Butterfly and Moth Society
Covering Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Surrounding Areas
Butterfly and Moth Society
Covering Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Surrounding Areas
Yew Hill and its wonderful wildflowers. The wildflowers were an absolute treat this morning on Yew Hill, a profusion of colour, scent and buzzing insects. I’d estimate a 150-strong flock of starlings added to the scene. While the butterfly species count was low, those that were present were seen in reasonably good numbers. In my 90-minute visit, I encountered Brimstone (12+ individuals, four males and lots of females), Small Heath (12+), Meadow Brown (12+), Common Blue (12+, with three females), Speckled Wood (3), Painted Lady (3), Large Skipper (1). [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Fifteen species of butterflies at Magdalen Hill Down LNR. A fabulous but windy day walking the slopes of this delightful reserve that always gives. Today I spotted 15 species of butterfly with a massive 17 male Large Skippers, plus two females just on the permissive path at the bottom of the extension field. I also spotted, Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Small Blue, Small Heath, Peacock, Red Admiral, Dingy Skipper, Painted Lady, Meadow Brown and was delighted to also see a Small Tortoiseshell and a Marbled White (My #31 for 2025). There were so many Small Blues that I lost count many freshly emerged. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Newly emerged DGF. Very early DGF freshly emerged and still drying wings out on Stockbridge Down today. Not had one in May before. And right next to it - a very pink meadow grasshopper, a rare mutation of the usual green/brown form. [Posted by Catherine Hadler]
Large Skipper (female). Magdalen Hill Down LNR has quite a few Large Skipper (males) emerging at the moment so it was good to spot this female who was much easier to photograph than the males ... ... [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Balmer Lawn. To statisticians, a nil-result or low count is just as important as a bumper one; to an amateur Lepidopterist, a nil-result or low count can only bring disappointment. This morning (sunny intervals and 16C), I parked up near Balmer Lawn and spent three hours walking 5.7 miles around Pignal and Ramnor Inclosures and saw just one Pearl-bordered, one Common Blue and five Speckled Wood. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Small Tortoiseshell. After 21 months and 26 days, the first Small Tortoiseshell to be recorded in our Itchen Abbas garden finally arrived today. In the meantime we've welcomed, among others, White Admiral, Small Blue, Green Hairstreak ....... but this formerly common species has eluded us. That brings the garden total to 24 - a decent count in less than 2 years [Posted by Rupert & Sharron Broadway]
Silver-studded Blues. Pleased to spot these freshly emerged Silver-studded Blues today with Claire. We saw four near Ipley Inclosure, New Forest. The main path through the Inclosure was closed which was just as well as we found these as we skirted around area. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Two rarely visited Duke sites. Paid a visit to two rarely visited Duke of Burgundy colonies today, Harting Down just over the border in West Sussex and Stephen’s Castle Down in Hants before the weather breaks. Harting is probably at peak with only one or two looking fresh with most several days old. A very good total for this site with 39 seen - my highest I think. Even on such a large site the butterfly has a restricted range and most were in the usual places but pleasingly I found three away from the usual areas one female a bit to the west and a male and female over a couple of hundred meters away in an area with lots of Cowslips. Stephen’s Castle Down was disappointing as I could only locate one male who was quite elderly - it maybe that this site is early and I missed the boat - let’s hope so. Nice to know they are holding on though. There may have been two others but there were lots of Mother Shipton doing a good impersonation. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
Meadow Brown - Magdalen Hill Down NR. My #29 for 2025 - A freshly emerged Meadow Brown who would not come out for a photograph stayed in partial shade. In a week's time we will all be saying ‘oh no not another Meadow Brown’ but it was lovely to see my first of the year. Still lots of Common Blue, Small Blue, Adonis Blue and Brown Argus around, a few tatty Marsh Fritillary, Brimstone, Large White, Grizzled Skipper, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak, Speckled Wood and today spotted six Large Skipper on the lower slopes. There was also a few moths including; Burnet Companion, Cinnabar and Mother Shipton. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
West Down Nature Reserve. A pleasant afternoon wandering around West Down and lots of butterflies were out when the sun broke through the cloud. I spotted 12 species; Common Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Large White, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Brown Argus and a really fresh Small Tortoiseshell resting on the track so vibrant I also saw a couple of faded Pearl-bordered Fritillary have not seen these at this site before. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Jim Baldwin. We were saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Baldwin, County Moth Recorder for the Isle of Wight. Jim was a lovely man whose passion for wildlife was shared far and wide. Our thoughts are with Jim's family and friends at this difficult time. [Posted by Pete Eeles]
Martin Down Field Trip. A glorious morning and early afternoon on Martin Down, with very good butterflying (18 species), mothing and birding. On the skipper front, there seemed to be a high proportion of fresh Grizzled Skippers, including two mating pairs, and lots of blues, with Holly, Small, Common, Brown Argus and very fresh Adonis Blues, also including two mating pairs. While there were healthy numbers of Marsh Fritillary, most were on the tatty side. The Forester moth was easily seen along Bokerley Ditch and I almost had (…the one that got away!) a photo of The Forester and a Green Hairstreak in the same shot. Across the road on the opposite side of the car park, I added Speckled Wood and Comma to the list, there were more Marsh Frits and Adonis Blues and, around the pond, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser and Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Large Skipper. Have been looking for a Large Skipper for a couple of days and thank you Rupert for the location of the one you spotted on Twyford Down. Sadly I had no luck there yesterday although it was rather grey and chilly. Today on Magdalen Hill Down NR whilst photographing Small Blues out popped a stunning fresh one and happily stayed for a couple of photos before disappearing over the fence. My #28 for 2025 - 22 of which I have seen at Magdalen Hill. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Strange behaviour at The Dongas. While walking The Dongas transect (Twyford Down) this afternoon, I observed a male Large Skipper making what appeared to be serious overtures to a moth of similar size and colouration - possibly a Burnet Companion, but I couldn't been sure. After a few minutes, the latter flew off and the former posed for a picture or two. Other species noted on transect were single Small Blue (absent in 2024), Grizzled Skipper, Peacock, Painted Lady and Brown Argus: and various numbers of Red Admiral, Small White, Large White, Brimstone, Small Heath and Common Blue, the last mentioned seems to be having a particularly good spring. [Posted by Rupert Broadway]
Tugley Wood and Oaken Wood, Surrey. We visited on 16 May last year and only saw a handful of Wood Whites. All change for 2025 as Claire and I spotted at least 50 floating softly through the dappled woodland. The butterflies were mainly nectarine on Bugle and Herb Robert and there was a considerable amount of flowers in full bloom. We were serenaded by several Nightingales as the butterflies performed their delightful courtship display. We also saw a dozen Brimstone mainly females egg-laying, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Wood lots of Speckled Yellow and possibly a Pale Tussock Moth. We saw four pairs of Wood White performing their display in full sunshine before the heavens opened with thunder, lightning and hailstones quickly darkening the skies. The clever butterflies flew off to shelter but we did get rather wet walking back to our car through the fresh scented wood.… … … [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
West Wood, Winchester. Three or four Duke of Burgundy found at West Wood this morning although, as noted by others, their favoured location is becoming increasingly overgrown and shaded. Other species recorded included Brimstone, Green-veined White, Large White, Peacock, Cinnabar Moth and Silver Y. [Posted by Rupert & Sharron Broadway]
West Wood and Pitt Down. A warm and sunny morning and early afternoon in West Wood and on Pitt Down yielded a species count of 15, but with only brimstone and small heath attaining counts into double digits. Brimstone were profuse, all over the down. On Pitt Down, the hawthorn blossom was gorgeous and plentiful although other flowering plants seemed in short supply. Such generally low numbers of butterflies, with just singletons of common blue and orange-tip, only serve to indicate how much of an ‘island’ places like Magdalen Hill Down are. I saw six woodland Dukes and there was still some primrose in flower. The saplings in the clearing in West Wood are beginning to crowd out everything else. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Yew Hill walk added for 18th July. Please note that Rupert Broadway will be leading a walk at Yew Hill on 18th July, as shown on our Field Trips page. [Posted by Pete Eeles]
Deacon Hill & Twyford Down. A cold and cloudy start and Deacon Hill was very quiet apart from about six Red Admirals which was good to see. On Twyford Down when the sun came out Claire and I saw a few species of butterfly including; Grizzled Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Small Heath, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone and a freshly emerged Common Blue as well as our first Painted Lady of the Year. This was My UK #26 for 2025, the same period last year and I had only seen 15! Sadly we did not get a photo of the PL as it quickly swooped over our heads and disappeared into one of the deep ancient ‘dongas’ trackways. We also saw several Mint Moths, a Burnet Companion and a cluster of caterpillars which my App said were Spindle Ermine. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Butterflying to the soundtrack of Turtle Doves. First of all, Ashley, we hope you are feeling better soon. There were half a dozen people who hadn’t seen your fieldtrip cancellation post. Generally, for most of the time I was there, for the butterflies that were out it was a wings-folded, clinging-on sort of day. There was a distinctly chilly breeze, gusty at times, but in the combe bottom the temperature did reach 13C. Small Heath was being blown around in very good numbers – easily the most numerous butterfly of the morning. I stop counting individuals beyond 12 sightings, and so I had Common Blue 12+, Dingy Skipper 12+, Grizzled Skipper 8, Duke of Burgundy 6, Green Hairstreak 4 – including two duelling around what regular Butser field trippers will know as the Green Hairstreak Hawthorn – Brown Argus 2, Orange-tip 1, Burnet Companion 2, and what I think were Speckled Yellow, 3. All the while in the combe bottom, a Turtle Dove was calling, which was lovely to hear and a great butterflying soundtrack. [Posted by Kevin Freeborn]
Duke of Burgundy. Spotted about six Duke of Burgundy at Stockbridge Down [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Small Blue. Spotted a few groups of Small Blue at Magdalen Hill Down NR on the lower slopes. The very warm sunshine brought out lots of butterflies including, Adonis Blue, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Marsh Fritillary, Small Heath, Green Hairstreak, Large White and Brimstone. Also seen Burnet Companion, Mint Moth, Mother Shipton, Common Carpet and Cinnabar. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Adonis Blue. It was amazing to see so many mating Adonis Blues at Magdalen Hill Down NR - I must have seen around six mating pairs and as many males still searching for females. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
Glanville Fritillary - Compton Down, Dorset. You won’t get much fresher than this - Nic, Claire and I watched this stunning Glanville Fritillary for ages slowly drying its wings in the warm sunshine. It was constantly curling and uncurling its proboscis tasting the air ..… We never did see it take off but it sure was a beautiful moment. [Posted by Sheila Anne Williams]
