Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
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Small tortoiseshells in decent numbers at St Clair’s Meadow Soberton. I walked the transect at St Clair’s Meadow Soberton this morning for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It was sunny but quite windy, and the wind had a chill to it. I saw 6 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks. They were all appearing out of the grass and undergrowth as it warmed up. There were a few distant whites across the other side of the river, but no Orange tips were seen. The cuckoo flower is out so hopefully they will be around shortly. It is still quite wet and muddy in places- wellies are still a good idea! [Posted by Claire Hartt-Palmer]
First home moth trap of the year. First home trap of the year, in Weeke, Winchester. 3 Common Quaker, 1 Nut-tree Tussock, 1 very smart Hebrew Character and a Double-striped Pug. [Posted by Lee Hurrell]
Green-veined White - my first emerged butterfly of 2025. A seven mile walk around the village of Mapledurwell yielded 5 Green-veined White, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Peacock, 4 Comma and 3 Brimstone. [Posted by Lee Hurrell]
Visit to Noar Hill. I visited Noar Hill today from around 11.30 to 14.30. Although it was pleasantly warm in the chalk pits, which were sheltered from the breeze, it was half an hour before I saw my first butterfly - a female Brimstone. There is a good spread of violets and the cowslips are coming into flower. During my visit I saw: Brimstone: 12+ Peacock: 6+ Comma: 1 Holly Blue: 1 Orange-tip: 1 Speckled Wood: 1 And half-a-dozen whites (unidentified) [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
First Small Tortoiseshell. Given the scarcity of Small Tortoiseshells in 2024 I was both relieved and pleased to see my first of 2025 on a footpath through farmland at Itchen Down this morning - hopefully they will enjoy a better year. On returning home, my first Holly Blue of the year turned up in the garden, in addition to Brimstone, Peacock and Green-veined White. [Posted by Rupert Broadway]
Small Tortoiseshell out of hibernation. The hibernating Small Tortoiseshell in my garage (present on Tuesday, 1st April), has by this evening, (Friday, 4th April), left its overwintering site and flown. Fitting on the warmest couple of days so far this year. [Posted by Lee Hurrell]
Hillier Gardens, Braishfield. Plenty of butterflies enjoying the sunshine and plentiful nectar sources at the Hillier Gardens, Braishfield today including Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Orange-tip, Comma, Peacock and Speckled Wood. Sadly, no Small Tortoiseshell and curiously no Holly Blue in what would appear to be ideal habitat [Posted by Rupert Broadway]
HOS Presentation. I was delighted to be asked to present at the Annual Meeting of the Hampshire Ornithological Society, where I spoke on 'The Hidden World of Hampshire's Butterflies'. With approximately 430 attendees, it was one of the more significant events I've had the pleasure to support. [Posted by Peter Eeles]
