9th: A Peacock was flying in a Desborough garden.

1st: A Red Admiral was on the wing in the grounds of St Mary's hospital, Kettering.


27th: A Peacock was flying near the feeding station on the Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve.

12th: Two Peacocks were seen at Grange Park, Northampton, but no Clouded Yellows were noted.
A Peacock was also at the Lamport Hall farm and a probable Small Tortoiseshell at Scaldwell.

10th: Three Clouded Yellows were seen in Grange Park today. Continuing the extraordinary
saga of this site, a pair were ‘in cop’ with another male interloper. This is rarely seen in Northants
and is truly remarkable at this late date. Further photos are on David James wildlife diary
– a shortcut is available on the first page of the blog.
A Comma was also seen at Grange Park and, on a day of unbroken sunshine, a Peacock
was in Cogenhoe churchyard and a female Brimstone and Red Admiral during our winter work party
at Twywell Hills and Dales.

8th: Two Small Copper larvae were found at Twywell Hills and Dales.

7th: A female Clouded Yellow was located again at Grange Park, possibly the same one as on 4th.

4th: A female Clouded Yellow was at Grange Park and at Boughton church ruins, Red Admiral, Comma and Peacock.

3rd: A male Clouded Yellow was seen at Grange Park, believed to be the first November record for this species in the county.
A Peacock was in a Polebrook garden.

2nd: A Red Admiral was at a wild flower nursery at Blisworth.


30th: A Clouded Yellow was still present at Grange Park, Northampton, a Comma on Harrington airfield
and a Red Admiral in Cavendish Drive. At Hollowell Reservoir were two Small Coppers
and a Small Tortoiseshell. A Small Copper was also flying near Eydon.

29th: A Red Admiral was feeding on the last of the ivy blossom at Boughton church ruins. A Red Admiral
and a Comma were at a site near Eydon.

28th: A Red Admiral was in a Polebrook garden and a Small Tortoiseshell discovered hibernating in a loft there

24th: Four, possibly five, Clouded Yellows were seen at Grange Park, Northampton.
In part of Yardley Chase were two Commas and a Red Admiral.

23rd: Three male Clouded Yellows and a female helice were still flying at Grange Park.
The helice was another different individual, making four at this site this year.
A Red Admiral was also present.
For a report on Grange Park Clouded Yellows visit www.davidjameswildlifediary.com

19th: Three male Clouded Yellows and a female helice (a different one from the one seen on 12th and 15th)
were at Grange Park, along with a Small White.

18th: Twenty Small Tortoiseshells were found roosting in the Baptist church at Wollaston.

17th: In Yardley Chase 2 Commas, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood were on the wing
and 6 Red Admirals and 2 Commas were on ivy around Cogehoe churchyard.
A Small Copper was at Titchmarsh Nature Reserve.

15th: The helice Clouded Yellow seen at Grange Park on 12th was located again.
Two Commas were in a Polebrook garden.

14th: A Small Copper was seen at Weston Favell mill.

12th: In a brief spell of sunshine, a visit to Grange Park indicated further that Clouded Yellow
has bred on the site. Three adults were found – a pristine male, another male with a piece of wing missing
and a freshly emerged helice female. A Small White, a tattered Common Blue, 2 Small Coppers
and a Comma were also present.

11th: On an area of ground cleared by our winter work party at Twywell, around thirty eggs
and two caterpillars of Small Copper were found on small sorrel plants.

10th: A Red Admiral was seen in Long Buckby and several Commas were on ivy at Scaldwell.

9th: Still on the wing at Summer Leys were a Green-veined White, a Small Copper, Red Admiral, 3 Commas
and a Speckled Wood. Small White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood were in a Polebrook garden.

8th: A Small Copper, 2 Commas and a Speckled Wood were in Harlestone Firs and 5 Red Admirals
and a Comma at Boughton church ruins. Four Small Coppers were at Twywell Hills and Dales, two egglaying.

7th: The Clouded Yellow was still present at Grange Park, along with several Small Whites,
2 Common Blues, a Small Copper, 3 Commas on windfall apples and a Speckled Wood.

6th: On a fine autumn day, twelve species were on the wing and a larva of another was found:-
A male Clouded Yellow at Grange Park was most likely the offspring of the earlier influx there.
Also there were some Common Blues, 2 Commas, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral.
Sixteen Small Coppers were at Sywell Reservoir, a dozen of them in an area with the few remaining ragwort flowers.
Also there were four Commas, a Red Admiral and several Small Whites. In Little Billing village were 5 Commas,
2 Red Admirals, Brimstone, Large and Small Whites and 2 Speckled Woods
while a Holly Blue larva was found on ivy. 2 Peacocks were noted at Summer Leys and a Painted Lady
in a Kettering garden. 2 Red Admirals, 4 Commas, 2 Small Whites, Brimstone
and 2 Speckled Woods were in a Polebrook garden.
A fresh Clouded Yellow was at Ditchford Gravel Pits, along with several Small Whites, Large Whites,
Small Tortoiseshells, 2-3 Commas, a Brimstone, Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood.

2nd: Eighteen Peacocks were found hibernating during a house clearance in Rushden.

1st: Recorded in Great Doddington churchyard were 3 Commas, Large and Small White,
Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and, a surprise feeder on the ivy, a Small Copper.
A Peacock was in Abington Avenue, Northampton.


29th: In a quarry near Wakerley Wood, Brimstone, 2 Clouded Yellows, Common Blue,
Small Copper, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and Small Heath were on the wing.
On and around ivy at Boughton Church ruins were Small White, Brimstone, 6 Commas,
2 Red Admirals, Peacock and 2 Speckled Wood adults and 3 eggs.
At Ravensthorpe Reservoir an aberrant Small Copper radiata was recorded.
Two Red Admirals, a tatty Brown Argus, two Commas and numerous Whites
were spotted along the canal at Whilton Locks.

28th: In a Polebrook garden, 4 Red Admirals, 5 Commas and a Peacock were noted. 12 Commas,
10 Speckled Woods, 4 Brimstones and a Small Heath were among species at Fineshade Wood.

27th: The final transect count of the year at Twywell Hills and Dales yielded a Small White, 2 Small Coppers,
2 Common Blues, Peacock, Comma, 3 Speckled Woods and 6 Small Heaths.

22nd: At Ditchford Gravel Pits, a good range of species was recorded: numerous Whites, Clouded Yellow, 4 Common Blues,
Brown Argus, Painted Lady, Peacock, 8 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Commas and a Meadow Brown.
A Painted Lady was in a Kettering garden, along with 3 Small Whites, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma.
Small White, 2 Brimstones, 4 Commas, Red Admiral and 4 Speckled Woods
were in Weston Favell village.

20th: Fifteen Commas, Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Small Coppers were noteworthy around Summer Leys.

18th: 5 Small Whites, 3 Small Coppers, 2 Common Blues, Small Tortoiseshell,
5 Speckled Woods and 15 Small Heaths were counted on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect.

16th: A Painted Lady was in a garden in Broadmead Avenue, Northampton.

14th: Two Small Heaths were at Borough Hill, Daventry.

12th: In a Lowick garden was a rare second brood female Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell,
Green-veined White and several Small Whites. The count on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect was: 6 Small Whites,
3 Small Coppers, 18 Common Blues, 3 Speckled Woods and 17 Small Heaths.

8th: Four Clouded Yellows and a Painted Lady were still at the Grange Park site in Northampton.

7th: Eleven Small Tortoiseshells and a Red Admiral were on buddleias by the fishing lodge at Pitsford.

4th: A Clouded Yellow was at Bradlaugh Fields.

3rd: Fifty Common Blues and 41 Small Heaths were counted on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect.

2nd: A Clouded Yellow was seen on farmland three miles from Barnwell. Fifteen Small Tortoiseshells were at Stanwick Lakes.

1st: Four Clouded Yellows were in the company of 92 Common Blues, 67 Small Heaths and
19 Small Tortoiseshells in the old quarry near Wakerley Wood.
Three Silver-washed Fritillaries were still present in the adjacent wood.
Half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries, some late Large Skippers and 12+ Small Heaths were noted at Fineshade Wood.
Eighteen Small Tortoiseshells were counted at Summer Leys.

31st: Four Clouded Yellows as well as several Common Blues, a Small Copper
and many Large and Small Whites seen on a brief visit to Grange Park, Northampton. (JB)
Towards lunchtime, a walk round the perimeter brought a count of eleven, plus a Painted Lady.
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen in a Wollaston garden. A Silver-washed Fritillary and two Purple Hairstreaks were noted at Bucknell Wood.

28th: Clouded Yellows were still showing well at Grange Park. Also present on the site
were a Brown Argus, 2 Small Coppers, several Small Heaths and 5 Small Tortoiseshells.
A male Clouded Yellow was recorded at Twywell Hills and Dales.
At Collyweston Quarry 53 Common Blues, 17 Brimstones and 3 Small Tortoiseshells were the pick of species noted.
18 Brown Argus and 12 Small Heaths were also there the previous day.

27th: On a piece of waste ground at Grange Park (between the A45/Junction 15 (M1) and Budgens) fifteen Clouded Yellows
were seen on the wing at the same time and at least twenty were thought to be present. Unusual visitors to Northampton gardens were
Common Blue and Small Copper. Holly Blues were near the bus station and on the Westone estate in Northampton.
In a wood near Lowick, Purple Hairstreak (3) and Silver-washed Fritillary were still on the wing,
95 Small Whites were counted and of 6 Small Coppers, two were ‘in cop’, a sight rarely witnessed.
On the Twywell Hills and Dales transect, 2 Clouded Yellows, 84 Common Blues, 31 Small Heaths and
4 Small Tortoiseshells were among species counted.

26th: 25 Small Tortoiseshells and a Painted Lady were on buddleias in a Wollaston garden.

25th: 7 Clouded Yellows, 3 Painted Ladies, 267 Common Blues, 34 Small Tortoiseshells and
9 Small Coppers were noteworthy at Welford Quarry. Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady were both seen in Delapre Abbey gardens, Northampton

23rd: A Clouded Yellow was at Stanwick Lakes. Two more were still at Twywell Hills and Dales, with 2 Small Coppers, 8 Brown Argus,
94 Common Blues, 7 Small Tortoiseshells and 33 Small Heaths counted on the transect.

22nd: 2 Clouded Yellows, 6 Painted Ladies and 8 Small Tortoiseshells were at Stanford Reservoir.
A Clouded Yellow was at Fermyn Woods Country Park and another in the adjacent woodland, where White Admiral
and Silver-washed Fritillary were still flying, along with Small Heath, a rarity there.
8 Small Tortoiseshells were in a Kettering garden and a Holly Blue at Rushden. 5, possibly 10,
Clouded Yellows and a Painted Lady were on Harrington airfield. 3 Clouded Yellows were on
Lamport Hall Estate and Painted Lady and Holly Blue in Scaldwell.

21st: A Clouded Yellow was on Overstone Golf Course.

19th: A further valezina Silver-washed Fritillary was recorded at Ravensthorpe Reservoir.

18th: Two Holly Blues were seen in a Duston garden.
On the Twywell transect count were three Clouded Yellows, 2 Small Coppers,
4 Brown Argus, 66 Common Blues, 4 Small Tortoiseshells,
44 Meadow Browns and 12 Small Heaths as well as more common species.
A Clouded Yellow was in Southfield Road, Duston and a Painted Lady was in a garden in Ashley Way,
Northampton. Five Clouded Yellows and three Painted Ladies were at Ditchford.
A Clouded Yellow was still at Summer Leys. Ten Small Tortoiseshells were notable in Wollaston
and a Silver-washed Fritillary visited a Syresham garden.
A Clouded Yellow, 4 Brown Argus and 10 Small Coppers were recorded in a
private wood near Lowick.

16th: A Painted Lady was in a Duston garden. A Clouded Yellow was still at Bradlaugh Fields.

15th: A male Chalkhill Blue, a rare vagrant to the county, 3 Essex Skippers, 2 Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady
were among species found in Sywell Wood. A Holly Blue was in a Northampton garden. 4 Clouded Yellows
were at Welford Quarry and a further two at Stanford Reservoir, along with 7 Painted Ladies.

14th: One, possibly two, Clouded Yellows were at Bradlaugh Fields, with a Painted Lady.
5+ Clouded Yellow, 6 Brown Argus, 4 Small Copper, 146 Common Blue,
135 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell were in Welford Quarry. A Brown Argus was
noteworthy on the Lamport Hall estate.

13th: A Clouded Yellow was seen again at Sulby Reservoir. Two second brood Holly Blues, scarce this year, were at Delapre Abbey gardens.

11th: A Holly Blue was in a Polebrook garden.
The influx of Clouded Yellows continued with sightings at Hazelborough Forest north,
Summer Leys, Abington Meadow and two sites in Yardley Chase, where Purple Emperor and
Silver-washed Fritillary were still flying.
Also in Hazelborough were 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, female Purple Emperor,
Purple Hairstreak and Painted Lady. 20 Purple Hairstreaks were in a wood near Lowick.
A valezina Silver-washed Fritillary was seen again in Bucknell Wood, the fourth recorded in the county this year.

10th: A Clouded Yellow was at Bozeat and two were still near Easton Maudit, along with two Painted Ladies
and good numbers of Common Blue, Small Copper and Brown Argus.
77 Common Blues were on the transect at Twywell with the first recorded Essex Skipper on it this year.
Silver-washed Fritillary visited a garden in Polebrook and, even more unusual, a Clouded Yellow flew through one in Duston.

9th: A Painted Lady was in a Duston garden and a Clouded Yellow was flying on the disused airfield at Harrington.

8th: Two Clouded Yellows were at Sulby Reservoir.
Five Clouded Yellows were seen in a meadow near Easton Maudit and another at Summer Leys. A valezina Silver-washed Fritillary
was seen and photographed on a buddleia in a Kettering garden and a male in a Duston garden.
470 Peacocks were counted onn thistle beds at Hollowell Reservoir and 24 Small Coppers were there.

6th: 15+ Purple Hairstreaks were seen flying and occasionally settling   
in ash treetops at the back of the garden centre at Harlestone.
A Clouded Yellow was at Hollowel Reservoir with 4 Painted Ladies, 167 Peacocks and 5 Small Coppers.

5th: A female Purple Emperor was a very unusual visitor to a garden in Staverton.

3rd: A White-letter Hairstreak was feeding on hemp agrimony in Sulby Gardens.
At Helmdon old station site among more common species were Essex Skipper, 2 Small Heath,
Small Copper and 5 Marbled Whites, now coming to the end of their flight period.
Only 6 Marbled Whites remained on the Twywell Hills and Dales transect, but Common Blue (29),
Small Copper (2) and Brown Argus (1) were now appearing. White Admiral,
2 Purple Hairstreak and 5 Silver-washed Fritillaries were reported from Bucknell Wood.
Purple Hairstreaks and Essex Skippers were in a wood near Lowick.
Two Silver-washed Fritillaries were near Arthingworth.
In Welford Quarry 5 Common Blue, 2 Small Heath, 159 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma.

2nd: In and around Abington Meadow, Northampton Essex Skipper, Small Copper, 3 Common Blues
and a Holly Blue were notable.

1st: On the hottest day of the year so far 22 species were recorded in tow sections of Yardley Chase, including singletons of
Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, White-letter Hairstreak,
Painted Lady, a number of Purple Hairstreaks, 3 fresh Common Blues, 2 Brown Argus
and a Small Copper. 3 fresh Holly Blues and 5 Common Blues were by the River Ise.
In Brampton Wood there was a huge count of 364 Peacocks along the main central ride.


29th: Ten Small Coppers were by the River Avon near Welford.
10+ second brood Small Coppers were on grassland near the River Avon at Welford.
There were also 4 at Summer Leys with a newly hatched Common Blue and 2 Essex Skippers.
An Essex Skipper also appeared in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton.

28th: Purple Emperor and Purple Hairstreak were again in Brampton Wood.
In Bucknell Wood, 8 Silver-washed Fritillaries included a female valezina, thought to be the first
authenticated record for the county. Purple Emperor, 5 White Admirals, 2 Purple Hairstreaks and a
Marbled White were also on the wing with the more common butterflies. Silver-washed Fritillary,
Purple Hairstreak and White Admiral were also in Hazelborough north.

27th: Twelve Small Tortoiseshells were a good count at Stanford Reservoir.
Good numbers of Silver-washed Fritillary were reported to be still at Fineshade.
12 Small Tortoiseshells were notable at Stanford Reservoir. 6 Purple Emperors,
4 White Admirals and 11 Purple Hairstreaks were found at Fermyn Wood.

26th: 5 Purple Emperors, Purple Hairstreak and Marbled White were in Brampton Wood.
New sites for the Marbled White were a footpath near Wellingborough and Tiffield Pocket Park.
An early morning visit to Salcey Forest found a Purple Emperor, 5 White Admirals,
6 Purple Hairstreaks and 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries.

25th: A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen in a private wood near Lowick. Eighteen species on the
Yardley Chase MOD site included the first site record of Purple Emperor, a White Admiral,
8 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 4 Purple Hairstreaks, 31 Marbled Whites and 2 Wood Whites.

24th: In Fermyn Wood several observers saw around 14 Purple Emperors, with White Admiral,
Silver-washed Fritillary, White-letter and, in increasing numbers, Purple Hiarstreaks.
At Hollowell Reservoir were a Painted Lady, 39 Small Tortoiseshells and a Marbled White,
a new species for the site. At Helmdon old station site were 41 Marbled Whites and 2 Essex Skippers.

22nd: 6 Purple Emperors and a Marbled White were noted in Brampton Wood near Desborough.

21st: 3 White Admirals were in Plumpton Wood near Towcester.

20th: A brief visit to Bradlaugh Fields in cloudy conditions confirmed good numbers of Essex
as well as Small Skippers, 9 Marbled Whites and 6 Small Heaths.

19th: A Painted Lady visited a moth trap on Harrington airfield. Six Silver-washed Fritillaries
were reported from Thorpe Waterville, along with some Small Tortoiseshells.

18th: The combined total for two parts of Yardley Chase was 7 Purple Emperors, 4 White Admirals,
9 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 4 Purple Hairstreaks, 4 Marbled Whites
and 13 Wood Whites. 2 Purple Emperors, 3 White Admirals and
3 Wood Whites were in Hazelborough Forest South. A Purple Emperor was on the wing in Grafton Park Wood.

17th: Purple Emperors numbered 11 in Salcey Forest (see Purple Emperor blog). Also on the wing were 13 White Admirals,
3 Purple and 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 7 Marbled Whites and 5 Wood Whites.
A Purple Emperor was in Denton Wood, part of Yardley Chase, and another in Geddington Chase.

16th: In Salcey Forest 10 Purple Emperors, 16 White Admirals, Silver-washed Fritillary, Marbled White
and White-letter Hairstreak were seen. Bucknell Wood yielded Purple Emperor, White Admiral,
2 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 11 Wood Whites.
In Hazelborough South Block were Purple Emperor, Silver-washed Fritillary and 2 Wood Whites.
23 Silver-washed Fritillaries were in Fineshade Wood and 10 around the car park of Wakerley Wood.
Also at Fineshade were 2 White-letter Hairstreaks.and a Purple Hairstreak.
In a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton three freshly hatched Brimstones were seen and in the midst of a buckthorn bush
a chrysalis with the wing colours showing.

15th: 15+ Marbled Whites were on a railway embankment in Mill Road, Wellingborough. 6 White Admirals,
3 Wood Whites
and a Purple Hairstreak were in Bucknell Wood and 6 White-letter Hairstreaks
and 2 Purple Hairstreaks in the arboretum at Wicksteed Park.
Over a hundred Purple Emperors were seen at Fermyn Wood including 3 aberrations (see entries on Purple Emperor blog).
6 Purple Emperors, 10 White Admirals, 6 Silver-washed Fritillaries and 2 Wood Whites
were reported from Salcey Forest. Six White-letter Hairstreaks were on an elm near Harlestone Garden Centre.
A Clouded Yellow was seen at Church Hill, Finedon.

14th: At Glapthorn Cow Pasture were 1 Black Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary
and, new for the site, Marbled White.
3 White Admirals, 2 Silver-washed fritillaries and Wood White were in part of Yardley Chase.
Essex Skipper was flying at Twywell Hills and Dales. 20 Purple Emperors and
10 White Admirals were reported from Fermyn Wood. A Marbled White was in Denton Wood.

13th: 2 Essex Skippers were notable at Cogenhoe and 50+ Marbled Whites on the old station sidings at Helmdon.
White-letter Hairstreak was recorded near Harlestone Garden Centre and Silver-washed Fritillary in Denton Wood, part of Yardley Chase.

12th: 11 Marbled Whites were at Park Farm South, Wellingborough . Noteworthy at Summer Leys were 35 Marbled Whites,
12 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Commas and the first Gatekeeper of the year.
This species was also at Farthinghoe Reserve Along with Marbled White.
As well as Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak,
2 Silver-washed Fritillaries were seen in Fermyn Wood.

11th: Marbled White was a new site record for Burton Latimer Pocket Park. The first Essex Skipper was at Lowick.
Three Purple Emperors were seen in Fermyn Wood this morning.
In part of the private Yardley Chase a White Admiral was flying and a fresh Purple Hairstreak
alighted on the open tailgate of a car while the recording group was enjoying lunch.
Marbled White was recorded near Cogenhoe.

10th: 40+ Marbled Whites were on Borough Hill, Daventry, along with good numbers of Ringlets,
Small Heaths, Large and Small Skippers and Meadow Browns.
5 Wood Whites were in Bucknell wood and at nearby Hazelborough Forest North single White Admiral,
Marbled White and Small Tortoiseshell were worthy of note.

9th: White Admiral was reported from Bucknell Wood and Salcey Forest.
The Twywell Hills and Dales transect yielded 36 Marbled Whites, 109 Meadow Browns, 34 Ringlets,
22 Small Heath and 9 Small Skippers among the species present.
A Painted Lady was in the field near the car park. 40+ Marbled Whites were seen at the disused station sidings at Helmdon.
52 Marbled Whites were seen on waste ground near Weekley Hall Wood.

8th: 4+ Purple Hairstreaks were flying in Fermyn Wood. 13 Wood Whites
were seen in two sections of Yardley Chase.

7th: 19 Wood Whites were on the wing in Hazelborough south block. There were 10 Small Tortoiseshells in Barton Seagrave.

6th: Six Marbled Whites, 13 Small Heaths and 7 Brown Argus were worthy of note at Collyweston Quarries.

5th: In part of the Fermyn Wood complex 2 White-letter Hairstreaks, 9 Black Hairstreaks
and a Comma were recorded.

4th: 11 Wood Whites were recorded in Yardley Chase.

1st: 14 Marbled Whites were on a disused railway embankment near Brackley.
There is a profusion of Kidney Vetch on the site this year but no evidence of Small Blues.
Six Wood Whites were in Bucknell Wood, all roosting as the day clouded over.


30th: Many visitors to Glapthorn Cow Pastures had good views of Black Hairstreaks today, eight being the largest total reported.
One observer saw a Painted Lady here. A Clouded Yellow was seen by the river Tove in Towcester.
Reports of Small Tortoiseshells came from Wakerley (2), Collyweston (2), Storton’s Gravel Pits (1)
and an impressive 23 in Ditchford Lane, Wellingborough.
Two Small Skippers, 3 Small Heaths and a Small Copper were at Harlestone Heath.
Orange-tip was still flying just inside the county boundary at Barrowden.

29th: An impressive count of 76 Small Heaths came from Welford Quarry. Holly Blue was still on the wing in Polebrook.
Small Copper and 2 Ringlets were on a bridleway between Aldwinkle and Lowick.

27th: 37 Small Heaths and a Dingy Skipper were seen in the old quarry near Wakerley Wood
and inside the wood was the first Ringlet of the year. Small Copper, Small Heath and
Small Tortoiseshell were on the wing between Scaldwell and Lamport.
First Marbled White appeared at Twywell.

25th: First emergence of the year of Black Hairstreaks at Glapthorn Cow Pastures
- 7 seen in total in six different locations in the wood.

24th: A total of 63 Wood White, 12 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue and a Red Admiral
were counted in Salcey forest.

23rd: 9+ Wood Whites at Bucknell Woods.

21st: The transect count at Twywell Whitestones was 4 Large Skippers, 13 Dingy Skippers,
1 Grizzled Skipper, 1 Brown Argus, 12 Common Blues, 1 Peacock
and 20 Small Heath. A Small Elephant Hawkmoth was also noteworthy.
At Fermyn Woods Country Park were 8 Dingy Skippers, 7 Grizzled Skippers,
1 Large White, 14 Common Blues, Comma and Emperor moth larvae
and the first Meadow Brown of the year.

20th: 33 Wood Whites were counted in Olney Lane End on the private Yardley Chase estate.
In an adjacent field a Clouded Yellow was seen flying strongly.

19th: 52 Wood Whites were on the wing in Sywell Wood and 60 in Wicken Wood which is part Northants, part Bucks.
At Summer Leys a fresh Small Tortoiseshell was flying along with over-wintered Peacock and 7 Brimstones.
A Small Heath was also seen. A fresh Red Admiral was noted at Park Farm South,
Wellingborough along with 2 Large Skippers and 2 Small Coppers.

17th: 44 Small Heaths, 3 Common Blues and 2 Small Coppers were at Bradlaugh Fields.

16th: 25 Wood Whites were found in Hazelborough south block.
A total of 46 Wood Whites was recorded from a full circuit of Salcey Forest,
mainly concentrated on the rides near Piddington Lodge and on the south side along the main track
towards the ranger's cottage.

15th: A well-attended field trip to Hazelborough Forest south block yielded 24 Wood Whites,
with views of several courtships and incidents of egg-laying.
Large Skipper was also on the wing here and at Summer Leys.

14th: 54 Wood Whites were counted at Sywell Wood, with courtships, mating and egg-laying observed.
The first Large Skipper of the year was also present.
On the Twyell Whitestones transect 14 Dingy Skippers, 1 Grizzled Skipper, 2 Green Hairstreaks,
1 Brown Argus, 14 Common Blues and 13 Small Heaths were recorded.

13th: On the Yardley Chase MOD site in cloudy, windy conditions, 3 Wood Whites, 2 Grizzled Skippers,
6 Common Blues and a Small Copper were seen.

7th: Wood White counts today were 41 in Salcey Forest, 19 in Bucknell Wood and 5 in Whistley Wood
where the species was last recorded in 2007, prior to which a strong colony was present.
On the Twywell Whitestones transect 20 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers,
5 Green Hairstreaks, 11 Common Blues and 24 Small Heaths were counted.

6th: 41 Wood Whites were recorded in Salcey Forest. In the Gullet area at Twywell,
12 Dingy Skippers, 3 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Green Hairstreaks,
28 Common Blues and 14 Small Heaths were recorded. 5 Dingy Skippers, 2 Grizzled Skippers,
7 Common Blues and 3 Small Heaths were noted at the old quarry near Weekley Hall Wood.
A single Wood White was in Denton Wood, part of the private Yardley Chase estate.

4th: Wood White numbers had built to 62 in Sywell Wood, with 6 also found in clearings in Hardwick Wood,
where there used to be a strong colony but now sadly overgrown. 12 Wood Whites were seen in Bucknell Wood
and 3 in Hazelborough North. 20 Wood Whites were seen in three sections of the private Yardley Chase woodland, including, as yesterday
at Sywell Wood, a mating pair and courtship.

3rd: 30 Wood Whites were seen in Sywell Wood and 6 in Bucknell Wood.

2nd: 10 Dingy Skippers and 4 Grizzled Skippers were noteworthy at Old Sulehay.
35 Wood Whites were counted in Sywell Wood, along with Brown Argus.
11 Wood Whites were in Wicken Wood. 3 Holly Blues were on the wing in Cogenhoe
and 3 Grizzled Skippers at Helmdon disused railway sidings, the first record on this, an old site, for several years.

1st: Three Small Heaths were noteworthy at Pitsford Quarry.


31st: Wood Whites were recorded in Salcey Forest (10), Hazelborough south block (13) and Bucknell Wood (6)

27th: At Old Sulehay were 10+ Dingy Skippers, 8+ Grizzled Skippers, Small Heath,
Brown Argus, Peacock and Large White.
At Fermyn Woods Country Park in the quarry area were c.8 Grizzled Skippers
and c.6 Dingy Skippers. Several Dingy Skippers,
Grizzled Skippers and Green Hairstreaks plus a Small Heath were recorded on Polebrook airfield.

26th: 9 Dingy Skippers and 6 Small Heaths were among species recorded at Twywell hills and Dales.
Four Holly Blues were recorded in Abington Park, Northampton.

25th: A Common Blue was observed on the disused railway line at Brackmills, along with Orange-tips, Large Whites,
Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.
The first Wood White was on the wing in Wicken Wood.
Ten species were recorded on the Twywell Whitestones Transect, notably 28 Dingy Skippers,
10 Green Hairstreaks, a Small Copper and a Small Heath.

19th: Among species seen on the Twywell Whitestones transect were 16 Dingy Skippers,
5 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Green Hairstreaks,Small Copper and Small Heath.. A Small Copper was also seen near Boddington.

16th: A Whitte-letter Hairstreak larva was noted on wych elm on part of the private Yardley Chase estate.

12th: On our field trip to Twywell, 7 Grizzled Skippers, 6 Green Hairstreaks and 2 Dingy Skippers were seen,
but at Fermyn Woods Country Park as the weather closed in only 2 Grizzled Skippers were found.

7th: Three Holly Blues were seen in East Carlton churchyard.
In a Northampton garden was a rare sighting of a couple of Peacocks ‘in cop’.
They settled underneath the arris rail next to a post on a fence where they remained for around 90 minutes.
(Photos by kind permission of Martin Dove).
A Grizzled Skipper was recorded at a new site in Finedon and six were found roosting at Twywell.

6th: The first Dingy Skipper was found at Fermyn Woods Country Park, along with three Grizzled Skippers.
A single of the latter was on the wing at Great Morton Sale and two at Old Sulehay.

5th: Seven Green Hairstreaks and a Grizzled Skipper were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales (different observers).
In Great Doddington churchyard were three Holly Blues and two over-wintered Red Admirals.

4th: A Grizzled Skipper was spotted at Twywell Hills and Dales along with a Peacock.
A Holly Blue was in a New Duston garden.

3rd: Three Green Hairstreaks and a Grizzled Skipper were seen at Twywell hills and Dales
and a further Grizzled Skipper at Fermyn Woods Country Park.
Two Holly Blues were in the old cemetery at Finedon and one in Becket’s Park, Northampton.

2nd: Eleven species were reported today, the best count of the year so far.
Among them were Holly Blues by St Alban’s Church and on the Westone estate in Northampton, in gardens in Rushden,
Thorpe Waterville and Barton Seagrave. Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell were noteworthy in Cogenhoe.

1st: The first Grizzled Skipper was seen at Fermyn Woods Country Park where Red Admiral and Orange-tip were among other species flying.


30th: Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Orange-tip were among species at Finedon Pocket Park.
Speckled Wood was seen at Twywell Hills and Dales, but no Green Hairstreaks or Skippers yet.
Holly Blues were in gardens at Rothwell and Duston. Good numbers of Orange-tips were to be found in Bucknell and Hazelborough Woods.

25th: The first Speckled Wood was seen in Lings Wood, Northampton.

The warmer weather has brought many records of Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell
and Peacock. Thanks to all who have reported them, too numerous to mention here, but do please keep
sending in the sightings to the County Recorder. New species are appearing:

23rd: The first Holly Blue was seen at Ashton near Roade. Green-veined Whites were flying at Cogenhoe
and between Little Benefield and Glapthorn. Orange-tip and Small White were on the wing at Wellingborough.

21st: A Green-veined White was at Burton Latimer Pocket Park. Sixteen Small Tortoiseshells was a
notable count at Ditchford Gravel Pits.

20th: Three new species appeared today for the first time: Small White at Brigstock and Raunds,
Green-veined White at Finedon Pocket Park and Orange-tip on a bridleway near Raunds.

19th: A Large White was seen at Desborough.

16th: A Peacock was seen in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton and a Peacock
and Small Tortoiseshell in Rushden.

15th: A Comma was in a garden in Ashley Way, Northampton and Peacock and Brimstone
in a Wellingborough garden. A Small Tortoiseshell was at Thorpe Waterville
and a Peacock on the old railway line at Thorpe.

14th: On the warmest day of the year so far: New Duston/Harlestone Wood area: 5 Brimstones,
4 Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshell
A Duston garden; Brimstone, 2 Peacocks
Clifford Hill Gravel Pits, Northampton: Brimstone
A private wood near Lowick: Comma, 3 Peacocks
A Lowick garden: Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell
Old Sulehay Forest: a number of Brimstones, 3 Commas, 2 Peacocks
Twywell Whitestones Transect: 3 Brimstones
Barton Seagrave garden: Comma, 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell.

13th: A Brimstone and a Comma were in a Polebrook garden

10th: A Peacock was flying in the grounds of Southwick Hall.
Two Commas, a Peacock and a male Large White were in Weekley Hall Wood.
Two Commas were on the Westone Estate, Northampton.

7th: Small Tortoisehell and Peacock were at Kingsthorpe Nature Reserve,
Peacock and Comma at Lings Wood, Northampton and a Comma at St Crispin’s, Northampton.

6th: The first warm, sunny day for a while brought a number of sightings:
Pitsford Reservoir Nature Reserve: Brimstone and Comma.
Polebrook garden: Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell.
Great Doddington: Brimstone
Sywell garden: Peacock
Summer Leys: two Brimstones
Scaldwell Village Green: Brimstone
Lowick garden: Brimstone
A Small Tortoiseshell was in a garden in Cavendish Drive, Northampton


5th: A male Brimstone was seen flying in a New Duston garden.
Two Brimstones were also seen in another Duston garden, two more in Ashton near Roade,
two (with a Small Tortoiseshell) in a Woodford Halse garden and one in a garden
in Ashley Way, Northampton.
Brimstones were also flying in Thorpe Waterville, Great Doddington, Roade,
Great Billing, Polebrook and Rushden. A Peacock was also seen in Rushden.

4th: A Small Tortoiseshell was seen on the Westone estate in Northampton and a Peacock
was flying in Wellingborough.



19th: A rather weather-beaten Painted Lady was seen flying across a field near Litchborough.
This is the earliest known record of this immigrant species certainly in modern times.
A Small Tortoiseshell was seen in Lings wood, Northampton.

17th: Two Peacocks were seen today, one in a Rothwell garden and the other in Northampton.

4th: A Red Admiral was seen in Pinewood Road, Northampton.



No sightings reported.