Butterfly Diary
-
field notes by Adrian Hoskins
note :
earliest
sightings of each brood are in bold type
2012
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jly
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
October
Sunday 27th October
Despite the cold
wind there were several butterfly sightings reported from southern
England today. Most reports were of singletons, but an observer in
Hampshire managed to record an impressive total of 3 Commas, 6
Speckled Woods and 29 Red Admirals, all seen in and around
Gosport.
Thursday 25th October
Cold, dull and
windy weather across Britain this week has kept butterfly sightings
minimal - the only reports I've heard have been from Sussex where
a Small White and a Speckled Wood were seen at Newhaven and
Edburton respectively yesterday, and a Red Admiral
was seen at Southwick today.
Wednesday 17th October
Cooler weather is
now reducing the number of butterfly sightings although Red
Admirals, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and Commas are still
being seen in single figures at many sites in the southern
counties. There have also been a few records of Speckled Woods
e.g. from Fareham in Hampshire. Large Whites ( adults and
larvae ) were reported from Buckingham. The most surprising record
of the day came from Gosport in Hampshire where 3 freshly emerged
Holly Blues were seen.
Sunday 14th October
Another warm and
sunny day brought several interesting reports. Red Admirals
continue to be seen in excellent numbers e.g. in Sussex 14 were
seen at Birling Gap and 26 at Thorney Island. The best count was
of 51, seen fuelling up in preparation for the winter on ivy at
Crowlink Hamlet. Peacocks, Commas, Speckled Woods and Small Whites
were all reported in low numbers from sites in Sussex and
Hampshire. There was also a report of a Painted Lady, a Brown
Argus and 2 Meadow Browns at Horseshoe Plantation in Sussex.
Clouded Yellows were seen at 2 sites - Southbourne Undercliff and
Paulsgrove, both in Hampshire. Additionally there were several
reports of pristine Small Coppers at coastal sites - e.g. 3 at
Lymington in Hampshire, and 11 at Thorney Island in Sussex.
Sunday 7th October
A glorious warm sunny
weekend led to numerous butterfly sightings on the south coast of
England. On a walk
between Kithurst Hill and Barpham Hill e.g. a couple of members of the
Sussex branch of Butterfly Conservation counted 10 Small Whites,
18 Red Admirals, 12 Commas and a Peacock. At Shoreham another
observer saw 15 Red Admirals, a Comma, a Brimstone, 3 pristine
Small Coppers and 7 Large Whites. There have been no reports yet
of 3rd brood Wall Browns although these are a distinct possibility
in the next few days.
Thursday 4th October
In Hampshire
today 14 Red Admirals were seen nectaring on michaelmas
daisies at Froxfield. Other records included a Holly Blue and 2
Small Whites at Portsmouth. In Sussex a
Brown Hairstreak was seen at Pulborough Brooks, and there was a report of 5 Commas, 38
Red Admirals and 25 Small Whites counted during a coastal walk
between Kithurst Hill and the Burgh.
Monday 1st October
Commas continued
to appear in high numbers today - one observer recorded an amazing
53 adults at Rushbeds Wood in Bucks, and also saw 3 Red Admirals,
2 Speckled Woods and a Brimstone.
Comma
Polygonia c-album Steyning, West
Sussex ©
Adrian Hoskins
|
