16th: A Peacock was seen basking on a tree at Fermyn Woods Country Park.

10th: A Peacock was seen sunning itself on a wall in Helmdon in near freezing conditions.


23rd: A Peacock was seen at Brixworth Country Park and another at Summer Leys.

14th: A Brimstone was seen in Earl's Barton.

13th: Two Peacocks were flying at Bozeat and a Brimstone at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.

11th: A Comma was feeding on chrysanthemum in a Sywell garden.

8th: A Brimstone was recorded in Fineshade Wood.

6th: A Small Tortoiseshell was feeding on bramble blossom at Pitsford Reservoir.

2nd: A Peacock was seen in a Polebrook garden.


29th: A Comma was still on the wing at Storton's Gravel Pits.

21st: A Peacock flew briefly among our winter work party at Fermyn Woods Country Park, where two Comma larvae were found still to hatch.

18th: A Large White was in a Wellingborough garden.

17th: A male Brimstone and Comma were flying in a garden in Polebrook and a male Large White came to a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton. .

10th: At Pitsford between the dam and Moulton Grange were 8 Red Admirals and 8 Commas and at nearby Holcot a Red Admiral and 2 Commas. A male Red Admiral and female Brimstone visited a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton.

9th: At Summer Leys six Commas were recorded and 8 Red Admirals and 4 Commas in Great Doddington churchyard.

7th: 14 Red Admirals and 7 Commas were at Pitsford Reservoir between Brixworth Country Park and Moulton Grange. 8 Red Admirals and 8 Commas were on ivy at Boughton church ruins.

6th: Two Small Whites, a male Brimstone, Peacock, Comma and 2 Red Admirals were seen in a Polebrook garden. Seven Red Admirals, two Commas, Small White and Small Copper (the eleventh species of the month) were seen at Bradlaugh Fields.

4th: In Yardley Chase MOD site were 4 Red Admirals, 7 Commas, a Small Tortoiseshell and 8 Speckled Woods. Around Cogenhoe 16 Red Admirals, 7 Commas, Large and Small White and Speckled Wood were seen. On ivy outside Weston Favelll Primary School were 4 Red Admirals, a Comma and a Painted Lady, the tenth species so far this month.

3rd: In Sywell Country Park butterfly garden and an adjacent clump of ivy 23 Red Admirals, 17 Commas, Peacock, Small White and Speckled Wood were recorded.

2nd: A Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Red Admiral and 2 Small Whites were in a garden in Lowick. A Brimstone, Speckled Wood , 5 Commas and 3 Red Admirals were in a garden in Polebrook.

1st: At Storton’s Gravel Pits 17 Commas, 8 Red Admirals, 3 Small Whites, a Large White, Speckled Wood and a tattered Common Blue were on the wing.


29th: Around Finedon, 66 Red Admirals, 18 Commas, 9 Speckled Woods, 3 Small Whites and a Peacock were recorded. At Twywell Hills and Dales, Small Heath and Common Blue (4) were still flying and 4 Small Tortoiseshells were noteworthy. A Holly Blue larva was found on ivy at Little Billing.

27th: A Clouded Yellow was found in a private wood near Lowick, the twenty-third species seen this month. Around Grendon Ponds Small White, 2 Green-veined Whites, Small Tortoiseshell, 19 Red Admirals, 6 Commas and 5 Speckled Woods were noted. Two Small Coppers were at Summer Leys.

20th: In Ravenstone Road Copse on the private Yardley Chase, 3 Small Whites, 2 Green-veined Whites, 11 Commas, 8 Red Admirals and 20 Speckled Woods were seen. Ivy in Cogenhoe churchyard was host to no less than 45 Red Admirals, 6 Commas, a Small White and 2 Speckled Woods.

19th: On ivy at Pitsford Reservoir either side of the dam were 24 Red Admirals and a Comma. The ivy-clad church ruins at Boughton had 26 Red Admirals and 7 Commas feeding on the blossom. On the railway line from Ringstead to Thrapston were 15 Commas and 10 Red Admirals.

18th: A Painted Lady was on buddleia in a Sywell garden. A short visit to Bradlaugh Fields yielded 2 Small Whites, Small Copper adult, egg and larva, 2 Common Blues, 2 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Woods and a Meadow Brown.

17th: At Summer Leys, 22 Commas and 17 Red Admirals were counted feeding on blackberries. Also there were 10 Small Whites, 8 Green-veined Whites, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and 2 Speckled Woods. On a clump of ivy near Little Billing church were at least 35 Red Admirals, 2 Commas, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Small White. 6 Red Admirals, a Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell were seen at Higham Ferrers.

16th: Notable among species still on he wing at Twywell were 2 Brown Argus, 5 Common Blues, 15 Red Admirals, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Small Heaths.

15th: At Stanwick Lakes, 15 Red Admirals and 11 Commas were counted on blackberries and ivy. 10 Small Whites, 8 Green-veined Whites , a Common Blue and 5 Speckled Woods were also on the wing.
A Red Admiral, Comma, Holly Blue and Large White were flying in a New Duston garden. Caterpillars of the Large White were seen feeding.

13th: In Great Doddington churchyard were 2 Small Whites, 3 Large Whites, Holly Blue, 14 Red Admirals (on ivy), Comma and 2 Speckled Woods.

9th: Four Red Admirals and a late Small Skipper were among species at Twywell Hills and Dales. The Small Skipper brings the tally of species for the county in September to twenty-two.

8th: 3 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Red Admirals were in a Wollaston garden.

7th: A very late Purple Hairstreak was seen in a wood near Lowick.

6th: In a quarry near Bozeat were recorded Large White, Small White , Small Copper, 7 Brown Argus, 15 Common Blues, 9 Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admiral.

5th: A Painted Lady was in a garden in Kettering. Ten species were counted on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect - Brimstone, Small Copper 2, Brown Argus 3, Common Blue 15, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown 14 and Small Heath 4.

4th: A Gatekeeper was still on the wing at Pitsford Reservoir.

3rd: On a walk from Weston Favell Mill to Delapre Abbey in Northampton, species seen were Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Brimstone, Holly Blue (2), Small Copper, Red Admiral (17), Peacock, Comma (3), Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood (7), a good range of species for September. Notable in Sywell Country Park Butterfly Garden were 8+ Red Admirals, 3 Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma.

2nd: A female Purple Emperor was seen in Salcey Forest, the first ever September sighting of this species as far as is known. Small Tortoiseshell was among other species present.

1st: Notable among species recorded in Welford Quarry were an Essex Skipper, 12 Common Blues, 2 Small Coppers and a Small Tortoiseshell . In Wakerley Wood were 12 Red Admirals. 6 rather tattered Silver-washed Fritillaries, 3 Brimstones and numerous Speckled Woods.


31st: Good numbers of Peacocks and Red Admirals were on the buddleias in Sywell Country Park Butterfly Garden, along with a female Holly Blue and a Small Tortoiseshell. In Fineshade Wood, two Silver-washed Fritillaries, 2 Red Admirals, Comma, 3 Brimstones, female Common Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, numerous Speckled Woods and a late Large Skipper were on the wing.

26th: Approx. twenty Comma larvae were seen in Fermyn Woods Country Park. A Painted Lady was seen in Church Stowe and Holly Blue eggs and larva were found on ivy at Delapre Abbey gardens.

24th: At Twywell Hills and Dales, 2 Essex Skippers, 13 Small Skippers , Small White, Small Copper, 5 Brown Argus, 22 Common Blues, Red Admiral, 16 Peacocks, 22 Gatekeepers, 44 Meadow Browns and 2 Small Heaths were counted on the Whitestones transect. Two Brown Argus were found near Lowick and a Holly Blue was still flying in a garden in the village.

19th: Two Painted Ladies were seen in Wollaston. In Geddington Chase, Silver-washed Fritillary, Holly Blue, 32 Peacocks, 4 Brimstones, 3 Red Admirals and numerous Whites were on the wing.

18th: Sixty-nine Peacocks, Small Copper and Small Tortoiseshell were noteworthy among species at Stanford Reservoir. White Admiral, Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak (one of each) were still flying in Fermyn Wood. On the Twywell Whitestones transect was surely the last Marbled White of the year, 3 Small Coppers, 10 Brown Argus, 22 Common Blues, 16 Peacocks, 20 Gatekeepers and 74 Meadow Browns.

16th: A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen near Lowick.

11th: A White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak and two female Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in a further two sections in Yardley Chase. Good numbers of butterflies were on the transect route at Twywell: 20 Small Skippers, 2 Large Whites, 2 Small Whites, 2 Small Coppers, 2 Brown Argus, 7 Common Blues, a Painted Lady, 5 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Peacocks, a Marbled White, 54 Gatekeepers, 70 Meadow Browns and 4 Small Heaths.

10th: Two Clouded Yellows were seen on farmland near Rushden. Three Purple Emperors were on the wing in Yardley Chase today, two of them in a new section for the species. This makes six woods in the Chase where it has been recorded this year and seventeen in the county as a whole. 43 Peacocks, 14 Purple Hairstreaks, Holly Blue and Small Copper were also of note.

9th: A Purple Emperor was flying in Brampton wood near Market Harborough, another new site. Three Small Tortoiseshells were on Desborough airfield and three Purple Hairstreaks in Pipewell Wood. Fourteen species were found in the old sanpit near Easton Maudit, including 2 Small Coppers, Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Tortoiseshell. Painted Ladies were in gardens in Ashley Way, Northampton and in Oundle. Two White Admirals were still on the wing at Grafton Park Wood and a Holly Blue in Yardley Chase.

8th: The first Brown Argus of the year was counted on the Twywell Whitestones transect, along with 5 Common Blues and 4 Marbled Whites. Two Small Tortoiseshells were in the garden of the Snooty Fox at Lowick

6th: Six freshly emerged Small Coppers were seen at Bradlaugh Fields along with good numbers of Small and Essex Skippers, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, 2 Small Heaths, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Marbled White.

3rd: Three Holly Blues, a Small Tortoiseshell and two Commas were seen at Apethorpe.

2nd: On the MOD site at Yardley Chase, at least a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries, Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White and Essex Skipper were noteworthy.

1st: Holly Blues were flying in gardens in three separate locations in Northampton. A Painted Lady was seen in a garden in Broadmead Avenue. Reports of a couple of others have been received from the last week so there appears to have been a small immigration.


29th: On a joint branch/RSPB walk in Fineshade Wood, six Silver-washed Fritillaries, two White-letter Hairstreaks and a Small Tortoiseshell were among species recorded.

28th: A Purple Emperor was seen in Pipewell Wood, a new location for this species. A report has also been received of one in Southwick Wood on 22nd, so it is continuing to spread in the county.

28th: Five Purple Emperors were seen in Salcey Forest this morning, mainly around the ride crossroads with a seat next to the track which leads to Piddington Lodge in the north-east corner of the forest. 3 White Admirals, 3 Purple Hiarstreaks and a Silver-washed Fritillary were also seen.

27th: C. 80 Small Skippers were on a roadside verge near Kislingbury. Essex Skipper and Purple Hairstreak were both recorded at Sywell Vountry Park.

26th: A male Purple Emperor flew through the window of the farmhouse in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase. This is a new location for this species on this estate. In Sane Copse, another part of the complex where it has been seen in previous years, there were several sightings of it, along with a Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 White Admirals and 7 Purple Hairstreaks . Up to 8 Purple Emperors, several Silver-washed Fritillaries, Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks were seen in Fermyn Wood.

25th: Silver-washed Fritillary and Purple Hairstreak were present in three different sections of the private Yardley Chase. In one of them, Ravenstone Road Copse, a male Purple Emperor fed on the ground for some forty minutes.

24th: Two Purple Emperors were seen in Hazelborough south block, plus Wood White, White Admiral and 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries . A further Purple Emperor male aberration lugenda was found in Fermyn Wood and a Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in Grafton Park Wood. Good numbers of Marbled Whites were reported from Collyweston Deeps.

23rd: Warm sunny weather brought out the Purple Emperors (and visitors) to Fermyn Wood today. A total of twenty were seen, mostly males on the ground, plus females. Two aberrations, a female lugenda and a male iolata were found. A fuller account is on The Purple Empire with images. Also seen here were Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admirals, Purple and White-letter Hairstreaks. Four Purple Emperors were reported from Geddington Chase and a further four from Salcey Forest. Both White-letter and Purple Hairstreaks were flying in the arboretum at Wicksteed Park.

22nd: Two Purple Hairstreaks were at Glapthorn Cow Pastures.
Observers have reported seeing Purple Emperors in double figures today. One was also seen in Bucknell Wood in Silverstone, along with 9 White Admirals , 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries and a late Wood White. In Hazelborough Main Block were 5 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 4 White Admirals, while a different recorder found Purple Hairstreak and Wood White in Hazelborough South Block. Two Small Tortoiseshells were in water meadows at Wadenhoe and two Purple Hairstreaks were flying in the arboretum at Wicksteed Park in the evening.

21st: Six fresh male Purple Emperors were seen on the ground in Fermyn Woods, the first signs of a proper emergence this year. Four Silver-washed Fritillaries were in Wakerley Wood.

17th: On our field trip to Fermyn Wood, three Purple Emperors were seen, plus a number of White Admirals, a few Purple Hairstreaks and hutchinsoni Comma. The full emergence of Purple Emperors (if it is indeed going to occur this year) has not yet taken place. See www.thepurpleempire.com for photos of the field trip and for further developments as the weather improves next week.

16th: A Marbled White was a new and unusual record in a Towcester garden.

15th: Two Marbled Whites, a Wood White and Siver-washed Fritillary were notable among species seen in Salcey Forest.

14th: In a brief spell of sunshine in late afternoon, there were good numbers of Marbled Whites and 2 Gatekeepers at Twywell. The best place for the Marbled Whites is the long grass to the right of the car park adjacent to the road. Three Marbled Whites were reported from Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough and the species appears to be spreading from the A45 and nearby bypasses.

12th: The first Essex Skipper was seen at Bradlaugh Fields and a Gatekeeper at Twywell Hills and Dales. 5 Marbled Whites were found in a spinney in Wellingborough. Several Marbled Whites, White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary were seen in Denton Wood.

11th: Amid heavy showers this morning in Bucknell Wood, 5 Wood Whites, one desperately laying eggs, and a pristine White Admiral were seen. As the weather improved in the afternoon, Matthew Oates reported seven Purple Emperors in Fermyn Wood, with increasing numbers of White Admirals and a Small Tortoiseshell. A White Admiral was also seen in Salcey Forest.

10th: Thirty-eight Marbled Whites and ‘countless’ Small Heaths were among species at Borough Hill, Daventry. 7+ Marbled Whites were in the Quarry Field at Bradlaugh Fields. Another Marbled White was seen in Abington Meadow and a Wood White was still on the wing in Salcey Forest.

9th: The first Purple Emperor was seen fittingly by Matthew Oates in Fermyn Wood. Three White Admirals, two Purple Hairstreaks and two Marbled Whites were also seen. At Twywell Hills and Dales, 46 Marbled Whites were counted and a Small Tortoiseshell and 97 Peacock larvae were also of note. Two Marbled Whites were in Salcey Forest and a Silver-washed Fritillary at Glapthorn Cow Pastures. No Black Hairstreaks were seen at the latter and their short, dismal showing may well be at an end. Several Marbled Whites were flying in the Deer Park in Yardley Chase and a Wood White in the adjacent wood.

8th: In an hour at Bradlaugh Fields, eighty-two Small Heaths were counted. This is the only species to have done well this summer so far, its first brood coinciding with the warm spell at the end of May. Also seen were 10 Marbled Whites , 19 Meadow Browns, 10 Ringlets, 23 Small Skippers and 2 Large Skippers.

7th: A White-letter Hairstreak was seen in part of the Fermyn Woods complex. A Marbled White and two Small Skippers were noteworthy at Fermyn Woods Country Park.

5th: There Marbled Whites were flying, along with Small Heaths at Bradlaugh Fields and one was seen in Castle Ashby Gardens, a previously unrecorded site. The transect count at Twywell, done late afternoon, produced surprisingly good numbers: 3 Small, 10 Large, 3 Dingy and 1 Grizzled Skipper, a Common Blue, 14 Marbled Whites, 44 Meadow Browns, 15 Ringlets and 37 Small Heaths.

4th: Five Black Hairstreaks were recorded at Glapthorn Cow Pastures. A Holly Blue was seen in a Polebrook garden. Five Silver-washed Fritillaries and a White Admiral were reported from Wakerley Wood. A fresh Small Tortoiseshell was among species seen at Twywell. ( Please send in all records of this species, which is a cause for concern again )

3rd: Six Marbled Whites, Small Skipper and Small Heath were noteworthy at Summer Leys.

1st: Two fresh female Black Hairstreaks were found nectaring in the thicket at Fermyn Woods Country Park, in glades newly cleared last winter.


30th: A Small Tortoiseshell was flying at Cogenhoe. The first Small Skipper was among species at Bradlaugh Fields.

29th: In this awful summer, late records of over-wintered Brimstone and Comma, Orange-tip and first brood Holly Blue have been received in the last two days. Two Black Hairstreaks were seen nectaring at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and a further three in the canopy in part of the Fermyn Wood complex.

28th: A Wood White was seen in Geddington Chase, some distance from known colonies.

27th:Twelve Marbled Whites were on the wing on a disused railway embankment near Brackley. Although Kidney Vetch was plentiful on the site, there was no sign of Small Blues. Good numbers of Small Heaths were seen near Weekley Hall Wood. Both Painted Lady and Red Admiral were on a footpath between Barton Seagrave and Grafton Underwood.
A Ringlet was seen for the first time ever in a New Duston garden.
In a nearby meadow, several Meadow Brown  , two Common Blues, a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood were spotted.

26th: The first Marbled White was seen at Twywell Hills and Dales.

25th: Two Ringlets were seen along with two Black Hairstreaks at Glapthorn Cow Pastures. The transect count at Twywell was Large Skipper 14, Dingy Skipper 2, Grizzled Skipper 8, Green Hairstreak 1, Common Blue 3, Meadow Brown 1, Small Heath 14.

23rd: At Glapthorn Cow Pastures 3 Black Hairstreaks in the Blackthorn canopy.

20th: In Salcey Forest, from the horse box car park through the southern half to the meadow by the M1, 6 Wood Whites, 3 Red Admirals, 6 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock and in the meadow itself 4 Large Skippers, 1 Large White, 1 Brimsone and a female Orange-tip were all spotted.
A walk all around Salcey Forest, starting from the main car park, around past the tree top and over to the south side this afternoon produced the following, 31 Wood White , 10 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown , 1 Large Skipper(on flowers by the entrance to the ranger's cottage).

19th: A Black Hairstreak was spotted high up in an oak canopy at Glapthorn Cow Pastures (none were seen at a lower level). Two Speckled Woods were also seen.
7 Wood Whites in Salcey Forest (southern half)

18th: A Painted Lady was seen in Blisworth on valerian.
In the Whitestones area of Twywell the folowing were spotted: 3 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Large Skippers, 5 Common Blues and 8 Small Heath. Inn Salcey Forest on 2 Wood Whites , 2 Speckled Wood and one Red Admiral were spotted.

17th: It was Black Hairstreak Open Day at Glapthorn Cow Pastures, but despite patient searching, none were seen. A Holly Blue was seen in a New Duston garden.

15th: A short visit to Bradlaugh Fields yielded 11 Small Heaths and a Large Skipper, the only species seen.

14th: Twenty-eight Wood Whites were counted in Yardley Chase and forty in Sywell Wood. A female Brown Argus and two Small Whites were seen in a meadow in New Duston.

13th: 35 Wood Whites were counted in Hazelborough south block and 21 in Bucknell Wood. A mating pair was found on Ragged Robin and several pairs were observed in courtship and some females egg-laying.

10th: A Holly Blue was still on the wing in Wellingborough. On the Twywell transect, numbers were very low - 3 Dingy Skippers, Green-veined White, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper , 6 Common Blues and 2 Small Heaths.

9th: 20+ Wood Whites were seen In Salcey Forest.
Around Duston and St. Crispins, a Large Skipper ,Common Blue, Speckled Wood , Brimstone moth, Small White and an Orange-tip were spotted.

6th: In Salcey Forest, 50 Wood Whites were counted by one observer and 24 by another. 20 were also flying in Sywell Wood.

4th: A Grizzled Skipper was recorded in a private wood near Lowick for the second successive year.


31st: On a cloudy morning at Yardley Chase MOD site, six Wood Whites, 2 Grizzled Skippers, a Dingy Skipper (the first here for a number of years), a number of Common Blues, an Orange-tip and 2 Speckled Woods were seen.

30th: A Red Admiral and Holly Blue were flying in a garden in Higham Ferrers. 15 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers , 2 Green-veined Whites, 2 Orange-tips, 7 Common Blues and a Small Heath were seen at Great Morton Sale in the north of the county and at nearby Little Morton Sale 3 Dingy Skippers, 4 Grizzled Skippers (a new site species), 2 Orange-tips and a Small Copper were recorded.

29th: Six Wood Whites were seen in Hazelborough Forest south block and twenty in Bucknell Wood.

28th: 41 Wood Whites were counted in Sywell Wood, including 3 on the adjacent bridleway to the east of the wood. Two were seen in intermittent sunshine in part of Yardley Chase.
In Salcey Forest were 38 Wood Whites and among other species Holly Blue and Brown Argus. On farmland near Daventry were 7 Small Coppers and numerous Orange-tip eggs. Small Copper and Small Heath were recorded at Summer Leys while in a quarry near Geddington were 4 Grizzled Skippers, 12 Dingy Skippers, 7 Common Blues and 4 Small Heaths .

27th: Numbers of key species seem to be holding up well at Twywell – on the transect were 51 Dingy Skippers, 12 Grizzled Skippers, 31 Green Hairstreaks, 8 Common Blues and 17 Small Heaths. Two Dingy Skippers in Fineshade Wood were a new species for the site. At Collyweston Deeps a Dingy Skipper, 8 Brown Argus, 3 Common Blues, 3 Holly Blues, a Small Copper and 3 Small Heaths were noteworthy.

26th: Three Brown Argus, one egg-laying Small Copper, a male Brimstone, a Large White and a Mother Shiptonwere found at a new site near Duston.

25th: At Ring Haw were 30 Dingy Skippers and a few Grizzled Skippers were seen, 12 Dingy Skippers and a few Grizzled Skippers in Stonepit Quarry, Old Sulehay. From Collyweston Deeps, 15 Dingy Skippers, a few Green Hairstreaks, 3 Brown Argus and a Small Copper were reported.

24th: A single Wood White was flying in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley estate.

23rd: Nine Wood Whites were seen in two sections of Yardley Chase (private). In the Fermyn Woods Country Park quarry area were 4 Grizzled Skippers, 12 Dingy Skippers, Brimstone, Large White, Orange-tip, Common Blue and Holly Blue.

22nd: Wood Whites were recorded by different observers in Hazelborough Forest (20, Sywell wood (3) and Wicken wood (1). Counts on the Twywell Whitestones transect were Grizzled Skipper 7, Dingy Skipper 35, Orange-tip 2, Brimstone 2, Large White 1, Green Hairstreak 20, Common Blue 2, Peacock 1 and Small Heath 2. Brown Argus and Small Copper were also seen by other recorders.

21st: A pristine Small Copper and two Holly Blues were seen at Sywell Country Park.

18th: Five Holly Blues were flying in Great Doddington churchyard and a further five in Abington Park.

16th: Two Small Heathswere seen at Twywell Hills and Dales, along with good numbers of Dingy and Grizzled Skippers and six Green Hairstreaks, Small Copper, Orange-tip and Green-veined White.

15th: At Fermyn Woods Country Park in the quarry area near the visitor centre, 10 Dingy Skipper s, 8 Griizzled Skippers, 5 Green Hairstreaks, Orange-tip and Small Copper were on the wing. As the weather deteriorated, the butterflies went to roost - at Twywell Hills and Dales 20 Dingy Skippers, 4 Grizzled Skippers and a Small Copper were all found perched on dead seedheads of knapweed particularly.

13th: Fifteen species were recorded around the whole Twywell Hills and Dales site. These included a surprising record of a Wood White, Holly Blue, Small Copper, 2 Small Tortoiseshells as well as good numbers of Green Hairstreaks, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. A Holly Blue was seen at Wellingborough and 4 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Orange-tips and 2 Green-veined Whites at Fermyn Woods Country Park near the visitor centre. A pristine Small Copper was along a bridleway near Lowick.
A Small White, Holly Blue and male Orange-tip were seen in a New Duston garden.

12th: The Twywell Whitestones Transect was carried out in sunshine for the first time this year, yielding 18 Dingy Skippers, 9 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Green Hairstreaks, 2 Orange-tips, 2 Brimstones and a Peacock. The first Small Copper was reported here by another observer.

11th: The first Wood Whiteof the year was seen in Salcey Forest, along with 4 Brimstones, 20 Orange-tips, 3 Green-veined Whites, 2 Commas, 12 Peacocks and 8 Speckled Woods. In Great Doddington churchyard were 4 Holly Blues, Brimstone, 2 Orange-tips, a Peacock and 4 Speckled Woods. At Twywell Hills and Dales, 7 Green Hairstreaks were noted along with some Dingy and Grizzled Skippers.

6th: At Storton’s Pits saw two male Orange Tips and one Small White. Then later back through St.Crispins a Large White flew past.


27th: In rainy conditions at Twywell, eight Grizzled Skippers were located on the Whitestones transect, all roosting on the dead seedheads of knapweed.

22nd: Six Grizzled Skippers, a Brimstone, 3 Peacocks and a Speckled Wood were seen on a walk round Whitestones and the Gullet at Twywell. A Holly Blue was in a garden at West Hunsbury.
At Twywell Hills and Dales, a Dingy Skipper and a Grizzled Skipper were both spotted.

21st: The first butterflies counted this year on the Whitestones transect at Twywell were two Grizzled Skippers, an Orange Tip and three Peacocks. A Holly Blue was in a Duston garden.

20th: The first Grizzled Skipper of the year was seen at Twywell.

15th: A Speckled Wood was seen in Fermyn Wood and the earliest ever Green Hairstreakfor the county in the quarry area of Fermyn woods Country Park.
A Speckled Wood was seen at Pitsford Reservoir.

13th: Orange-tips were in gardens in Pinewood Road, Northampton and Polebrook, having appeared first in the latter on 10th.

12th: Five species were in and around Cogenhoe churchyard – Brimstone, Orange-tip (female on aubretia), Holly Blue (male), Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.

10th: Brimstone and 2 Orange-tips were at Summer Leys and Holly Blue and Orange-tip at Cogenhoe.

2nd: A Speckled Wood was in Great Doddington churchyard and an Orange-tip in a garden in Westone, Northampton.

1st: Speckled Wood and Small White were seen in Wellingborough, Small White, 2 Orange-tips, Comma and 2 Small Tortoiseshells at Irthlingborough and Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell at Summer Leys.


29th: Two Speckled Woods were seen near Morrisons on the Kettering Road, Northampton, the first Holly Blueat Towcester.

28th: In a private wood near Lowick were 5 Orange-tips, 3 Small Whites , 3 Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. Orange-tips were also seen in Green’s Norton and Farthingstone. A Small White was also recorded in a Kingsthorpe garden. An Orange-tip was on the wing at Wadenhoe.

27th: A Speckled Wood was in a private wood near Lowick, along with 4 Brimstones, 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell .

26th: An Orange-tipwas seen in Northampton Road, Rushden and a Speckled Woodin Scaldwell churchyard. Small Whites were flying in Barton Seagrave and Wellingborough. A Green-veined White was flying in Kingsthorpe.

19th: A Green-veined Whitewas seen in Rothwell.

15th: A Small Whitewas seen in a Lowick garden. Several Commas were flying in Grafton Park Wood. A Comma was on the Westone estate, Northampton and two Small Tortoiseshells in Cogenhoe.

11th: A warm sunny day brought sightings from all over the county:
A Commafeeding on white Prunus blossom and a male Brimstone in St. Crispins, Northampton.
In Salcey Forest, 7 Brimstones, 3 Commas and a Peacock.
Around Cogenhoe, Brimstone, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma.
Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell on the Westone estate, Northampton.
2 Commas, 2 Brimstones in Wellingborough.
4 Brimstones, 2 Commas and a Peacock in Higham Ferrers. Brimstone and Comma in a Polebrook garden.
2 Commas and a Brimstone in Lowick
2 Brimstones and a Red Admiral in Piddington.
Brimstone and Red Admiral at Summer Leys.
Brimstone in Barton Seagrave.

6th: Three Brimstones were seen again in Great Doddington churchyard. Small Tortoisehells were on the wing at Moulton Park and in Conifer Rise, Northampton.

2nd: A Small Tortoiseshellwas seen in Newton Bromswold.



29th: A very early Hummingbird Hawkmothwas reported feeding from viola flowers in a hanging basket in Finedon.

24th: Three Brimstones were flying around ivy in Great Doddington churchyard.

23rd: On a warm, sunny day, several sightings were made: Red Admiral and Peacock around Cogenhoe churchyard A Brimstone in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton. A Brimstone in a Rushden garden Brimstone and Red Admiral in St Luke's churchyard, Duston.

11th: A Peacockwas spotted in Pottersbury, on the sunny side of a hedgerow.

1st: A Red Admiral was seen basking in Glyndebourne Gardens, Corby.


11th: A Red Admiralwas flying in a Kingsthorpe garden.