December
27th: A Red Admiral was seen again in a Duston garden, probably the same one as on 22nd.
22nd: A Red Admiral was flying in a garden in Duston.
November
24th: A Red Admiral was flying at Grendon Lakes.
18th: Two Red Admirals were in a garden in Great Billing.
13th: Red Admirals were seen in gardens in Northampton and Great Billing and a Brimstone was flying at Summer Leys.
6th: A Small Tortoiseshell was recorded at Cottesbrooke.
4th: Two Red Admirals were at Stanwick Lakes.
October
29th: 2 Red Admirals and a Small Tortoiseshell were in a garden in Great Billing.
25th: A Red Admiral was in Duston Wildes.
21st: Three Red Admirals and a Small Copper were on the wing at Pitsford Reservoir.
17th: A Red Admiral was seen at Harrington disused airfield.
16th: A Red Admiral was at Fermyn Woods Country Park. In a garden in Brackley a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was flying. A Small White and a Red Admiral were spotted in St. Crispins, Northampton.
15th: Three Red Admirals were on ivy in the car park at Sywell Country Park. At Twywell hils and Dales were two Brimstones, two Small Whites, two Common Blues and two Red Admirals .
13th: Five Red Admirals were in a West Hunsbury garden.
2nd: Eleven Small Coppers were in Bradlaugh Fields, mostly egg-laying; a number of eggs -
were
found.
Also present were a Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and 2 Small Heaths. A Small Copper , 2 Red Admirals, 5 Commas and 5 Speckled Woods were seen in Fermyn Woods.
1st: Flying in Fermyn Woods, on the warmest October day on record, were a Peacock, 4 Red Admirals, 3 Commas and 6 Speckled Woods. A search for Purple Emperor larvae proved fruitless, but, on lower branches of an elm cut down by the Forestry Commission, a number of eggs of White-letter Hairstreak were found and “rescued” -
.
September
29th: In part of the private Yardley Chase, a Brimstone, Comma, Red Admiral and 5 Speckled Woods were on the wing. A Small White, 9 Red Admirals, 2 Commas and a Speckled Wood were around ivy near Cogenhoe church.
28th: Two Small Coppers, a Red Admiral, two Commas and a Small Tortoiseshell were seen at Sywell Country Park near the dam.
27th: A clump of ivy at Brixworth Country Park yielded ten Red Admirals, a Comma and 4 Speckled Woods.
25th: Round Stanwick Lakes, thirteen Commas were recorded. All were on brambles apart from one which turned out to be the aberrant form obscura -
.
Green-veined
White
, Small Copper, Brown Argus,
Red Admiral and five Speckled Woods were also
seen. The final count of the year on the Twywell transect yielded few butterflies
– a Small Copper, a Brown Argus, 2
Common
Blues
and 4 Small Heaths.
23rd: At Finedon Country Park and Callybanks were 2 Small Whites, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Comma, 13 Red Admirals and 4 Speckled Woods. Around ivy in Great Doddington churchyard, a Large White, 8 Red Admirals, 3 Commas and a Speckled Wood were seen.
22nd: Ten Small Coppers, two Red Admirals and fifteen Speckled Woods were on the wing in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase.
19th: Eleven Small Coppers, two Commas and a Green-veined White were on the wing in Harlestone Firs. Around the ivy in the Boughton church ruins were eight Red Admirals, two Commas , a Speckled Wood and several Whites.
18th: Two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen in Earl’s Barton, after a single sighting the previous day. (Photos by Adrian Green) -
and
16th: A Clouded Yellow was seen near Cold Oak Copse, near Yardley Hastings.
On the Twywell Whitestones transect, 20 Small Heaths were counted, but other species were in short supply – 2 Speckled Woods and singles of Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue , Small Copper and Meadow Brown. In Wellingborough, a Large White, 2 Speckled Woods, a Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone were seen.
14th: A fresh Holly Blue at Storton’s Gravel Pits was probably a third brood individual. Also present were 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites, a Common Blue, 2 Commas, a Red Admiral, Painted Lady, 2 Commas, 6 Speckled Woods and a late Meadow Brown.
13th: Seven species were recorded at Summer Leys – 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Coppers, a Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Comma, 2 Speckled Woods and a Small Heath.
9th: Two pristine Red Admirals
and around five Commas
were
found on a clump of hemp agromony on the banks of the Grand union canal at Whilton
Locks . A Small Tortioseshell was also seen at the nearby garden centre.
2nd: Few butterflies of most species were counted on the Twywell Whitestones transect, except for Small Heaths, of which a record 37 were recorded, plus 14 elsewhere on the site.
1st: In and around Weekley Hall Wood, eleven species were recorded, including 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blues, a Painted Lady and 2 Small Heaths.
August
30th: On Harrington disused airfield were 7 Common Blues, a Brown Argus and 2 Small Heaths.
29th: On a cool day at Thrapston Gravel Pits, a single Brown Argus and a Painted Lady were recorded.
A Green-veined White and a Speckled Wood spotted on a path in the Rushmere area of Northampton.
27th: Holly Blue and Red Admiral were seen in London Road cemetery, Kettering.
24th: Eighty-seven Small Heaths were counted at Bradlaugh Fields. Many were nectaring on scabious flowers and two pairs were found “in cop”. Also of note were 7 Common Blues, 7 Brown Argus, 3 Small Coppers, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Painted Lady .
22nd: In the Silverstone Woods, few key species were to be found. Notable were 5 Brown Argus and 5 Small Tortoiseshells in Wicken Wood, a male Silver-washed Fritillary in Hazelborough Forest and a Holly Blue in Bucknell Wood.
21st: In the grasslands between King’s Cliffe and Apethorpe in the very north of the county were sixty Small Heaths, 10 Common Blues, 4 Brown Argus and 2 Small Coppers.
20th: At Summer Leys were two Small Heaths, rare now at this site, and a Small Tortoiseshell. There were also 5 Small Tortoiseshells on the dam at Sywell Country Park. Seven Brown Argus and a Small Copper were noteworthy among species in Whistley Wood.
19th: Two second brood Wood Whites and a Painted Lady were flying with more common species in Sywell Wood. On the Whitestones transect at Twywell were 26 Common Blues, 6 Brown Argus, 3 Small Coppers and 19 Small Heaths. Despite extensive searching, no Dingy Skippers were found.
15th: The Dingy Skippers were still present at Twywell Hills and Dales, along with a Painted Lady.
14th:Six x Dingy Skippers were counted on the Whitestone transect at Twywell. All previous records of the rarely seen second brood of this species in the county have consisted of a single butterfly at a time.
11th: In less than ideal conditions on the Yardley Chase MOD site were Essex Skipper and four Wood Whites, another new location for the second brood.
8th: A few Purple Hairstreaks and a single second brood Wood White were still on the wing in Salcey Forest.
5th: The Whitestones area transect count at Twywell included a second brood Dingy Skipper
for the second
successive year, the first time this has occurred in the county. Gatekeepers
were numerous (80) and there was a fresh emergence of Small Heaths
(11).
3rd: Ten second brood Wood Whites were seen in and around Sywell Wood, including two on the bridleway from Sywell, a possible new site. Fifteen Silver-washed Fritillaries were still on the wing at Wakerley Wood.
2nd: Five second brood Wood Whites were recorded in Salcey Forest. Also of note there were 30+ Common Blues and 3 Purple Hairstreaks. Around Sywell Country Park, key species were 8 Small Coppers, 5 Brown Argus, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, Holly Blue and Small Tortoiseshell.
1st: In the south of the county, in Hazelborough South Block were 7 second brood Wood Whites, 3 Holly Blues and Purple Hairstreak. A female Wood White was seen to lay on Tufted Vetch, the third foodplant recorded in the county for this species this year. In Hazelborough Main Block, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 10 Brimstones and a Purple Hairstreak were noteworthy. Bucknell Wood had 19 species, including 2 second brood Wood Whites, Silver-washed Fritillary (female), Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue and Small Tortoiseshell.
July
31st: Six second brood Wood Whites and an Essex Skipper were among butterflies in Sywell Wood. A guided butterfly walk at Summer Leys took in sixteen species, with good numbers of Small Coppers and Brown Argus , a Holly Blue and a Small Tortoiseshell.
28th: In a layby off the A43 near Stamford, just in the county, 3 White-letter Hairstreaks and a Purple Hairstreak were observed, along with a Comma. Nineteen species in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate, included 4 second brood Wood Whites, 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 20+ Purple Hairstreaks. 2 Silver-washed Fritillary females were seen in Wakerley Wood.
27th: Marbled White was still on the wing at a new site near Daventry.
25th: A Clouded Yellow was reported from Salcey Forest, and, in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase, were a second brood Wood White, Silver-washed Fritillary, several Purple Hairstreaks and ten Brown Argus, along with a number of more common species.
Twenty-one species were present during recording in three sections of Yardley Chase (private) – the rides have abundant hemp agrimony in flower, attracting large numbers of Peacocks (a very encouraging 133 counted) and Red Admirals (47). Also of note were five second brood Wood Whites, ten Purple Hairstreaks , a White-letter Hairstreak, a Silver-washed Fritillary , a Painted Lady and four Holly Blues. A notable absentee, a at Fineshade, was White Admiral, very low in numbers this year.
24th: Essex Skipper was recorded on the Twywell Whitestones transect. The only “brown” butterfly which was numerous there was Gatekeeper, with 61 counted. Those who attended the RSPB Butterfly Walk at Fineshade Wood were rewarded with good views of White-letter Hairstreak (4), Purple Hairstreak (2) and Silver-washed Fritillary (10, including two separate pairs in their splendid courtship flight) Seventeen species were seen in total. Four White Admirals and six Purple Hairstreaks were of note in Fermyn Wood, with no Purple Emperors seen.
23rd: Essex Skipper and Purple Hairstreak were in a wood near Lowick.
22nd: Three second brood Wood Whites were seen in Salcey Forest, plus three Silver-washed Fritillaries, a dozen Purple Hairstreaks, a White-letter Hairstreak and three White Admirals.
21st: In part of Yardley Chase (private site), fifteen species were seen, notably Essex Skipper, Purple Hairstreaks and, briefly, a Purple Emperor.
19th: Fifteen species were seen at Summer Leys, in less than ideal conditions, including Essex Skipper, 15 Brown Argus, 6 Common Blues, Small Copper, 12 Red Admirals and a Marbled White .
A female Purple Hairstreak was spotted in the wood behind the Wyevale Garden Centre in Harlestone
17th: A Purple Hairstreak was seen in a Polebrook garden, part of recording for the BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT. A Comma and a Red Admiral in a New Duston garden.
15th: 10+ Silver-washed Fritillaries and 4 White Admirals were recorded in Wakerley Wood, which is now open to the public again, having been closed for forest operations. Nineteen species in total were found over the whole Twywell Hills and Dales site, including a dozen Marbled Whites and Brown Argus, 8 fresh male Common Blues, a Small Copper, a Holly Blue, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Small Heaths.
14th: A White-letter Hairstreak settled on the windscreen of a car beeing driven in the High Street in Wellingborough, hitching a lift around the one-way system before returning whence it came.
A Holly Blue was seen at Northampton Golf Club and in Newton Bromswold , the latter with a Painted Lady. Two Holly Blues were also at Barton Seagrave. In a wood on the private Kelmarsh estate, male and female Silver-washed Fritillary were flying, along with Purple Hairstreak.
13th: Five Small Coppers were noteworthy at Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve A dozen of both Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks were flying in Wicksteed Park.
12th: In part of the private Yardley Chase a Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 White Admirals, several Purple Hairstreaks, 2 White-letter Hairstreaks and 2 Small Coppers were present.
11th: Six Purple Emperors were observed in Fermyn Wood, with Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary among other species on the wing. 12 Essex Skippers, 3 Marbled Whites, 2 Small Heath and a Small Copper were seen in Bradlaugh Fields.
10th: Marbled White was reported from a new site near Upton. A Silver-washed Fritillary was noted at Short Wood, near Oundle, a further two at Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase and three more in each of Hazelborough Forest and Bucknell Wood. Also at Bucknell was a female Purple Emperor , White Admiral and several Purple Hairstreaks. Seven newly-emerged male Brown Argus and a Small Copper were recorded at Abington Meadow, Northampton, the newest reserve acquired by the County Wildlife Trust.
9th: Two Purple Emperors were flying in Wicken Wood.
Notable at Twywell Hills and Dales on the Whitestones transect route were 25 Marbled Whites , which included three mating pairs, and half a dozen newly-emerged second brood Brown Argus.
7th: Purple Emperors were seen in two different sections of Yardley Chase (private site), with White Admiral, a number of Purple Hairstreaks and an Essex Skipper also in one of them.
6th: Visits to two different sections of Yardley Chase (private site) yielded 3 White-letter Hairstreaks, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
5th: Among eighteen species in Bucknell Wood today were 3 Purple Emperors, 3 White Admirals, 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak (the White-letter a first site record), a Wood White and a Marbled White. It is rare to see this array of species at the same time at one site. In Hazelborough Forest, 10 White Admirals, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, a Wood White and a newly-emerged Brimstone were on the wing. Both Wood Whites seen were first-brood specimens. Purple Emperors, White Admirals, Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks and Silver-washed Fritillary were all again providing good views and photographic opportunities at Fermyn.
4th: 8 Marbled Whites were seen at Bradlaugh Fields, where the first Essex Skipper of the year was also identified. The form valezina of the Silver-washed Fritillary was reported from Glapthorn Cow Pasture.
Eighteen species recorded in Fermyn Woods included 10 Purple Emperors (females more in evidence with two on the ground, a rare sight), White Admirals (including aberration obliterae), White-letter Hairstreak egglaying, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary, a fresh Peacock and a Marbled White. Purple Emperor was seen again in Salcey Forest.
3rd: Two Purple Emperors were seen in Salcey Forest at different locations either end of the wood, the first record of this species shere for over half a century. Good numbers of Marbled Whites have been seen on the Bozeat bypass.
8 Marbled Whites were seen near Wellingborough and 2 Gatekeepers, along with 10 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Red Admirals, on a bridleway near Denton.
2nd: Both Purple and White-letter Hairstreak have been seen in Wicksteed Park and in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate. 3 Gatekeepers were noted in Lowick and upto 30 Purple Emperors around Fermyn Woods, including several females egglaying. A Holly Blue was in Barton Seagrave.
1st: The aberrant Purple Emperor was again noted at Fermyn Wood and the species was observed egglaying. Counts on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect were disappointing (24 Marbled Whites, 18 Meadow Browns, 30 Ringlets) but included the first Gatekeeper of the year. A second brood Holly Blue was in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton.
June
30th: 30+ Purple Emperors in Fermyn Wood again included the aberrant form. A Purple Hairstreak was seen in Yardley Chase (private).
29th: Purple Emperors in Fermyn Wood included an aberrant specimen (for further details visit www.thepurpleempire.com
27th: A Marbled White was at Ringstead Gravel Pits.
26th: 6 Purple Emperors, good numbers of White-letter Hairstreaks, some Purple Hairstreaks and White Admirals were in Fermyn Wood. 5 White Admirals were in Yardley Chase (private). A second brood Holly Blue was in a Duston garden.
25th: Counts on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect included 33 Marbled Whites, 31 Meadow Browns, 16 Ringlets and 27 Small Heath .
24th: In Fermyn Wood were 3 Purple Emperors, 5+ Purple Hairstreaks, dozens of Commas and 6 Red Admirals. 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in Fineshade Wood.
23rd: Two White Admirals and a Wood White were recorded in a privately-owned wood near Horton. The first Purple Emperor was recorded in Fermyn Wood.
22nd: White-letter and Purple Hairstreak were both found in part of Yardley Chase private woodland.
21st: 10+ Marbled Whites were counted at Ring Haw and 30+ at Twywell Hills and Dales. A Silver-washed Fritillary was again flying at Lowick.
20th: A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in Fineshade Wood. A White Admiral was seen in Bucknell Wood, along with thirteen Wood Whites . Twenty-six Marbled Whites and four Small Tortoiseshells were counted on a railway embankment near Brackley. At Twywell Hills and Dales, in the Whitestones area, with a number of Marbled Whites and Small Tortoiseshells and a Grizzled Skipper, an unidentified large fritillary was seen flying around the car park. Five Marbled Whites were seen near the canal at Blisworth.
19th: During our field trip to Glapthorn Cow Pastures, seven Black Hairstreaks were found, some still in pristine condition on Day 23 of this year’s flight period. Egglaying was observed. Also of note were a late Holly Blue and a Red Admiral. A Grizzled Skipper was still on the wing in nearby Fermyn Woods Country Park. Three Wood Whites were reported from Salcey Forest and a dozen Marbled Whites from Twywell Hills and Dales.
18th: A female Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in a wood near Lowick.
15th: A dozen Marbled Whites were flying along a railway embankment near Rothersthorpe, a new site for this species. A Marbled White was also on the wing at Summer Leys, along with several Small Skippers and two Small Tortoiseshells.
14th: Surveys of two woods in the Brigstock area produced sightings of 5 Black Hairstreaks and a White-letter Hairstreak, as well as several newly-hatched Commas, a Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell , Ringlet and a late Holly Blue. At least 7 Black Hairstreaks were on the wing at Glapthorn, along with a male Silver-washed Fritillary. 12 Wood Whites were recorded in the north-east of Salcey Forest.
12th: A Marbled White was seen at Ring Haw, Old Sulehay.
11th: Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak were both seen at Glapthorn Cow Pastures, along with a few Black Hairstreaks.
At Stanwick Lakes, newly-emerged Small Skippers (2)
,
Small Tortoiseshells (7) and a
hutchninsonii
Comma were on the wing , along with last year's Brimstone
and Peacock. Thirty plus Wood Whites and a
White Admiral
were
reported from Hazelborough Forest.
10th: Notable in Fineshade Wood today were the first White-letter Hairstreak of the year and a newly-emerged Small Tortoiseshel l.
9th: Sixteen Black Hairstreaks were reported from an hour's afternoon visit to Glapthorn Cow Pastures, many of them still looking fresh.
7th The first Ringlet of the year was seen in Towcester.
5th: On our joint field meeting at Salcey Forest with the Lincolnshire branch, participants and Wood Whites both numbered twenty. Other species seen before the weather closed in were Large Skipper, Large and Green-veined Whites, Common Blue, Holly Blue , Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper , Red Admiral and a number of Speckled Woods. Several Orange-tip and Comma larvae were also located.
7 Large Skippers patrolling the hedgerow
, 1 Peacock,
5 Small Tortoiseshell and a Speckled Wood were seen in the area behind
Wyevale garden centre at Harlestone along with a Yellow Shell moth
3rd: A dozen Black Hairstreaks were seen in an hour's visit to Glapthorn Cow Pastures. Four more were found at Fermyn Woods Country Park in the thicket above the quarry area, three in an area cleared by our winter work party last October, and one nectaring in the new glade we created in March
.
Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak
and Brown Argus were still present, but are now nearly at their
end. Two White-letter Hairstreak pupae were seen in nearby Cherry
Lap.
2nd: Two different observers reported two dozen Black Hairstreaks flying at Glapthorn Cow Pasture. The first was seen on 28th May, the earliest Northants emergence date by some days. Ten Wood Whites were in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate. Eggs were being laid on bird's-foot trefoil; meadow vetchling is the usual foodplant in Northants.
1st: A Brimstone moth was flying at 10pm in a Duston Garden.
The first Small Heath was seen at Summer Leys.
The Spring species are coming to an end at Twywell, on the Whitestones transect, with only 3 Dingy Skippers, 4 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper and 16 Common Blues being counted, though 13 Small Heaths were present, and Meadow Brown made its first appearance of the year.
May
26th: Several Brown Argus were found along a public footpath near Barton Seagrave. On a cloudy morning with heavy showers, 2 Grizzled Skippers and a Wood White were found roosting on the Yardley Chase MOD site. 23 Common Blues and 9 Speckled Woods were the only other species seen.
25th: Thirty-two Wood Whites were counted in Salcey Forest. Surveys of site in the north of the county brought some interesting sightings of key species: King’s Cliffe old station site: Dingy Skipper, 3 Grizzled Skippers (plus an egg on creeping cinquefoil)) and Small Heath. Collyweston Deeps: Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Small Heath, on a site looking very bare after grazing by a large rabbit population and winter stock, plus recent dry weather. Wakerley disused airfield: 7 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Green Hairstreaks, Brown Argus, Small Copper (egglaying on dock) and 12 Small Heaths.
24th: In windy conditions at Bradlaugh Fields, butterflies were hard to find, Large Skipper , 2 Brown Argus and 9 Small Heaths being the pick of those present.
22nd: Good numbers of Wood Whites were reported from Hazelborough Forest, as well as a couple of Brimstones and three Large Skippers.
21st: The Twywell Whitestones transect count today yielded 4 Large Skippers, 16 Dingy Skippers, 5 Grizzled Skippers, 7 Green Hairstreaks , 2 Small Coppers, 7 Brown Argus, 46 Common Blues and 11 Small Heaths. Counts of Wood Whites in three separate sections of Yardley Chase (private woodland) were 13, 18 and 26 respectively. 2 Large Skippers were also seen there. Large Skipper was on the wing at Aldwinkle.
20th: Dingy Skipper was seen in a wood near Southwick, a new site, and Brown Argus was in a meadow near Wadenhoe Mill.
Thirty-six Wood Whites were counted in Wicken Wood.
Forty-three Wood Whites were counted in Bucknell Wood.
Fifty Wood Whites were in Sywell Wood, with courtship and egglaying observed. Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath were also present.
19th: The first Large Skipper of the season was seen in Towcester, the second earliest date for this species in the county.
Ninety Wood Whites were seen in the southern half of Salcey Forest, half of them roosting, but some courting, mating and egglaying. A further thirty-six were counted in the Olney Lane End section of Yardley Chase (private woodland).
17th: Eleven species recorded at Ring Haw included 16 Grizzled Skippers, 10 Dingy Skippers, 21 Brown Argus, 52 Common Blues , Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Holly Blue and Small Heath. while at nearby Old Sulehay Stonepit Quarry were 4 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Dingy Skippers, 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blues and a Small Heath. At both sites, the majority of the butterflies were roosting on teasels, dead knapweed heads and the heads of wild marjoram.
14th: Around a hundred Brown Argus were recorded in grassland between Aldwinkle and Thorpe Waterville and a Grizzled Skipper was noted at a new site near Thorpe Waterville. Despite the cooler conditions, participants in our guided walks at the Fermyn Woods Country Park Butterfly Day had good views of Green Hairstreaks, Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Common Blues and Brown Argus.
13th: In a quarry near Weekley, 6 Dingy Skippers, 3 Grizzled Skippers , an egglaying Green Hairstreak, 10 Common Blues and 10 Small Heaths were noteworthy.
12th: 20+ Brown Argus seen in an old sandpit near Grendon included two mating pairs. Three Red Admirals were also there.
10th: Counts of Wood Whites in the Silverstone Woods today were 16 in Hazelborough Forest South Block (including a mating pair)
, 18 in Hazelborough
Main Block and 27 in Bucknell Wood.
9th: Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, several Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Heath were on a disused railway line near Stanion, and a Dingy Skipper at Prior’s Hall near Weldon.
Dingy Skipper was recorded in a new site near Stanion.
A walk around the perimeter of Salcey Forest yielded forty-seven Wood Whites, in two main areas, i.e. the rides near Piddington Lodge and on the main track between the Conservation Car Park and the ranger's cottage. Egglaying was observed. Good numbers of Orange-tips and Large Whites were also present.
8th: Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue all appeared for the first time this year at Summer Leys.
7th: The Twywell Whitestone transect count today recorded 42 Dingy skippers, 23 Grizzled Skippers, 13 Green Hairstreaks, 8 Brown Argus, 20 Common Blues and 7 Small Heath.
5th: 5 Dingy Skippers, 9 Grizzled Skippers, 9 Brown Argus , 2 Orange-tips and a Brimstone were on the wing on Polebrook airfield.
9 Wood Whites and a Dingy Skipper were seen in Sywell Wood, the latter a first site record.
4th: Two White-letter Hairstreak larvae were found during a botanical survey in Daventry, a new site for this species. At Polebrook Airfield, 5 Dingy Skippers , 9 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Common Blues, 9 Brown Argus and a Brimstone were flying.
3rd: Seven Wood Whites and two Brown Argus were among species recorded in Yardley Chase. Common Blue and Small Copper were among species on the wing at Storton's Pits.
1st: The Twywell Whitestones transect count yielded an astounding 49 Green Hairstreaks, 42 Dingy Skippers, 30 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Small Coppers, 2 Brown Argus , Common Blue and Small Heath plus five other species.
Ten Wood Whites, Common Blue and Brown Argus were seen in Salcey Forest. A further fifteen were located in Wicken Wood on a site visit by recorders from Northants and Upper Thames Branches, accompanied by Butterfly Conservation chairman, Maurice Avent. The wood, straddling the boundary between our two branches, has recently been sold by the Forestry Commission to new owners, with whom we hope to establish a successful management regime for this key species.
April
Twenty species have been recorded this month, well in excess of the normal total.
30th: Among species seen at Old Sulehay were 5+ Dingy Skippers, a Grizzled Skipper, Small Copper and a Brown Argus .
Eighteen Wood Whites were seen in Sywell Wood, with some courtship observed
,
and a further three were flying along the edge of nearby Hardwick Wood. At Twywell
Hills and Dales were 11 Grizzled and 19 Dingy Skippers,
9 Green hairstreaks, 2 Small Coppers and a
Common Blue
with more common species.
29th: Five Wood Whites were seen in Sywell Wood.
28th: Common Blue and Brown Argus were on the wing in Bozeat Quarry.
27th: Eight Wood Whites were among species recorded in Sywell Wood today.
25th: Green Hairstreaks were present all over the Whitestones area at Twywell, estimated at least forty in number, with rapidly increasing numbers of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers. In total, 13 species were present, including Holly Blue, egglaying Red Admiral and, first seen by Elliott and Toby Ludlow of the Lincolnshire Branch, the earliest county records for Brown Argus and Small Heath. Three Wood Whites were reported from Hazelborough Forest, the first time this species has been seen in Northants before May.
24th: At Fermyn Woods Country Park, 27 Green Hairstreaks were counted, along with 16 Grizzled Skippers and 3 Dingy Skippers.
At Twywell we saw 10+ Green Hairstreaks – some in hawthorn and some on the ground on trefoil. 10+ Dingy Skippers including a mating pair
and several Grizzled Skippers.
23rd: Twelve Green Hairstreaks counted on the Twywell Whitestones transect is the highest ever on this route. Three Small Coppers were again present. A Small Copper was among species on the wing in a Woodford Halse garden.
22nd: 10 Grizzled Skippers, 6 Dingy Skippers, 10 Green Hairstreaks and 3 Small Coppers were among species at Twywell.
21st: 7 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Dingy Skippers and 5 Green Hairstreaks were seen at Twywell. 9 Green Hairstreaks and 5 Grizzled Skippers were to be found in the quarry area of Fermyn Woods Country Park.
20th: At Twywell Hills and Dales were 4 Green Hairstreaks, 5 Grizzled Skippers and 2 Dingy Skippers .
17th: 107 Orange-tip were counted in the Silverstone Woods complex today, along with small numbers of other species. Six Holly Blues were found at Storton’s Pits, Northampton, and four at Sywell Country Park, at each site with seven other species.
16th: Two Green Hairstreaks were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales, and a single at Fermyn Woods Country Park, the earliest emergence date recorded for this species in the county.
11th: An impressive eight species were to be found in Great Doddington churchyard: Brimstone, Large and Small White, Orange-tip, six Holly Blues, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and two Speckled Woods. At Summer Leys were 10 Brimstones, 8 Orange-tip, 2 Small Whites, 3 Green-veined Whites , Holly Blue, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell .
10th: Holly Blues continue to be widely reported, with further records from Cogenhoe and London Road cemetery, Kettering.
9th: Notable today were several Orange-tips, 20+ Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Peacocks, 2 Speckled Woods, 3 Brimstones, 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites and 15 Holly Blues in Wicksteed Park, Kettering, and 5 Holly Blues and a Red Admiral in a Barton Seagrave garden. Nine Holly Blues were in Abington Park, Northampton, along with Orange-tip and Speckled Wood .
8th: Both Holly Blue (in Weston Favell cemetery) and Orange-tip (Brackmills disused railway line) were seen laying eggs today.
10th: Two Holly Blues and a male Orange Tip spotted in a New Duston garden. Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacocks and Small White spotted on a walk round New Duston.
9th: At Twywell: Brimstones, male Orange Tips, several Small Tortosieshells and a Peacock.
6th: A warm, sunny day brought numerous records:
The River Nene, Higham Ferrers: 9 Brimstones, 17 Orange-tips, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Peacocks and a Comma
Lowick: Green-veined White, Orange-tip, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood
Twywell Hills and Dales: A very early Painted Lady
nectaring
on damson blossoms, Orange-tip, Brimstones,
Small Tortoiseshells
, Peacocks and Commas
Barton Seagrave: 2 Holly Blues, Brimstone
Burton Latimer Pocket Park: Large White, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma
Bradlaugh Fields, Northampton: 2 Green-veined Whites, Small White , 6 Brimstones, Peacock, Red Admiral , 7 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas
Summer Leys: Male and female Orange-tip and Brimstones
Finedon Callybanks: 5 Brimstones, Orange-tip male and female, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Peacocks, 2 Commas
Feinedon Cemetery: 2 Holly Blues, Brimstone
3rd: 3 Brimstones, 2 Commas, 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell were in Salcey Forest.
2nd: Near the river at Barton Seagrave, a female Small White, Comma , 20+ Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks were on the wing. A further Holly Blue was sighted just south of Nassington.
March
31st: Along the disused railway line at Brackmills, Northampton were 8 Small Tortoiseshells , 3 Commas and a Peacock.
29th: The first Holly Blue was seen in Ashton, near Roade and a Red Admiral in Wollaston.
26th: A Brimstone was seen in Wollaston.
27th: An Orange-tip was seen in a Woodford Halse garden.
25th: Summer Leys: 2 Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, Comma
24th: Yardley Chase MOD Site: 5 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks, 3 Commas
Weston Favell Mill: Brimstone, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, 2 Commas
Westone Estate, Northampton: Peacock
23rd: Yardley Chase: 12 Brimstones, Peacock
Fermyn Wood: 25+ Brimstones, 15 Commas
Summer Leys: 6 Brimstones, Peacock, 2 Commas
Twywell Hills and Dales: 5 Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma
Clifford Hill Gravel Pits: 2 Brimstones, 2 Small Tortoiseshells
Duston (garden): Small Tortoiseshell
22nd: Fineshade Wood: 8 Brimstones, 6 Commas, Peacock
Higham Ferrers: 3 Commas
21st: Summer Leys: 3 Brimstones
Rushden (garden): Small White
19th: By the Canal, West Hunsbury: 6 Brimstones, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas Lowick (garden): Male and female Brimstones Corby: 3 Brimstones
Three male Brimstones, a Comma and a Peacock were seen around New Duston (JB).
14th: Small Tortoiseshells were seen at Burton Latimer Pocket Park and Northampton Golf Club.
13th: Two Small Tortoiseshells were on the wing at Newton Bromswold.
12th: On an old railway embankment in West Hunsbury, Northampton were 4 Brimstones plus several sightings of Small Tortoiseshells.
Three Brimstones were flying at Summer Leys.
A male Brimstone and a Comma
seen in a New Duston
garden (JB).
8th: A Small Tortoiseshell was seen basking in Lings Wood, Northampton.
7th: A Comma was in a Sywell garden.
A Brimstone was in gardens in Ashley Way, Northampton, pausing to feed on forsythia, and a Small Tortoiseshell in a nearby playing field on the Westone estate.
February
24th: A Peacock was by the entrance to Stanwick Lakes.
9th - 11th: A Small Tortoisesehell was flying in an open-air porch in Duston, but was subsequently found dead on 12th.
8th: A Brimstone was seen at Harpole church at 12.30.
A Red Admiral was flying in a garden in Abington, Northampton.
January
No sightings reported.
27th: A Red Admiral was seen again in a Duston garden, probably the same one as on 22nd.
22nd: A Red Admiral was flying in a garden in Duston.
November
24th: A Red Admiral was flying at Grendon Lakes.
18th: Two Red Admirals were in a garden in Great Billing.
13th: Red Admirals were seen in gardens in Northampton and Great Billing and a Brimstone was flying at Summer Leys.
6th: A Small Tortoiseshell was recorded at Cottesbrooke.
4th: Two Red Admirals were at Stanwick Lakes.
October
29th: 2 Red Admirals and a Small Tortoiseshell were in a garden in Great Billing.
25th: A Red Admiral was in Duston Wildes.
21st: Three Red Admirals and a Small Copper were on the wing at Pitsford Reservoir.
17th: A Red Admiral was seen at Harrington disused airfield.
16th: A Red Admiral was at Fermyn Woods Country Park. In a garden in Brackley a Hummingbird Hawkmoth was flying. A Small White and a Red Admiral were spotted in St. Crispins, Northampton.
15th: Three Red Admirals were on ivy in the car park at Sywell Country Park. At Twywell hils and Dales were two Brimstones, two Small Whites, two Common Blues and two Red Admirals .
13th: Five Red Admirals were in a West Hunsbury garden.
2nd: Eleven Small Coppers were in Bradlaugh Fields, mostly egg-laying; a number of eggs -
were
found.
Also present were a Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and 2 Small Heaths. A Small Copper , 2 Red Admirals, 5 Commas and 5 Speckled Woods were seen in Fermyn Woods.
1st: Flying in Fermyn Woods, on the warmest October day on record, were a Peacock, 4 Red Admirals, 3 Commas and 6 Speckled Woods. A search for Purple Emperor larvae proved fruitless, but, on lower branches of an elm cut down by the Forestry Commission, a number of eggs of White-letter Hairstreak were found and “rescued” -
.
September
29th: In part of the private Yardley Chase, a Brimstone, Comma, Red Admiral and 5 Speckled Woods were on the wing. A Small White, 9 Red Admirals, 2 Commas and a Speckled Wood were around ivy near Cogenhoe church.
28th: Two Small Coppers, a Red Admiral, two Commas and a Small Tortoiseshell were seen at Sywell Country Park near the dam.
27th: A clump of ivy at Brixworth Country Park yielded ten Red Admirals, a Comma and 4 Speckled Woods.
25th: Round Stanwick Lakes, thirteen Commas were recorded. All were on brambles apart from one which turned out to be the aberrant form obscura -
.
Green-veined
White
, Small Copper, Brown Argus,
Red Admiral and five Speckled Woods were also
seen. The final count of the year on the Twywell transect yielded few butterflies
– a Small Copper, a Brown Argus, 2
Common
Blues
and 4 Small Heaths.
23rd: At Finedon Country Park and Callybanks were 2 Small Whites, Green-veined White, Small Copper, Comma, 13 Red Admirals and 4 Speckled Woods. Around ivy in Great Doddington churchyard, a Large White, 8 Red Admirals, 3 Commas and a Speckled Wood were seen.
22nd: Ten Small Coppers, two Red Admirals and fifteen Speckled Woods were on the wing in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase.
19th: Eleven Small Coppers, two Commas and a Green-veined White were on the wing in Harlestone Firs. Around the ivy in the Boughton church ruins were eight Red Admirals, two Commas , a Speckled Wood and several Whites.
18th: Two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were seen in Earl’s Barton, after a single sighting the previous day. (Photos by Adrian Green) -
and
16th: A Clouded Yellow was seen near Cold Oak Copse, near Yardley Hastings.
On the Twywell Whitestones transect, 20 Small Heaths were counted, but other species were in short supply – 2 Speckled Woods and singles of Small White, Green-veined White, Common Blue , Small Copper and Meadow Brown. In Wellingborough, a Large White, 2 Speckled Woods, a Small Tortoiseshell and Brimstone were seen.
14th: A fresh Holly Blue at Storton’s Gravel Pits was probably a third brood individual. Also present were 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites, a Common Blue, 2 Commas, a Red Admiral, Painted Lady, 2 Commas, 6 Speckled Woods and a late Meadow Brown.
13th: Seven species were recorded at Summer Leys – 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Coppers, a Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Comma, 2 Speckled Woods and a Small Heath.
9th: Two pristine Red Admirals
and around five Commas
were
found on a clump of hemp agromony on the banks of the Grand union canal at Whilton
Locks . A Small Tortioseshell was also seen at the nearby garden centre.2nd: Few butterflies of most species were counted on the Twywell Whitestones transect, except for Small Heaths, of which a record 37 were recorded, plus 14 elsewhere on the site.
1st: In and around Weekley Hall Wood, eleven species were recorded, including 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blues, a Painted Lady and 2 Small Heaths.
August
30th: On Harrington disused airfield were 7 Common Blues, a Brown Argus and 2 Small Heaths.
29th: On a cool day at Thrapston Gravel Pits, a single Brown Argus and a Painted Lady were recorded.
A Green-veined White and a Speckled Wood spotted on a path in the Rushmere area of Northampton.
27th: Holly Blue and Red Admiral were seen in London Road cemetery, Kettering.
24th: Eighty-seven Small Heaths were counted at Bradlaugh Fields. Many were nectaring on scabious flowers and two pairs were found “in cop”. Also of note were 7 Common Blues, 7 Brown Argus, 3 Small Coppers, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Painted Lady .
22nd: In the Silverstone Woods, few key species were to be found. Notable were 5 Brown Argus and 5 Small Tortoiseshells in Wicken Wood, a male Silver-washed Fritillary in Hazelborough Forest and a Holly Blue in Bucknell Wood.
21st: In the grasslands between King’s Cliffe and Apethorpe in the very north of the county were sixty Small Heaths, 10 Common Blues, 4 Brown Argus and 2 Small Coppers.
20th: At Summer Leys were two Small Heaths, rare now at this site, and a Small Tortoiseshell. There were also 5 Small Tortoiseshells on the dam at Sywell Country Park. Seven Brown Argus and a Small Copper were noteworthy among species in Whistley Wood.
19th: Two second brood Wood Whites and a Painted Lady were flying with more common species in Sywell Wood. On the Whitestones transect at Twywell were 26 Common Blues, 6 Brown Argus, 3 Small Coppers and 19 Small Heaths. Despite extensive searching, no Dingy Skippers were found.
15th: The Dingy Skippers were still present at Twywell Hills and Dales, along with a Painted Lady.
14th:Six x Dingy Skippers were counted on the Whitestone transect at Twywell. All previous records of the rarely seen second brood of this species in the county have consisted of a single butterfly at a time.
11th: In less than ideal conditions on the Yardley Chase MOD site were Essex Skipper and four Wood Whites, another new location for the second brood.
8th: A few Purple Hairstreaks and a single second brood Wood White were still on the wing in Salcey Forest.
5th: The Whitestones area transect count at Twywell included a second brood Dingy Skipper
for the second
successive year, the first time this has occurred in the county. Gatekeepers
were numerous (80) and there was a fresh emergence of Small Heaths
(11).
3rd: Ten second brood Wood Whites were seen in and around Sywell Wood, including two on the bridleway from Sywell, a possible new site. Fifteen Silver-washed Fritillaries were still on the wing at Wakerley Wood.
2nd: Five second brood Wood Whites were recorded in Salcey Forest. Also of note there were 30+ Common Blues and 3 Purple Hairstreaks. Around Sywell Country Park, key species were 8 Small Coppers, 5 Brown Argus, 2 Purple Hairstreaks, Holly Blue and Small Tortoiseshell.
1st: In the south of the county, in Hazelborough South Block were 7 second brood Wood Whites, 3 Holly Blues and Purple Hairstreak. A female Wood White was seen to lay on Tufted Vetch, the third foodplant recorded in the county for this species this year. In Hazelborough Main Block, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 10 Brimstones and a Purple Hairstreak were noteworthy. Bucknell Wood had 19 species, including 2 second brood Wood Whites, Silver-washed Fritillary (female), Purple Hairstreak, Holly Blue and Small Tortoiseshell.
July
31st: Six second brood Wood Whites and an Essex Skipper were among butterflies in Sywell Wood. A guided butterfly walk at Summer Leys took in sixteen species, with good numbers of Small Coppers and Brown Argus , a Holly Blue and a Small Tortoiseshell.
28th: In a layby off the A43 near Stamford, just in the county, 3 White-letter Hairstreaks and a Purple Hairstreak were observed, along with a Comma. Nineteen species in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate, included 4 second brood Wood Whites, 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 20+ Purple Hairstreaks. 2 Silver-washed Fritillary females were seen in Wakerley Wood.
27th: Marbled White was still on the wing at a new site near Daventry.
25th: A Clouded Yellow was reported from Salcey Forest, and, in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase, were a second brood Wood White, Silver-washed Fritillary, several Purple Hairstreaks and ten Brown Argus, along with a number of more common species.
Twenty-one species were present during recording in three sections of Yardley Chase (private) – the rides have abundant hemp agrimony in flower, attracting large numbers of Peacocks (a very encouraging 133 counted) and Red Admirals (47). Also of note were five second brood Wood Whites, ten Purple Hairstreaks , a White-letter Hairstreak, a Silver-washed Fritillary , a Painted Lady and four Holly Blues. A notable absentee, a at Fineshade, was White Admiral, very low in numbers this year.
24th: Essex Skipper was recorded on the Twywell Whitestones transect. The only “brown” butterfly which was numerous there was Gatekeeper, with 61 counted. Those who attended the RSPB Butterfly Walk at Fineshade Wood were rewarded with good views of White-letter Hairstreak (4), Purple Hairstreak (2) and Silver-washed Fritillary (10, including two separate pairs in their splendid courtship flight) Seventeen species were seen in total. Four White Admirals and six Purple Hairstreaks were of note in Fermyn Wood, with no Purple Emperors seen.
23rd: Essex Skipper and Purple Hairstreak were in a wood near Lowick.
22nd: Three second brood Wood Whites were seen in Salcey Forest, plus three Silver-washed Fritillaries, a dozen Purple Hairstreaks, a White-letter Hairstreak and three White Admirals.
21st: In part of Yardley Chase (private site), fifteen species were seen, notably Essex Skipper, Purple Hairstreaks and, briefly, a Purple Emperor.
19th: Fifteen species were seen at Summer Leys, in less than ideal conditions, including Essex Skipper, 15 Brown Argus, 6 Common Blues, Small Copper, 12 Red Admirals and a Marbled White .
A female Purple Hairstreak was spotted in the wood behind the Wyevale Garden Centre in Harlestone
17th: A Purple Hairstreak was seen in a Polebrook garden, part of recording for the BIG BUTTERFLY COUNT. A Comma and a Red Admiral in a New Duston garden.
15th: 10+ Silver-washed Fritillaries and 4 White Admirals were recorded in Wakerley Wood, which is now open to the public again, having been closed for forest operations. Nineteen species in total were found over the whole Twywell Hills and Dales site, including a dozen Marbled Whites and Brown Argus, 8 fresh male Common Blues, a Small Copper, a Holly Blue, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Small Heaths.
14th: A White-letter Hairstreak settled on the windscreen of a car beeing driven in the High Street in Wellingborough, hitching a lift around the one-way system before returning whence it came.
A Holly Blue was seen at Northampton Golf Club and in Newton Bromswold , the latter with a Painted Lady. Two Holly Blues were also at Barton Seagrave. In a wood on the private Kelmarsh estate, male and female Silver-washed Fritillary were flying, along with Purple Hairstreak.
13th: Five Small Coppers were noteworthy at Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve A dozen of both Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks were flying in Wicksteed Park.
12th: In part of the private Yardley Chase a Silver-washed Fritillary, 2 White Admirals, several Purple Hairstreaks, 2 White-letter Hairstreaks and 2 Small Coppers were present.
11th: Six Purple Emperors were observed in Fermyn Wood, with Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary among other species on the wing. 12 Essex Skippers, 3 Marbled Whites, 2 Small Heath and a Small Copper were seen in Bradlaugh Fields.
10th: Marbled White was reported from a new site near Upton. A Silver-washed Fritillary was noted at Short Wood, near Oundle, a further two at Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase and three more in each of Hazelborough Forest and Bucknell Wood. Also at Bucknell was a female Purple Emperor , White Admiral and several Purple Hairstreaks. Seven newly-emerged male Brown Argus and a Small Copper were recorded at Abington Meadow, Northampton, the newest reserve acquired by the County Wildlife Trust.
9th: Two Purple Emperors were flying in Wicken Wood.
Notable at Twywell Hills and Dales on the Whitestones transect route were 25 Marbled Whites , which included three mating pairs, and half a dozen newly-emerged second brood Brown Argus.
7th: Purple Emperors were seen in two different sections of Yardley Chase (private site), with White Admiral, a number of Purple Hairstreaks and an Essex Skipper also in one of them.
6th: Visits to two different sections of Yardley Chase (private site) yielded 3 White-letter Hairstreaks, Purple Hairstreak, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
5th: Among eighteen species in Bucknell Wood today were 3 Purple Emperors, 3 White Admirals, 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak (the White-letter a first site record), a Wood White and a Marbled White. It is rare to see this array of species at the same time at one site. In Hazelborough Forest, 10 White Admirals, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, a Wood White and a newly-emerged Brimstone were on the wing. Both Wood Whites seen were first-brood specimens. Purple Emperors, White Admirals, Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks and Silver-washed Fritillary were all again providing good views and photographic opportunities at Fermyn.
4th: 8 Marbled Whites were seen at Bradlaugh Fields, where the first Essex Skipper of the year was also identified. The form valezina of the Silver-washed Fritillary was reported from Glapthorn Cow Pasture.
Eighteen species recorded in Fermyn Woods included 10 Purple Emperors (females more in evidence with two on the ground, a rare sight), White Admirals (including aberration obliterae), White-letter Hairstreak egglaying, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary, a fresh Peacock and a Marbled White. Purple Emperor was seen again in Salcey Forest.
3rd: Two Purple Emperors were seen in Salcey Forest at different locations either end of the wood, the first record of this species shere for over half a century. Good numbers of Marbled Whites have been seen on the Bozeat bypass.
8 Marbled Whites were seen near Wellingborough and 2 Gatekeepers, along with 10 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Red Admirals, on a bridleway near Denton.
2nd: Both Purple and White-letter Hairstreak have been seen in Wicksteed Park and in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate. 3 Gatekeepers were noted in Lowick and upto 30 Purple Emperors around Fermyn Woods, including several females egglaying. A Holly Blue was in Barton Seagrave.
1st: The aberrant Purple Emperor was again noted at Fermyn Wood and the species was observed egglaying. Counts on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect were disappointing (24 Marbled Whites, 18 Meadow Browns, 30 Ringlets) but included the first Gatekeeper of the year. A second brood Holly Blue was in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton.
June
30th: 30+ Purple Emperors in Fermyn Wood again included the aberrant form. A Purple Hairstreak was seen in Yardley Chase (private).
29th: Purple Emperors in Fermyn Wood included an aberrant specimen (for further details visit www.thepurpleempire.com
27th: A Marbled White was at Ringstead Gravel Pits.
26th: 6 Purple Emperors, good numbers of White-letter Hairstreaks, some Purple Hairstreaks and White Admirals were in Fermyn Wood. 5 White Admirals were in Yardley Chase (private). A second brood Holly Blue was in a Duston garden.
25th: Counts on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect included 33 Marbled Whites, 31 Meadow Browns, 16 Ringlets and 27 Small Heath .
24th: In Fermyn Wood were 3 Purple Emperors, 5+ Purple Hairstreaks, dozens of Commas and 6 Red Admirals. 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in Fineshade Wood.
23rd: Two White Admirals and a Wood White were recorded in a privately-owned wood near Horton. The first Purple Emperor was recorded in Fermyn Wood.
22nd: White-letter and Purple Hairstreak were both found in part of Yardley Chase private woodland.
21st: 10+ Marbled Whites were counted at Ring Haw and 30+ at Twywell Hills and Dales. A Silver-washed Fritillary was again flying at Lowick.
20th: A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in Fineshade Wood. A White Admiral was seen in Bucknell Wood, along with thirteen Wood Whites . Twenty-six Marbled Whites and four Small Tortoiseshells were counted on a railway embankment near Brackley. At Twywell Hills and Dales, in the Whitestones area, with a number of Marbled Whites and Small Tortoiseshells and a Grizzled Skipper, an unidentified large fritillary was seen flying around the car park. Five Marbled Whites were seen near the canal at Blisworth.
19th: During our field trip to Glapthorn Cow Pastures, seven Black Hairstreaks were found, some still in pristine condition on Day 23 of this year’s flight period. Egglaying was observed. Also of note were a late Holly Blue and a Red Admiral. A Grizzled Skipper was still on the wing in nearby Fermyn Woods Country Park. Three Wood Whites were reported from Salcey Forest and a dozen Marbled Whites from Twywell Hills and Dales.
18th: A female Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in a wood near Lowick.
15th: A dozen Marbled Whites were flying along a railway embankment near Rothersthorpe, a new site for this species. A Marbled White was also on the wing at Summer Leys, along with several Small Skippers and two Small Tortoiseshells.
14th: Surveys of two woods in the Brigstock area produced sightings of 5 Black Hairstreaks and a White-letter Hairstreak, as well as several newly-hatched Commas, a Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell , Ringlet and a late Holly Blue. At least 7 Black Hairstreaks were on the wing at Glapthorn, along with a male Silver-washed Fritillary. 12 Wood Whites were recorded in the north-east of Salcey Forest.
12th: A Marbled White was seen at Ring Haw, Old Sulehay.
11th: Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak were both seen at Glapthorn Cow Pastures, along with a few Black Hairstreaks.
At Stanwick Lakes, newly-emerged Small Skippers (2)
,
Small Tortoiseshells (7) and a
hutchninsonii
Comma were on the wing , along with last year's Brimstone
and Peacock. Thirty plus Wood Whites and a
White Admiral
were
reported from Hazelborough Forest.
10th: Notable in Fineshade Wood today were the first White-letter Hairstreak of the year and a newly-emerged Small Tortoiseshel l.
9th: Sixteen Black Hairstreaks were reported from an hour's afternoon visit to Glapthorn Cow Pastures, many of them still looking fresh.
7th The first Ringlet of the year was seen in Towcester.
5th: On our joint field meeting at Salcey Forest with the Lincolnshire branch, participants and Wood Whites both numbered twenty. Other species seen before the weather closed in were Large Skipper, Large and Green-veined Whites, Common Blue, Holly Blue , Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper , Red Admiral and a number of Speckled Woods. Several Orange-tip and Comma larvae were also located.
7 Large Skippers patrolling the hedgerow
, 1 Peacock,
5 Small Tortoiseshell and a Speckled Wood were seen in the area behind
Wyevale garden centre at Harlestone along with a Yellow Shell moth
3rd: A dozen Black Hairstreaks were seen in an hour's visit to Glapthorn Cow Pastures. Four more were found at Fermyn Woods Country Park in the thicket above the quarry area, three in an area cleared by our winter work party last October, and one nectaring in the new glade we created in March
.
Grizzled and Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak
and Brown Argus were still present, but are now nearly at their
end. Two White-letter Hairstreak pupae were seen in nearby Cherry
Lap.
2nd: Two different observers reported two dozen Black Hairstreaks flying at Glapthorn Cow Pasture. The first was seen on 28th May, the earliest Northants emergence date by some days. Ten Wood Whites were in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate. Eggs were being laid on bird's-foot trefoil; meadow vetchling is the usual foodplant in Northants.
1st: A Brimstone moth was flying at 10pm in a Duston Garden.
The first Small Heath was seen at Summer Leys.
The Spring species are coming to an end at Twywell, on the Whitestones transect, with only 3 Dingy Skippers, 4 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper and 16 Common Blues being counted, though 13 Small Heaths were present, and Meadow Brown made its first appearance of the year.
May
26th: Several Brown Argus were found along a public footpath near Barton Seagrave. On a cloudy morning with heavy showers, 2 Grizzled Skippers and a Wood White were found roosting on the Yardley Chase MOD site. 23 Common Blues and 9 Speckled Woods were the only other species seen.
25th: Thirty-two Wood Whites were counted in Salcey Forest. Surveys of site in the north of the county brought some interesting sightings of key species: King’s Cliffe old station site: Dingy Skipper, 3 Grizzled Skippers (plus an egg on creeping cinquefoil)) and Small Heath. Collyweston Deeps: Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak and Small Heath, on a site looking very bare after grazing by a large rabbit population and winter stock, plus recent dry weather. Wakerley disused airfield: 7 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Green Hairstreaks, Brown Argus, Small Copper (egglaying on dock) and 12 Small Heaths.
24th: In windy conditions at Bradlaugh Fields, butterflies were hard to find, Large Skipper , 2 Brown Argus and 9 Small Heaths being the pick of those present.
22nd: Good numbers of Wood Whites were reported from Hazelborough Forest, as well as a couple of Brimstones and three Large Skippers.
21st: The Twywell Whitestones transect count today yielded 4 Large Skippers, 16 Dingy Skippers, 5 Grizzled Skippers, 7 Green Hairstreaks , 2 Small Coppers, 7 Brown Argus, 46 Common Blues and 11 Small Heaths. Counts of Wood Whites in three separate sections of Yardley Chase (private woodland) were 13, 18 and 26 respectively. 2 Large Skippers were also seen there. Large Skipper was on the wing at Aldwinkle.
20th: Dingy Skipper was seen in a wood near Southwick, a new site, and Brown Argus was in a meadow near Wadenhoe Mill.
Thirty-six Wood Whites were counted in Wicken Wood.
Forty-three Wood Whites were counted in Bucknell Wood.
Fifty Wood Whites were in Sywell Wood, with courtship and egglaying observed. Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath were also present.
19th: The first Large Skipper of the season was seen in Towcester, the second earliest date for this species in the county.
Ninety Wood Whites were seen in the southern half of Salcey Forest, half of them roosting, but some courting, mating and egglaying. A further thirty-six were counted in the Olney Lane End section of Yardley Chase (private woodland).
17th: Eleven species recorded at Ring Haw included 16 Grizzled Skippers, 10 Dingy Skippers, 21 Brown Argus, 52 Common Blues , Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Holly Blue and Small Heath. while at nearby Old Sulehay Stonepit Quarry were 4 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Dingy Skippers, 2 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blues and a Small Heath. At both sites, the majority of the butterflies were roosting on teasels, dead knapweed heads and the heads of wild marjoram.
14th: Around a hundred Brown Argus were recorded in grassland between Aldwinkle and Thorpe Waterville and a Grizzled Skipper was noted at a new site near Thorpe Waterville. Despite the cooler conditions, participants in our guided walks at the Fermyn Woods Country Park Butterfly Day had good views of Green Hairstreaks, Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, Common Blues and Brown Argus.
13th: In a quarry near Weekley, 6 Dingy Skippers, 3 Grizzled Skippers , an egglaying Green Hairstreak, 10 Common Blues and 10 Small Heaths were noteworthy.
12th: 20+ Brown Argus seen in an old sandpit near Grendon included two mating pairs. Three Red Admirals were also there.
10th: Counts of Wood Whites in the Silverstone Woods today were 16 in Hazelborough Forest South Block (including a mating pair)
, 18 in Hazelborough
Main Block and 27 in Bucknell Wood.
9th: Grizzled and Dingy Skippers, several Brown Argus, Common Blue and Small Heath were on a disused railway line near Stanion, and a Dingy Skipper at Prior’s Hall near Weldon.
Dingy Skipper was recorded in a new site near Stanion.
A walk around the perimeter of Salcey Forest yielded forty-seven Wood Whites, in two main areas, i.e. the rides near Piddington Lodge and on the main track between the Conservation Car Park and the ranger's cottage. Egglaying was observed. Good numbers of Orange-tips and Large Whites were also present.
8th: Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue all appeared for the first time this year at Summer Leys.
7th: The Twywell Whitestone transect count today recorded 42 Dingy skippers, 23 Grizzled Skippers, 13 Green Hairstreaks, 8 Brown Argus, 20 Common Blues and 7 Small Heath.
5th: 5 Dingy Skippers, 9 Grizzled Skippers, 9 Brown Argus , 2 Orange-tips and a Brimstone were on the wing on Polebrook airfield.
9 Wood Whites and a Dingy Skipper were seen in Sywell Wood, the latter a first site record.
4th: Two White-letter Hairstreak larvae were found during a botanical survey in Daventry, a new site for this species. At Polebrook Airfield, 5 Dingy Skippers , 9 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Common Blues, 9 Brown Argus and a Brimstone were flying.
3rd: Seven Wood Whites and two Brown Argus were among species recorded in Yardley Chase. Common Blue and Small Copper were among species on the wing at Storton's Pits.
1st: The Twywell Whitestones transect count yielded an astounding 49 Green Hairstreaks, 42 Dingy Skippers, 30 Grizzled Skippers, 4 Small Coppers, 2 Brown Argus , Common Blue and Small Heath plus five other species.
Ten Wood Whites, Common Blue and Brown Argus were seen in Salcey Forest. A further fifteen were located in Wicken Wood on a site visit by recorders from Northants and Upper Thames Branches, accompanied by Butterfly Conservation chairman, Maurice Avent. The wood, straddling the boundary between our two branches, has recently been sold by the Forestry Commission to new owners, with whom we hope to establish a successful management regime for this key species.
April
Twenty species have been recorded this month, well in excess of the normal total.
30th: Among species seen at Old Sulehay were 5+ Dingy Skippers, a Grizzled Skipper, Small Copper and a Brown Argus .
Eighteen Wood Whites were seen in Sywell Wood, with some courtship observed
,
and a further three were flying along the edge of nearby Hardwick Wood. At Twywell
Hills and Dales were 11 Grizzled and 19 Dingy Skippers,
9 Green hairstreaks, 2 Small Coppers and a
Common Blue
with more common species.
29th: Five Wood Whites were seen in Sywell Wood.
28th: Common Blue and Brown Argus were on the wing in Bozeat Quarry.
27th: Eight Wood Whites were among species recorded in Sywell Wood today.
25th: Green Hairstreaks were present all over the Whitestones area at Twywell, estimated at least forty in number, with rapidly increasing numbers of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers. In total, 13 species were present, including Holly Blue, egglaying Red Admiral and, first seen by Elliott and Toby Ludlow of the Lincolnshire Branch, the earliest county records for Brown Argus and Small Heath. Three Wood Whites were reported from Hazelborough Forest, the first time this species has been seen in Northants before May.
24th: At Fermyn Woods Country Park, 27 Green Hairstreaks were counted, along with 16 Grizzled Skippers and 3 Dingy Skippers.
At Twywell we saw 10+ Green Hairstreaks – some in hawthorn and some on the ground on trefoil. 10+ Dingy Skippers including a mating pair
and several Grizzled Skippers.
23rd: Twelve Green Hairstreaks counted on the Twywell Whitestones transect is the highest ever on this route. Three Small Coppers were again present. A Small Copper was among species on the wing in a Woodford Halse garden.
22nd: 10 Grizzled Skippers, 6 Dingy Skippers, 10 Green Hairstreaks and 3 Small Coppers were among species at Twywell.
21st: 7 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Dingy Skippers and 5 Green Hairstreaks were seen at Twywell. 9 Green Hairstreaks and 5 Grizzled Skippers were to be found in the quarry area of Fermyn Woods Country Park.
20th: At Twywell Hills and Dales were 4 Green Hairstreaks, 5 Grizzled Skippers and 2 Dingy Skippers .
17th: 107 Orange-tip were counted in the Silverstone Woods complex today, along with small numbers of other species. Six Holly Blues were found at Storton’s Pits, Northampton, and four at Sywell Country Park, at each site with seven other species.
16th: Two Green Hairstreaks were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales, and a single at Fermyn Woods Country Park, the earliest emergence date recorded for this species in the county.
11th: An impressive eight species were to be found in Great Doddington churchyard: Brimstone, Large and Small White, Orange-tip, six Holly Blues, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and two Speckled Woods. At Summer Leys were 10 Brimstones, 8 Orange-tip, 2 Small Whites, 3 Green-veined Whites , Holly Blue, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell .
10th: Holly Blues continue to be widely reported, with further records from Cogenhoe and London Road cemetery, Kettering.
9th: Notable today were several Orange-tips, 20+ Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Peacocks, 2 Speckled Woods, 3 Brimstones, 5 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Whites and 15 Holly Blues in Wicksteed Park, Kettering, and 5 Holly Blues and a Red Admiral in a Barton Seagrave garden. Nine Holly Blues were in Abington Park, Northampton, along with Orange-tip and Speckled Wood .
8th: Both Holly Blue (in Weston Favell cemetery) and Orange-tip (Brackmills disused railway line) were seen laying eggs today.
10th: Two Holly Blues and a male Orange Tip spotted in a New Duston garden. Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacocks and Small White spotted on a walk round New Duston.
9th: At Twywell: Brimstones, male Orange Tips, several Small Tortosieshells and a Peacock.
6th: A warm, sunny day brought numerous records:
The River Nene, Higham Ferrers: 9 Brimstones, 17 Orange-tips, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Peacocks and a Comma
Lowick: Green-veined White, Orange-tip, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood
Twywell Hills and Dales: A very early Painted Lady
nectaring
on damson blossoms, Orange-tip, Brimstones,
Small Tortoiseshells
, Peacocks and Commas
Barton Seagrave: 2 Holly Blues, Brimstone
Burton Latimer Pocket Park: Large White, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma
Bradlaugh Fields, Northampton: 2 Green-veined Whites, Small White , 6 Brimstones, Peacock, Red Admiral , 7 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas
Summer Leys: Male and female Orange-tip and Brimstones
Finedon Callybanks: 5 Brimstones, Orange-tip male and female, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Peacocks, 2 Commas
Feinedon Cemetery: 2 Holly Blues, Brimstone
3rd: 3 Brimstones, 2 Commas, 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell were in Salcey Forest.
2nd: Near the river at Barton Seagrave, a female Small White, Comma , 20+ Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks were on the wing. A further Holly Blue was sighted just south of Nassington.
March
31st: Along the disused railway line at Brackmills, Northampton were 8 Small Tortoiseshells , 3 Commas and a Peacock.
29th: The first Holly Blue was seen in Ashton, near Roade and a Red Admiral in Wollaston.
26th: A Brimstone was seen in Wollaston.
27th: An Orange-tip was seen in a Woodford Halse garden.
25th: Summer Leys: 2 Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, Comma
24th: Yardley Chase MOD Site: 5 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks, 3 Commas
Weston Favell Mill: Brimstone, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, Peacock, 2 Commas
Westone Estate, Northampton: Peacock
23rd: Yardley Chase: 12 Brimstones, Peacock
Fermyn Wood: 25+ Brimstones, 15 Commas
Summer Leys: 6 Brimstones, Peacock, 2 Commas
Twywell Hills and Dales: 5 Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma
Clifford Hill Gravel Pits: 2 Brimstones, 2 Small Tortoiseshells
Duston (garden): Small Tortoiseshell
22nd: Fineshade Wood: 8 Brimstones, 6 Commas, Peacock
Higham Ferrers: 3 Commas
21st: Summer Leys: 3 Brimstones
Rushden (garden): Small White
19th: By the Canal, West Hunsbury: 6 Brimstones, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Commas Lowick (garden): Male and female Brimstones Corby: 3 Brimstones
Three male Brimstones, a Comma and a Peacock were seen around New Duston (JB).
14th: Small Tortoiseshells were seen at Burton Latimer Pocket Park and Northampton Golf Club.
13th: Two Small Tortoiseshells were on the wing at Newton Bromswold.
12th: On an old railway embankment in West Hunsbury, Northampton were 4 Brimstones plus several sightings of Small Tortoiseshells.
Three Brimstones were flying at Summer Leys.
A male Brimstone and a Comma
seen in a New Duston
garden (JB).
8th: A Small Tortoiseshell was seen basking in Lings Wood, Northampton.
7th: A Comma was in a Sywell garden.
A Brimstone was in gardens in Ashley Way, Northampton, pausing to feed on forsythia, and a Small Tortoiseshell in a nearby playing field on the Westone estate.
February
24th: A Peacock was by the entrance to Stanwick Lakes.
9th - 11th: A Small Tortoisesehell was flying in an open-air porch in Duston, but was subsequently found dead on 12th.
8th: A Brimstone was seen at Harpole church at 12.30.
A Red Admiral was flying in a garden in Abington, Northampton.
January
No sightings reported.