Large Skippers at Freshwater. Abandoning my walk along Afton Down to search for Adonis Blue due to low cloud I parked at the National Trust carpark at the foot of the Down. At the rear of the site there were several Large Skippers nectaring on bramble flower. Other species seen included Small Blue and Common Blue. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
 |  |
| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Meadow Browns at Yarmouth.. Not much to see at Bouldnor Forest today.However first sight of the Meadow Brown(3),a female Common Blue,one Green-veined White,and several Speckled Wood. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
Tortoiseshell tryst at Great Fontley. Courting couple of Small Tortoiseshells preoccupied with the Bowles Mauve at Fontley today. Little else on the wing save one Peacock. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
 |
| Small Tortoiseshells courting Photo © Andrew Brookes |
North Baddesley sightings. Seen today on my reserve at North Baddesley first of the season Large Skipper 2,Mother Shipton 2. Also very fresh Red Admiral 1,Small Tortoiseshell 1 and a very light yellowy Brimstone (the third one i have seen here this year).15 species of butterfly including new for the site Grizzled Skipper seen here so far this year.Also seems to be a very good start to the year for reptiles especially Adders here.
If you would like to come and have a look round please email me spark.ky@hotmail.co.uk [Posted by kevin ross]
 |
| Photo © kevin ross |
Fontley first. First Meadow Brown of summer seen in the Great Fontley silage field; Speckled Woods still holding on in the plantation. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Painted Lady arrival at Great Fontley. A rather worn Painted Lady graced the suaveolent Sweet Rocket clump at Great Fontley this afternoon, some hours after a pristine Red Admiral was seen on the same flowers. Also noted was a Small Tortoiseshell returning to the Bowles Mauve about the farmhouse entrance. Conspicuous by their absence were the various whites that had feasted on the Honesty. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
 |  |
| Painted Lady on Sweet Rocket Photo © Andrew Brookes | Painted Lady on Dame's Violet Photo © Andrew Brookes |
Chalton Down, Old Idsworth. In cloudy conditions I visited Chalton Down today. The temperature was15 degrees but with a cold wind and only short sunny intervals only small numbers were seen. Totals: Brimstone 1M, Small White 1, Common Blue 1M, Speckled Wood 1. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Chalton Down, Old Idsworth. After a disappointing visit to Havant Thicket, my father and I visited Chalton Down. Here there were longer sunny spells, the temperature being 16.5 degrees. Male Common Blues and Six Spot Burnet moths were distributed everywhere while an extreme blue form and brown form of Common Blues seen. A male Brimstone attempted to mate with a very worn female. A single fresh Grizzled Skipper was seen. Totals: Brimstone 4M 1F, Large White 1, Small White 2, Orange-tip 1M, Common Blue 20M 2F, Small Heath 3, Grizzled Skipper 1. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Havant Thicket. Today in company with my father, Roy Symonds I visited Havant Thicket around 11.30am. The weather was warm with sunny intervals, the temperature 16 degrees. Despite the apparant favourable conditions only 5 Speckled Woods and 2 Small Whites were recorded along with a female Broad Bodied Chaser dragonfly [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Noar Hill. Today I visited Noar Hill in company with my father Roy Symonds. Arriving at 10.15am the temperature was 16 degrees but had increased to 20 degrees on departure at 12.55pm. Walking almost every area of the site a total of 10 Duke of Burgundys were recorded, mostly in faded condition, while many Small Blues also found on the Western edge of the site. A total of 12 different species were seen. Totals: Brimstone 5M 4F, Large White 3, Small White 3, Orange-tip 3M 3F, Common Blue 10M 3F, Green Hairstreak 2, Small Blue 17, Small Heath 15, Speckled Wood 4, Painted Lady 1, Duke of Burgundy 10, Dingy Skipper 6. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Noar Hill. Visited Noar Hill - principally for orchids but found just a single Duke of Burgundy so they must presumably be finishing at this site? The usual Green Hairstreaks in abundance plus Common Blues and Small Heaths. Also 4-5 Small Blues - not a species I've seen here before but I descended by the more northerly path for the first time and the small group were just by the reserve entrance gate. No photos sadly - had my set up for flowers (close up) so didn't attempt a butterfly as they were very active in the sun anyway. As always a wonderful place to visit but like most places, in desperate need of some rain - the emerging orchids look very stunted. [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
Chalton Down, Old Idsworth. Today in company with father Roy Symonds, I visited Chalton Down. Here the temperature reached 17 degrees following a period of sunny intervals. Several male Common Blues were seen and was pleased to record a single Grizzled Skipper along with a pair of Dingy Skippers. Totals: Brimstone 5M, Large White 4, Small White 2, Orange-tip 1M, Small Heath 4, Speckled Wood 1, Red Admiral 1, Dingy Skipper 2, Grizzled Skipper 1. Day Flying moths: Burnet Companion 5, Six Spot Burnet 43. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Oxenborne Down. Today in company with my father Roy Symonds, I visited Oxenborne Down where the temperature reached 17 degrees. The weather was cloudy with sunny intervals. Much of the scrubby areas here have been cut back creating more open spaces. Several Common Blues were flying and two Dingy Skippers were also seen. Totals: LBrimstone 3M, Large White 1, Speckled Wood 1, Small Heath 5, Common Blue 10M 1F, Dingy Skipper 2. Day Flying Moths: Cinnabar 4, Six Spot Burnet 1, Speckled Yellow 7. [Posted by Richard Symonds]
Martin Down. A visit today from around 10.30am until 14.15 in mostly fine, sunny conditions with a light breeze produced the following: Small Heath 22, Grizzled Skipper 8, Dingy Skipper 6, Small Copper 2, Small Blue 27, Common Blue 12, Adonis Blue 10, Marsh Fritillary 18, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Green Hairstreak 6, and moths Mother Shipton 2, Burnet Companion 10, 5 Spot Burnet 30 (including the ab pictured), Small Yellow Underwing 2, Common Carpet 5. Cinnabar 12. [Posted by Mark Pike]
 |  |  |
| Adonis Blues Photo © Mark Pike | Marsh Fritillary Photo © Mark Pike | Five Spot Burnet. ab minioides Photo © Mark Pike |
Great Fontley sightings. Great surprise today to see a Small Tortoiseshell, in perfect condition, nectaring on Bowles Mauve. Other thrills included a Holly Blue ovipositing on Dogwood flowerbuds, almost numerous Orange-tips, several Brimstones, and a tatty Peacock nectaring on White Dead-Nettle.
Elsewhere, a Small Heath was seen on a silage field at Bere Farm in the Wallington valley, a 'first' for this site. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
First Hawkmoth of 2025. This fine Poplar Hawk was the first hawkmoth of 2025 to be found in our moth trap here in Church Crookham. No doubt others have seen these already this year, and perhaps other early hawk species too, but it was a nice find nonetheless. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |
| Poplar Hawk Moth Photo © Michael Jameson |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. My last UK butterfly wander for some four weeks realised sighting of 10 species. With the temperature up to 22 deg C and in full sun, from 12:35-14:45 I circulated both northern and southern sectors. In one small enclosed field (northern area) not one of the target species (Common Blue) was seen but I was compensated by my first Painted Lady of the season and a very unusual butterfly here, Grizzled Skipper. The Painted Lady was very fidgety and gave me a torrid time; indeed, my macro lens seemingly wasn't the right one today as most of the butterflies left on my approach! Must try harder. Total: Comma (1); Holly Blue (3); Green Hairstreak (1); Painted Lady (1); Grizzled Skipper (1); Speckled Wood (14); Small White (3); Common Blue (F)(1)(M)(1); Orange-tip (M)(2); Red Admiral (2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
 |  |  |
| Holly Blue Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady Photo © Francis Plowman | Grizzled Skipper Photo © Francis Plowman |
More Marsh Fritillary at Martin Down. I made a further visit to Martin Down, in expectation of somewhat warmer and less windy conditions today, but still found the area affected by periodic gusts of wind, and butterflies were once again largely confined to areas sheltered from the wind. Even so, Marsh Fritillary was found in considerable numbers, and far more numerous than in either of the two preceding years, an encouraging sign given 2024's extremely poor butterfly numbers overall. These images were all taken in the area of the WWII rifle ranges, which being largely sheltered, contained the greatest concentration of butterflies, with several females also observed egg-laying. Other species found included Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, and Common Blue. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |  |
| Marsh Fritillary - Martin Down Photo © Michael Jameson | Marsh Fritillary (2) Photo © Michael Jameson | Marsh Fritillary (3) Photo © Michael Jameson |
Browndown (North) Gosport. Ninety minutes' circulation around the southern sector realised sightings of seven species. From 1410 with the temperature around 18 deg C with a fairly hefty breeze at times it was noticeable how little flora was available. Some vetch seen but most flora was the amazing blossom on Hawthorn. Total: Small White (1); Speckled Wood (7); Large White (1); Brimstone (M)(1); Common Blue (M)(5); Small Copper (3); Orange-tip (M)(2). [Posted by Francis PLOWMAN]
 |  |  |
| Fresh Common Blue male Photo © Francis PLOWMAN | Diminutive Small Copper Photo © Francis PLOWMAN | Male Common Blue underwing Photo © Francis PLOWMAN |
Martin Down. A trip to my favourite Hampshire site this morning. The highlight was undoubtedly the early Marsh Fritillary - I found 20+ of these all looking fresh in the last rifle range away from Sillens Lane. Otherwise the usual suspects with plenty of Dingy Skippers, Grizzled Skippers, Green Hairstreaks and Small Heaths - the latter probably into three figures. If there was a disappointment it was the lack of Blues - I only saw 2 Common Blues (although to be fair it was early in the day). The Down itself looks parched and the wild flowers, orchids etc in desperate need of some rain! [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
 |  |  |
| Dingy Skipper - Martin Down Photo © Mark Wagstaff | Marsh Fritillary - Martin Down Photo © Mark Wagstaff | Green Hairstreak - Martin Down Photo © Mark Wagstaff |
Pearl Bordered Fritillaries - Brockenhurst Inclosures. My first visit of 2025 to the inclosures around Brockenhurst took place during searing heat around a week ago. Pearl-bordered Fritillary were on the wing, but not in great numbers, and those seen flew rapidly up and down the forest rides, and never paused to take nectar, making photography all but impossible. Returning again today, however, many more PBFs were found, with the New Copse (south of the main railway line), Pignal, and Ranmor Inclosures all proving to be particularly rewarding, and I succeeded in getting a good selection of detailed images, of which a few appear below. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |  |
| Pearl Bordered Fritillary - New Copse Inclosure Photo © Michael Jameson | Pearl Bordered Fritillary (US) - Ranmor Inclosure Photo © Michael Jameson | Pearl Bordered Fritillary - Pignal Inclosure Photo © Michael Jameson |
Marsh Fritillaries at Martin Down. Despite today's sudden unseasonable weather conditions, I visited Martin Down in the hope of finding Marsh Fritillary recently emerged and in good photographic condition. To say that trying to find them in the teeth of a howling gale and with unexpectedly low temperatures dictated by the very cold winds was difficult would be an understatement! But, after an hour's searching, I did eventually locate them within the old WWII buttressed areas which were once used as firing ranges, where the butterflies were found sheltering in the long grasses, and only very occasionally taking flight, and who could blame them for that! Nevertheless, a couple of decent images were obtained, and I imagine that anybody visiting this site on a similar quest during the next two weeks or so, and given fine weather, will have no difficulty in finding this species in reasonable numbers this year. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |
| Marsh Fritillary at Martin Down Photo © Michael Jameson | Marsh Fritillary at Martin Down (US) Photo © Michael Jameson |
More Compton Bay Glanvilles. Two more fresh and pristine Glanville Fritillary from my photo-haul on Saturday 3rd May. All were found to be in superb condition, and newly emerged, with no scales missing and ideal photographic subjects. These two were noted on the steep chalk footpath which leads down from the Freshwater Golf Course to the Military Road. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |
| Glanville Fritillary - Compton Bay Photo © Michael Jameson | Glanville Fritillary - Compton Bay Photo © Michael Jameson |
Small Blue - Compton Bay IOW. My annual Glanville Fritillary pilgrimage also brought opportunities to get close up and personal with several other less glamorous but equally fascinating species, including the Small Blue. These were found widely across the area, from the golf course slopes where there is sufficient hedgerow coverage, down to the grassy slopes adjacent to the cliff edge. Fast moving and feisty, these little butterflies are always a delight to see! [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |  |
| Small Blue (M) head on view Photo © Michael Jameson | Small Blue (M) Photo © Michael Jameson | Small Blue (M) under side Photo © Michael Jameson |
Glanville Fritillaries at Compton Down, IOW. With the weather still set fair, I determined to make my annual pilgrimage to the IOW today in the hope of once again locating and photographing Glanville Fritillarys around Compton Down, close to the south-western extremity of the island. After a pleasant walk from the ferry at Yarmouth, my first sighting occurred on the Freshwater Golf Course, and after crossing over the Military Road and descending towards Compton Bay itself, the Glanvilles were present in greater numbers than I had ever seen them there in previous years. All were remarkably fresh and photogenic specimens, with quite a number clearly very newly emerged. Once again, a memorable excursion in search of one of our region's most iconic species. [Posted by Michael Jameson]
 |  |  |
| Glanville Fritillary - Compton Chine Photo © Michael Jameson | Glanville Fritillary (U/S) Photo © Michael Jameson | Mating pair - female to left of picture Photo © Michael Jameson |