Common Blue at Portchester. Contender for the last Common Blue sighting is the male seen at Castle Shore Park, Portchester, dodging the showers this afternoon; no other butterflies seen anywhere. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. A record I omitted posting at the time. 1340-1430 with a temperature of 15.5 deg C under bright skies just two butterflies recorded. Total: Small Copper (1); Speckled Wood (F)(1). The curtain almost down on the year........ [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small Copper Photo © Francis Plowman | SC on Ragwort (?) Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood female Photo © Francis Plowman |
Havant Thicket. Walked today around Havant Thicket following the main circular path. The temperature was 13 degrees. A total of only 5 Speckled Woods recorded. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Late Peacock at Great Fontley. A very late (or second brood?) immaculate Peacock at Great Fontley, seen imbibing from Buddleja 'Border Beauty' coming to the end of its month-long repeat flowering. Also seen were two Red Admiral. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
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| Peacock on Buddleja 'Border Beauty' Photo © Andrew Brookes |
Meonshore Beach to Brownwich Cliffs, Titchfield Haven. Seven species seen here on 11th October topped today by eight! This area clearly provides a warm and weather-protected habitat which is patently prolonging butterfly lifespan. No Peacock today but a female Common Blue and a male Brimstone provided adequate compensation. Small White and Clouded Yellow are making the most of the flowers and Red Admiral are feeding hungrily on ivy floret particularly on the narrow cliff top footpath. So, from 1145-1315 with temperature ranging from 13-15 deg C with a cool NW breeze, numbers totalled: Small White (14); Clouded Yellow (9); Large White (2); Red Admiral (4); Small Copper (1); Common Blue (F)(1); Brimstone (M)(1); Speckled Wood (M)(1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Male Clouded Yellow Photo © Francis Plowman | Female Common Blue Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral on ivy floret Photo © Francis Plowman |
surprising sighting North Baddesley. today on my reserve at north baddesley a surprising sighting of humming bird hawk moth.it was dreary and drizzling so a pleasant surprise.apologies for photo! [Posted by Kevin Ross]
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| Photo © Kevin Ross |
Humming-bird Hawk-moth in Hook in the rain. Just before 5pm today my wife spotted through the window a large insect flying around a Buddleia bush in our garden here in Hook, NE Hampshire (SU 72 54). The sky was dull and it was raining fairly heavily. I went out to have a closer look and had a clear view of a Humming-bird Hawk-moth. [Posted by Peter Vaughan]
Late sightings at Magdalen Hill Down. I was pleasantly surprised to find a male Clouded Yellow, a Red Admiral, a Peacock, one female and three male Small Coppers, a female Meadow Brown, a male Brown Argus and a fresh female Common Blue at Magdalen on 11th October. [Posted by Lee Hurrell]
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| Common Blue, female, Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 11th October 2020 Photo © Lee Hurrell | Small Copper, male, Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 11th October 2020 Photo © Lee Hurrell | Small Copper, female, Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 11th October 2020 Photo © Lee Hurrell |
Portsdown Hill. A walk today around the East end of Portsdown Hill following the path immediately above Queen Alexandra Hospital. A poor count with only a single Large White and Red Admiral recorded. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Meonshore Beach to Brownwich Cliffs, Titchfield Haven. The effort expended walking the beach towards Brownwich was rewarded this afternoon with a sighting of seven species. From 1230-1425, in a westerly breeze with a temperature range from 14-16 degrees Celsius and good sunshine I found plenty of interest. The first of six Clouded Yellow was not seen until I had reached the end of the cliffs where Brownwich stream reaches the sea. The area around the stream was shielded from the breeze and very warm; it provided habitat for Small Copper, Peacock and Speckled Wood. More Clouded Yellow were counted here also. The cliff-top verges (left of the path towards the caravan park) were covered in dandelion and a male Clouded Yellow entertained my approach and photography. Then it zipped up and finding another Yellow tumbled for a second or two and crashed into the grass; before I could get to my knees and walk the three metres to my right the Clouded Yellows were coupled! And there they remained for over half an hour before I retraced my steps. Total: Small White (6)(5)(M)(1)(F); Large White (2); Clouded Yellow (6)(F)(1); Small Copper (3); Peacock (1); Speckled Wood (1)(F); Red Admiral (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Pretty fresh Small Copper Photo © Francis Plowman | Nice day for it! Photo © Francis Plowman | Not quite as pretty as a Peacock! Photo © Francis Plowman |
Fritham Plain, New Forest. Small Copper basking in bright sunshine on heather; Speckled Wood on bracken fronds;
Red Admiral chasing through the holly pollards on a fine autumn morning. [Posted by Robert Bryant]
The last moth trap...... It's getting very cold in these Autumnal nights now and consequently the totals of moths seen in my Moth trap are rapidly dwindling. The only moths present were Black Rustics about 6-9 of these and several Green Bridled Crescent's. [Posted by Ashley Whitlock]
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| Green Bridled Crescent Photo © Ashley Whitlock | Black Rustic Photo © Ashley Whitlock |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. A brief check on my local haunt (1252-1335) with the temperature now 15.5C in sunshine and as ever well sheltered from the breeze. Just four butterflies counted but my first sighting of an autumnal Comma was most welcome although it never settled. Total: Speckled Wood (4)(1F; 3M); Large White (2) (1M; 1F); Small White (3)(M); Comma (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Large White Male Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White male on Mallow Photo © Francis Plowman |
Browndown (South) Gosport. Would it be three out of three for Clouded Yellow? Walking into Browndown South from the Elmore gate the SW wind was very strong and cool with a temperature in the sun around 15 deg C. I circulated the heathers, stony paths and top field before walking the main path back to the gate. Not a thing. Then, just before reaching the gate along comes a Clouded Yellow and briefly lands in a patch of cleared scrub. A distant photograph only but the yellows are definitely still on the coastal strip of Hampshire. [Posted by Francis Plowman]
Gilkicker Point, Gosport. From 1115-1145 I ventured towards the fort and scrub surrounding it and once again was rewarded by a sighting of two Clouded Yellow butterflies. Very little flora left and they were moving rapidly. The SW breeze was cool off the sea so doubtless they were not crossing the channel today! Total: Red Admiral (3); Small White (M)(3); Clouded Yellow (2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Clouded Yellow male Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Kestrel with lunch! Photo © Francis Plowman |
Haslar Sea Wall Car Park Scrub - Gosport. In search of Clouded Yellow I quartered the small scrubby field beyond Haslar Sea Wall Car Park from 1048-1105. It was 14.5C, sunny but breezy yet the target butterfly was soon spotted. A male Clouded Yellow was feeding hungrily on dandelion-type flowers and clover. The sun shining from behind it showed-up its wing-edged spots and a lucky mid-air shot provided confirmation. Total: Clouded Yellow (M)(1); Small White (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Clouded Yellow male Photo © Francis Plowman | Flukey mid-air shot Photo © Francis Plowman |
Hillier Gardens, Braishfield. Linda and I made a brief visit to Hillier Gardens, Braishfield, this afternoon, and in lovely warm sunshine were pleased to find several butterflies still on the wing. Red Admiral (4) were strongly attracted to the nectar of Colletia hystrix 'rosea', plus a singleton on Michaelmas Daisies. Speckled Wood (2) were seen basking and making short flights, whilst a single Vapourer moth completed the Lepidoptera list. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Red Admiral on Colletia Photo © Andy Barker | Speckled Wood basking Photo © Andy Barker |
Clouded Yellow Butterfly near Rotherwick. I saw a Clouded Yellow in the afternoon of 7th October in the fields near Rotherwick, just north of North Runten's Copse/ College Copse Farm (SU 718 552). It was flying rapidly north-westwards, around a metre or so above the ground - too fast for a photograph. This species rarely makes an appearance around this part of NE Hampshire and this is the a first time I've seen it in the area. The only other butterlies I saw were a couple of Red Admirals. [Posted by Peter Vaughan]
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. Six butterfly species identified this afternoon (1310-1430) when the temperature had reached a pleasant 17 deg C, virtually nil breeze and mostly sunshine. Both male and female Speckled Wood noted and all in good condition. The Peacock, warming on a tarmac path, was almost stood upon and flew off in disgust! Plenty of Ivy bedecked trees all covered in sticky florets so hopefully we will be seeing more Red Admirals feeding on it. Totals: Red Admiral (1); Common Blue (M)(1); Small Copper (1); Small White (8); Speckled Wood (6); Peacock (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral on Ivy Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Copper Photo © Francis Plowman |
Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill. A 45 minutes circulation of the fields to the north of the fort from noon accounted for four species. This was more than anticipated given the significant SW breeze and temperature of 16 deg C. However, the sun shone and there was much flora still available. Totals: Small White (F)(1); Small Copper (1); Common Blue (M)(2); Large White (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small White female on Scabiosa Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue male on Dandelion Photo © Francis Plowman |
Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill. A 45 minutes circulation of the fields to the north of the fort from noon accounted for four species. This was more than anticipated given the significant SW breeze and temperature of 16 deg C. However, the sun shone and there was much flora still available. Totals: Small White (F)(1); Small Copper (1); Common Blue (M)(2); Large White (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small White female on Scabiosa Photo © Francis Plowman | Common Blue male on Dandelion Photo © Francis Plowman |
Eastney Beach. A quick stroll around my local patch, on Eastney Beach there were several Clouded Yellow's, which were in an area where the beach has overgrown with many wildflowers and grasses. A Walk further around to Fort Cumberland nature reserve there were several Small Whites, and a female Small Copper and female and male Common Blues. [Posted by Ashley Whitlock]
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| Clouded Yellow Photo © Ashley Whitlock | Small Copper Photo © Ashley Whitlock | Female Common Blue Photo © Ashley Whitlock |
Unexpected Garden Visitor; Lee on the Solent. After all the recent appalling weather a bit of warm Autumn sun brought out a first for our Lee on Solent garden today - a Clouded Yellow. I was very fortunate to spot it as you can see from what it was feeding on and it only stayed for a minute or so before heading off high towards the coast [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
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| Clouded Yellow - Lee on Solent Photo © Mark Wagstaff | Clouded Yellow - Lee on Solent Photo © Mark Wagstaff |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. October's sighting record underway with five species surprisingly still surviving here after the storm of recent hours. As soon as today's rain stopped I went out from 1350-1535 (14.5C under gloomy skies with some weak sunshine occasionally). It was pleasing to see a Red Admiral which I found feeding on Blackberries of which many still abound. Totals: Small White (4); Common Blue (F)(1)(M)(3); Red Admiral (1); Speckled Wood (3)(F)(1); Large White (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Common Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood female Photo © Francis Plowman |