
Portsdown Hairstreak. On my regular dog walks on Portsdown hill I have been keeping an eye open for Brown Hairstreaks. Whilst I have only seen one adult to date I know they are active because I have found a dozen or so eggs on the blackthorn stands. Today after a 90 minute excursion I had just about given up and was making my way home along an unlikely narrow path when a female landed on some clematis right in front of me. She proceeded to walk all over the foliage, carefully checking with her feet to locate the blackthorn. She stopped a couple of times to soak up some warmth spreading her wings wide in the sunshine. When she eventually located a small sprig of food plant she made her way down to a suitable fork and proceeded to lay a single egg. Quickly she flew off a short distance and repeated the exercise. I watched her for fifteen minutes or so before she flew up and away over the hedge. Given her condition she looked to be a few days old, so all being well has deposited a good number of eggs along the footpaths and hedgerows. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
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| Testing the leaves Photo © Mark Tutton | Resting in the sun Photo © Mark Tutton | Fruits of her labour Photo © Mark Tutton |