Lincolnshire latest sightings

This page is dedicated to sharing first butterfly & moth sightings, unusual sightings and indeed anything you feel might be of interest to others!

 

If you have any news about what you have seen or if you have a photo to share, please send to:

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If you have been recording butterfly and/or moth sightings throughout the year and wish to send them to us, please see our recording page. We use this information to monitor how well different species are faring, and concentrate our effort on the butterflies and moths that need the most help.

Please Note: These sightings are not picked up as actual records - Please send a full record, with all details, for any of this year's sightings.

We welcome any photos you send in. However, any photo sent is on the understanding that the Branch has permission to use it to promote Lepidoptery in all media forms.

September 2024

Sunday 8th September 2024

Derek Fox emailed: “It was a nice surprise to see a Painted Lady in the garden today, nectaring on my Black Knight Buddleia for about 2 hours. The last one I saw was on 1st August.”
 

John Davison had a successful larvae hunt at Messingham Sand Quarries and found these - Buff tip moth, Elephant Hawk moth, Peppered moth and Iron Prominent

Saturday 7th September 2024: Convolvulus Hawk-moths in Grimsby and Clifden Nonpareil at Nettleton!

Josh Forrester from Grimsby messaged: "Two Convolvulus Hawk-moths in the garden this evening."

Kev Armstrong from Nettleton messaged: "Very little of interest in the garden traps this morning, until the second one revealed an immaculate Clifden Nonpareil."

Friday 6th September 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Finally, a decent spell of September sun! So, with the mercury (or mobile weather application) reading 22 degrees Centigrade, a trip to Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve was in order. At first it seemed rather quiet, and the third brood Small Coppers were playing hard to get, but a slow walk over the heath gradually produced a tally of 12. Besides these, there were a couple of Small Heath and singles of both Large and Small White. And once over the heathland, a female Meadow Brown was a nice surprise at this late date. A walk around the visitors' route produced several additional species, Speckled Wood being the most numerous with 14. Most of these are looking well past their best now, which was in sharp contrast to the 2 amazingly fresh Commas that were enjoying the profusion of overripe blackberries. Also making the most of this bountiful crop was a Red Admiral. A couple of Peacocks were also flying over the briars, but they didn't alight for sustenance. All the way around the walk was a smattering of Whites, the majority (9) being Green-veined, but there were 3 Large and 1 Small White, too. Apart from that, Brimstone was the only other species encountered." 

Peter Cawdell reported: "Rick Camm emailed me his latest sightings on his local patch at Osbournby Hill Top, south of Sleaford. Today he recorded the following butterflies in this area: 53 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Small Heath, 5 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Comma, with 'good numbers' of Large and Small Whites. The farmer had, unfortunately, recently ploughed up the set-aside clover/trefoil mix field to return it to agriculture. However he has left a wide strip near the top which is where the Blues are now cantering their attention and, luckily with the timing, being able to deposit their eggs.

Derek Fox emailed: " At last a warm sunny day brought out a few more butterflies in my Langworth garden. 14 Red Admirals some really fresh and colourful, 5 Small Tortoieseshells, the most I have seen of the second brood one of which was very small, 2 Commas, one Peacock, and 15 assorted Whites, Large, Small and Green-veined."

Wednesday 4th September 2024

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I managed to get down the coast again, this time in the company of Chris Atkin. The weather wasn’t ideal for butterflies, and although it was pleasant and sunny first thing, it gradually deteriorated as the day progressed. Therefore, we spent most of the time birding the coastal scrub from Sea Lane at Saltfleet, south to Rimac. We noted lots of common migrants, which included 5 Redstarts, 3 Whinchats at 2 Wheatears. At Sea View we had a Pied Flycatcher and 3 Spotted Flycatchers, with one of the latter seen to take a Large White and swallow it whole! During a brief sunny spell, we checked the Ivy at Haven Bank, and still managed a decent count of 22 Red Admirals along with a single Painted Lady. An unexpected find here was a Willow Emerald damselfy. Between Rimac and Sea View, a few Common Blues, Speckled Woods and Meadow Browns were still on the wing, and it was refreshing to see lots of Whites of all three species flying in all areas, even when conditions turned decidedly gloomy. Additionally, we had an Angle Shades moth and yet another Wasp Spider near Rimac car park, and, nearby along Willow Hedge, we came across a female, final instar nymph, Long-winged Conehead."

Phil Bowler emailed: "As is so often the case, the third (autumn) brood of the Small Copper makes up for the lack of numbers beforehand in our Amber Hill garden. In fact, prior to today, we had only seen one Small Copper in the garden this year. Today though heralds the start of their third brood, with no less than 4 seen throughout the garden, proving that a few must have been around earlier in the year. A fantastic sight! Also saw a brand new Painted Lady, very scarce this year. There is also a sudden large increase of Small, and to a lesser extent, Large Whites. I read in the Sussex equivalent of these pages that over 400 had been seen recently coming in from the coast."

Monday 2nd September 2024

Mark Brandon messaged: "20 Red Admirals along Ivy hedge to Sea View work base."

John Walker messaged: "15 Red Admirals in Coastguard gardens at Churchill Lane this morning, my highest count this year!"

August 2024

Saturday 31st August 2024

Stephen Thompson emailed: "I trapped at Woodhall Spa Golf Club this evening, the highlights being Purple Bar, and two new for the site, Southern Wainscot and Treble-bar."

Friday 30th August 2024

Dave Wright reported: "With September almost upon us and a warm and sunny day forecast for the Linconshire coast today, I decided to visit Saltfleet-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR in the hope of seeing a few late summer butterflies. I'd arranged to meet up with Owen Beaumont at 10:30 to walk the transect at Rimac, but prior to this, I had a stroll along a short section of Haven Bank in Saltfleet. It was a wise move, as a few patches of flowering Ivy produced a staggering 48 Red Admirals, 2 Peacocks, and 2 Small Tortoiseshells. I also noted the following in the immediate area: 4 Large White, 9 Small White, 2 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood. The transect itself resulted in the following records: 95 butterflies of 11 species: 1 Small Skipper, 1 Large White, 10 Small White, 18 Green-veined White, 20 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 11 Speckled Wood, 22 Meadow Brown, and 2 Small Heath. Following the transect I walked north towards Sea View and Paradise and had similar butterflies and numbers to those at Rimac, but with the addition of a pristine Brown Argus, 2 Holly Blue, and a Wall, the latter being the only one of the day. Still lots of dragonflies on the reserve, the highlight being 4 Willow Emerald damselflies, and it was great to see 2 Wasp Spiders hanging on in the Rimac area."

John Walker messaged: "13 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 5 Red Admiral, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Peacock in the garden count today at Coastguard Cottages, Churchill Lane."

Thursday 29th August 2024

Phil Bowler emailed: "I went over to Snakeholme Pit this afternoon and was greeted by the largest Brown Hairstreak I've ever seen - it was more or less Meadow Brown size! She did settle but a combination of wind, me fiddling with my camera, and a rogue Speckled Wood shooing it off, meant that I did not get a picture. She was fairly fresh, but what a size! Very little else about. The aforementioned Speckled Wood totalled 5, all fresh, as were the Green-veined White (17) - new brood? Just 2 Large Whites and 7 Small. The only other species seen were one each of Common Blue, Red Admiral, Latticed Heath, and Meadow Brown (genuine article!)."

Roy Harvey emailed: "I visited Nettleton LNR mid-afternoon today, not really expecting to see much, due to the time of year. Indeed, there were not many butterflies around, but I was pleased to see my first Brown Argus of the year, as well as a few Common Blues. A pair of mating Green-veined White was an unexpected surprise. Otherwise, 3 Speckled Wood and 1 Small Copper were the only other confirmed species."

Wednesday 28th August 2024

Cliff Morrison messaged: "This morning I had my first migrant Convolvulus Hawk-moth of the year in my dune trap at Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. Also, Dusky Thorn and Old Lady, which is uncommon here."

Bank Holiday Monday 26th August 2024

Andy Spragg emailed: "Seen today in a garden in Pinchbeck (we're only here for the day), one each of Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Small White (female). I don't know what the Small Tortoiseshell situation is in Lincs, but round our way in South Bucks, they're pretty rare these days, so I thought it was worth passing on the sighting."

Owen Beaumont messaged: "A Painted Lady at Rimac this morning."

Roy Harvey emailed: "I had a walk along Owmby Wold Lane today, just north of where I live. Was pleased to come upon a few butterflies. I counted 15 Speckled Wood and 12 Green-veined White, plus 1 Red Admiral. Also, a few Large and Small Whites around."

Graham Catley emailed: "A mixture of Small and Green-veined Whites (see attached), having a get together today in Barton. No real count, but seems to be good numbers of both at the moment after such a dismal spring/summer."

Sunday 25th August 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "I visited Welton-le-Wold Old Gravel Pits this morning (with kind permission of the owner), taking along Laura Gundy who I hoped would emulate her feat of last year in finding me a Wall Brown along the cliff face of this very suitable habitat. Unfortunately I think we were a little late, and Dave Wright was not wrong in his prediction of us failing, as the Walls he visits regularly on the adjacent Lincs coast have all but finished in their second brood. Also the weather was, yet again, not that good with some sunshine, but stronger winds than most butterflies can tolerate. However, I always enjoy monitoring this varied site where you feel anything could turn up. All things considered we were quite pleased with our final tally of 46 butterflies of 10 species. We recorded a late Peacock, 4 Red Admirals (3 on a buddleia), 8 Speckled Woods (part of a fresh new brood), 3 very late Meadow Brown, a couple of Gatekeeper, a few Whites - 2 Large, 3 Small and 4 Green-veined. Most numerous were 18 pretty Common Blue (3 of which were females). A new species for the year at this site was a faded Holly Blue that Laura spotted, well hidden and engrossed in feeding on bramble flowers. We also had great views of a pair of Red Kites (but don't tell the active gamekeeper!). So I must try again next year and I live in hope that soon Wall butterflies will make a sustained comeback inland from where they disappeared 20 years ago.

Friday 23rd August 2024:Lincolnshire Butterfly Challenge!

Toby Ludlow messaged: "I've watched a fair bit of sport on the telly over the summer, so was eager for a bit of competition myself. Therefore, I decided to see just how many species of butterfly I could see at this time of year in one day in Lincolnshire. With the summer species fast disappearing, I pondered over the question of just how many species it could be possible to see in one day: 10? 15? 20? More? After some thought, I reckoned that 20 would be pushing it somewhat, and that all of the planets would need to align in order for me to get close to that. Nevertheless, and in true Olympic fashion, I decided on a personal challenge based on three award levels: Bronze - for 10 species; Silver - for 15 species; and Gold - for seeing 20 different species. With the ground rules set, it was now time for action. Or so I thought!!! I had not made allowances for the weather. With a Fresh Breeze blowing all morning and gusting over 70mph for large parts of it, the challenge immediately stalled. It was not until the afternoon that the wind gusts were forecast to drop below 40mph, so what initially was going to be a full-day challenge turned into a half-day challenge.

With the morning session a write-off, I headed to Chambers Farm Wood for the afternoon - the best place to see a good range of species, in my humble opinion. Starting in the Butterfly Garden, I didn't get off to a flyer! There wasn't a single nymphalid there, but after a quarter of an hour there I had managed to see all three species of White, and there was a solitary male Brimstone in there too. The only other butterfly in the garden was a male Common Blue, which favoured the Common Fleabane on which to nectar. So I was now on 5 species.

I left the garden behind and set off into the wood proper. By now the wind had dropped to an acceptable level and there was more blue sky than cloud, so at least the weather was finally behaving. No sooner in the wood and the Speckled Woods started to appear. Over the course of the afternoon it turned into the "Speckled Wood Show", which was just as well because there were very few butterflies about, besides these. A walk along the main stone track up to Fiveways was largely in shade, due to the position of the sun and the orientation of the ride. However, here, I did disturb a faded, male Silver-washed Fritillary, and shortly thereafter located a Comma resting on a Bramble leaf, which was even more faded, if that was possible! Before reaching Fiveways, a small butterfly was blown by the wind, across the path just in front of me. It battled for control against the elements, but managed to regain composure and land on a Bramble leaf: it was a female Brown Hairstreak! It was not long before she was off and headed towards a clump of Blackthorn, no doubt in search of egg-laying locations. Momentarily, this caused me to look skyward, and something caught my eye high up around an Ash tree - it was 4 Purple Hairstreaks glinting in the sunlight. With this species under my belt, I was starting to feel pleased with my results so far: I hadn't even got to Fiveways, but had seen 10 species. The "bronze" was in the bag! And, several of the species I had seen so far were the ones on my target list that I thought would be tricky to find. Conversely, I hadn't seen a Meadow Brown, a Skipper, or a Gatekeeper. How this would come back to haunt me...

I pushed on. At Fiveways I had another bit of luck: 2 more female Brown Hairstreaks down low, but no new species, alas. In fact, I didn't record another new species until I got to Minting Triangle, where I found a Peacock doing its best impression to hide atop a Devil's-bit Scabious bloom in a dark, shady spot. Up to this point, apart from the aforementioned Speckled Woods, very little was on the wing: the absence of nymphalids was notable, and I hadn't seen a single Red Admiral, which until recently had been ubiquitous on the stretch up to Minting Triangle. Further on, past the triangle, I finally added Gatekeeper to my list, when a male took to the air, but its flight was half-hearted, to say the least, and I don't think there was much life left in this individual. In contrast, at the far extremity of my walk, I disturbed a really fresh Small Tortoiseshell, which was full of vim and vigour and sped off into the distance. By now it was time to turn round and head back to the car. I tallied up and confirmed my haul of 13 species so far. The cloud was thickening again, and it was starting to become quite overcast. As I walked back, I bumped into Pete Smith, who hadn't fared as well as I had done, especially on the hairstreak front. We walked back to the car park together and decided on another quick look around the Butterfly Garden, which coincided with a spell of sunnier weather. Fortunately, there were a few more butterflies about this time: a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell, and then eventually a Red Admiral was seen gliding around. Whilst there, I told Pete about a previous Small Copper sighting I had had in the Butterfly Garden, and pointed to the spot where it had been. To our amazement there was a Small Copper nectaring on Common Fleabane, close to where I had indicated. With the species count now on 15, and "clutching the silver", it was starting to get serious! Thoughts turned to those other species that potentially I could find; I still hadn't seen a Meadow Brown or a Skipper!!! As we walked around the Butterfly Garden, several more Common Blues were showing, including a couple of nicely-marked females from either end of the colour spectrum: one really blue and the other quite brown. It was then that I spotted a Brown Argus, which was flying low to the ground and particularly interested in one of the flower beds. It turned out that she was a female and we witnessed her egg-laying on Common Rock-rose, the traditional larval foodplant for this species. This one made it 16 species now, so I thought my best option would be to depart and call in at Moor Farm Nature Reserve on the way home, to hopefully add a couple more species. Just as we were preparing to leave, we spotted a female Brown Hairstreak fluttering near to the gate into the Butterfly Garden, a new species for the day for Pete. This was closely followed by an appearance from a Purple Hairstreak in the garden, which we saw probing around on one of the tall Rudbeckia blooms, also a new species for the day for Pete. We both departed Chambers and I headed for Moor Farm.

Once at Moor Farm Nature Reserve, it took less than five minutes to add Meadow Brown and Small Heath to my list, as I now inched closer to the dream goal of 20. I could only think of one other species that I thought I could gain at Moor Farm, which was Small Skipper. I knew it wouldn't be easy, as I saw very few of them on a previous visit. However, persistence finally paid off after half an hour, largely through experience of knowing the site really well and the best locations to try. I was now on 19 species, and the target was tantalisingly close, but I was running out of daylight. I thought about the species that were left that I could realistically see: Wall, Essex Skipper, Painted Lady, or Holly Blue. I wasn't prepared to include Clouded Yellow, as it has had a "shocker" of a year and very few have been seen in the southern counties, let alone sightings in Lincolnshire. At this late hour, I wasn't prepared for a journey to the coast, which would have almost guaranteed a Wall and would have been my best prospect for an Essex Skipper sighting, if it isn't too late in the year already for the latter! You can call it lack of commitment (you know who you are!😁), but I decided to draw stumps and go home, content in the knowledge that I'd given it a fair crack. There was the slim chance of a Holly Blue in my garden after all, and once at home I spent a good 20 minutes scouring the Viburnum bush, often a favourite haunt of the Holly Blue. However, as time ticked on, it was just not meant to be, and I finished on a respectable 19 species. And, although just missing out on the "gold", in true British style, I did allow myself a celebratory glass of the amber nectar!

In summary, the challenge turned out to be great fun. So why not give it a go and see how you get on, before the summer comes to an end. At the moment I think there is a remote possibility of seeing 23 species in Lincolnshire in one day, but you will need to put in some effort, or have some amazing luck! Remember, time for Small and Essex Skipper is fast running out. And the days for Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper are numbered, too! 

Stop Press: I don't believe it! It's fate! Went out to the car at 18:45, with the light fading, only to find a pale salmon-coloured butterfly flying around my car, looking for somewhere to roost up. It finally settled for a position on my bungalow wall. Species number 20, a Painted Lady and the "gold" snatched from the jaws of defeat!!!"

Wednesday 21st August 2024

Roy Harvey emailed: "Today I saw a single Common Blue along the sea wall between Killingholme & Immingham."

Tuesday 20th August 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Following an early afternoon deluge, the thick cloud finally moved on and the skies cleared mid-afternoon, so I nipped over to Kirkby Moor to see what was on the wing. The result was "not a lot" and the place had an end-of-season feel to it. A walk over the heathland did produce some butterflies, but they were very sparsely distributed. Incredibly, there were still some second brood (summer) Small Coppers making the most of the Heather in bloom, and I managed to see 9 different individuals, which included 2 females that were searching out Sheep's Sorrel on which to lay their eggs. Apart from that, there were only singletons of Comma, Red Admiral and Meadow Brown, and a brace of Small Tortoiseshells. The latter were really fresh, so hopefully there are more to emerge in the coming days. 

Monday 19th August 2024

Owen Beaumont messaged: "The butterfly transects are becoming quiet now. I had 69 individuals of 9 species today at Rimac: 3 Small Skipper, 3 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Small White, 3 Green-veined white, 17 Common Blue, 3 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 4 Wall, 8 Gatekeeper and 25 Meadow Brown. Also, 2 Small Tortoiseshells on the cleared dune frontage at Brickyard Lane."

Chris Atkin messaged: "2 fresh Small Tortoiseshells at Rimac today, the first near the MOD Track, and the second along Willow Hedge."

Sunday 18th August 2024

Toby Ludlow from Coningsby messaged: "Not many butterflies in the garden today, but there were 2 fresh Small Tortoiseshells, which was noteworthy given their scarcity this year."

Saturday 17th August 2024

Roy Harvey emailed: "On a visit to Frampton Marsh RSPB today, we saw 2 Eyed Hawk-moth caterpillars near the car park, one of which was showing really well."

Pete Roworth messaged: "Small Tortoiseshell this morning at Sea View, the first I've seen for a long time!" 

Friday 16th August 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Today Rick Camm reported to me from his local site, Osbounby Hill Top, where he found 71 Common Blues and 13 Brown Argus. Good to see these species are doing well there, as they have been generally struggling for any numbers at many County locations so far this year."

John Walker messaged: "2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths on the buddleias in my garden at Coastguard Cottages, Churchill Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."

Wednesday 14th August 2024

Dave Wright reported: "Following the success of the 'Great Butterfly Conservation Open Day' at Rimac/Sea View, I decided to return this morning in the company of Chris Atkin. Unfortunately, the glorious weather that blessed the event last Sunday failed to materialise today, although as the day progressed, the cool NE breeze did lighten, and the initial cloud was replaced with warm sunny periods. We noted similar butterfly species to that of Sunday, but not surprisingly reduced in numbers. However, we did see 3 species not seen previously, and these included Holly Blue, Comma, and Speckled Wood. There were a few day-flying moths about, and included a Fox Moth caterpillar. 

In contrast, dragonflies were literally everywhere you looked, the most notable being 12 Willow Emerald, a recent colonist now doing well all over Lincolnshire. The undoubted highlight was once again not a butterfly, but 2 more Wasp Spiders near the car park at Rimac. Incredible really, especially when you consider that the first for the reserve was only found last weekend. 

Tuesday 13th August 2024

Pete Roworth messaged: "Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Sea View this morning."

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Today there was a female Silver-washed Fritillary in Morkery Wood. She was in good condition and flying around low to the ground searching out violet patches so she could lay her eggs on nearby tree trunks. Not much else about, only a Comma, Small Skipper and a couple of Gatekeeper. Also a couple of new brood Speckled Wood." 

Graham Catley messaged: "I finally found Purple Hairstreak at the farm at Searby this morning. I also had about 5 at Alkborough a couple of weeks ago."

Monday 12th August 2024

Gary Fenwick emailed: "I thought I would investigate my local woods for butterflies this afternoon. The best spot I discovered was across the road from Walesby Caravan Park. I saw a couple of Large White, c25 Small White, c5 Green-veined White and 2 Meadow Brown, but the best was an individual Silver-washed Fritillary, a pleasant surprise!

Owen Beaumont messaged: "A Painted Lady at Sea View this afternoon." 

Dave Wright reported: "Butterflies have been notable by their absence recently in my Grimsby garden, apart from Holly Blue. However, I did get a surprise late this afternoon, when a Small Tortoiseshell visited the Hemp Agrimony. Sadly, this is only the second time I've seen this species in my garden this year." 

 Sunday 11th August 2024: Butterfly Conservation Open Day at Rimac

Toby Ludlow emailed: "Firstly, it has to be said, what an amazing day! It is with our deepest gratitude that we must thank our benevolent hosts, Natural England, and in particular Owen Beaumont and Renata Jackson, for allowing us to hold our Open Day at their reserve at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR, once again, and for providing facilities at the Eco-classroom to showcase our displays, to promote our charity, and to enable us to cater for the many visitors that attended. Many members of the Lincolnshire Branch committee should also be thanked for going above and beyond, not only on the day, but also beforehand for all of the preparatory work that has to be performed in order to make the day a success: all of the cakes that have been baked, the many displays that have been created and assembled, the plants that have been grown and nurtured, and the time and effort involved to organise and run a Moth Night at the site on the previous evening and to pot up a selection of moths for the public to view.

The Committee also managed to arrange for some splendid weather on the day: blue skies, 28 deg. C heat, and a cool breeze blowing. The first guided Butterfly Walk began at 11:00 and was well attended by members of the public - approximately 40 people braved the heat and were soon rewarded with sightings of our primary target: the Wall. Although really active in the heat of the day, several examples of both males and females could be seen drifting across the reserve, and we estimate we saw around 30 individuals. Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were commonplace all over the site, and an abundance of Ragwort flowers proved irresistible to many. There were still dozens of golden Skippers on the wing, and we were able to positively identify both Small and Essex Skippers. Common Blues, which have been anything but common this year, were ubiquitous and numbered in the hundreds; it was a welcome change to see so many of this species at one location. There were a couple of diminutive females, however, about the size of a small Brown Argus, which needed careful identification. Unlike the Common Blues, Brown Arguses were proving rather elusive, and it was not until the walk reached its halfway point that we finally added this species to the day's list. Another 2 were observed swiftly afterwards. Nearby, a fresh Small Copper was spotted nectaring on a Ragwort plant, which was the find of the day until news broke of a Wasp Spider that had been discovered, a first for the reserve. 

We were slowly racking up the species and added Large White and Peacock when they flew across the track in front of us. But it was not until the final leg back to the car park that we saw a Ringlet. It was that faded, though, it needed close scrutiny to establish its identity. A male Green-veined White was our only other addition before we made it back to the eco-classroom for lunch. A short break for lunch gave an opportunity to peruse the displays inside the eco-classroom and to purchase some of the wares on offer. The cakes, I'm told, were to die for!!! Replete, we reconvened at 14:00 for the afternoon walk. Again, we were blessed with a good turnout from the public - approximately 30 people this time. Just to mix things up for those that had been on the earlier walk, we headed northeastward this time, towards Sea View. It was not long before we encountered several Wall butterflies gliding over the dunes, much to the delight of those present. Perhaps not quite as numerous on this stretch of the coast, there were still good numbers and we estimated that we had seen about 20. Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers and Common Blues were plentiful, but similarly not quite so prolific as they had been on the earlier walk. Conversely, we saw 6 Brown Argus, twice the number we had seen in the morning session. As we approached Sea View we added three new species for the day: Brimstone, Red Admiral and Small Heath. Two of the former were busy probing the blooms on a clump of Musk Thistles, and sat beautifully just waiting to be photographed. We completed the return leg, back to the car park at Rimac, content with our day's work." 

Garry and Julie Nelder emailed: "We went to Snakeholme today at about 10:00, weather was sunny and humid, we had Brown Hairstreak at the very far end of the pit just where it turns back along the main road by the seat. Other butterflies were very few and consisted of Comma, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, and Small White. We then went on to Little Scrubs Meadow and had Purple Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Green-veined White, Peacock, and Small White."  

John Davison emailed: "2 nests of Buff-tip larvae at Messingham Sand Quarry this morning."

Saturday 10th August 2024

John Davison emailed: "John Petyt and I visited Tuetoes Ride and Tuetoes Hills on Saturday afternoon. Apart from the unforecast light rain for a while it proved extremely good for larvae. Tuetoes Ride: Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, Peacock, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and a tatty Silver-washed Fritillary. Latticed Heath and Straw Dot, 6 Eyed Hawk-moth larvae, 1 Elephant Hawk-moth larva, 3 Herald moth larvae, 1 single and 1 nest of Buff-tip larvae. Tuetoes Hills: 1 Emperor Moth larva, 1 Peppered Moth larva, and 2 nests of Buff-tip larvae."

Friday 9th August 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Today I paid a much weather-postponed visit to Gibraltar Point LWT Reserve. It was at least sunny and warm but I hadn't reckoned on the strong winds which severely affected butterfly sightings. My quest was to photograph a Grayling as there have been persistent but scarce rumours and sightings of this species here over many years. The thought was that occasional migrants were blown in from Norfolk, the coastline of which was clearly visible a mere 14 miles away to the south, over The Wash. Recently we have gained information, from a very knowledgeable and experienced out of county butterfly expert, that this species has actually been present in small numbers, under the noses of the 'birders', for more than a decade. (They are, apparently, particularly fond of feeding on the Sea Holly flowers.) Furthermore she had visited the site on Wednesday and seen one, on another cloudy, blustery day!
Exploration is hampered by a large section of coastline being roped off as a Little Tern protected area until Sept 1st. I failed in my quest although I did register a 'maybe' a couple of times in one location, but it was only seen very briefly, being buffeted by the wind down a track and soon lost from sight in the strong sunshine. There were about 20 Meadow Brown and 10 Gatekeeper about in all, with a single Essex Skipper nectaring on a clump of ragwort in a sheltered spot. To relieve the 'Brown boredom' a fresh Painted Lady was spotted on Sea Lavendar and a single Small White was flying in from the sea. On my return walking inland I noticed a male Common Blue flying low in the vegetation, and then a Peacock making a brief sortie over some bushes. I rested on a fence looking into what is marked off as another no-go Sanctuary Area, and then gazed down at a few more Browns, before being startled by a Dark Green Fritillary slowly chasing off a couple more Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown. I certainly wasn't expecting to see one of those. Another visitor from Norfolk? Further watching revealed a Small Heath, again my single sighting of the day. Before I left I visited the Old Coastguard Station (past the new Visitor's Centre) to see if there were any butterfly sightings on the board. There weren't .. just birds .. despite my informer having told the warden of her Grayling sighting 2 days before. The helpful voluntary LWT warden on duty today explained that due to extensive changes of staff they had not been able to do the Butterfly Transect at all this year. He showed me a couple of impressive enlarged photographs of butterflies recently seen, pinned up on an internal display board. One was just a Red Admiral but the other was a White-letter Hairstreak down nectaring on some flowers. We have had regular sightings of these Hairstreaks in The Plantation area where there is apparently still a large Elm tree, around the tops of which, in season, these elusive butterflies can be seen. The volunteer with the new Warden, Richard Doan, had viewed a couple only about 10 days ago, before spotting the one photographed low down. Driving out I noted many younger elms around this Plantation and a sole Large White in flight. Whilst I didn't really see what I was hoping for this proved a useful review of a site I haven't visited for a while .. and my intrigue with a possible small Grayling colony goes on! I was a bit surprised not to see any Walls. There used to be fair numbers at Gibraltar Point, but I was told by Kevin Wilson last year that they were getting scarce. It appears they have retreated north even along our Lincs coast. 

Toby Collett emailed: "I do moth trapping with my youngest at Hubberts Bridge and had a Webb's Wainscott last night. On Thursday 1st August I had a Bedstraw Hawk-moth in the trap, which was new for the year, garden and life!" 

Thursday 8th August 2024

Toby Ludlow emailed: "Spent an hour or so at Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve today until the sun disappeared and the rain started. A walk along the main track produced a respectable total of 16 Small Coppers, 10 female Meadow Browns, and 5 Gatekeepers. There were also singles of: Peacock, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Green-veined White and Brown Argus. Summer brood Small Coppers have been on the wing for 4 weeks now, so we are nearing the end of the flight period. My expectation was that they would be all past their best, and indeed most were. But there were a couple of really fresh ones out there, both aberrations: one ab. caeruleopunctata and one ab. juncta + caeruleopunctata. I was also amazed to catch up with the same pathological aberration, with a pale left-hand forewing, which I first saw 15 days ago; it was virtually in the same spot, too!"

Tuesday 6th August 2024

Phil Bowler emailed: "Well, wonders never cease! The last thing I was expecting to see in our Amber Hill butterfly garden in this summer largely devoid of butterflies, was a Silver-washed Fritillary. Yet that is exactly what I caught a brief sight of this afternoon, before it rapidly flew off along the adjacent dyke bank, looking for a mate. Amongst a handful of male Common Blues were a couple of females, including this stunning blue form, one of the most striking I've seen. Peacocks peaked at 60 last week, there's only a few left now. Gatekeepers and a few Brown Argus, plus a couple of Small Heath and a Small Copper, were the other highlights, plus some very large Large Whites."

Gary Fenwick emailed: "Today I had a three-and-a-half-hour saunter around Risby Warren on. I'd visited Alkborough Flatts in the morning, where I saw a Wall and then, on a bright and warm afternoon I saw the following at Risby Warren: Meadow Brown - c80, Gatekeeper - c50, Small/Green-veined White - c50, Common Blue - 7, Small Heath - 11, Large Skipper - 2, Small Copper - 6, Peacock - 3, Wall - 1, Silver Y - 2, Six-spot Burnet Moth - just the one individual!"

Sunday 4th August 2024

Graham Catley emailed: "Following yesterday's Wall at Alkborough (see attached photo), I had another one today at Barton Wolds TA016181."

Saturday 3rd August 2024

Laura Gundy emailed: "Earlier this year I wrote of seeing Magpie Moth larvae feeding on Sedums in my dad's garden in Strubby. Whilst I was visiting there today, I saw a beautiful newly emerged adult on the wall right near the plants, which was great. A smattering of butterflies around too - Peacocks, Red Admirals, Large and Small Whites, a Comma and a Speckled Wood. Also, a Peacock pupa attached to the conservatory!"

Friday 2nd August 2024

Toby Ludlow emailed: "Had a really enjoyable day at CFW today in the company of Dave Wright and Mark Holmes. The early morning cloud took a fair while to clear, so it was a slow start to the day; reduced light levels meant that very little was flying. During a look around the Butterfly Garden we managed to find a roosting Small Skipper and disturbed a Gatekeeper into flight, but there was very little else. We took a slow walk up to Fiveways, and then on to Minting Triangle with little more than Ringlets for company. All the while it was slowly getting brighter and when we got to the Triangle we could suddenly feel it getting warmer as the clouds started to part. Dragonfly activity commenced: a couple of Brown Hawkers and a squadron of Migrant Hawkers took to the air. We came across a fresh home-grown Painted Lady, but it was extremely flighty and we couldn't get near it. We pressed on past Minting Triangle and virtually on the stroke of midday we saw our first Brown Hairstreak: a male flew low down, across the ride, and then up into and then around an Oak. On high, we watched it flitting around periodically, but it refused to come back down. We moved on further down the ride and then decided to have lunch. In doing so, by stopping and sitting down, we witnessed at least 8 Purple Hairstreaks dancing in an Oak above us. A couple descended and came within easy reach of our cameras, so it was rude not to oblige. As we got up after lunch, we immediately saw a female Brown Hairstreak flying ahead of us, just a couple of feet off of the ground. This time we were in luck, and she landed for several minutes. She was in perfect condition: a real beauty! Eventually she flew up into a Sallow and disappeared. Shortly afterwards we found an Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar on Great Willowherb before moving on to Minting Triangle. 

Here we saw a couple of male Brown Hairstreaks, but only one stopped momentarily on an umbellifer before ascending up into a Beech tree. Nearby, a Comma was nectaring on a Creeping Thistle - this one a form hutchinsoni. We started notching up the species: a fresh looking female Silver-washed Fritillary appeared in the middle of the Triangle, busily feeding on a Spear Thistle, and several Large Skippers darted around, some of them still in good condition. A walk back towards Fiveways produced over a dozen Peacocks, many of which were enjoying the Teasel flowers, some of which were over 8 foot high! We were reacquainted with the fresh Painted Lady again and then watched an aerial courtship between 2 White Admirals, which seemed peculiarly late on in the season. Shortly after this, we perhaps had our most bizarre sighting of the day: a diminutive Ringlet, about the size of a Purple Hairstreak. This aberration is classed as ab. minor. On the way back to Fiveways, we passed a small clump of Greater Burdock plants, which proved very attractive to Peacocks, Red Admirals, a male Brimstone and a Comma - the latter being of the normal form. 

Silver-washed Fritillaries now seemed more numerous, and we saw at least 6 males en route to Fiveways. Here, high up in an Ash tree, we watched several Purple Hairstreaks taking it in turns to become airborne. We definitely had 4 in view at one time, but reckon there was probably double that. The walk back to the car park, along the main ride, was not very productive as it was largely in shade late on in the afternoon. Back at the Butterfly Garden it was now a different story to that of the early morning: the many Buddleias and Hemp Agrimony plants were festooned with Peacocks, Red Admirals, and Gatekeepers. In the grassy patches, many more Skippers were on the wing and, at one point, four golden Skippers sped past us in a bundle; I presume that they were all Small Skippers. And finally, just as we were leaving, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth flew in and made the most of the Buddleia flowers. Eighteen species of butterfly recorded, and so all in all, a wonderful day in great company." 

Jeffrey Kirkland emailed: "Our first visit to Risby Warren searching for Grayling today, saw 5 including this one laying eggs. Good sign for the future!"

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning I was sat in the garden reading, when I noticed a moth on the wall near my trap site. Amazed to find it was a Dewick's Plusia, only my 2nd ever record."

Gerard Fletcher emailed: "I live just over the Norfolk border, but went walking with James Elsey from Guys Head (Sutton Bridge) to the mouth of the Wash today. 15 Peacock, 6 Red Admiral, many Green-veined White, Small White, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. Highlight though, was the first butterfly seen, a Wall near the old lighthouse. Not seen one here since 2003, having visited fairly often in the interim."

Thursday 1st August 2024

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning I had a Clouded Magpie in the trap, which was new for the garden, as was the Scarlet Tiger on 24th June."

Owen Beaumont messaged: "18+ Wall this afternoon, Sea View-Rimac south, and a Painted Lady along the Easy Access Trail."

July 2024

Wednesday 31st July 2024

Mark Johnson emailed: "Last Night my nephew trapped in North Somercotes and had 232 moths of 54 species. Highlight was a Brown-veined Wainscot! Others of note included Copper Underwing, 2 Pine Hawk-moths and a Leopard Moth." 

Graham Catley messaged: "Painted Lady this morning near South Ferriby Cliff."

Tuesday 30th July 2024

Pete Smith emailed: "Spent a very pleasurable morning out in the Limewoods today amongst the Brown Hairstreaks - two females and three males seen, with one of the males in particular being very obliging and nectaring for long periods of time on the Angelica, Bramble and even Willowherb. Unusually, it was the females who were being a little more aloof on this occasion!"

Keith Walton emailed: "After a pleasurable morning at Chambers Farm with Pete and Adrian, I went on to Snakeholme Pit and had the following: 35 Peacock, 10 Red Admiral, 5 Silver-washed Fritillary,10 Brimstone, 2 Brown Hairstreak, 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Holly Blue and 12+ Purple Hairstreak in the oaks over the road from the seat. I then went on to College and Thistle Storr Wood, 1 very worn Purple Emperor in the oaks at the entrance, 5 White Admiral, 10 Brimstone,10 Peacock and 2 Brown Hairstreak, which did not come down. The Forestry Commission have already started work here. Finished off in Goltho Woods, where I got a little lost being my first time here and ended up at Great West Wood, but found another 2 Brown Hairstreak."

Graham Catley emailed: "Visited Searby Low Farm today, but no real counts of note. Still plenty of Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns on the wing, and first Willow Emerald of the year! Also, Wall seen at the Barton viewing area last night."

Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "While the weather stays sunny, we continue to get a trickle of butterflies in the garden. Today there have been 2 Peacocks, a Holly Blue and a Small White. We are also regularly getting a pair of Common Darter dragonflies and as we have just installed a new pond, it's fingers crossed."

Monday 29th July 2024

Josh Forrester from Grimsby messaged: "Nice morning spent at the woodland burial area of Scartho Cemetery today. Butterfly numbers have improved - 6 Speckled Wood, 23 Gatekeeper, 2 Large Skipper, 2 Meadow Brown, 3 Small White, 3 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 6 Large White, 1 Purple Hairstreak. Also 5 Common Darter, a Southern Hawker and Pale Straw Pearl (Udea lutealis). Nice surprise was a Small Skipper that had evidently roosted in the front garden - a new species for the garden list."

Owen Beaumont messaged: "376 of 12 species at Rimac in 22°C sunshine, but a Force 4 southerly maybe keeping some butterflies down in the vegetation. 59 Small Skipper, 13 Essex Skipper, 102 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Brown Argus, 2 Common Blue, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 9 Wall Brown, 52 Gatekeeper, 109 Meadow Brown and 22 Ringlet."

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I had my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year in my Grimsby garden, followed by a second brood Holly Blue late this afternoon."

Pete Roworth messaged: "Holly Blue at Sea View today."

Roy Harvey emailed: " Today I had an Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar in the garden at Grasby, and a nice nectaring Large White, - I haven't seen many at all this summer! I looked in at Nettleton LNR again yesterday. Still good numbers of Gatekeeper around, but numbers of all brown butterflies were down from my previous visit. No sign of a blue or Brown Argus. Did see 2 Small Copper and 1 Small Heath and just a single Red Admiral. Several day flying moths around, including Silver Y, Shaded Broad-bar and Six-spot Burnet."

Sunday 28th July 2024

Owen Beaumont emailed: "I visited Chambers Farm Wood late morning to early afternoon with Liam Andrews in glorious sunshine. A very good 20 species recorded from the Butterfly Garden, Fiveways, Minting Triangle and just into Minting Wood. This included singles of Brown Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak. A single Purple Emperor well past its best, 6 White Admiral, 8 Silver-washed Fritillary and a very good emergence of Peacock. I also had a juvenile Cuckoo along the entrance track which was a nice bonus." 

Dave Wright reported: "A good morning at Rimac/Sea View - 18 species of butterfly including a fresh Painted Lady, 11 Wall, and second brood Common Blue 8, Brown Argus 3 and Small Copper 2. Lots of Roesel's Bush-crickets about including the attached individual along the Disabled Access Trail."

Sally Johnson reported: "3 Painted Lady this afternoon, close to home along the lane off Bank End in North Somercoates."

Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had a very productive walk around the cemetery, Woodland burial ground and Gooseman's Field in Grimsby today. I saw 3 Small White, 13 Speckled Woods, 21 Meadow Browns, 17 Gatekeepers, 5 Peacocks  21 Green-veined Whites, 4 Ringlets, 4 Burnet moths, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 12 Small Skippers and 1 Essex Skipper."

Friday 26th July 2024

Pete Smith emailed: "Small Coppers have been having a great summer brood out at Woodhall Spa this year, and with the numbers on the wing it's no surprise to find a few aberrant forms turning up here and there. Thanks to Toby for pointing out the pathological ab. and using his Jedi mind tricks to make it stay still whilst I photographed it! Clockwise from top left: ab.caeruleopunctata, pathological ab., ab.oblitera, ab.juncta."

Pete Cawdell emailed: This morning I met up with John Davison for a day's Grayling hunting. This is one of Lincs most rapidly declining species, having been recorded in about 15 Tetrads to the north and east of Scunthorpe during the 40 year existence of BC Lincs Branch. However, during the last couple of years Graylings have only been recorded in 1 Tetrad - at Risby Warren - and only in small numbers. So we entered this huge expanse of inland wind-blown sand dunes with sunny periods and much stronger than forecast winds. The flora looked fantastic. All the rain this year had resulted in North Lincs version of a blooming desert. For a change there were masses of butterflies to view, but they were mostly choosing sheltered sites around the woodlands and in the sand dunes. We found 15 species in a 4hr search, but it was not until we eventually reached the far west side that we came across any of our quarry. Here, in a discrete sunny location measuring no more than 150 meters by 10 meters, we were delighted to come across a colony where we counted 24 Grayling individuals, including both males and females. They were nectaring among large patches of heather. Lovely to spend half an hour observing them. Amongst them there was a newly emerged Wall. Hopefully with better weather predicted, for the next week anyway, they will have good mating and egg-laying conditions to perhaps regain some of their lost territory. As well as the above we counted 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 300+ Meadow Brown, 40 Ringlet, 150+ Gatekeeper, 30 Common Blue, 25 Brown Argus, 25 Small Copper, 30 Small Skipper, 2 Large Skipper, 3 Large White, 6 Small White .. and, oh yes, not forgetting 1 Dark Green Fritillary. There were a few Burnet moths flying and a Forester moth."

Dave Wright reported: "With the prospect of fine weather today, my wife and I decided to visit Belton House near Grantham, an area of Lincolnshire not usually on our radar. There were quite a few typical summer butterflies on the wing, especially in the less well-manicured areas of the estate. The Whites, which have been noticeable by their absence of late, were present in good numbers, with the Green-veined being by far the most numerous. It was nice to see my first new generation Brimstone of the year as well, a really fresh female in the Boathouse Pond area. Here, there were lots of dragonflies with ten species being noted. These included Emperor Dragonfly, Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, Migrant Hawker, and Black-tailed Skimmer. Also, Banded Demoiselle were seen along the banks of the River Witham near the car park.

Owen Beaumont messaged: "I got out late morning for the Rimac transect. 563 of 13 species - 78 Small Skipper, 16 Essex Skipper, 153 Small/Essex Skipper, 8 Large White, 1 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 1 Common Blue, 4 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 7 Wall Brown, 79 Gatekeeper, 149 Meadow Brown and 62 Ringlet."

Thursday 25th July 2024

Chris Atkin messaged: "2 Walls this morning, along the inland track from Rimac to Sea View in dull, windy conditions."

John Walker messaged: "My first Painted Lady of the year today in my garden at Coastguard Cottage, Churchill Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."

Mark Johnson phoned: "2 Norfolk Hawkers seen briefly at 16:15 and nearby 2 Wall."

Rick Camm reported: "A Painted Lady at Osbournby Hill today, the second I have seen there this year."

Wednesday 24th July 2024

Dave Wright reported: "Visited Rimac this morning along with Mark Johnson and Chris Atkin in the hope of re-locating the Norfolk Hawker seen recently. Unfortunately, it failed to materialise, but we did manage a further 11 species of dragonfly, including Small Red-eyed Damselfly and Migrant Hawker, the latter being our first of the year! Butterflies noted were similar to last Wednesdays visit but included a single second brood male Common Blue, 4 Speckled Woods, and a single summer brood Small Tortoiseshell. However, the  highlight of the day was undoubtedly seeing an Osprey catch a fish out of the Great Eau, close to Rimac Bridge."

Steve Meek from Tetney messaged: "Oak Eggar in the trap this morning and new for my garden."

Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "I did three counts for the Big Butterfly Count today. The first was in my garden in Scartho and produced 1 Large White and 1 Green-veined White. The second was in the cemetery and I got 1 Large White and 2 Speckled Woods. Next in the Woodland Burial Ground I did somewhat better with 1 Large White, 2 Speckled Woods, 3 Gatekeepers and 2 Small Whites."

Tuesday 23rd July 2024: Brown Hairstreak at Chambers Farm Wood!

Steve Hollinrake from Lancashire emailed: "While we were in Lincolnshire this week, I decided to visit Chambers Farm Wood today with my sons John and Luke. We found a fresh male Brown Hairstreak near Minting Triangle, but we were very surprised to see one this early! We also had a couple of White Admirals and 4 Silver-washed Fritillaries." 

Phil Bowler emailed: "Nothing to get excited about but I thought today's sightings from our garden warrant submitting now that the summer broods are emerging. About as good as it gets this year! 26 Six-spot Burnet, 4 Mother of Pearl, 3 Silver Y, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 1 Mint Moth, 15 Essex Skipper, 4 Brimstone, 4 Large White, 4 Small White, 6 Green-veined White, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Brown Argus, 1 Common Blue, 2 Holly Blue, 18 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 30 Peacock, 2 Comma, 4 Speckled Wood, 14 Gatekeeper, 11 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet and 2 Small Heath."

Graham Catley messaged: " Sightings at Searby Low Farm today: 6 Peacock, 2 Small Tort, 120 Gatekeeper, 120 Meadow Brown, 10 Ringlet, 16 Small Skipper, 4 Red admiral, 1 Small Heath, c10 Small White, 3 Green-veined White and 4 Speckled Wood."

Toby Ludlow emailed: "Went out into my Coningsby garden this morning and encountered "the big five" there: Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. There were 2 Peacocks and singles of all the others. The Painted Lady is the first one that I've seen this year, which is quite late on in the year; it wasn't particularly fresh either. 

Later I visited Kirkby Moor and summer brood Small Coppers were everywhere! There were easily 200+ and most were in good condition; it's the most I've seen on one day for a long time! I soon found a mating pair and there were countless examples of courtship behaviour all over the site. Several females could be seen egg laying on Sheep's Sorrel, so good news for the next generation. Half a dozen fresh, summer brood Brown Argus were new emergences, and these included one ab. snellini, where the black discoidal spot is ringed with white. There are still good numbers of Forester moths on the wing, but these are now much harder to find because the Heather is starting to bloom and they obviously prefer this nectar source, so have diverted away from the Ragwort and Spear Thistles where they were "sitting ducks!" A couple of dozen Small Heath and several Meadow Browns accounted for most of the rest. On the edge of the heathland, I added a single Red Admiral, a single Peacock, and around 20 Skippers. Of the latter, I positively identified 8 and they were all Small Skippers." 

Dave Wright reported: "I've just received an anonymous report that a Clouded Yellow flew in off the sea at Wolla Bank on Saturday 20th July."

Renata Jackson messaged: "This morning I had 4 Wall on the steps of Quarry Hill, which is close to the car park at Rimac."

Mike Pickwell emailed: "Now that the weather has warmed up we have started seeing a few butterflies in the garden at Scartho in Grimsby. But only a few. We have had singles of Large and Small White, Green-veined White, Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue. I had an hour at Winter's Pitt at East Halton on Sunday afternoon and saw 1 Large White, 2 Small White and 10 Gatekeepers; my highest numbers of one species this year."

Monday 22nd July 2024

Graham Catley messaged: "50+ Gatekeeper and 5 Red Admiral at Alkborough today."

Pete Smith emailed: "Spent three hours out in the Limewoods this afternoon and came across a couple of minor aberrations. Nothing spectacular, but always nice to see something a little different from the norm! A very mild form of Gatekeeper ab.excessa, and a slightly more unusual Ringlet, ab.cuneata."

Sunday 21st July 2024

Suzanne Nelson messaged: "We visited Risby Warren today and spotted the following butterflies: 35 Gatekeeper, 24 Meadow Brown, 3 Large White, 1 Brimstone, 7 Small Skipper, 2 Small White, 14 Ringlet, 10 Small Copper, 13 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue, 1 Peacock and 3 Grayling."

Derek Fox emailed: "After the field trip on the 13th on another cool, cloudy day, I thought I would go back to Hardy Gang Wood today and have a good look around with the weather being so warm. The only positive butterflies I saw were 18 fresh Peacocks, 5 Red Admirals, one summer brood Comma, 1 Speckled Wood, and low numbers of Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. No Purple Emperors, although I went down three really boggy rides, and no show also of any Fritillaries. Biggest disappointment was only finding one very tatty White Admiral. I presume they have gone over during last week's torrential rain.

Roy Harvey emailed: "Today, I managed to get a few photos from Nettleton LNR, including Gatekeeper which were present in good numbers. It was nice to see  a mating pair. I didn’t attempt an accurate count but Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper were numerous, as were Small Skipper, some of which seemed to have black tips to the antennae. A few Small Heath were also seen plus singles of Small Copper, Green-veined White and Red Admiral. The ragwort carried a lot of Cinnabar moth caterpillars.

Saturday 20th July 2024: Norfolk Hawker at Rimac!

Mark Johnson messaged: "A Norfolk Hawker over the pools at the southern part of the easy access trail at Rimac this morning. I believe this is the first record of this species on the reserve."

Friday 19th July 2024

John Davison emailed: "Purple Emperor and 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries at Cocklode & Great West Woods today."

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Rick Camm reports that 23 species have seen so far this year at Osbournby Hill Top, which he keeps a close eye on. Recent highlights have been Essex Skippers, new to his list, and a bird-pecked White-letter Hairstreak. The latter was found in exactly the same place as last year's!"

Colin Pumfrett emailed: "The warm weather has helped the butterfly count in my Broughton garden. It has risen from 13 to 18 in a couple of days. Just arrived Small and Essex Skipper, Comma, Gatekeeper and Small White."

Thursday 18th July 2024

Martin Timms emailed: "I tried Morkery Wood today for my first ever visit there. I saw at least 4 Purple Emperors, maybe as many as 6. I tried to encourage this one to leave my trouser leg so that I could get a more natural photograph, but it crawled onto my hand and wouldn't leave. I went for a walk from one ride to the next with it still on my hand... even took a phone video. I've read that they're attracted to obnoxious smells. Oh dear!"

Owen Beaumont messaged: "468 of 9 species around on the Rimac transect today in full sunshine and 23°C heat. 81 Small Skipper, 9 Essex skipper, 138 Small/Essex Skipper, 9 Large White, 4 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 33 Gatekeeper, 96 Meadow Brown, 95 Ringlet, 2 Small Heath. 12 Silver Y and increasing numbers of Six-spot Burnet moths too."

Toby Ludlow messaged: "I had a pleasant surprise when I went out into the front garden this morning and found 7 fresh Small Tortoiseshells nectaring on the Lavender, especially considering the fact that I saw very few in the spring. Later on in the day, 2 Commas also found the Lavender to their liking!" 

Wednesday 17th July 2024

Dave Wright and Chris Atkin reported: " Summer finally arrived along the Lincolnshire coast today. Therefore, we decided to spend the day at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR in the hope that the glorious weather might entice a few more butterflies and dragonflies to appear. We concentrated on the Sea View and Rimac areas and noted the following: Butterflies - 1 White-letter Hairstreak ‘buzzing’ about the tops of the Elm at Sea View, 2 Large White, 7 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 106 Meadow Brown, 93 Ringlet, 48 Gatekeeper, 5 Small Heath, 1 Large Skipper, 132 Small Skipper, 11 Essex Skipper, 5 Red Admiral and a single Comma. Also, a second generation Common Blue had been seen by Renata Jackson at Crook Bank. Moths - 18 Silver Y, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 4 Shaded Broad-bar, 1 Yellow Shell, 3 Common Carpet, 1 Ruby Tiger larva, 18 Six-spot Burnet and Cinnabar larvae everywhere! We also recorded eight species of dragonfly, which included literally hundreds of Ruddy and Common Darter, and 9 Emerald Damselfly, the latter being our first of the year."

Cliff Morrison messaged: "Really nice morning to do a butterfly count around my Brickyard Lane-Churchill Lane circuit today. 151 butterflies of 10 species. Key grassland species were Ringlet 76, Meadow Brown 36, Gatekeeper 25 and Small Skipper 7. They were about 90% down on my typical counts for this circuit for mid-July. I also had 1 Southern Hawker."

Steve Palmer from Healing emailed: "Painted Lady in my garden this morning."

Martin Timms emailed: "Visiting from Sheffield, I saw a single Purple Emperor in Great West Wood around 10am today, but it didn't stick around. Also 2 x White Admiral, 4 x Silver-washed Fritillary, plus other common species."

Phil Bowler emailed: "A combined count today courtesy of me and Toby Ludlow, both being there at Kirkby Moor at the same time. Most of these numbers are from our joint afternoon stroll, though a few were seen by Toby earlier. 29 Forester, 4 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 Large Skipper, 2 Brimstone 2 (male, one female), 1 Large White (female), 2 Small White (male), 4 Green-veined White, 43 Small Copper (including a dark male aberration pictured), 1 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Silver-washed Fritillary (female), 2 Speckled Wood (new brood), 10 Meadow Brown, 15 Ringlet and 5 Small Heath. At home at Amber Hill earlier in the garden, I saw 2 fresh Peacocks, one of each sex of new Brimstone, a brand spanking new Painted Lady, the first of our summer brood Holly Blue, and a Small Heath plus the other usual residents but no Hairstreaks today!  Another Scarlet Tiger made an appearance - that's three now. 

Tuesday 16th July 2024

Clive Moor emailed: "I came across several Essex Skippers today at Kirkby Gravel Pit."

Monday 15th July 2024

Paul Daubney emailed: "The sunshine this morning tempted me to go for a quick walk at Chambers Farm Wood. Almost the first butterfly I saw was a male Purple Emperor, on the main track near the car park. His wings appeared quite worn. Unfortunately he was quickly scared off by an inconsiderate walker. I saw just one other Purple Emperor, high above the main track. Also along the main track, 2 brief sightings of White Admiral, the first of 5 fresh, male Silver-washed Fritillaries and a single Purple Hairstreak. 5 fresh Gatekeepers (4 of them in the Butterfly Garden/Car Park) shows that they are now emerging."

Saturday 13th July 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Another week, another BC Field Trip, same old dreary weather! This time the venue was the Bardney Limewoods. Just 6 of us made the most of an uninspiring day, but these participants were all experienced amateur naturalists which made for a very sociable and interesting walk along the woodland rides seeking out anything special. The first wood we visited was Great West Wood and then, after lunch, Hardy Gang Wood. Both these woods have had recent sightings of Purple Emperor and White Admiral ... but obviously not today as, true to the forecast, the sun just refused to shine through the mostly leaden, drizzly skies. In Great West Wood we did actually find a couple of Ringlet. Several Cinnabar moth larvae were feeding on ragwort and a fully grown Herald moth larva was spotted on sallow. Adult moths were just 2 - Early Thorn (2nd. generation) and Buff Footman. In Hardy Gang Wood I related the local legend of the Wild Man of Bardney woods, a deranged soldier returned from the Crusades living rough and allegedly stealing food and kidnapping children. A Royal reward enticed a man called Hardy to get up a gang and hunt him down. The Wild Man's hiding place was revealed by 3 tyrwhitts (old name for peewits) taking flight. The Wild Man was duly killed and his old tunic and helmet were displayed in Stainfield Church until the late 1980s when an overtidy church warden disposed of them. The killers were given marshy land nearby as their reward and the event is commemorated at the Tyrwhit Arms pub, Short Ferry, on the heraldic shield displayed outside containing 3 peewhit feathers. We found the spot where he was apparently killed but no sign of his ghost today. However, in the wood we did find 6 Ringlet, 4 Meadow Brown, a Small Skipper, a Large White and 2 Green-veined Whites. It was disappointing to find that the former large patch of locally rare Cow Wheat had disappeared under a mass of bramble. This was a feature of both woods - some great habitat but uncut rides last autumn and winter by the Forestry Commission (apparently because it was so wet) making a tangled mass of tall vegetation at the ride sides, and smothering the interesting flora beneath. So despite yet another bad-weather butterfly day this Field Trip proved to be an enjoyable trip where we could see the potential for a return in more favourable conditions."

Friday 12th July 2024

Toby Ludlow emailed: "After a week of dismal weather, I decided to get some fresh air and visited Kirkby Moor NR for an hour. Given the gloomy conditions, it was no surprise that I saw very few butterflies. However, I did see some nice moths, the pick of the bunch being 5 Forester moths, resplendent in their iridescent green livery. The Forester is a UK BAP Priority species and the larvae feed on Common Sorrel and Sheep's Sorrel, clearly well catered for at Kirkby Moor. A Beautiful Yellow Underwing, that sat still for more than a second, was an added bonus."  

Wednesday 10th July 2024

Phil Bowler messaged to say: "For once the weather forecast was right and I slipped up to CFW today for a mid-afternoon onwards amble. I covered the main ride down to Fiveways, then right to Minting Triangle and back again. I was surprised to see no sign of the Purple Emperor and only 2 White Admiral. The 4 Silver-washed Fritillary I saw were all brand new males. In addition to bramble and thistles, they were nectaring from meadowsweet and hogweed (see photo). Whilst taking a picture of the one nectaring from hogweed, I was amazed to see a Purple Hairstreak doing likewise on the next plant (see photo). I saw another nectaring on bramble, plus another 2 in the treetops. Very few. There were 9 hutchinsoni Comma, and the only other butterflies of any number were 16 Large Skipper and 132 Ringlet. Despite the good numbers of Ringlet there were no Gatekeeper and only 4 Meadow Brown, all male. Supporting cast were: 3 Large White, 7 Green-veined White, and 3 Red Admiral."

Nigel Wass emailed: “A visit to Chambers Farm Wood this morning saw a Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlets and two Green-veined White in the butterfly garden. A walk from the car park towards Hatton saw a Small Copper, Small and Large Skipper and Purple Hairstreak. Numerous Whites, Ringlets and Meadow Browns. Highlight was 7 Silver-washed Fritillary along the ride in various locations.”

Owen Beaumont wrote following his Rimac transect walk: "Not in full sunshine around Rimac today, but warm enough and some nice sunny spells. 283 of 9 species on the transect - 44 Small Skipper, 3 Essex skipper, 35 Small/Essex Skipper, 4 Large Skipper, 2 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 6 Gatekeeper, 87 Meadow Brown, 98 Ringlet and 3 Small Heath. A real bonus came in the form of a fresh White-letter Hairstreak nectaring on Elder flower at Sea View."

Saturday 6th July 2024

Pete Cawdell reported: "Our Field Trip to Grimsthorpe Park went ahead in defiance of the unseasonal weather conditions. A bad forecast for the day put off several folks from attending and, indeed, when we set off at 10am the thermometer was only showing 10.5 deg.C and it was raining as well! However, mercifully, the wet subsided on our walking journey and, as well as the lovely limestone flora on view, in the brighter spells many members of the Brown butterfly family showed themselves. We actually saw 4 species - dozens of Meadow Browns, and Ringlets, and Marbled Whites, and my first Gatekeeper of the season. These Browns don't let a bit of cloud and light rain prevent their activities. We managed to complete most of the planned routes, just avoiding the really wet tall grassland. In a recce of the area covered, in slightly better conditions 2 days before, I was able to count 184 Marbled Whites, part of probably the most numerous and extensive colony in Lincs. Many thanks to Richard O'Connor for his excellent company, and for sharing with me some of his extensive botanical knowledge."

Friday 5th July 2024

Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "Laid up with nowt to do following a minor operation, I thought I’d try a Lunar Hornet Moth  lure in the garden. I set up at 10:25 and checked at 11:20 to find one in the trap. Thirty minutes later two more, and after another ten minutes one more. Cheered me up no end!"

Josh Forrester messaged: "Following my sighting of Lunar Hornet Moth in my garden on Wednesday 3rd July, imagine my surprise this morning when I found a pair 'in cop'!"

Owen Beaumont messaged: "Some decent sun and peaking at 20°C today at Rimac around lunchtime. 277 butterflies of 9 species; 72 Small Skipper, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 fresh Gatekeeper, 108 Meadow Brown, 87 Ringlet and 2 Small Heath."

Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon I had a male Large White in my Grimsby garden, the first white that I have seen locally for a number of weeks."

John Walker messaged: "A few butterflies at Coast Guard Cottages, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today - 3 Red Admiral, 3 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 2 Small White and 1 Speckled Wood."

Thursday 4th July 2024

Toby Ludlow emailed: "I was passing Morkery Wood late on in the afternoon, so decided to call in for a quick recce. The gamble paid off as I soon spotted a Purple Emperor circling low down just above the track. Just as it thought about landing, it clouded over and instead it ascended and sought refuge at the top of an Oak tree. I waited for the cloud to pass and when the sunshine returned another two male Purple Emperors could be seen gliding around the canopy. After a brief walk, I found a fourth male Purple Emperor, this one imbibing from the damp track edge. After completing a circuit, I again found 3 male Purple Emperors close together. These may, or may not, have been the same ones seen before; we will never know. So, in summary, I had 7 Purple Emperor sightings, of which 4 were definitely different individuals. Other species seen were: Red Admiral, Comma, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Large Skipper."

Pete Smith emailed: "Whilst searching for Purple Emperors today at several locations with limited success, I stumbled across this subtle but interesting Ringlet aberration. The Jury is currently out on the name; it is possibly an example of ab.novem-luscus - I have referred it to a Ringlet aberration expert for further opinion.

Wednesday 3rd July 2024: Lunar Hornet Moth in Grimsby!

Josh Forrester messaged: "Today I had a great record for my Grimsby garden, when I found a Lunar Hornet Moth on the Hemp Agrimony."

Dave Wright reported: "The dismal weather that has plagued the start of July looked as though it would continue today. However, just after midday, the sun threatened to break through the cloud, and so I made a dash for Long Strip Wood at Immingham Dock, hoping to see my first White-letter Hairstreaks of the year. Shortly after arrival, sunny spells developed, and I managed to find at least 2 White-letter Hairstreaks flitting about the tops of the Elm. The only other butterfly in the wood was a Ringlet. On the way back to the car, I noted a Red Admiral at Stallingborough North Beck Drain. Nearby, Laporte Meadow produced 6 more Ringlets, another Red Admiral, 5 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet moths, a single Shaded Broad-bar and a Ruby Tiger caterpillar."

Tuesday 2nd July 2024: Grayling out at Risby Warren!

John Davison emailed: "The Grayling are now out at Risby Warren. The attached photograph was taken along Risby Opencast Track."

Roy Harvey emailed: "Despite the cloudy skies, Linda and I went to Red Hill LWT Nature Reserve this afternoon. We were pleasantly surprised at the number of Marbled Whites on the wing, including one on a Pyramidal Orchid. We also noted a few Six-spot Burnet moths and 3 Common Lizards."

Monday 1st July 2024

Pete Smith emailed: "I had my first Purple Emperor of 2024 out at Chambers on Saturday -  a mint fresh male on the way down towards Fiveways. Despite searching yesterday and today, I have as yet seen no more. I have also searched a couple of other sites with no luck. It is slow progress out there at the moment, almost as painful as watching England play! On a different note, the buckthorns in my garden in Heighington have been well visited by Brimstones this spring, and although as usual, most of the resultant larvae have been taken by the local bird population, I did note many more final instar larvae this year. The first of the adults have just begun to emerge, and this morning I took the attached photograph on one of my wild flower beds. It is not uncommon for Brimstones to show a slight degree of brownish fleck markings in the ante-marginal area of the hindwing underside, but the one on the left of the photo is a particularly heavily-marked example of ab.hoefnageli."

Mark Brandon emailed: "Two Small Tortoiseshells at Manby Flash today braving the cool wind, are the first I've seen for some while. On Saturday I walked the 'Juicetrump Hill Walk' from Belchford to Scamblesby and Flintwood Farm. They are doing a lot of good work leaving wild flower meadows and edges, and Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods were in the highest numbers I've seen this year. Several Small Skippers, 1 Red Admiral, two Large Whites and one Common Blue were also seen. Also Tree Sparrows, Yellow Wagtails and Corn Buntings around the farm."

June 2024

Sunday 30th June 2024

Laura Gundy emailed: "23 intrepid explorers turned out for the walk jointly organised by Lincs BC and Lincs Wolds Beekeepers, taking in some beautiful scenery around Hallington. In cool conditions we struggled to see much in the way of butterflies at first, instead talking about the virtues of field margins, "untidy" corners of nettles and thistles and native trees and hedgerows. Gradually the clouds parted and soon we were seeing good numbers of Meadow Browns and Ringlets. Large and Small Skippers made an appearance, a Red Admiral, one unidentified White and one Common Blue. Many thanks go to Peter Cawdell and Derek Fox for being the back markers."

Saturday 29th June 2024

Patrick Scott emailed: "A good central spread of White Admirals this week in Woodhall Spa - Kinema, Petwood and Viking Way."

Roy Harvey emailed: "Today, I paid another visit to Nettleton LNR where I noted the following: 100+ Ringlet, 20+ Meadow Brown, several Small Heath, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Small Skipper and a single Six-spot Burnet moth." 

Friday 28th June 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "I was monitoring a private farm nature reserve near Castle Bytham today. It is only about 2 acres in size, but a great Lincs Limestone floristic site where I was pleased to find the colonies of Marbled White and Dark Green Fritillary still thriving. The weather was cloudy with strongish winds but I managed to count 36 Marbled White including the pair photographed. It was good to see the fresh Dark Green Fritillary as, after encouraging the farmer to establish the area when this species was first discovered, we had that terrible drought 2 years ago when all its larval foodplant violets shrivelled up. I feared the worst and only saw one flying last year. This one was quite at home nectaring when it let me take the photo, and, apparently a paired couple were also seen there yesterday. Apart from these 2 top drawer species the only other butterflies on the wing were 5 Meadow Browns. On the way there I made a quick 'pit-stop' at Morkery Wood where, in the car park area, I observed a Silver-washed Fritillary and a Ringlet."

Roy Harvey messaged: "I went to South Killingholme Pits this afternoon and had a few butterflies along the wall side - 15 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet and 1 Small Heath.

Caroline Sanderson emailed: "A follow on from last year; we have Toadflax Brocade caterpillars in our Spalding garden again. We also have Box Moth caterpillars but the birds have eaten most of them. The box is recovering!"

Thursday 27th June 2024

Nick Clayton emailed: "I saw several Black Hairstreaks at Chambers Farm Wood Today, including a female egg-laying. Also, a single Purple Hairstreak."

Keith Walton emailed: "Today I decided to visit several of the least visited woods in the Bardney Limewoods complex. I found 1 Purple Emperor in Hardy Gang Wood and a further 6 in one of the other woods."

Colin Pumfrett emailed: "I spotted 2 White Admirals at Messingham Sand Quarry today, a first for me at this nature reserve."

Martin Kew reported from Twyford Wood: "A lovely morning to walk the transects. There has been a large emergence of Marbled White since last week and Ringlet numbers have increased significantly. Totals for the reserves were: Glades - 25 Marbled White, 42 Ringlet, 6 Large Skipper, 7 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Heath and 2 Speckled Wood. Sanctuary - 20 Marbled White, 32 Ringlet, 7 Large Skipper, 17 Meadow Brown and a solitary Grizzled Skipper."

John Davison reported: "It was warm with intermittent sun at Southrey Wood this morning. First Silver-washed Fritillary of the year together with White Admiral, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and Green-veined White."

Wednesday 26th June 2024

Robin Chittenden www.robinchittenden.co.uk emailed: "Chambers Farm Wood today: 8+ White Admiral, 8+ Ringlet, many Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Large White, 4 Large Skipper, 1 Comma and a few Whites. Plus, I had a Southern Migrant Hawker (see attached photo), possibly the first record of this species at this site."

Pete Smith emailed: "While overall butterfly numbers remain well below par for the time of year, at least I managed to get into double figures in terms of the species count out at Chambers Farm Wood today. Plenty of White Admirals on the wing, plus my first three Silver-washed Fritillaries of the year, which weren't stopping for a photo. Also, Comma, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Large Skipper, a single Small Skipper, a couple of Black Hairstreaks higher up, and the star of the show, this female Common Blue ab-supracaerulea. I only had a chance to take a couple of shots of her before a male appeared out of nowhere - he clearly didn't believe in foreplay, because within ten seconds of appearing they had paired up! We are getting there slowly...waiting now for His Imperial Majesty to put in an appearance..."

Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon I spent an hour at Red Hill LWT Nature reserve, concentrating only on the old quarry site. On arrival my attention was immediately drawn to the Marbled Whites patrolling the area, and there must have been at least 30. It was refreshing to see butterflies on the wing again, and I also noted the following: 33 Meadow Brown, 18 Ringlet, 11 Large Skipper, 6 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Large White. Moths included 1 Silver Y and 1 Yellow Shell."

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Paid a trip to Southrey Wood and immediately after getting out of the car I spotted a Scarlet Tiger moth flying towards me. It nearly landed on my car, but then turned round and flew back into the wood, slowly getting higher and higher, and eventually settled high up in an Oak tree. Typical! This is the third year in a row that I've seen Scarlet Tiger in this wood. There were a good number of Ringlets along the main ride, several Meadow Browns and a few White Admirals, but not many other species. However, I did spot a male Silver-washed Fritillary, which was sparring with a fresh Comma, but it never settled to have its photograph taken." 

Tuesday 25th June 2024

Phil Bowler emailed: "Very little occurring yet in our Amber Hill butterfly garden, but over the last couple of days I have seen the first White-letter Hairstreaks. Three in total, at the tops of two widely elms in different parts of the garden."

Toby Ludlow from Coningsby messaged: "A walk around the Pingle LNR today produced 2 White-letter Hairstreak, my first of the year."

Owen Beaumont messaged: "110 individuals of 7 species in glorious sunshine on the Rimac transect today. 20 Large Skipper, 1 Small/Essex Skipper, 4 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 63 Meadow Brown, 13 Ringlet and 8 Small Heath. Also a Mother Shipton and Silver Y recorded."

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I paid a brief visit to the Great Coates Section of the Pyewipe Line, and was rewarded with my first Small Skipper of the year. Also noted 47 Ringlet, 13 Meadow Brown, 6 Common Blue and 2 Silver Y moths."

Monday 24th June 2024

Louise Denning reported: "5 White Admirals at Potterhanworth Wood this afternoon. A welcome sighting after the lack of butterflies recently."

Graham Catley messaged: "Spent four hours at the farm in Searby todeay - not a single white! 217 Meadow Brown, 16 Ringlet, 26 Large Skipper, 3 Small Heath, 1 Speckled Wood, but no Common Blue or Brown Argus."

Sunday 23rd June 2024

Phil Bowler emailed: "At last I managed a trip to Chambers Farm Wood today. I was not expecting to see much, as this seems to be the case everywhere in the UK right now. And I didn't see much! Marsh Fritillaries were virtually gone - only 2 females seen. Amongst the handful of Burnet moths, at least 2 were Narrow-bordered Five-spot, which was nice. Large Skipper was the star of the show - 16 seen - they seem to be doing well everywhere I visit this year, including our butterfly garden, following on from the dreadful season they had with us last year. So never give up hope! Our butterflies are incredibly resilient. I saw 5 very fresh White Admirals widespread through the woods, and a new Comma. Meadow Brown and Ringlet were in incredibly low numbers - 15 and 8 respectively, and Speckled Wood recorded 11 - even they were not seen throughout the wood, only certain areas. Just one of each Small and Green-veined White - possibly new broods, and a female Brimstone still in residence."

Laura Gundy emailed: "Blessed with a day off work, I took the opportunity to have a wander around the farm here at Benniworth. Meadow Browns and Ringlets were around in low numbers, and lots of Large Skippers were chasing about. I was delighted to see a Marbled White patrolling a particularly flowery area, but even this was trumped today by my favourite find - two large nests of Peacock larvae. Having hardly seen any adults all spring it was a massive relief to see these little fellers! Later, I paid a brief visit to Sotby Wood where I noted Meadow Browns, Ringlets, 2 Common Blues, loads of Large Skippers and a single White Admiral."

Friday 21st June 2024

Owen Beaumont emailed: "We’ve finally got a bit of sun, so the Rimac transect has been carried out today. Only 58 individuals of 6 species recorded, but it’s an improvement on recent sightings - 14 Large Skipper, 3 Common Blue, 4 Speckled Wood, 21 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet and 12 Small Heath."

Mike Pickwell emailed: "I've not been able to get out much lately, so it was good to visit Tetney Blow Wells today. There wasn't a lot about, but I did see 10 Meadow Brown, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Ringlet and a distant white sp."

Karen Hargreave emailed: "Went to Twyford Wood this morning, 9 Grizzled Skippers but very worn. Also noted the following in the Sanctuary reserve: 9 Large Skipper, 12 Meadow Brown, 3 Ringlets, 8 Common Blue, 4 Marbled White, 2 Large White and 1 Burnet Companion moth."

Thursday 20th June 2024: Small Skipper at Rimac!

Chris Atkin emailed: "My first Small Skipper of the year today at Rimac, opposite the freshwater marsh. I didn't have much else, just a few Large Skippers, Small Heaths, Common Blues and Meadow Browns. Again, no whites!"                                                                                                       

Colin Pumfrett reported from Chambers Farm Wood: "Today I had a single Black Hairstreak and White Admiral at Fiveways."                                                                                                                   

 Pete Cawdell emailed: "Today I met up with the BC Lincs Chairman and our Regional BC Conservation Manager to view Crowle Moor. It was good to chat with Phil Lee who was just leaving the site around mid-day, as I hadn't seen him for a while. We managed to find 11 Large Heath in the North Reserve along with 1 Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on privet, 1 fresh Red Admiral, about 7 Large Skipper, 7 Ringlet, 3 Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, and male and female Brimstone. I was there a bit early for our meeting but, by chance, pleased to have a good conversation with a committee member of Yorks BC Branch, also there to check up on the Large Heaths. He was a bit surprised when I informed him we were actually in Lincs (you have to watch these Yorkshire folk, not satisfied with having the massive Humberhead Peatlands portion, they want to claim our small slice as well!).      

Phil Lee emailed: "Today I had at least 5 Large Heath at Crowle Moor along north tram. This section is very boggy at the top and wellies are a must!"                                                                                          

Gary Fenwick emailed: "A trip to Red Hill LWT NR today produced the following: 5 Marbled White, 5 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet, c15 Large Skipper, c10 Common Blue, 6 Latticed Heath moths and a Common Lizard."

Pete Smith emailed: "Given this year's largely dismal weather, I have been fortunate to have made several trips abroad in recent weeks, and enjoyed some excellent continental butterflying. But today I decided to get back into the UK scene and visited Chambers Farm Wood for a couple of hours this morning. It was, as expected, rather quiet. There were several dozen Marsh Fritillaries still flying in Little Scrubbs Meadow, and similar numbers of Meadow Browns and Large Skippers scattered throughout the wood. Add in about a dozen Speckled Woods, one female Brimstone and one Small White and that's about it, apart from the star of the show - a fecund female Black Hairstreak down at nectar. Surprisingly, I didn't see a single Ringlet. With the weather forecast to be warmer over the next week or so, as the song goes, things can only get better!"

Wednesday 19th June 2024

Graham Catley emailed: "Today, I had a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth at Laughton Forest, my first for this site."

Tuesday 18th June 2024

• Paul Daubney emailed: "I went to Chambers’ Wood today looking for Black Hairstreaks and, despite the cloudy conditions, found them at the usual spot at Fiveways (flying between the Oak tree and the top of the Blackthorn). Quite a few sightings, but a maximum of 3 Hairstreaks at any given time. Also got my first Meadow Browns and Ringlet of the year, just past Fiveways. The picture shows one of the Hairstreaks angling the underside of its wings in an attempt to get some sun. Lots of birdsong, with Garden Warblers showing well. Summer will soon be here!"
• Dave Wright reported: " Having not seen Marsh Fritillary so far this year, I met up with Toby Ludlow at Chambers Farm Wood around midday, to do a count at Little Scrubbs Meadow and the Extension. Little Scrubbs Meadow: 78 Marsh Fritillary, 10 Large Skipper, 26 Meadow Brown and 3 Speckled Wood. We also noted our first Brown Hawker of the year too, and a Common Lizard was an unexpected bonus. Extension: 41 Marsh Fritillary, 17 Meadow Brown, 33 Large Skipper, 6 Speckled Wood and a single Common Blue. We had a staggering total of 353 Green Oak Tortrix moths, some of which fell prey to two more Brown Hawkers and a Common Blue Damselfy. Moths included 2 Latticed Heath, 2 Burnet Companion, 1 Six-spot Burnet, 6 Cinnabar, 1 Silver Y and 2 Yellow Shell. Eventually, we made our way to Fiveways, and despite cloudy conditions, we managed to find at least 3 Black Hairstreaks in the tops of the Blackthorn. Earlier on we bumped into a couple who had seen 5 Black Hairstreaks and a single White Admiral nearby. Prior to meeting up with me, Toby had visited another part of the Limewoods and found 10 White Admirals.

Sunday 16th June 2024

Laura Gundy emailed: "Ever since I was a child, there have always been Magpie Moths in my parents'garden in Strubby. I was pleased to see some of the larvae there today, and interestingly they were feeding on sedums instead of the fruit bushes where they've always been before. Stonecrop is listed as a foodplant for them, so I suppose a sedum is perhaps not too far removed from that. 

Friday 14th June 2024

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I popped over to Nettleton and met up with Kev Armstrong at Wold Farm, where we had a walk over his land. We had to dodge a couple of showers, but during a brief sunny spell a Painted Lady made an appearance. The only other butterflies seen were 1 male Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Green-veined White and lots of Brimstone larvae on Buckthorn. Moths included 1 Blood-vein, 1 Cinnabar and 3 Chimney Sweeper. Also, a Banded Demoiselle made an unexpected appearance."

Thursday 13th June 2024

• Chris Cox emailed: "One White Admiral spotted today at Southrey Wood. Also, a few Common Blues, but that was all."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "A Meadow Brown at Crook Bank on the Saltflletby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today. Also Common Darter, and earlier a Banded Demoiselle at Sea View bridge."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "A walk around the Pingle LNR, Coningsby, this afternoon in overcast conditions produced just 2 butterflies: a Red Admiral and a Peacock. However, the latter was of note because it was a fresh, summer-brood Peacock and not an over-wintering individual." 

Wednesday 12th June 2024

Chris Atkin emailed: "I visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, and despite the poor weather, managed to find my first Meadow Brown of the year, adjacent to Rimac freshwater marsh late afternoon. I also flushed 6 Small Heath, 3 Speckled Wood and 2 Common Blue."

Dave Wright reported: "There have been a few sightings of Meadow Brown in Lincolnshire just recently, and so with the prospect of a few sunny intervals in the Grimsby area this afternoon, I decided to visit the Great Coates Section of the Pyewipe Line, in the hope of seeing my first of this species for the year. Unfortunately, I drew a complete blank, but rather unexpectedly came across 3 Ringlets. The only other butterflies seen were 3 Common Blues and 2 Large Skippers. Sadly heavy rain curtailed proceedings prematurely, but not before I managed to find 75 spikes of Bee Orchid, my first ever at this site!"

Saturday 8th June 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Being away for a good part of May, coupled with the bad spring weather, made me fear I had missed out on seeing Grizzled Skippers in Lincs this year. I have had several unrewarding trips out looking for the species lately and this afternoon, I found myself in Twyford Wood, home-base for them in Lincs, for the third time this week. Trudging up the long direct ride to our BC Glades Reserve the weather was slightly better - some sunny spells, dry, but with a moderate, gusty, cool wind. It was getting very late in the flight season for them so I was somewhat surprised then to see a good condition Grizzled Skipper come skipping past me and landing on a flower. Fumbling to get my camera set up and having a dog walker approach (typical!) meant it soon flew off without a shot. A faded Holly Blue then landed on the track and there were at least 8 Speckled Woods on this section of my walk. On reaching the Glades I had a leisurely look round for about an hour and turned up another 4 Grizzled Skippers - 2 males sparring with a fresh male Large Skipper, and 2 females, one of which was egg-laying. There were also 4 Dingy Skipper, 6 Small Heath and only 3 male Common Blue butterflies here, apart from another couple of Speckled Wood. There were several Burnet Companions and a Mother Shipton moth. On the way across to our other BC Sanctuary Reserve I clocked up a male Brimstone and a few more Speckled Wood. By the time I reached the Sanctuary it had clouded over and cooled off so I only recorded a couple of Small Heath. Yet more Speckled Woods (at least there has been a good hatch of them) on my way back to the entrance completed the successful hunt."

Thursday 6th June 2024

John Davison emailed: "Saw my first Meadow Brown today at Old Hag Wood - Doddington Hall Estate. Also, this Comma larva."

Monday 3rd June 2024

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "This morning's trap revealed 62 macros of 36 species. A good steady night with a fair selection of species. Large Nutmeg, Dusky Brocade and Bird's Wing, together with Pine Hawk-moth were the highlights of the night."

Sunday 2nd June 2024

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning, my wife and I paid a brief visit to Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve in weather that was more compatible for the time of year - pleasantly warm and sunny. Despite this, butterfly numbers were still low: 7 Small Copper, 1 Peacock, 1 Small White, 1 female Orange-tip and 12 Brimstone (5 male & 7 female). Moths included 3 Common Heath and a superb Beautiful Yellow Underwing. In complete contrast, dragonfly numbers were impressive, and Azure Damselflies were everywhere in the wetter areas. We noted a further 6 species: Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly, Black-tailed Skimmer, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and at least 3 Emperor Dragonflies patrolling the heath."
• Graham Catley messaged: "My first Large Skipper and Meadow Brown of the year this morning on the farm at Searby. Little else apart from 10 Small Heaths, 2 Brimstones and a few Speckled Woods."
• Mark Brandon emailed: "We picked a great day for our first visit to Chambers Farm Wood today, with very warm sun and calm conditions. An abundance of Marsh Fritillaries, hard to put a number on, but likely over a 100, including two in the garden. Also, 1 Dingy Skipper, 1 Large Skipper, 2 Brimstone, I fresh Red Admiral and 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "I visited a few sites in the Castle Bytham and Colsterworth areas on a fine day Sunday but not much about .. just a few Common Blue, Small Heath and Brimstones and the odd Small White, Green-veined White and Orange-tip. Best I saw was a Green Hairstreak at Castle Bytham old quarry. This quarry is still accessible and it looks like plans for development into housing have stalled at the moment."

May 2024

Thursday 30th May 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "I visited the newish Penfield Local Nature Reserve near Langtoft this morning before the showers got going. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable voluntary Reserve Manager, Augy Harrison, showed me round. This 20 acre site was a worked out gravel and sand quarry. The former farmer owners had fortunately put a clause in the deeds preventing it being used as a landfill site, so it was recently sold to the Parish Council for just 1 pound! Augy and a small team of Langtoft volunteers have worked hard over the last 3 years to create an excellent wildlife habitat - a home for the likes of Bitterns, Sand Martins and Marsh Harriers, Otters, Hares and Badgers, and Grass Snakes, to name just a few species present. Augy records the butterflies and moths and last year found a colony of Green Hairstreak (max. count 10) and a couple of Dingy Skippers. Similar numbers have been seen again this May and we managed to find a single late Green Hairstreak today despite the cloudy skies. This is a notable site for both these key species - the furthest south east ever recorded in Lincs for Dingies (nearest colony Grimsthorpe), and an isolated site for Green Hairstreaks with just rare ones recorded on the banks of the nearby River Welland many years ago. Other butterfies we saw today here were an Orange Tip male & 3 Speckled Woods. Moths were a Mother Shipton, 3 Burnet Companions and a Silver Y."

Wednesday 29th May 2024: A Day of Firsts!

Dave Wright reported: "Following my visit to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR a week last Sunday, I decided to make a return visit today, this time accompanied by Chris Atkin. Once again, the weather wasn't ideal, predominantly cloudy with only occasional sunny spells. However, we managed to notch up a few firsts for the year, which included 2 Large Skippers at Rimac and 1 Painted Lady 

nectaring on bramble flowers in the dunes at Sea View. We later learnt that Owen Beaumont had seen one of the latter at Crook Bank. We managed to add a further 8 butterfly species to the list: 2 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper, 17 Common Blue, 7 Brown Argus, 14 Small Heath, 10 Wall, 1 Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood. Moths included: Cinnabar, Silver Y, Common Carpet, Green Carpet, Burnet Companion, Yellow Shell, Grass Rivulet, Dingy Footman larva, Brown-tail larva and lots of Celypha lacunana. We also noted 7 species of dragonfly for the day, the highlight being another first for the year, a single Banded Demoiselle at Sea View. It was great to see 3 Hairy Dragonflies as well. To complete the firsts for the year, there were 2 bird species - a Little Tern flying north just out from the MOD track and a Spotted Flycatcher around the NE buildings at Sea View. We also witnessed a Mole emerging out of the earth near the Eco-classroom. Now that's something you dont see every day!"                                                                                                                              

Mark Brandon emailed: "Today, a walk at Rimac produced 3 Wall, 2 Small Heath, 1 male Orange-tip, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Small Copper and a Green Hairstreak."

Gary Fenwick emailed: "In suboptimal conditions I ventured out to Chambers Farm Wood this afternoon. At the entrance to the Butterfly Garden I was entertained by a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and then in cloudy conditions I saw 4 Marsh Fritillary at Little Scrubbs Meadow in ninety minutes. Then the sun came out and there were suddenly about 50 Marsh Fritillaries flying around, just in the small patch of the meadow that I was in. After ten minutes, cloud cover resumed and the action was over! I was also surprised to see a rather faded Painted Lady."

Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2024

Renata Jackson emailed: "I had a visit to Chambers Farm Wood this afternoon and two of us counted 55 Marsh Fritilaries at Little Scrubbs Meadow. They were quite active until the clouds came over and then nicely rested on the vegetation individually, and in twos and fours."

Laura Gundy emailed: "I paid a visit with Peter Cawdell to a privately-owned disused quarry at Welton le Wold, which is a regular recording spot for Peter. It was a cool, breezy morning but we still saw singles of Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Small White, Small Heath and several Common Blues.  The 

star of the show was the first Large Skipper of the year for both of us.  We also visited Welton Quarry LWT reserve, where we saw more Common Blues and then I forced Peter to go to Red Hill to see if we could find more Dingy Skippers.  We did see one, which proved I wasn't imagining them previously!  Many more Common Blues here too, mostly males. There were also six Common Lizards sunbathing on the wooden raised beds, which was lovely to see."

James Smith emailed: "I visited Rimac this morning in the vain hope of seeing the reported Red-backed Shrike. Had to settle for very few butterflies instead, including my first Large Skipper of the year! Otherwise, I only had singles of Wall and Large White, a couple of Small Heath and a possible Brown Argus. Also, had a teneral Black-tailed Skimmer, a couple of Four-spotted Chasers and a few Azure Damselflies."

Sunday 26th May 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Elliott and I paid a late afternoon visit to Kirkby Moor. We managed to notch up 23 Small Coppers and 5 Brimstones and a single Brown Argus. The latter haven't really got going yet. We also disturbed 4 Yellow Shells whilst traversing the heath, along with 10 Common Heath moths." 

Saturday 25th May 2024

Graham Catley emailed: "This morning I was amazed to find a single Dingy Skipper, while doing survey work on the farm at Searby. Little else apart from 5 Small Heath, 2 male Orange-tip, 1 Red Admiral and a Mother Shipton moth."

Friday 24th May 2024

Owen Beaumont messaged: "I went for an early morning walk around North Cockerington this morning and was surprised to find this fresh looking Wall basking in the sun. I had a late one in my garden a few years ago (October 2020 I think) which I thought must have come from the coast, but maybe there’s a small colony locally."

Tuesday 21st May 2024

John Davison emailed: "John Petyt and I had a quick visit to Chambers Farm Wood this afternoon, and found 25 Marsh Fritillary in Little Scrubbs Meadow."

Monday 20th May 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Starting to get very quiet out in the wider countryside: numbers of Brimstone, Orange-tip and Green-veined White have dropped right off, and very few nymphalids about. Paid a visit to Kirkby Moor and apart from a good number of Small Coppers, very quiet here, too. I only saw one Brimstone, but I did discover 2 fresh out-of-the-box, second brood Speckled Woods, which were both males. There were a good number of dragonflies on the wing, though, and I saw 35 Four-spotted Chasers, 3 Hairy, and one Emperor." 

Sunday 19th May 2024

Laura Gundy emailed: "Intrigued by the recent sighting of a Dingy Skipper in the Coronation Meadow at Red Hill, I paid a visit this afternoon. As anyone who has been will know, it can be a windy site, and I was not hopeful of seeing many butterflies as the breeze had really picked up by the time I got there. How wrong I was! By choosing to walk in the lee of the hedges and dips I saw the following: 13 Common Blue males plus 1 mating pair, 10 Dingy Skipper (sparring with the blues), 1 Small Heath, 

1 male Orange-tip and a Large White. There were moths too: 4 Grass Rivulet, 1 Small Yellow Underwing, 4 Silver Y and 1 Burnet Companion. I can imagine that on a calmer day weather-wise the total of Dingy Skippers may be much better!"

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "I had a Wall in the garden this morning, and as far as I'm aware, is the first record for about twenty years!"

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR and walked from 

Paradise Wood to the MOD track, hoping to see a few firsts for the year. Unfortunately, the cool northerly breeze and increasing cloud hampered proceedings, but the sheltered areas did produce a few butterflies, including 6 Common Blue, 7 Brown Argus and 1 Small Heath, all new for the year. Also noted 1 Green Hairstreak, 3 Small Copper, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock and 43 Wall, the latter seemed less affected by the conditions. Moths included 7 Silver Y, 2 Burnet Companion, 4 Cinnabar and a Drinker larva. "

Friday 17th May 2024

• Dave Wright reported: "Following Roy Harvey’s report last Sunday on his visit to Nettleton LNR, I decided to make a visit myself today, having not been there for about two years. Traditionally a good site for both Common Blue and Small Heath, I was hoping that one or two of both species might have emerged, but I drew a complete blank. However, I was pleased to see that the Green Hairstreak is still doing well and I saw 5 individuals, including 2 females egg-laying on Birds-foot Trefoil. I also had my first Small Copper of the year. Other butterflies included the following: 6 Orange-tip, 1 Large White, 7 Green-veined White, 4 Speckled Wood and a male Brimstone. Moths included: 10 Silver Y, 1 Common Carpet and 1 Cinnabar."
• Owen Beaumont reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "30+Wall and 4 Small Heath, Sea View-MOD loop."
• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "Suddenly Silver Y are everywhere - at least 9 in the garden today, probably more. A couple of fresh Red Admiral too, so the recent southerly winds must have brought in a fresh wave of migrants. Had the first 2 Small Heath of the year in the garden today, as well as the first Common Blue."

Tuesday 14th May 2024

• Graham Catley messaged: "This morning I had a pristine Painted Lady at Barton-upon-Humber sailing pit. Also, 6 Walls at Alkborough during the weekend."
• Phil Hyde reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "A Painted Lady this morning N of Brickyard Lane in central dune area."
• Alison Storey emailed: "We've had our first Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the Red Valerian on our garden wall in Branston this evening. I think it's the earliest we've seen them here."

Monday 13th May 2024

Charlie Barnes reported: "Tony Foster saw a Dingy Skipper in the Coronation Meadow at Redhill today (photo attached)."

Owen Beaumont messaged: "Rimac transect 11:45-12:45 in 100% sun and 20 degrees C, but Force 4 

S wind. 1 Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 7 Green Hairstreak, 3 Small Copper, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood and 45 Wall. Also 10 Silver Y, 1 Mother Shipton and 1 Cinnabar."

John Walker reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "First Small Heath on the wing here at Churchill Lane." 

Toby Ludlow messaged: "There were still a good number of Small Coppers about when Elliott and I 

returned to Kirkby Moor today for another visit, but the Moderate Breeze from the south disrupted much of the aerial activity and many were found just resting on the ground with wings ajar. We still managed a respectable count of 72, and additionally we both saw a Brown Argus, which turned out to 

be the small male that I first saw last Thursday. We also saw 4 Common Heath moths." 

Sunday 12th May 2024

• Mark Johnson emailed: "A visit to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR this morning produced 7 species of Butterfly. Walked from Rimac to MOD path and back through the dunes. 9 Green Hairstreak, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Holly Blue, 3 Large White, 1 Orange-tip, 2 Peacock and 49 Wall. From here, I called in at Donna Nook NNR to see how many Green Hairstreak I could find. Started from Stonebridge and walked on the landward side to the breach at Pye’s Hall, and returned through the dunes. A thorough search produced an astounding 102 individuals. Also seen were 1 Holly Blue, 4 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Green-veined White and 10 Wall. Meanwhile at home, Sally had a Wall, 2 Orange-tips and egg laying Brimstone and Holly Blue. The first Brimstone caterpillars were on the buckthorn."
• Chris Atkin messaged: "Today I had my first Common Blue of the year between Quad 2 and Quad 3 at Donna Nook NNR. Also,16 Wall and a Small Copper." 
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "My son Elliott and I paid a visit to Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve this afternoon and retraced our steps of a few days ago. There was still a lot of Small Copper activity, with around half a dozen courting pairs seen on our walk over the heath. We amassed a similar total to before, just a few short with 91 being the final tally. In just a few days, most of these are starting to look a little worn, but it is still worth visiting the site to see this butterfly in such numbers. As an added bonus, Elliott spotted a couple of Beautiful Yellow Underwings, but they were too rapid for us to get a photo." 
• Roy Harvey emailed: "I had a look in at Nettleton LNR this afternoon, and was rewarded with sightings of 2 Green Hairstreaks, my first for this location. I also saw a single Small Copper. Numbers of Speckled Wood and Orange-tip were into double figures."

Saturday 11th May 2024

Owen Beaumont emailed: "I had a really enjoyable time at Twyford Wood from 11:30-13:30 today. The cloud increased after 12:30, but the clearings were alive with activity. Totals; 46 Dingy Skipper, 8 Grizzled Skipper, 3 Green Hairstreak, 2 Orange-tip, 6 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White and 5 Small White. I may have missed some of the larger species as I was looking down most of the time! 12 Common Lizard were also nice to see (briefly!)."

Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: " Although I have not been out much of late, the recent warm 

weather is bringing a few butterflies to my Scartho garden. We have a regular 2 Holly Blues visiting and have also had Small White, Large White, Speckled Wood, male and female Orange tip and I found the attached Angle Shades outside the back door."

Pete Smith emailed: "Visited Little Scrubbs Meadow today and was delighted to see some good Dingy Skipper action - 12 very active and fresh males interacting and fighting over territories and also a single female, keeping a low profile! The meadow has now been partially cut (very late) - whether further cuts are imminent or not I do not know, but if the remainder of the meadow is also to be cut this late, the impact on the Dingy Skipper and Marsh Fritillary populations could be dire..."

Friday 10th May 2024

• Hugh Middleton emailed: "A single Painted Lady in my Navenby garden today."
• Les Catchick emailed: "I visited Twyford Wood this morning and saw Dingy Skipper in the low number of double digits, but no Grizzled Skipper. Also, 3 Orange-tips."

Thursday 9th May 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Went for a walk at Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve with my son Elliott, and what a glorious day it was! With lengthy periods of sunshine, it was very hot, much to the liking of the Small Copper, which is having another amazing spring brood there: it is not quite up to the number that were seen there last year, but not far off! On a walk along the main stone track over the heath we soon amassed a count of 94. There has been a large emergence of females today, and we witnessed a lot of courtship activity along the way, together with one mating pair and one egg-laying female. Brimstone is also having a great spring and these were numerous, too. Apart from that, a solitary Small White and one Peacock seemed like that would be it in terms of species diversity, but on our walk back we both spotted our first Brown Argus of the season. This was a very fresh, and very small, male."

Pete Smith emailed: "  Just a quick siting from Greetwell Quarry today - I was delighted to confirm the 

continued presence of Green Hairstreak in this isolated colony. I found 2 males fighting over prime positions in their usual "master-tree" area, in this case several hawthorn bushes that are used year after year by the males as an assembly point as they await incoming females with who to attempt to pair up. I don't know how well known this behaviour of Green Hairstreaks is amongst butterfly enthusiasts. Of course, the "master tree" behaviour of species such as Purple Emperor is very well known and documented (although there are those who walk amongst us who deny the existence of such trees!). This assembly area at Greetwell has been consistently used for at least the past 20 years, and is always my "go to" place to find them each year. I also saw 2 egg-laying females both separately and some distance from the assembly point where the males were active. The site is still earmarked for housing development, so how much longer they will be here is not certain, but today's count of 4 is good for this colony. Usual sightings here are of singletons, and only in 2004 and 2010 have I recorded higher counts (5 on both occasions)."

Chris Atkin emailed: "I had an aberrant Speckled Wood of the form ab. pallida at Linwood Warren today."

Wednesday 8th May 2024

• Renata Jackson reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Butterfly sightings this morning between Paradise and Rimac: 4 Speckled Wood, 4 Green-veined White, 6 Orange-tip (4 male & 2 female), 2 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 13 Green Hairstreak and 17 Wall."
• Chris Atkin messaged: "A walk from Rimac car park late morning S through the dunes to MOD track, then back via the Willow Hedge, produced 34 Wall. Also 2 Hairy Dragonfly, 2 Four-spotted Chaser, and numerous Azure and Large Red Damselflies. Later, I had another 19 Wall N from Rimac to Paradise, so a cracking 53 in total for the day!"

Bank Holiday Monday 6th May 2024

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Paid a mid-afternoon visit to Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve, but there were very few butterflies about. I thought that 4 male Brimstones were my lot, but when a small, metallic green butterfly flew just past my face, you could have knocked me over with a feather! Green Hairstreak at this inland site is a great record. In fact, all bar one of the records that we received last year for this species were either from around the Lincolnshire coast, or from the extreme south-west of the county. So this record lies roughly midway between these areas. Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve contains large expanses of Bird's-foot Trefoil and Gorse (two of the larval foodplants), so it will be interesting to see if there are any more sightings in the near future." 
• Roy Harvey emailed: "We had a Waved Umber at our kitchen window last night."
• John Walker reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White, 1 Small White and 2 Wall, all in and alongside Coastguard Cottage gardens."

Sunday 5th May 2024

Mark Johnson emailed: "This morning I visited Donna Nook NNR and a walk from Stonebridge to Pye's 

Hall produced 32 Green Hairstreak, 4 Wall, 3 Orange-tip, 4 Peacock and 1 Red Admiral. Butterflies in my garden at North Somercotes included 3 Orange-tip, 1 Green-veined White, male and female Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Holly Blue. Later, my garden moth trap revealed 5 Muslin Moth, 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Green Carpet and 1 Waved Umber."

Tracey Lenton emailed: "Today I have seen 2 Holly Blues, an Orange-tip and a Speckled Wood in my Boston garden. I have seen 9 different butterflies so far this year. Also, a Yellow-barred Brindle moth was in the house last evening."

Saturday 4th May 2024

Martin Kew reported: "I walked the transects at Twyford Wood today with some periods of bright sunshine. Not much on the wing, but I did record my first Grizzled and Dingy Skipper of the year. 2 Grizzled and 1 Dingy at the Glades, and 1 Dingy at the Sanctuary."

Thursday 2nd May 2024

• David Goff emailed: "Green Hairstreaks showing at Donna Nook today."
• Peter Burnett emailed: "Sat in our Fiskerton garden this evening and had an Orange-tip." 
• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "As our polling station is in the Scartho cemetary chapel, we went for a walk around the woodland burial ground to see what butterflies were out. It's still very wet in there and flooded in parts, but we found 5 Small White, 1 Large White, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 male Orange-tip. Yesterday I saw butterflies in the garden for the first time in ages - 1 female Orange-tip and 1 Holly Blue."

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Toby Ludlow emailed: "Took a late-afternoon stroll across Kirkby Moor to make the most of the warm weather, but it certainly won't break any records on the butterfly diversity front - only two species were seen: Brimstone and Small Copper. However, there has been a good emergence of Small Copper today and I soon amassed a total of 21 whilst walking over the heath, so it made the visit worthwhile. As an added bonus, I saw 8 male Emperor moths coursing low over the heather. 

Dave Wright and Chris Atkin reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "We spent most of 

 the day at this superb reserve, and as soon as the weather improved during the afternoon, the insect count improved dramatically between Paradise Wood and Rimac! Counts are as follows: 37 Green Hairstreak, 8 Wall, 4 Red Admiral, 25 Peacock, 6 Speckled Wood, male Brimstone, 7 Orange-tip, 5 Green-veined White and 2 Holly Blue. Moths included: Silver Y, Latticed Heath, Grass Rivulet, 2 Common Carpet, Burnet Companion, 2 Nettle-tap, several larval webs of Brown-tail and lots of Green Longhorn moths. Dragonflies: 1 Four-spotted Chaser, 9 Large Red Damselfly and 3 teneral Azure Damselfly. Bird highlights included, male Wheatear near the tank, 30+ Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank and Cuckoo near Paradise."

April 2024

Tuesday 30th April 2024

• Allan Greensmith emailed: "Today I managed to photograph a rather tatty looking Large White along the Freshney at Town's Holt in Grimsby, where I also got a sighting of my first local Brimstone."
• Dave Wright reported: "A male Large White in my Grimsby garden this morning."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Today, a walk through the dunes at Cleethorpes Coast LNR produced 4 Green Hairstreaks, 13 Peacock, 5 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood and a Green-veined White."
• Chris Atkin emailed: "This morning I visited the southern end of Donna Nook NNR  and found 11 Green Hairstreaks in the dunes near Saltfleet Haven. Later, I moved on to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, where I had a further 6 Green Hairstreaks at Rimac and 8 near Paradise Wood. At Rimac I also had 3 Wall, my first of the year, a single Small Copper and flushed a Hairy Dragonfly."

Saturday 27th April 2024

Suzanne Nelson messaged: "Today we visited Anderby Creek for the Woodchat Shrike, and then called in at Crook Bank on the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. We were lucky enough to spot 5 Green Hairstreaks, 1 Peacock, 1 Green-veined White and 1 Red Admiral. Next stop was Rimac, where we rescued a Green Hairstreak off the path."

Friday 26th April 2024

Sightings reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Green-veined White and Peacock in the sheltered Coastguard Cottage garden today (John Walker). Despite the cool wind, the sun actually came out which provided some warmth, so I headed out  between Sea View and Paradise to find: 2 Green-veined White, 4 Orange-tip (3 male & 1 female), 1 Green Hairstreak, 8 Peacock and 1 Speckled Wood (Renata Jackson)."

Wednesday 24th April 2024

Dave Wright reported: "I didn't expect to see any butterflies during this current cold spell, but this morning I was staggered to come across my first Large White of the year on the Lincolnshire coast, just south of the North Sea Observatory at Chapel St Leonards. I found it settled on vegetation in a sheltered spot along Willoughby High Drain." 

Sunday 21st April 2024

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had a walk on Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve today, but only saw one butterfly - a Small Copper, my first of the year. Managed to get a couple of record shots of it before a gust of wind took it over the heath."
• Graham Catley emailed: "This morning I had a pair of Orange-tips at Alkborough."

Friday 19th April 2024

Lesley Robinson emailed: "During my walk in Bottesford this afternoon, I saw a Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on purple Aubretia."

Thursday 18th April 2024

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Visited a very wet, bedraggled and sad looking Little Scrubbs Meadow today. Unbelievably, this SSSI still uncut by the FC. Short term this will be good for the Marsh Fritillaries, but the effect on the scarce flora I don't know. There were plenty of late instar larvae scattered about and I would predict a good flight season for this species, this year anyway. They will probably be on the wing from mid-May."
• Dave Wright reported: "This morning, I visited Donna Nook NNR with Chris Atkin, hoping to find Green Hairstreak for the first time this year. The weather wasn't ideal on our arrival, with cool conditions prevailing. Despite this, we carried out an extensive search from Stonebridge car park to the breach at Pyes Hall and eventually managed to dig out 3 Green Hairstreaks. Increasing cloud meant that we didn't see another butterfly species, although we did come across lots of Brown-tail moth larvae on several webs in the Sea Buckthorn."

Sunday 14th April 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "After reading about a handful of Green Hairstreak records from the Lincolnshire coast, I decided to pay a visit to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR and chance my luck at Rimac. Within a few minutes of being on site I disturbed my first Green Hairstreak from some scrub, so I was feeling rather pleased with myself. But when it landed on a Hawthorn bush, that pleasure was tempered somewhat when I discovered that it wasn't as fresh as I expected it to be; it looked like it had been out for about a week! It would be around 20 minutes before I spotted another one, this one in much better condition and, unlike most of the Green Hairstreaks I find on the coast which have very little in the way of white markings, it had well-developed spots on both fore- and hindwings, making it ab. punctata. With a cold offshore wind blowing across the reserve, butterfly numbers were expectedly low. However, in the more sheltered parts of the dunescape, I encountered several more Green Hairstreaks and 11 was my final tally, 2 of which were ab. punctata." 

Saturday 13th April 2024

Pete Cawdell emailed: "After BC Lincs Branch AGM at Whisby this morning, a group of about 18 had a very interesting guided walk around the Reserve by Emily the LWT warden. The weather wasn't really condusive to butterflies, but we did spot several Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites, including a mating pair. Luckily we had Melanie Pensome, BC East Midlands Branch Moth Officer with us and she had given an illustrated talk on the 16 species of Clearwing Moths earlier in the day. On the walk she brought with her an Emperor Moth lure (see pic. of it hanging in a bush in a muslin bag). We were soon dived bombed by what was incorrectly identified as a rather brownish Red Admiral, but we then soon realised it to be a male Emperor Moth. This was a sign of things to come as by the time we reached a large clearing and hung up the lure in a bush, 3 of these beauties were drawn to it, landing on some of the watchers. We were all amazed at the effectiveness of this method of recording. (Not to be used in a garden setting though as it can be counter to conservation by taking the males away from their proper business of hunting females!)."

Thursday 11th April 2024

Dave Wright reported: "Today, Chris Atkin and I decided to head inland and visit the excellent nature reserve of Messingham Sand Quarry. The weather was kind with numerous sunny spells, and it became quite warm, especially during the afternoon. Not surprisingly, we managed to find nine species of butterfly, which included the following: Orange-tip (male), Holly Blue, Small White, 7 Green-veined White, 16 Speckled Wood, 7 Brimstone (5 male & 2 female), 3 Red Admiral, 10 Peacock and a Comma. The latter was seen briefly sparring with an Orange Underwing moth. Other moths included a Drinker larva and 30+ Adela reaumurella. We also noted 11 Common Lizards basking in the sunshine on various habitat piles."

Peter Cawdell emailed: "A walk around Southrey Wood today yielded 7 species: a couple of dozen of 

Green-veined White, Brimstone and Peacock, 4 Comma, and singles of Speckled Wood, Holly Blue (male) and Red Admiral. The worn Red Admiral is probably the earliest I have personally seen one although there has been a smattering of sightings around the County already. So the "Butterfly of 2023' has managed to survive the long, wet but comparatively warm winter in small numbers. Brimstone sightings were of course mostly males but I did manage to find this courting pair, following them for 10 minutes in our Coppice Area. The only time you can view the topside of the wings naturally."

Gary Fenwick emailed: "I set off to Rimac to see if I could see any Green Hairstreak (at last the sun was shining)! At the last second I decided to pop to the adjacent Sea View car-park beforehand and I am glad I did, I saw two Green Hairstreak and then none at Rimac! At Sea View I also picked up a Brimstone and a Small/Green-veined White. At Rimac all I saw was a Brimstone and another Small/Green-veined White. I then went on to Gibraltar Point NNR, principally to (successfully) track down the Glossy Ibis, but I also saw nine Peacock and three Small/Green-veined White. Moths in my trap (at Usselby Plantation, Willingham Woods [I have a permit]) this morning included: 3 Early-tooth Striped, 2 Brindled Pug, 2 Pine Beauty, 1 Brindled Beauty, 3 Early Grey, 1 Purple Thorn, 1 Streamer, 1 Water Carpet, 1 Scalloped Hook-tip and 1 Powdered Quaker."

Simon Johnson from Donington emailed: "Today in my garden I saw a pair of Speckled Woods dancing together above the lawn; a Brimstone patrolling the flowerbeds; two Red Admirals, one old and tattered, one straight out of the box; a male Orange-tip; and a Holly Blue. Not bad for less than an hour outside on the first properly mild and reasonably sunny day of the year."

Graham Catley messaged "My first Orange-tip of the year this morning at Laughton wet heath."

Renata Jackson reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Sightings between Sea View and Paradise Wood: 1 Green Veined White, 3 Speckled Wood, 13 Peacock, 3 male Brimstone, 2 Small White, 2 Green Hairstreak and 1 Small Tortoiseshell."

Toby Ludlow from Coningsby messaged: "My first Orange-tip of the year today, closely followed by a second at the Pingle LNR."

Andrew Kurch phoned: "A male Holly Blue in my Grimsby garden today, was my first of the year!"

Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "At last, there was some activity in my garden today, with a male Orange-tip, Speckled Wood and a female Brimstone egg-laying, all making an appearance."

Wednesday 10th April 2024: Green Hairstreak at Crook Bank!

Oliver Conley reported: "A Green Hairstreak today at Crook Bank, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Whilst the sun was shining, a walk around the Pingle LNR again produced a good number of butterflies. This time, of note, were 3 Large Whites: 2 males and a heavily-marked female. Also of note was my first mating pair of the year: a pair of Green-veined Whites, the female of which had only just emerged."

Ian Shepherd from Cleethorpes emailed: "I had my first Holly Blue of the year in my garden this afternoon, and an Orange-tip near the plantation at Tetney Sluice Gates."

Dave Wright reported: "The sunny conditions in the Grimsby area this morning, prompted me to visit 

• two local sites before the predicted arrival of strong winds and rain by early afternoon. I was rewarded with my first Speckled Wood of the year shortly after arriving at the Great Coates section of the Pyewipe Line. The only other butterflies seen were 11 Small Tortoiseshells and 3 Peacocks. From here I moved on to the Mawmbridge Drain section of the same line, and was delighted to see a male Orange-tip and Green-veined White, both new for the year. I also noted 2 more Speckled Woods, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and 5 Peacocks. An unexpected bonus came in the form of a Spoonbill, seen in flight nearby."

Monday 8th April 2024

• Toby Ludlow from Coningsby messaged: "Initially I thought that the weather was borderline and I ummed and ahed for about 30 minutes before finally deciding to get some fresh air and go out. In the end, I was mighty glad I did because I saw 89 butterflies throughout the day. And it was a walk around the Pingle LNR that produced the goods, with 10 species of butterfly seen there. Alas, none of the species were new ones for the year for me. At the Pingle, the pick of the bunch were 6 male Green-veined Whites, a male Small White, and a male Large White. The latter sighting was interesting because it was in the exact same location as the female I saw on the 19th March."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "Not particularly optimal conditions, but with a bit of sun, we headed out for the first transect of the year at Rimac. Only 4 Peacock and a Speckled Wood noted, but hopefully more to come soon! Later in the day I found 2 Orange-tips at Brickyard Lane and Pete Roworth had a Green-veined White at Sea View."
• Kev Armstrong from Nettleton messaged: "I had the trap out at Wold Farm for only the second time this year, and last night's catch was an improvement on the first, with 20 moths of 6 species. These included the following: 1 Twenty-plume Moth, 1 Early Thorn, 7 Hebrew Character, 3 Common Quaker, 6 Small Quaker and 2 Clouded Drab."

Sunday 7th April 2024

John Nelson from Grimsby phoned: "A Speckled Wood in my Oliver Street garden today, was my first of the year."

Saturday 6th April 2024

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "A brace of Holly Blues in my Coningsby garden today. Also, a Green-veined White. 4 Red Admirals on the Pingle were of note."
• Laura Gundy reported: "Today I attended an event organised by the Woodland Trust at Londonthorpe Wood, near Grantham. Despite the extremely windy conditions, the morning produced several male Orange-tips, which were my first of the year. Also noted a few male Brimstones, a couple of Peacocks and a single Comma."

Wednesday 3rd April 2024

Ian Paterson emailed: "A couple of interesting moths! The first is an Emperor, lured by Tim Bagworth today at Belton, with a photograph taken by the NT warden Sacha Welsh. The second is a Dotted Chestnut, trapped recently in my garden at Brant Broughton. Apparently, a second has been reported from Gibraltar Point NNR recently."

Tuesday 2nd April 2024: Painted Lady in Westwoodside and Orange-tip at Snakeholme Pit!

• Dave Hursthouse phoned: "Today I had a Painted Lady in my garden in Westwoodside." 

• John Davison reported from Snakeholme Pit: "A pleasant day with sunny intervals. Still wet under foot, but getting there slowly. A few butterflies out, including Brimstone, Comma and Orange-tip."
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "An afternoon trip to Scotton Common today produced a Brimstone, 4 Peacock and my first Speckled Wood of the year."
• Sightings reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Male and female Brimstone, Red Admiral and Peacock at Sea View. Nearby, Speckled Wood at Rimac (Owen Beaumont). Brimstone, Peacock and Comma north of Churchill Lane (John Walker)."
• Mark Brandon emailed: "A Small White flew over the path at Covenham this afternoon, first I've seen this spring! Also, 2 Brimstone, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Tetney Blow Wells."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Spring has definitely sprung! Despite a lot of cloud, there were some nice sunny intervals, and a 20-minute walk around the Pingle LNR in Coningsby produced 5 male Speckled Woods, which included two combatant pairs. Also seen, were 4 male Brimstones, a brace of Peacocks, and a male Small White."
• Dave Wright from Grimsby reported: "This morning I ventured out into the back garden during a pleasant sunny spell, and was amazed to find a female Holly Blue egg-laying on my Hydrangea petiolaris."                                                                                                                                                

March 2024

Saturday 30th March 2024

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "A walk around the Pingle LNR in Coningsby today produced a confirmed sighting of a male Green-veined White, my first of the year."
• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "Usually the Small White precedes any spring sightings of the Green-veined in our garden, but this year the Green-veined White has beaten it, with a male seen chasing Brimstones today." 
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "Today, while walking on the footpath from Middle Rasen to West Rasen, I had three firsts for the year, singles of Small White and Comma, and 4 Peacock."
• Dave Wright reported: "It was pleasantly warm and sunny in the Cleethorpes area this afternoon, and so I decided to take a stroll through the Country Park in the hope of seeing my first 'white' of the year. Unfortunately, that wasn't to be the case, and I had to be content with the usual suspects - 14 Peacock, 9 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Comma."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: A Red Admiral and 2 Peacocks at Gibraltar Point NNR today."
• Renata Jackson emailed: "Today I explored some land close to Stewton Lane in Louth and found 5 Peacocks."

Good Friday 29th March 2024

• Pete Smith emailed: "I was dodging the showers today, doing a bit of outside DIY, completing a garden project, and in a bright spell I found 4 post-hibernation Scarlet Tiger larvae sunning themselves and having a munch on the Green Alkanet in the corner of the garden close to where I was working. 2024 is the fourth consecutive year that this species has bred successfully in my Heighington garden. It still amazes me to find this moth, which was very much a south-western UK rarity in my youth, right on my doorstep! Long may it continue, and if anyone else has Green Alkanet in their garden - keep a look out for the larvae on bright, warm days, and also the moth. This is now an established Lincolnshire species.
• Graham Catley messaged: "A Speckled Wood at Waters Edge in Barton-upon-Humber today."

Wednesday 27th March 2024

• Dave Wright reported: "An afternoon visit to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR produced the usual Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock in the sheltered areas, but a Red Admiral in Paradise Wood was my first of the year."
• Josh Forrester from Grimsby messaged: "Scartho cemetery woodland productive for early spring butterflies this lunchtime, with multiples of Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, plus Comma and Small White."

Tuesday 26th March 2024

• Dave Wright reported: "Just after midday I had a stroll along the field margin bordering the Aylesby Meadows Estate, close to where I live in Grimsby, and saw 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock and 1 Comma. I continued my walk into Great Coates, but only noted similar species."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "During a sunny spell in my North Cockerington garden, I had a Speckled Wood and a Peacock."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "A lunchtime stroll around the Pingle LNR in Coningsby produced my first Holly Blue of the year, along with the usual suspects of Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock." 
• Mark Johnson messaged: "I had my first Small White of the year today while working in Barnoldby le Beck."
• Phi Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "It's not been worth sending you any of the meagre sightings from our garden - until today! Spring has come, and it just goes to show that the butterflies are there, patiently waiting in the wings. Between 11 am and 2 pm I saw 5 Peacocks, 4 Brimstone, including the first female which was soon looked after by one of the males, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, and a Comma." 
• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "A walk around the cemetary in Scartho today produced only 2 Small Tortoiseshells."

Saturday 23rd March 2024

Laura Gundy reported: "This morning 2 Privet Hawk-moth pupae were accidentally unearthed by my dad in his garden in Strubby. They were gently re-buried after being photographed (see attached)."

Friday 22nd March 2024

Dave Wright reported: "Great to see the sun out in the Grimsby area this afternoon! It felt quite warm, despite the moderate westerly breeze, and so I decided to take a walk down to my local patch of Town's Holt, via the Wybers Wood Estate field margin. The latter produced a decent count of 25 Small Tortoiseshells, but in Town's Holt I only managed a single Peacock, disappointing to say the least."

Tuesday 19th March 2024: Sightings of Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and Large White!

Ian Shepherd from Cleethorpes emailed: "This afternoon I had my second garden butterfly of the year, rather surprisingly a Speckled Wood."

Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "When busy grass cutting in the garden today, this lovely little blue 

butterfly caught my attention, so I dashed into the house to get my camera and I was amazed to see this fresh female Holly Blue. I waited for about 30 minutes for it to open its wings. I cannot recall seeing one this early!"

Toby Ludlow messaged: "With the temperature up at 15 degrees C. and a warm WSW breeze blowing, it was very pleasant outside. When the clouds finally parted, I had enough time for a quick 30-minute walk around the Pingle LNR. This proved rather fruitful and I soon notched up the species. There was a good showing of Brimstones, and 7 males was my final tally. In the distance, I could see one of the male Brimstones showing an interest in a paler, white butterfly, so I shot over to investigate. At first I couldn't find it, but then saw it resting on the ground - it was a female Small White. Other species seen on the walk were Peacock and Comma, with a brace of the former and 4 of the latter being seen. As it started to cloud over again I thought that was my lot, but I kicked up a large, white butterfly that was heavily marked with black, and for some reason I was initially doubting what was certainly a really early female Large White."

Mike Pickwell emailed: "I went for a walk around the cemetery and Gooseman's Field in Grimsby 

today. I found a Brimstone in the cemetery, 5 Peacocks (3 on Gooseman's and 2 in the Woodland Burial Ground) and a Small Tortoiseshell on Gooseman's Field.

Monday 18th March 2024

• Chris Atkin messaged: "Today I visited Cleethorpes Country Park for about an hour late morning and noted the following: "1 Brimstone, 2 Peacock, 2 Comma and 3 Small Tortoiseshell."
• Mark Johnson phoned: "Today my mum reported 4 species of butterfly in her North Somercotes garden - Brimstone, 4 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral and 2 Comma. Earlier, I had a single Brimstone near the church in Grainthorpe."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Around midday I decided to visit my local patch, just off Westward Ho in Grimsby. I was rewarded with 6 Comma, 7 Peacock, 11 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Brimstone."
• Dave Wright reported: "First thing this morning I had a Small Tortoiseshell in the car park of Bradley Football Development Centre, followed by my first garden butterfly of the year, a Peacock. Just after midday, I decided to walk a small circuit of my local area of Grimsby, and  noted 13 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock and a single Comma."
• Mark Brandon emailed: "Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock in our North Somercotes garden today. Nice to see the sunshine again!"
• Alan Daws phoned: "A male Brimstone this morning at Wold Farm in Nettleton."
• Ian Shepherd from Cleethorpes reported: "A male Brimstone was my first garden butterfly of the year."
• Sightings reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock in my garden near Churchill Lane (John Walker). Small Tortoiseshell near Sea View car park (Pete Roworth). Brimstone, 3 Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell between Crook Bank and Mablethorpe North End (Dean Nicholson). Peacock and a very worn Comma at Brickyard Lane (Cliff Morrison). A single Peacock at Sea View (Renata Jackson). Nearby, Peacock and Comma at Elm House Farm (Owen Beaumont)."
• Graham Catley messaged: "This morning I had 4 Brimstones at the farm in Searby. On returning home, another Brimstone was seen in my garden at Barton-upon-Humber."

Saturday 16th March 2024

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning, I visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR to do a spot of birding with Mark Johnson. We noted some excellent birds throughout our visit, which included a Red Kite that drifted in over the saltmarsh and hung around Rimac for quite a while. The improvement in the weather meant we were optimistic in finding a butterfly, and during one of the numerous sunny spells, we came across a Small Tortoiseshell and Comma at Sea View."
• Steve Meek messaged: "I had a Brimstone in Waltham this morning."
• Ian McGlynn rmailed: "I saw a Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone in my Bourne garden this morning."
• Cliff Morrison messaged: "Peacock at Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR this afternoon."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Today I had to visit Boston and noted 5 Brimstones in and around the town while driving." 

Friday 15th March 2024

• Mark Johnson emailed: "This evening I trapped for a few hours in the Bardney Limewoods NNR and managed 77 moths of 15 species. Highlights were 5 Oak Beauty, and singles of two lifers - Small Brindled Beauty and Yellow Horned."
• Jill Galloway emailed: "Just seen a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the Rosemary flowers in my Scotton garden."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Small Tortoiseshell in the bag! Seen flying in Coningsby today, and my fifth species of the year!

Thursdsay 14th March 2024: Camberwell Beauty in Louth, November 2023!

• Peter Cawdell reported: ''While we are awaiting the butterfly season to really begin, and a bit of sustained sunshine, take a look at this 'irecord' sent in by Nancy Stockwell of Louth. She has a large wild garden with plenty of fallen fruit and is a keen naturalist. In early November 2023, walking back from feeding her chickens, she saw an unfamiliar butterfly, wings outspread. Quickly looking it up in her book she realised it was a Camberwell Beauty and contacted her neighbour who photographed it. Unfortunately the wings were closed by then but it stayed on her step for another 3 hrs. The only Camberwell Beauty record for Lincs in 2023, almost certainly a late migrant."
• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "This morning, I saw my first butterfly of the year, a Small Tortoiseshell in my Scartho garden."

Wednesday 13th March 2024

• Dean Nicholson messaged: "A Red Admiral blew past me this morning, just south of Crook Bank (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."
• John Walker messaged: "2 Peacocks in the Churchill Lane area of Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."

Tuesday 12th March 2024

Laura Gundy emailed: "At least one Small White larva that I reported in the autumn of 2023 in my garden at Benniworth made it to pupation. I discovered this chrysalis attached to my garden table leg the other day!"

Saturday 9th March 2024: Small White confirmed in Coningsby!

Toby Ludlow messaged: "There was a Moderate Breeze blowing from the east, today, which at times seemed chilly. But as it approached midday, the temperature reached double figures and it actually felt warm. I decided to pay a visit to Jean Green's garden, where a "white" was seen flying a few days ago, but I knew trying to find it was a long shot! However, the garden was filled with flowers in bloom, so 

there were plenty of nectar sources to hopefully keep this butterfly there. To my absolute delight, after only being there about 2 minutes, a "white" took to the air! As it clouded over, the butterfly settled with wings held tightly shut, allowing me to confirm that it was a Small White. About a minute later, the sun came back out, and the Small White opened its wings. It was a male. Taking stock, this was my fourth species of the year, having seen a Brimstone earlier in the day. Entering the second week of March, seeing the four species is perhaps notable because I have still yet to see Small Tortoiseshell and Comma this year!

Mark Brandon from North Somercotes emailed: "I was moving planks from a dismantled shed today 

• and found a Peacock sheltering amongst them (see attached)."
• Stephen Thompson emailed: "I trapped at Woodhall Spa Golf Club overnight and caught 22 moths of 8 species, and included the following: 2 Yellow Horned, 2 Clouded Drab, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Early Grey, 1 Small Brindled Beauty, 10 Small Quaker, 4 Oak Beauty and a Chestnut."                           

Friday 8th March 2024

Dave Wright reported: "This morning, I met up with Toby Ludlow with the intention of visiting a couple of sites in the Woodhall Spa area. We decided to try Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve first in the hope of seeing a few insects. As the sun began to emerge from behind the clouds while we were crossing the heath, a Peacock flew across the track and eventually settled amongst the Heather and briefly posed for photographs (see attached). This was my first butterfly of the year! The rest of the reserve proved fruitless, despite searching several sunny and sheltered areas, with the only insects noted being a couple of hoverflies - Eristalis pertinax. From here, we moved on to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve, and although we drew a complete blank as far as butterflies were concerned, we did manage to find a couple of Orange Underwing moths, our first of the season!"

Wednesday 6th March 2024: Small White in Coningsby!

Toby Ludlow reported: "Jean Green from Coningsby saw 'a white' flying around her garden today, which was almost certainly a Small White. On Monday 4th, she saw and photographed a Small Tortoiseshell in her garden, too." 

Monday 4th March 2024

Graham Catley messaged: "A single Red Admiral this morning on the heath in Laughton Forest."

Pete Roworth messaged: "A single Peacock flew off the saltmarsh and over the dunes near Rimac today."

Phil Lee emailed: "I had this Comma at Haxey Turbary this afternoon. It flew up from bracken onto a 

• nearby birch, and when I offered it my finger, it jumped aboard for a couple of minutes absorbing the heat before flying off."

February 2024

Wednesday 28th February 2024

Neil Hallett messaged: "This morning I had 2 Small Tortoiseshells in my Grimsby garden, which borders the Aylesby Meadows Estate."

Sunday 25th February 2024

Steve Routledge emailed: "I had a Small Tortoiseshell today at East Halton Skitter."

Saturday 24th February 2024

Sarah Ramsden messaged: "A Red Admiral this afternoon, basking in the sunshine, while settled on one of the children's rides at Haverstoe Park in Cleethorpes."

Monday 19th February 2024

• Owen Beaumont messaged: "A Small Tortoiseshell blasted by in the wind today at Rimac."
• Phil and Mary Porter reported: "A walk in Bardney village today, produced a pristine male Brimstone fluttering along an ivy hedge; we wondered if it had just emerged."

Friday 16th February 2024

• Dave Hursthouse  messaged: "Hummingbird Hawk-moth in Westwoodside today."
• Toby Ludlow phoned: "The first butterfly of the year this morning in my Coningsby garden, a Peacock."

Thursday 15th February 2024

• Rick Camm reported: "I saw a male Brimstone at Osbournby Hill Top today."
• Ian McGlynn reported: "A male Brimstone in my Bourne garden today."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "I had a Peacock this afternoon at Sea View, Salfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."
• John Walker messaged: "Peacock in my garden area today at Coastguard Cottages, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."
• Alison Brownlow from Kettlethorpe reported: "A single Brimstone in the garden today, and 2 in the nearby wood."

Wednesday 14th February 2024

Roy Harvey from Grasby emailed: "Had this Pale Brindled Beauty at our kitchen window this evening."

Saturday 10th February 2024

Roy Harvey from Grasby emailed: "I found this Herald moth in the house this evening after bringing in firewood. The wood is being stored in one of our stables."

Saturday 3rd February 2024

• Lesley Robinson from Bottesford emailed: "I had a Red Admiral in the garden this morning, feeding on our Daphne bhoula, which is covered in pale pink scented flowers."
• Michael Tarrant reported: "In my garden in Saltfleetby St Peter, there was a male Brimstone mid-morning for about 30 minutes, flying around one of my Holly bushes. The day was very sunny and warm, 14 degrees C, with very little wind. My earliest date for this species last year was 9th April."
• Mary Porter reported: "The first male Brimstone of the year flew through our Bardney garden today."

Friday 2nd February 2024

• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "Unsurprisingly, with all this mild weather, we had the first sighting of a Peacock today in the garden."
• Mark Johnson messaged: "My friend, Steve Blades, reported a male Brimstone whilst working in a garden along Ings Lane in North Cotes this morning."
• Owen Beaumont emailed: "Peacock butterfly on the wing around Brickyard Lane car park, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR.

January 2024

Wednesday 24th January 2024

Jenny Haynes reported: "I was surprised to see a Peacock butterfly today in Tesco car park at Barton-upon-Humber." 

Monday 22nd January 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Spotted a Peacock today in Coningsby, which was basking in the sunshine and enjoying the warmer temperatures, despite the windy conditions."

Thursday 4th January 2024

Toby Ludlow messaged: "My first butterfly of the year this morning, a Red Admiral, initially seen in flight and then later basking in the sunshine on a brick wall in the centre of Horncastle."

New Year's Day Monday 1st January 2024

Cliff Morison reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "A Peacock here at Brickyard Lane. I had one on the first day of the year as well a few years go."

December 2023

Friday 8th December 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Jean Green, from Coningsby, reported a Red Admiral flying in her garden today."

November 2023

Thursday 23rd November 2023

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "In my garden trap this morning were 3 December Moths and a rather late Merveille du Jour."

Monday 20th November 2023

Derek Fox emailed: "Today, I had my latest ever sighting of a Red Admiral, nectaring on late flowering dwarf buddliea in my garden at Langworth." 

Sunday 19th November 2023

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "I had a Sprawler in the trap this morning, which was new for the garden."

Friday 17th November 2023

Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "With it being only 10 degrees C at 11 pm today, I was shocked to see 3 Red Admirals in the garden. Two were looking quite worn and ragged now."

Monday 13th November 2023

Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "Still 3 Red Admirals in my garden today at 10:30 am. They were in a sheltered corner, trying to shelter from the very strong wind. Possibly my latest ever record for this species."

Saturday 11th November 2023

• Laura Gundy reported: "This morning a Small Tortoiseshell made a brief appearance in my Benniworth Walk Farm garden."
• Dave Wright reported: "My daughter's garden, near Cleethorpes Country Park, produced another 2 Red Admirals nectaring on the Buddleia weyeriana."

Friday 10th November 2023

• Graham Catley messaged: "A Red Admiral today in my Barton-upon-Humber garden." 
• Renata Jackson messaged: "This morning I had a Red Admiral at Sea View car park (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."

Thursday 9th November 2023

Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "Red admiral update for 1 pm today, still 3 nectaring on my late flowering buddlieas."

Tuesday 7th November 2023

• Derek Fox emailed: "During the early afternoon, there were still 4 Red Admirals in my Langworth garden and some were getting well worn after bird attacks."
• Graham Catley messaged: "A Red Admiral at Alkborough today."
• John Walker messaged: "A Red admiral and Peacock in my sheltered garden at Coastguard Cottages, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."

Monday 6th November 2023

Cliff Morrison messaged: "Red Admiral and Peacock in my Brickyard Lane garden (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."

Saturday 4th November 2023

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "My garden trap produced a December Moth on 4th November, only my 4th record!"

Thursday 2nd November 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon I had 2 Red Admirals in the Cleethorpes area. The first, was seen along Clee Road, and the second, was found nectaring on Buddleia weyeriana in my daughter's garden near Cleethorpes Country Park."
• Derek Fox emailed: "A bit of a sunny spell, late morning in my Langworth garden, produced 5 Red Admirals."

Wednesday 1st November 2023

Graham Catley messaged: "A Red Admiral this morning at Alkborough."

October 2023

Tuesday 24th October 2023

Kate Melton emailed: "During early October I saw a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in uphill Lincoln."

Sunday 22nd October 2023

• Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "In the garden today, 7 Red Admirals, 2 Commas and 1 Small Tortoiseshell."
• Ian McGlynn emailed: "I saw a Red Admiral today in Bourne Woods."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: There were a few butterflies at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today. Sea View - Red Admiral, Comma and Peacock. Brickyard Lane - 2 Red Admiral and Peacock. Crook Bank - Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral (in-off the sea)."

Thursday 19th October 2023

Dave Wright reported: "Although it was dull and overcast in the Grimsby area late morning, I still had 2 Red Admirals nectaring on the few remaining buddliea flowers in the front garden."

Wednesday 18th October 2023

Lesley Robinson emailed: "A single Hummingbird Hawk-moth in my Bottesford garden today."

Sunday 15th October 2023

• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "The season is not over yet! Unexpectedly, today I saw a third brood male Common Blue feeding on marjoram in our butterfly garden meadow. Despite full sun all day, it only reached 12 degrees C, yet this one-off, so far, third brooder was quite happy getting on with its business. Only other sightings were 4 Red Admirals and a fresh female Small White."
• Dave Wright reported: "A single Comma and 2 Red Admirals in my Grimsby garden today."

Saturday 14th October 2023

Kev Armstrong messaged: "This morning I found a Pale Tussock caterpillar wandering across the road, just outside my house at Wold Farm, Nettleton."

Tuesday 10th October 2023

• Laura Gundy emailed: "A 200 metre long stretch of ivy-covered hedge, just outside the village of Great Sturton was abuzz with insects in the glorious weather yesterday and today. I counted 48 Red Admirals, 3 Commas, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Small White amongst the bees, wasps, flies and hoverflies. What an undervalued plant ivy is! 

• Roy Harvey from Grasby emailed: "This evening I was stunned to find a Clifden Nonpareil on our kitchen window. Not surprisingly this was a first for our garden."  

Monday 9th October 2023

• Josh Forrester from Grimsby messaged: "I've waited for three years, and this morning I've finally caught a Merveille du Jour in the garden trap." 
• Derek Fox reported: "This afternoon's warm sunshine produced 2 Brimstones flying around my Langworth garden. Also noted 15 Red Admirals, 1 Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 6 Commas, 2 Large White and 1 Small White."

Sunday 8th October 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "Spent the morning with Mark Johnson at Donna Nook NNR, between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall. We witnessed the amazing sight of thousands of thrushes flying in-off the North Sea early on. Predominantly Redwings and Song Thrushes, but also a few Fieldfares and 3 Ring Ouzels. We also noted 2 Red Admirals, a Small White and 3 Vapourer moths. Later, 5 Red Admirals and another Small White were seen at Bank End, North Somercotes. Nearby, I received the following reports from Saltflleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. Sea View - Comma and Painted Lady in garden (Pete Roworth), 4 Red Admirals flew in-off the sea, taking my total today to 14, also Painted Lady, Comma, 2 Large Whites and 2 Speckled Woods (Dean Nicholson). Brickyard Lane - 12 Red Admirals (Cliff Morrison). 
• Alison Brownlow emailed: "Today my husband and I found a Pale Tussock caterpillar wandering across a path at Kettlethorpe, Lincoln. Overnight it pupated into a silken case among the leaves."
• Nige Lound emailed: "Making the most of the unseasonably warm weather I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib two days ago and overnight. The 6th produced 174 moths of 30 species. Highlights were Scarce Bordered Straw, Convolvulus Hawk-moth, and another 11 Delicate. 2 Feathered Ranunculus and a pristine Vestal were new for the year. The 8th was even busier with 324 mothsof 34 species, without doubt my busiest ever October session. Most numerous were Large Wainscot with 78. Another Scarce Bordered Straw and 19 Delicate were of note. The micro Crocidosema plebejana was a county first, and many thanks to County Recorder Martin Gray for confirmation."
• Andy Sims emailed: "This morning's trap produced 68 moths of 22 species. Dewick's Plusia was new for the garden. Also, Grey Shoulder-knot and 3 Merveille du jour were new for the year."

Saturday 7th October 2023

Chris Dobson from Langworth emailed: "After a very quiet autumn things picked up a little last night. Catch included Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Delicate, Black Rustic, a couple of Feathered Thorns, Spruce Carpet, Large Wainscot and Yellow-line Quaker."

Tuesday 3rd October 2023: Clouded Yellow at Whitton!

• Neil Drinkall messaged: "I had a Clouded Yellow at Whitton today."
• Chris Atkin messaged: "I visited Saltfeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, and a walk between Rimac and Paradise Wood this afternoon, produced a totally unexpected Wall. Also noted 2 Red Admirals, 1 Peacock and a Small White." 
• Graham Catley messaged: "Painted Lady today at RSPB Frampton Marsh."

Sunday 1st October 2023

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib overnight and managed 75 moths of 24 species. New for the year were Black Rustic, Feathered Thorn, Mallow and Red-line Quaker."

September 2023 

Saturday 30th September 2023

Graham Catley messaged: "This morning I noticed 5 Red Admirals that flew in off the Humber, and carried on south at Barton-upon-Humber."

Friday 29th September 2023

Derek Fox emailed: "A fantastic day in the garden today, with 55 Red Admirals and 10 Commas busy nectaring on the Ivy, Michelmas Daisy, Sedum spectabile and Verbena bonariensis. Still a few Small Tortoiseshells, the odd Peacock, and Large and Small Whites. I think its the most Red Admirals I have seen in the garden. What a great sight!"

Wednesday 27th September 2023

Dean Nicholson at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR messaged: "5 Red Admirals and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Crook Bank this morning."

Monday 25th September 2023

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Popped over to Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve in the afternoon and spent some time enjoying the sunshine. The temperature got up to 20 degrees C, which coaxed a few butterflies out. There were still a good number of third-brood Small Coppers on the wing, and a walk over the heath produced a tally of 19. There were also a couple of female Brown Argus egg-laying close to the main track, and a flypast by a Red Admiral. A walk around the Visitors' Route produced a meagre 11 butterflies: 3 Commas, 3 further Small Coppers, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, and 2 Speckled Woods, one of which was extremely fresh."
• Dave Wright reported: "Had a very enjoyable time today, birding at RSPB Tetney Marshes, in the company of Chris Atkin. A totally unexpected find was a Painted Lady on the outer sand dunes, only my third in Lincolnshire this year. We also noted 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Large Whites and 8 Small Whites."

Saturday 23rd September 2023: Second brood Orange-tip at Doddington Hall!

• Aaron Mace reported: "I'm a 'wilder volunteer' at Doddington Hall, and around midday I was astonished to see a male Orange-tip flying around an area of habitat known as 'Donkey Close'."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "A Rusty-dot Pearl in the trap this morning, was new for the garden."
• John Davison emailed: "Today John Petyt and I had a walk in Tuetoes Wood and found the following 4 moth caterpillars: Pebble Prominent, Buff Ermine, Poplar Hawk-moth and Swallow Prominent."

Friday 22nd September 2023

• Pete Roworth messaged: "11 Red Admirals and a single Comma on Ivy flowers at Sea View, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. Also, 1 Speckled Wood and a Small Copper nearby."
• Cliff Morrison messaged: "At least 6 Speckled Woods in my garden at Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, and a territorial Red Admiral. I also had a Scarce Bordered Straw moth in the trap this morning as well as 2 Delicates, and a Rush Veneer. Also, 3 species of Sallow moths and a Canary-shouldered Thorn added some colour."
• Dave Wright reported: "Glorious weather for this time of year at Cleethorpes this morning, and so I decided to visit Cleethorpes Coast LNR and the Country Park, in the hope of seeing a few butterflies. A disappointing outcome really, as the first site only produced 10 Small Whites and a Large White, whilst the second revealed 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Small Whites. Both sites still had lots of dragonflies on the wing, consisting of two species - Common Darter and Migrant Hawker." 

Tuesday 19th September 2023: Balsam Carpet in Nettleton - a first for VC54!

Kev Armstrong emailed: "On the 15th September I put the trap out on my land at Wold Farm, Nettleton and caught 298 macros of 35 species, including a Clifden Nonpareil. However, the highlight was a Balsam Carpet, confirmed today by Martin Gray, and a first for VC54 and the second for Lincolnshire following one in Market Deeping last year." 

Monday 18th September 2023

Colin Pumfrett from Broughton emailed: "Two stunning moths caught in my garden trap recently - Clifden Nonpareil (14/09/23) and my first Convolvulus Hawk-moth (16/09/23)."

Sunday 17th September 2023

• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "I caught my first Box-tree Moth in July 2021. So far this year I have caught 81, with a record 29 this morning."
• Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "My first Painted Lady of the year in my garden and also the first I have seen this season! Still one very faded Holly Blue, over 20 lovely fresh Red Admirals and 5 second brood Commas. Also, the warmer weather has brought out Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells, 5 or so of each. Small and Large Whites still in good numbers, plus the odd male Brimstone and Speckled Wood."

Saturday 16th September 2023

• Nige Lound emailed: "Last night the trap at Gibraltar Point NNR, produced a Convolvulus Hawk-moth as well as a Beautiful Marbled, albeit it being a bit worn."
• Laura Gundy emailed: "Today I walked a stretch of hedgerow around one field at Benniworth Walk Farm and counted 25 Red Admiral, 9 Comma, 5 Speckled Wood, 4 Small White and 1 Peacock - all feeding on blackberries. 1 Vapourer moth was also buzzing about."

Friday 15th September 2023

• Sandra Lawton emailed: "I caught a Clifden Nonpareil in my moth trap in my back garden overnight in Billingborough." 
• Yvonne Bentley from Wyberton, Boston emailed: "I have Purple Toadflax growing in my garden for 

• the first time this year, and have just spotted what I believe are four Toadflax Brocade caterpillars. From what I've read this species is not common in Lincolnshire."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning I had a lifer on the outside of my garden trap, a stunning Convolvulus Hawk-moth!"

Tuesday 12th September 2023

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "A Clifden Nonpareil was in my garden trap this morning."

Sunday 10th September 2023

• Cliff Morrison messaged: "This morning the moth trap at Brickyard Lane (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR), produced a migrant Beautiful Marbled, which was a new species for me. Apparently it is the third county record, according to Martin Gray."
• Dave Wright reported: "This morning, my wife and I visited friends in Hainton, and was amazed at the number of butterflies in their garden. The following were recorded: 5 Red Admiral, 5 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 8 Large White, 26 Small White, 1 Green-veined White and 3 Speckled Wood." 

Saturday 9th September 2023

• Cliff Morrison reported: "This morning the moth traps in the dunes at Brickyard Lane (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR) revealed another Convolvulus Hawk-moth, following the one caught yesterday. Also a couple of Dark Sword Grass migrant moths."
• Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon I decided to take a stroll through Cleethorpes Country Park on one of the hottest days of the year. Despite the heat, I managed to record the following butterflies: 2 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 9 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Large White, 4 Small White and a single Green-veined White. Moths included 2 Green Carpet. There were lots of both Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers on the wing and it was good to see 4 Willow Emerald damselflies, a recent colonist at this site."

Friday 7th September 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had a really fresh Painted Lady in my mum's Coningsby garden today. Also, just across the road in my own garden I found a Willow Emerald damselfly!

Wednesday 6th September 2023

Dave Wright reported: ”Today, Chris Atkin and I, had an excellent day down the coast at two of Lincolnshire’s National Nature Reserves - Donna Nook and Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. The morning was spent from first light birding at the first of these sites, concentrating on the area between Stonebridge car park and the breach at Pye’s Hall. There was definitely an autumnal feel to proceedings, with low cloud and poor visibility lingering all morning. As a result and not surprisingly, insects were thin on the ground, although we did find a roosting Small Tortoiseshell and noted 4 species of moths - Green Carpet, Sharp-angled Peacock, Vapourer and Silver Y. However, the highlight was undoubtedly a Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi, found near the breach, and a species with only a handful of records in Lincolnshire.

Around midday we moved on to Rimac, where at long last the sun began to penetrate the cloud, and it became pleasantly warm. Our arrival was greeted with a skein of 33 Pink-footed Geese overhead heading south, another reminder that autumn is on the way! There were still good numbers of butterflies on the wing and during the afternoon we recorded the following: 1 Red Admiral, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 30 Speckled Wood, 55 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath, 21 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 4 Brown Argus, 4 Small Copper, 1 Large White, 7 Small White and 5 Green-veined White. The only moth seen was a single Yellow Shell. We also found 2 Long-winged Cone-heads, a first for both of us at this reserve. This cricket type, once described as an endangered species, is gradually spreading north due to the climate crisis and in some areas is now regarded as common.”

Tuesday 5th September 2023: Clouded Yellow at Osbournby Hill Top!

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "One species we have been missing this year in Lincolnshire is Clouded Yellow. This was righted by my contact Rick Camm who emailed me today with his sighting of a male ay Osbournby Hill Top. He aplogises for the poor photo as it flew up just before the shot! In my opinion better than the usual side view as it clearly shows the sex."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib overnight and managed 241 moths of 49 species. Plenty of variety, nothing special with Large Thorn (3) being the only new for the year. Migrants represented by Dark Sword-grass and Rusty Dot Pearl." 

Monday 4th September 2023

Owen Beaumont messaged: "A sunny transect here at Rimac this morning and recorded 67 butterflies of 7 species: 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Brown Argus, 24 Common Blue, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 14 Speckled Wood and 23 Meadow Brown."

Sunday 3rd September 2023

Keith Walton emailed: "This afternoon, Ron Henderson, Graeme Baker and I visited Snakeholme Pit.  We were only there for about an hour but found Common Blue, Brown Argus, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Comma, Peacock, Brimstone, all in single digits, and 2 late Gatekeeper. The surprise was 5 Brown Hairstreak between 13:30 and 14:00 hours." 

Saturday 2nd September 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "As time marches on inexorably and we enter the month of September, we also enter meteorological autumn. In sympathy, it now also feels like 'butterfly autumn' as many of our summer species have all but vanished for the year. On my last few visits to the central Lincolnshire Limewoods butterfly numbers have plummeted, and insect life in general seems scarce. Contrastingly, my last few trips to the heathlands near Woodhall Spa were heaving with insect life. So it was to this latter area that I headed. Here, third brood Small Coppers are well out and in good number, with fresh females being courted by less fresh males. There were a handful of fresh male Common Blues and a pristine male Brown Argus, which looked like it was less than a day old. I also came across a small group of Painted Ladies, which, until this last week, have been extremely thin on the ground this year. I had only seen about half a dozen, but in the last week alone i have had 10 sightings, four were seen today. Of these, three had quite a few miles on the clock, but one was really fresh and was that beautiful pink colour, which means it must be a homegrown individual." 

August 2023

Thursday 31st August 2023

Owen Beaumont messaged: "Butterfly numbers have dropped significantly in the last couple of weeks, but the sun was out and wind had died down for the transect at Rimac this morning. Totals were: 1 Large White, 2 Small Copper, 3 Brown Argus, 34 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Peacock, 13 Speckled Wood, 1 Wall and 18 Meadow Brown."

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Kev Armstong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "There were a few butterflies around the garden this morning, and included Brimstone, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small Copper."

Bank Holiday Monday 28th August 2023

Dave Wright reported: "My wife and I decided to take a walk in the Saltfleet area today and make the most of the sunny spells on offer. Parking at Paradise car park, we were immediately rewarded with a single Wall and 2 Small Whites. We then proceeded to walk along Haven Bank towards the sea and noted at least 10 Small White, 1 Large White, 1 Common Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. This summer I have only seen a trickle of second-generation individuals of the latter. At the start of this track several large patches of Ivy in flower were good for hoverflies and included Volucella zonaria (Hornet Hoverfly), Volucella inanis and 6  Myathropa florea. Eventually we reached Donna Nook NNR and turned north and walked as far as Howden's Pullover. Small White were by far the most numerous butterfly along the seaward side of the dunes, where we also had 2 Large White, singles of Green-veined White, Wall and another Small Tortoiseshell. From Howden's Pullover we headed inland and returned to Saltfleet via Marsh Lane. By this time, increasing cloud meant that only 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Small White were added to the list before we got back to the car."   

Saturday 26th August 2023

• John Davison emailed: "a visit to Tuetoes Ride in Laughton Forest, produced an unfortunate Comma larva being stabbed by a Spiked Shieldbug. Also, one tatty Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Copper and several Speckled Wood."
• Laura Gundy emailed: "Today was a caterpillar sort of day at Benniworth Walk Farm. I found hordes of Small White larvae feeding on Wild Mignonette in my flower borders, and attempting to win cutest pic of the day was a Buff-tip caterpillar, who was cutting a heart shape as he ate!"

Friday 25th August 2023

Mark Brandon from North Somercotes emailed: "A Wall was a nice garden tick today."

Thursday 24th August 2023

Steve Hollinrake emailed: I'm on holiday from Lancasahire and had a great time in Chambers Farm Wood, where the egg-laying Brown Hairstreak (see attached) was a first for my dad. Fantastic place!"

Wednesday 23rd August 2023

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 660 moths of 106 species. Highlights were Scarce Bordered Straw and Webb's Wainscot. Others new for the year were Box-tree Moth, Centre-barred Sallow, Hedge Rustic, Leopard Moth, Oak Hook-tip, Orange Swift, Red Underwing, Treble Lines and Twin-spotted Wainscot. The most numerous moth was Common Wainscot with 110."
• Mark Brandon emailed: "We've just had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in our North Somercotes garden. Especially pleasing, as since we moved here in December, we have planted plenty of wild flowers, which are now attracting plenty of butterflies, bees and hoverflies. We've also had a few nice moths, including an Old Lady on 29/07, which was new for me!"
• Russell Bean from Ashby emailed: "I found this Clifden Nonpareil in my garden trap today."

Sunday 20th August 2023: Winter is coming!

• Pete Smith emailed: "While we all continue to enjoy the last weeks of the Lincolnshire butterfly season, some of our local species are already considering hunkering down for winter. Mid-August is a time when I really like to seek out White Admiral larvae  in the Lincolnshire Limewoods. Today I spent 2 hours in amongst the shadowy ride sides, looking for what, in my opinion, is one of our most fascinating British species. I managed to find 7 larvae, all in their third instar, one of which was already spinning up its hibernaculum (overwintering tent) where, if successful, it will spend the next eight months largely asleep. 
• Roy Harvey emailed: "I saw my first Painted Lady this evening at Killingholme. A very worn one, 

• but better than none. It seems to have been a very poor year for them?"
• Keith Walton emailed: "During a visit to Chambers Farm Wood this female Brown Hairstreak was egg-laying near Minting Triangle. It was low down disappearing in the undergrowth laying about a dozen eggs or so, then basking for a minute before egg-laying again. 7 seen during my visit, but only this one 'behaved'. Still good numbers of other butterflies around, including 30+ Silver-washed Fritillary. Went on to Southrey Wood where the two rides next to the watchtower had 250 Red Admiral, 25 Peacock, 20 Brimstone, 15 Silver-washed Fritillary and 4 Comma."  

Saturday 19th August 2023

Adrian Royle from Louth emailed: "I am chuffed to have found my first ever Purple Hairstreak in Hubbard's Hills this morning. I've been walking through there regularly since I moved here in 1994 and never a sniff of one!"

Thursday 17th August 2023: Gatekeeper Aberration at Chambers Farm Wood!

Phil Bowler emailed: "Had an afternoon at Chambers Farm Wood today. As well as the garden I followed the main track to Fiveways, right to Minting Triangle and into the narrow strip that is good for the Brown Hairstreak, and continued out of the woods to Wood Farm Lane. Very little was seen in this outer area apart from a notable Gatekeeper aberration (pics attached). I didn't see any Brown Hairstreak anywhere, but was aware of a female being sighted in the usual area beyond Minting Triangle. My sightings are as follows: 1 Mint Moth, 1 Latticed Heath, 1 Small Skipper, 13 Brimstone, 2 Large White, 7 Small White, 9 Green-veined White, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus, 6 Common Blue, 6 Holly Blue, 22 Red Admiral, 31 Peacock, 8 Comma (6 of which were the later typical form - very vibrant), 16 Silver-washed Fritillary, including 6 females, one of which may have been f. valesina, 16 Speckled Wood, 25 Gatekeeper and 20 Meadow Brown."          

Sunday 13th August 2023

Laura Gundy emailed: "Following a downpour which saw me sheltering under an oak tree wondering why on earth I was bothering, the sun came out at Benniworth Walk Farm and soon there were Common Blues and Brown Argus buzzing about as if nothing had happened. I found it difficult to count them as they were very active, but within a small area of pollinator mix I estimated 30 of each species. Many of the Brown Argus had white rings around the spots on their wings, which I believe is a feature of a different subspecies? (see photo). A few Meadow Browns and Green-veinedWhites were also flying, plus 25 Gatekeeper and 6 Red Admirals. A single, very large and beautifully marked Small Copper ab. caeruleopunctata made me stop in my tracks – a great end to the walk."

Saturday 12th August 2023

Graham Catley messaged: "At least 5 Walls today, along a stretch of the Viking Way west of the B1218 at Saxby Wolds"

Friday 11th August 2023

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Any other year, a sighting of 2 male Brown Hairstreaks down low would 

• be cause for celebration, but this year, with the recent proliferation of aberrations, it seems a little lacklustre. Fortunately, late in the day, I managed to find another Silver-washed Fritillary aberration - this one was a male ab. confluens - adding to the extraordinary tally that the Bardney Limewoods NNR has produced this year."
• Graham Catley messaged: "Today a walk along 300 metres of knapweed at Laughton wet heath track produced 45 Peacock, 5 Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 new Brimstone, 4 Red Admiral, and odd for the forest 5 Holly Blue."
• Pete Roworth messaged: "A single Purple Hairstreak today, in an Oak tree in my garden at Sea View, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "49 Wall on Rimac transect, most along the footpath on western side of dunes."
• Lesley Robinson from Bottesford emailed: "Just had a female Silver-washed Fritillary in the back garden, flying low to the ground and very interested in the violets. What a garden record, and made my day!"

Thursday 10th August 2023: The Madness Continues!

• Pete Smith emailed: "There seems to be no let-up in the run of aberrant butterflies in the central Lincolnshire Limewoods at present. This morning, I found what I thought at first glance (in flight) was a Peacock with a damaged left forewing, but on closer examination it turned out to be a pathological aberration with a unilateral scale defect, giving it a most striking and unusual asymmetric appearance. Never seen anything quite like it before!"
• Nige Lound emailed: " I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib overnight  and was rewarded with exactly 

• 400 moths of 80 species, 58 macros and 22 micros. Personal highlight was Oblique Striped a lifer for me and the 2nd Lincs record, following one from Gib pre 1918, I understand. I was lucky to get a photo, because as soon as I removed the egg box above it, it flew out of the trap, but fortunately landed on by cycle about 10 metres away, hence the odd photo. Also of note was my 2nd ever Tawny Wave. By-catch included 3 Oak Bush-cricket."

Wednesday 9th August 2023: Bilateral Gynandromorph Brimstone!

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "I had my day all mapped out and was looking forward to what I'd planned, and then I looked at the Sightings page on the Lincolnshire Branch website and all of that went straight out of the window! A new course was plotted to Southrey Wood and the plans updated to try and locate the interesting Peacock aberration found yesterday by Merv Freeman. I spent a few hours there, but despite finding 73 Peacocks on the main ride, not one of them was the one I was looking for. Early on, there were dozens of Purple Hairstreaks down low, but they ascended as the day wore on and the sun got higher. The real the stars of the show here were the Brimstones: they were everywhere! They particularly like the Purple Loosestrife flowers and I found one individual bloom that had 5 Brimstones on it! When I looked up and down the ride it seemed that every clump of Purple Loosestrife had 3, or 4 Brimstones on it - it was a real delight to see so many. Eventually I got to the turning point at the end of the main ride and hope of seeing the aberrant Peacock had faded and I was feeling a little disappointed, but then one butterfly instantly changed my mood: this butterfly was a Brimstone, but no ordinary Brimstone; it was a bilateral gynandromorph Brimstone, and looked truly bizarre when seen in flight - the two left-hand wings were the sulphurous yellow colour of the male, whereas the two right-hand wings were the subtle apple-white colour displayed by the female (see back of camera shot). The immediate problem I faced was how to obtain a photograph of this amazing creature - every time it landed to nectar it closed its wings, so hiding the two differing colour schemes. I decided that I would try and get a picture of it in flight, but that is not as easy as it sounds!!! (Keith and Ron, you might have got a good Comma ab, but you missed this Brimstone! Lol!"
• Pete Smith emailed: "What a staggering year it is turning out to be for butterfly aberrations, 

• especially at Chambers Farm Wood. I have missed out on a few of them, but have seen a fair few aberrant Commas and Silver-washed Fritillaries. Today I found a particularly interesting Brown Argus out there, a rather niche aberration but to my eyes quite stunning and beautiful. This is ab. glomerata + postico-obsoleta, not a common finding at all - certainly made my day!" 

• Adrian Royle emailed: "I was back at Chambers Farm Wood again today, and one of the aberrant Commas has shown up again, this time at Fiveways."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Around lunchtime, I had a walk from Irby upon Humber to Irby Dales Wood. As I approached the wood I had a Wall along the footpath, and this was the first time that I have seen this species at this site for about two decades! In the wood itself an Oak tree produced 2 Purple Hairstreaks and a large butterfly which I am almost certain was a Purple Emperor! Also, 1 Painted Lady."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "When I went to my regular monitoring of the butterflies in Welton Le Wold disused quarry today, I wasn't expecting to find this ragged little gem nectaring on Creeping 

• Thistle - a female White-letter Hairstreak. A new first record for the site, the tetrad and the 10 km square."
• Dave Wright reported: "Chris Atkin and I visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, concentrating mainly on the area between Sea View and Rimac. The undoubted highlight was 3 Purple Hairstreaks in an Elm tree at Sea View, a totally unexpected find and our first for the 

• reserve. We noted 20 species of butterfly for the day: 3 Purple Hairstreak, 60 Wall, 111 Meadow Brown, 117 Gatekeeper, 1 Ringlet, 5 Speckled Wood, 10 Holly Blue, 40 Common Blue, 6 Brown Argus, 9 Small Copper, 5 Small Skipper, 25 Essex Skipper, 11 Large White, 21 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 22 Red Admiral, 148 Peacock, 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell 

• and 2 Brimstone. Moths included: I Yellow Belle, 3 Silver Y, 1 Latticed Heath, 18 Shaded Broad-bar, 4 Common Carpet, 1 Dusky Sallow, 4 Yellow Shell, 1 Vapourer, 11 Buff-tip larvae and lots of Cinnabar larvae. We also managed to find 11 species of dragonfly, with 7 Willow Emerald Damselfly and 14 Small Red-eyed Damselfly being the most noteworthy."

Tuesday 8th August 2023: Stunning Peacock Aberration!

• Merv Freeman emailed: "Today I found a stunning Peacock aberration at Southrey Wood, about halfway down the main path, on the right-hand side."
• Gary Fenwick emailed:" I enjoyed a full lepidoptera day today. I started with a moth trap and had the following new for year: Mother of Pearl, Flounced Rustic and Turnip Moth. I then travelled to Messingham Sand Quarry LWT Nature Reserve and estimated counts were: c60 Gatekeeper, c50 Red Admiral, c  30 Meadow Brown, c20 Peacock, 3 Holly Blue, c15 Small/Green-veined White, 5 Large White, 5 Small White, 1 Small Copper, c10 Speckled Wood, 4 Brimstone, 2 Brown Argus, a surprise Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 Comma, 2 Essex Skipper and a Shaded Broad-bar. I then went to Risby Warren, somewhere I had never been to before (I'll certainly be returning, what a superb habitat). Here I noted 2 Grayling, 1 Wall, 1 Peacock, c10 Gatekeeper, c10 Meadow Brown, 7 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth and 2 Yellow Shell. I also had the unexpected bonus of 2 Whinchat on passage as well as a Stonechat.

Monday 7th August 2023: Another Comma Aberration!

• Keith Walton emailed: "Ron Henderson and I travelled down from Washington today to visit Chambers Farm Wood. We visited the Butterfly Garden and then went on to do complete circuits of the three Little Scrubbs Meadows and then walked via Fiveways to Minting Triangle. We walked the Red Trail and part of Ivy Wood on the way back to the car park. Bright sunshine most of the time, but cloud had built up during the Red Trail walk and Ivy Wood sections, so most butterflies were not flying on these sections (totals would have been 10-15% higher than seen) - 98 Silver-washed Fritillary (5 f. valesina), 292 Red Admiral, 578 Peacock, 16 Holly Blue, 59 Brimstone, 34 Comma, but only 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Brown Hairstreak. 21 species were seen and also included 2 Small Copper, 5 Common Blue, 5 Brown Argus, 1 Small Skipper and 1 Essex Skipper. We then went to Snakeholme Pit to find another blizzard of butterflies. Species here included 21 Silver-washed Fritillary, 6 Red Admiral, 130 Peacock, 15 Brimstone, 19 Holly Blue and 11 Comma, with Brown Argus and Common Blue among the supporting cast. The day ended with a visit to Camshaw Wood, where the ride to the left of the watchtower had 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 27 Red Admiral, 51 Peacock, 5 Brimstone, and a probable Brown Hairstreak. The attached aberrant Comma was found in Ivy Wood (Toby and Jim you missed this one!)."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Peacocks have made a remarkable recovery if the numbers I saw this 

• afternoon in Southrey Wood are anything to go by. There were several hundred, mostly fresh, along the main ride - too many to count. They were mainly nectaring on the abundant knapweed flowers. They must have had a very successful breeding season. Fresh Brimstones were also in large numbers. I counted 9 Silver-Washed Fritillaries plus another in our Reserve area. For once it was easy to count the individual ones as nearly all were sporting their unique 'war wounds' on their wings from skirmishes with birds. About equal numbers of males and females. There were large numbers of Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown and about 10 Red Admiral. Other butterflies noted in small numbers were: Brown Argus 4 (inc.2 in Reserve), 2 Holly Blue (inc.1 in Reserve), 3 Common Blue males, 4 Small Skipper (inc.2 in Reserve), Comma in Reserve, 4 Ringlet (inc.2 in Reserve). Of the Whites there were plenty of Large (10+), 20+ Green-veined  and a smaller number of Small (about 6). Also a Hummingbird Hawk-moth."

Friday 4th August 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Despite being very cloudy today, there were some lengthy bright spells which brought the butterflies out in numbers. The first thing of note, although not a butterfly, was a really fresh (I would estimate less than a day old) Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth nectaring on the Buddleia at the Chambers Farm Wood Centre. This is the first time I've seen a second-brood Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, so it was not something I expected to see! However, talking of things out of the ordinary, it was a trip down to the meadows that really produced something unexpected: in Little Scrubbs Meadow Extension was an aberrant Meadow Brown, or perhaps I should describe it more accurately as half an aberrant Meadow Brown, as only its left-hand side was aberrant - it lacked the forewing apical spot; the right-hand side, though, was normal. Also in the meadow extension was a Peacock aberration, ab. irenea, which is characterised by an extra black spot on each forewing, just above the inner margin. As previously stated, Peacock aberrations are few and far between, so to get one as subtle as this is noteworthy! And then, in Little Scrubbs Meadow proper, a third aberration, a Meadow Brown ab. alba instantly stood out amongst the other fulvous examples on the wing. Whilst in the meadow extension I noted many male Common Blues, so it looks like the second brood will be more numerous than the first; the only female I saw was part of a mating pair."

Thursday 3rd August 2023

• Phil Bowler emailed: "Following on from my ab. ocellata a few weeks ago at Chambers Farm Wood, then Toby's gynandromorph, I can now add another aberration seen here today. Though faded, it was nevertheless a dramatic sight, a female Silver-washed Fritillary of (I think) ab. nigricans. Silver-washed were in incredible numbers and the majority were fresh, some pristine, although a couple of the faded females were posing as the valesina form, which they were not (Toby showed me a photo he had taken at Minting Triangle which was definitely f. valesina but I never saw it). 47 in total - 36 m and 11 f including the ab. Supporting cast: 4 Small/Essex Skipper, 4 Large Skipper, 12 Brimstone, 6 Large White, 7 Small White, 20 Green-veined White, 2 Small Copper, 5 Holly Blue, 11 Purple Hairstreak, 2 male Brown Hairstreak, 1 White Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 45 Peacock, 11 Comma, 8 Speckled Wood, 40 Gatekeeper, 55 Meadow Brown and 10 Ringlet. Moths: 1 Mint Moth, 1 Yellow Shell, 12 Latticed Heath, 3 Shaded Broad-bar, 1 Ruby Tiger, 1 Silver Y, 1 Humming-bird Hawk-moth plus what looked like a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth flying around honeysuckle in a clearing. Too late for this species??
• Adrian Royle emailed: "Found a lovely micro moth down Crowtree Lane in Louth today - Chrysoclista linneella, a very localised distribution. Plus some Holly Blues out of town SW of Hubbard's Hills, and a Brown Argus, Red Admirals and Commas etc."                   

Tuesday 1st August 2023: The Ultimate Aberration!

Toby Ludlow emailed: "There are good days, and then there are exceptional days, and there have been several of the latter out at Chambers Farm Wood recently, but this one takes the biscuit! Only this last week I have had a day which has far exceeded anything I could have hoped for, and found that I was saying to myself, 'I never, ever, ever thought I would see THAT!' It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments that I didn't expect to have in my lifetime, if that doesn't sound too bonkers! The 'THAT' on this occasion was a gynandromorphic Silver-washed Fritillary, a butterfly which displays both male and female characteristics. However, my luck on this occasion had reached new heights because it was a bilateral gynandromorph, the ultimate aberration, where one side is completely male and the other side is completely female. This phenomenon occurs early on in a butterfly's development, when the organism only has a few cells, and then typically an event occurs during mitosis: one of the dividing cells does not split its sex chromosomes in the normal way, leading to one of the cells having sex chromosomes that cause male development and the other having sex chromosomes that lead to female development. (I hope I haven't lost any of you!) Needless to say, sightings of bilateral gynandromorphs are as rare as hen's teeth and I feel honoured to have seen this one. As is customary with exceptional aberrations like this, this one read the script, followed standard operating procedures and disappeared after a few seconds, never to be seen again! I did manage to get a 'record shot' of it, but I was left mulling over what could have been! The accompanying photograph illustrates the phenomenon of a bilateral gynandomorph: The complete left-hand side is male whereas the complete right-hand side is female. If you visit Chambers Farm Wood in the near future, keep your eyes peeled for this butterfly!"

July 2023

Sunday 30th July 2023

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "I spent a few hours out at Chambers Farm Wood today and was delighted to see that the aberrant Comma ab. suffusa + sagitta-album, that I first saw on Saturday 15^th July 2023, was still out there in virtually the same place and enjoying life, nectaring on Bramble blossom. This is now Day 16, and it is not standard operating procedure for an aberrant butterfly to hang around for so long – they usually disappear after a few seconds!!! It has now got a few battle scars, but nevertheless it was good to see it. Several Comma and Silver-washed Fritillary aberrations have been observed at Chambers Farm Wood throughout July and these have provided much enjoyment to those that have had the fortune to see them. Whilst butterflies such as Comma and Silver-washed Fritillary seem to periodically produce these aberrations, others such as Peacock and Red Admiral are, in an aberrant sense, disappointingly uniform. Given the huge numbers of Peacocks and Red Admirals present throughout the county, of which large numbers are seen in gardens, very few aberrations are ever reported from among these species. The Red Admiral aberrations that are reported are usually very minor in nature, usually consisting of an extra white dot on the forewing red band (ab. bialbata), or a broken red band (ab. fructa). I therefore got very excited when I discovered this Red Admiral aberration at Chambers Farm Wood, right next to the Chambers Farm Wood Centre. This extreme aberration, ab. klemensiewiczi, is as extreme as it gets, is stunningly beautiful and this individual even has an additional golden bloom to the red forewing band.
• John Davison emailed: "Sunday morning walk at Messingham Sand Quarry LWT Nature Reserve 

• brought out: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Speckled Wood, 24 Large White, 16 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 300 Red Admiral, 140 Meadow Brown, 15 Ringlet, 210 Gatekeeper, 1 Painted Lady, 59 Peacock, 26 Small Skipper, 9 Large Skipper, 94 Comma and 2 Brimstone. Also 1 Shaded Broad-bar, 1 Silver Y, 2 Elephant Hawk-moth larva and 1 Herald Moth larva.

Saturday 29th July 2023

• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "This morning between 09:00 and 09:30 our Scartho garden produced 2 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Small White, 1 Comma, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Large White, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Green-veined White and 1 Peacock. There was also a Mint Moth. Yesterday, I went birdwatching to Winter's Pit and the Humber Bank, where there were large numbers of Whites of different species, good numbers of Gatekeepers, and a few Red Admirals and Meadow Browns."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Since Rick Camm's sighting of a White-letter Hairtsreak on 25/7, he has 

• been to Osbournby Hill Top several times and twice seen 2 individuals nectaring on the bramble, so there is obviously a colony there. Today I checked the site out on a windy, mainly cloudy afternoon and duly found the pictured one - along with 17 other species. Notable was a good colony of Brown Argus between the set-aside and woodland edge. At least 10 seen. This site seems quite unremarkable from the A15 as you drive by, in an area not noted for its butterflies, but just shows what's still out there to be discovered in the Lincs countryside."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the garden trap produced White-point, Ear Moth agg, Southern Wainscot, Least Carpet and Mouse Moth, all new for the year."

Friday 28th July 2023

• Keith Walton emailed: "Visited Chambers Farm Wood today, but the walk to Minting Triangle was disappointing, although things improved on the Red Trail. 64 Peacock, 34 Red Admiral, 16 Silver-washed Fritillary, 10 White Admiral, 7 Brimstone and 15 Comma. One patch of brambles on this route had 10 Peacock, 10 Red Admiral, 4 Comma, 5 White Admiral and 6 Silver-washed Fritillary. Little Scrubbs Meadows were full of butterflies - 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady, 30 Red Admiral, 46 Silver-washed Fritillary and c450 Peacock. Finished in the garden - 1 White Admiral, 2 Peacock, 40 Red Admiral, and lots of Whites, Browns and a few Blues." 
• Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "I decide to trap on Friday night instead of 

• Saturday, as forecast said lighter winds and slightly warmer. Little did I know what was to come! Sally said she could hear moths hitting the trap from the open bedroom window, but I didn’t pay it much thought. Saturday didn’t start well, late up, b****r! When I looked in the trap at 7 a.m. double b****er! All I could see was Large Yellow Underwings. How the hell was I going to sort that lot out, was my first thought. I sat bemused at the sight before me, this may take a while! As I removed the lamp from the trap, moths erupted in all directions. 'Damn it!' I said as literally dozens of unidentified moths disappeared into the surrounding cover. I did manage to catch sight of a Swallow-tailed Moth as it flopped it’s way into the Buddleia, but the others were gone. Oh 

• well! With a deep breath, I gingerly picked up the first egg box to be greeted with a writhing mass of moths and, as the 30+ Large Yellow Underwings dispersed, I could count the other species which were buried below. After two hours it was done, a few potted up for photos and the note book full of scribble. A fortnight ago we had 521 moths of 99 species, the most species ever recorded here. This week only 78 species but a whopping 1192 moths of which 711 were Large Yellow Underwings. After a very slow start to the year things have definitely picked up here, despite having recorded the wettest March and July. Moth highlights were our seconds of Obscure Wainscot, Crescent, Dark Spectacle and Straw Underwing."

Wednesday 26th July 2023

• Martin Kew reported: "A bright, sunny morning at last brought out a good variety of butterflies on the reserves at Twyford Wood. The highlight was four Purple Hairstreak, one at the Glades and three on the tracks between the reserves. There were pleasing numbers of fresh Peacock and Brimstone on the wing as well." 
• Phil Bowler emailed: "Today I visited Morkery Wood for the first time in ages. Very impressive habitat but relatively few butterflies considering that the weather has improved. I fear this is the norm following this wet and very windy July. The star of the show was undoubtedly a very impressive female Purple Emperor, who emerged from the backdrop of brambles, valerian, Meadowsweet, thistles and various other nectar plants, only to zoom upwards into the top of a nearby Ash. She didn't even give me time to introduce myself! Supporting cast: 2 Small/Essex Skipper, 16 Large Skipper, 10 Brimstone, 3 Large White, 4 Small White, 10 Green-veined White, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 19 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 15 Peacock, 7 Comma, 10 Silver-washed Fritillary (including 3 typical females, no f. valesina), 1 Speckled Wood, 25 Gatekeeper, 17 Meadow Brown and 20 Ringlet."
• Trevor Baily emailed: "Today I visited Kirkby Gravel Pits and noted the following: 2 Brown Argus, 9 Common Blue, 2 Meadow Brown, 12 Gatekeeper, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Silver Y moth."
• Graham Catley emailed: "Surveyed Low Farm at Searby today and noted the following species: 300 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet, 72 Gatekeeper, 10 Red Admiral, 3 Peacock, 2 Comma, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 24 Large White, Small and Green-veined White, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Copper, 3+ Essex Skipper and 15+ Small Skipper."

Tuesday 25th July 2023

• Graham Catley messaged: "Painted Lady, 10 Essex Skippers and 8 new Peacocks at Alkborough this morning. Also a Willow Emerald damselfly."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had a brief trip to Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve today and was 

• rewarded with my first ever sighting there of a valesina form of a Silver-washed Fritillary, which is the first one I've seen this year too."
• John Walker emailed: "Today I visited a copse off the old Roman Way footpath at TF410839. The site is lined with broadleaf trees and mixed blackthorn, hawthorn, ivy and bramble, with a 10 m field margin to the south side. I have walked and surveyed the area at least twice each 

• spring/summer for c15 years. The copse and adjacent hedge have ash, oak, sycamore and several elms of 6 to 10 m tall. Also, blackthorn, hawthorn, ivy and bramble spreading into the long term 10 m field environment boundary, with various flora, including knapweed, ragwort, creeping thistle, red clover and fleabane. The late Peter Childs and I counted 21 butterfly species including 6 White-letter Hairstreaks there in July 2015 and a further 3 in each of the following 2 years. I have not visited the site since 2019, so I did so this morning with a walk of c250 m along the field margin and south side of the c2 acre copse, and 75 m length of tall hedge. To the east of the copse and hedge is a c3 acre old meadow with lots of marsh thistle, ragwort, etc. I recorded the following: 2 White-letter Hairstreak, 2 Holly Blue, 3 Comma, 7 Red Admiral, 7 Large White, 7 Small Skipper, 8 Speckled Wood, 8 Ringlet, 29 Small White, 31 Gatekeeper and 41 Meadow Brown. Other species seen at this location on early June past visits included Brimstone, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Large Skipper and Small Copper."
• Pete Cawdell reported: "Rick Camm from Osbournby, near Sleaford, found a female White-letter Hairstreak at the top of Osbournby Hill on the south facing side of some elms. The fields around the hill are on a two year set-aside programme to try and get rid of the black grass. They have been sown with red and white clover, plus bird seed. They are attracting many butterflies."

Sunday 23rd July 2023: Butterfly Conservation Open Day at Rimac

• Dave Wright reported: "Our last ‘Open Day’ was held at Chambers Farm Wood in July of 2019, the traditional site for this important event. Unfortunately, the total lack of support from FE during and after the pandemic, meant that we could no longer use the visitor/education centre, a facility that has always been instrumental in promoting Butterfly Conservation in Lincolnshire. With no resolution on the horizon, it looked as though this year’s event would have to be shelved once 

• again, until Owen Beaumont and Renata Jackson from English Nature at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR offered us a lifeline. Thanks to their hard work, along with colleagues and volunteers, we were able to utilise the Eco-classroom at Rimac car park, from where we were able to conduct a couple of guided butterfly walks. Unfortunately, the weather hadn’t read the 

• script and it was dull and overcast for most of the day, with just the occasional bright spell. Not exactly ideal butterfly weather! Nevertheless, we had a good turn out from the general public with double figures on both walks, and remarkably we managed to find eighteen species of butterfly: Small Skipper, Essex Skipper (including a mating pair), Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Small Copper, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, 

• Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath and 4 second generation Wall. Moths also featured during the walks and included lots of Six-spot Burnet, a few Silver Y and a single Blackneck. These species supplemented the 209 moths of 51 species trapped at a damp and miserable Seaview overnight, some of which were on display in the education centre, along with a few Privet Hawk-moth larvae found by committee member Tim Clayton in his garden near Lincoln. The walks also produced a few dragonfly species, the highlights being 2 Small Red-eyed Damselflies, and a single Willow Emerald found in the corner of the car park."                                                                                                

•  
• Sue Houghton emailed: "I visited Twyford Wood today and was thrilled to have my first sighting of Silver-washed Fritillary. Also noted Marbled White, Large Skipper, Comma, Peacock, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper."

Friday 21st July 2023

Graham Catley messaged: "Visited Laughton Woods today and, during a brief spell of sunshine, noted 5 Silver-washed Fritillary along Tuetoes Ride."

Thursday 20th July 2023

Gary Fenwick emailed: "After a period away on holiday and then illness, it's been a while since I was able to get out. This afternoon I took advantage of the respite in showers and a cancellation at work and ventured out to Little Scrubbs Meadow and Chambers Farm Wood more widely. The sum total of what I saw is as follows: 2 White Admiral, 4 Green-veined White, c30 Small White, c140 Small/Green-veined White  c40 Large White, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 6 Comma, c35 Red Admiral, 4 Large Skipper, 2 Speckled Wood, c55 Ringlet, c120 Meadow Brown, c30 Gatekeeper and 10 Silver-washed Fritillary. Moths included: 14 Silver Y, c40 Six-spot Burnet and 1 Latticed Heath.

Wednesday 19th July 2023

• John Davison emailed: "Silver-washed Fritillary at Burkinshaw's Covert, Immingham today." 
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib overnight and was surprised that the overnight temperature was a mere 6 degrees C and accompanied by a thick, damp fog. This resulted in only 71 moths of 28 species to 2 traps. New for the year macros were Cloaked Minor, Maple Pug, Pine Hawk-moth and Rosy Rustic. As a keen lister I recently visited Langworth to see Waved Black, kindly kept for me by Chris Dobson. Just happened to be macro number 450 for me in Lincs, quite a milestone!"

Tuesday 18th July 2023

Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "At last we had a warm spell with no wind this morning so there was some pleasing butterfly activity in my Scartho garden. 2 Red Admiral, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 2 Small White, 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Meadow Brown and a Mother Shipton moth. I also saw a Painted Lady on our neighbour's buddleia." 

Monday 17th July 2023

Josh Forrester messaged: "This morning I found a small colony of Purple Hairsteaks on an oak tree along Weelsby Avenue in Grimsby, opposite cemetery car park."

Sunday 16th July 2023

John Davison emailed: "Weather likely to have put a lot of people off the Butterfly Conservation Field Trip, but four hardy individuals did manage the visit to Risby Warren. It did stay dry but the high wind was a nuisance. Although lots of butterflies, it meant that they stayed low to the ground in flight and hunkered down in the vegetation when settled. As you will see however, we did manage the target species and quite a few more including Cinnabar, Silver Y and Common Carpet moths. My thanks for the butterfly count (and keen eyes) to Suzanne Nelson - 4 Grayling, 14 Small Skipper, 18 Gatekeeper, 25 Meadow Brown, 11 Ringlet, 16 Small Heath, 15 Small Copper, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Large Skipper, 2 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Common Blue and 4 Small Tortoiseshell."

Saturday 15th July 2023

Toby Ludlow emailed: "For once, it seemed, the weather forecasters got the forecast spot on - mainly thick cloud, the odd sunny interval, frequent showers, and the wind cycling between 20 mph and 40 mph. It was, therefore, not the day to visit Chambers Farm Wood in search of butterflies! When I arrived early in the morning there was a brief sunny spell, but soon had to head for the car to sit out a shower. This would be the story for the day! It came as no surprise that Purple Emperors did not take to the air, and I didn't see any over the course of the day; they seemed to be having a poor year. I only saw one White Admiral and about half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillaries, but alas not the aberrant one seen by Phil Bowler a few days previous. There were quite a few Red Admirals and Commas in the rides however, and one of the latter caught my eye as I passed by. Although its wings were closed, I could tell instantly that it was aberrant, but as I approached it shot up into a Field Maple and then opened its wings revealing it to be an extreme aberration - Comma ab. suffusa + sagitta-album. It then started to rain, so I legged it back to the car, again! When it stopped, I returned to the spot where I had seen the Comma, but I couldn't find it, so moved on. I then thought I'd rediscovered it, resting on a Bramble leaf about 20 metres further along the main track, but it wasn't - it was another, almost identical aberration, this one Comma ab. suffusa. Fortunately, this one sat still for a few photos. After, I was lucky to see the first aberrant Comma again and got a couple of record shots of it."

Thursday 13th July 2023

• David Phillips emailed: "Today I visited the excellent Chambers Farm Wood reserve instead of undertaking my Wider Countryside Butterfly Surveys in NE England. What a fantastic day! For once the the butterflies had read the script and I saw all my target species. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit! There were so many Whites flying that could not be identified and I'm afraid I never tallied up the Hutchinsoni variation of Comma. My sightings covered three areas: Chambers 

• Farm Wood Butterfly Garden - 6 Small White, 3 Large White, 12 Gatekeeper, 7 Meadow Brown, 5 Ringlet, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Peacock. Chambers Farm Wood - 23 Green-veined White, 42 Small White, 32 Meadow Brown, 69 Ringlet, 29 Red Admiral, 1 Holly Blue, 3 Large Skipper, 24 Comma, 21 Large White, 16 Purple Hairsreak, 14 Silver-washed Fritillary, 13 White Admiral, 6 Gatekeeper, 3 Speckled Wood and 3 Purple Emperor. Chambers Farm Wood-Langton Hill Farm Footpath - 1 Ringlet, 14 Gatekeeper, 31 Meadow Brown, 3 Large White, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma and 2 Small White."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "An incredible transect around Rimac today, with butterflies absolutely everywhere! The totals were: 265 Small Skipper, 33 Essex Skipper, 284 unidentified Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Large Skipper, 4 Large White, 14 Small White, 7 Green-veined White, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Speckled Wood, 109 Gatekeeper, 236 Meadow Brown, 198 Ringlet and 14 Small Heath."
• Phil Bowler reported: "In my garden yesterday (12th) I counted 43 Red Admiral, as opposed to 28 on the full red route circuit at Chambers Farm Wood today (13th). I elected to walk the full red route circuit to take in the huge new clearings created since FE did their questionable management. They've certainly opened it up considerably, especially the bit after the Sykes Wood lane where the elms are. You can now see many more flourishing elms than before. Alas, I only saw one White-letter Hairstreak at the top of one. Their friends the Purple Hairstreak were one of the stars today, for almost all the 16 that I saw were low down, on plants, some taking nectar from bramble, others on the paths taking minerals, even females. A wonderful sight to see them so low. There were 19 hutchinsoni Commas; 9 White Admiral, including a fresh one; 3 male Purple Emperor, 2 of which came to ground; and 15 Silver-washed Fritillary, 3 of which were female, 1 in cop. But the real star of the show was right at the end of the afternoon in the second car park with the big boulders. An almost pristine male ab. ocellata (I think). Superb and attention grabbing. The supporting cast: 1 Latticed Heath, 2 Silver Y, 3 Small/Essex Skipper, 17 Large Skipper (only one female), 4 Brimstone (all males), 5 Large White, 40 Small White, 60 Green-veined White, 2 Holly Blue, 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 2 Peacock, 3 Speckled Wood, 8 Gatekeeper, 55 Meadow Brown and 155 Ringlet."

Wednesday 12th July 2023

Graham Catley emailed: "Back at the farm at Searby this morning where there were still c500 Meadow Browns. Also of note were 65 Gatekeepers, 4 Purple Hairstreaks and a couple of Essex Skippers."

Sunday 9th July 2023                                                                                                                                                     
Laura Gundy reports: "A good day for my local area! I was enjoying a walk around Benniworth Walk Farm, where finally, after a poor start to the year, there are good numbers of butterflies.

Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Skipper and Gatekeeper were in profusion. A couple of Painted Ladies were seen nectaring on Marsh Thistle

and then for the first time here I saw a White Admiral gliding around a patch of bramble. I have been hoping they would arrive one day, as there is suitable habitat on the farm for them. Hurrah!

Later, as the sun heated things up, I paid a visit to an area of private land near to Market Stainton (by kind permission of the landowner). The fields of long grass and thistles were absolutely alive with insects – more than I have seen for many years. Large numbers of Small Skippers were chasing each other around creating little ginger clouds in the air.  This is no special nature reserve – there is little floral diversity – and yet by simply leaving it alone, no mowing, no nothing, it really is quite something. 

Anyway, to get to the point, I counted 7 Marbled Whites there, including one mating pair. Presumably they have spread from Red Hill, which is great news for the species. The other good thing is that a couple more fields to cross and they will be on the farm where I live too (here’s hoping).

Messingham Sand Quarry LWT Reserve
A selection of moths from this morning........

Clockwise: Blackneck, Blood-vein, Elephant Hawk-moth & Drinker Larva

Friday 7th July 2023

• David Bee emailed: "Decided to get out early today to beat the heat and before the forecast 'washout'. A 07:00 start at Red Hill, with a noticeable breeze, saw most subjects well in the grass. 

• By about 08:30 things had warmed up a bit and I noted the following: 9 Marbled White, 10+ Meadow Brown, 6 Gatekeeper, 3 Small Heath and 2 Large Skipper. Called in to Chambers Farm Wood on the way home to find more enthusiasts than butterflies, some people travelling quite a distance - up to 2.5 hours! Butterflies included: 10 Meadow Brown, 3 White Admiral, 5 Purple Hairstreak, 3 Purple Emperor, Small Heath, Ringlet, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small White and Large White."
• Graham Catley messaged: "First Small Red-eyed Damselflies on the farm pond at Searby this morning, plus 8 male Banded Demoiselles. Butterflies included: c500 Meadow Brown, 5 Gatekeeper, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Comma, c20 Small White, 5 Large White, 5 Green-veined White, 1 Brown Argus, 50 Small Skipper and 5 Large Skipper."
• John Davison reported: "At Southrey Wood today 6 Purple Hairstreak came down and flitted about head height on the main track. Silver-washed Fritillary on the main track, tower ride and 3 on the BC ride. 12 White Admiral on the main track with a few more on the tower ride."                   

Martin Kew visited Robert's Field LWT Reserve....

More than 15 Dark Green Fritillaries at Robert's Field plus this suspected Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth larva (Happy to be corrected).
There were also good numbers of Marbled White, Small Skipper and Meadow Brown.

Alan Barker e-mails......

Plenty about at Chambers Wood this morning.

Purple Emperors coming down to track for moisture. 

Most unexpected was a large group of 30-40 Small and Green-veined Whites 'puddling' in an area of damp ground no larger

than a dinner plate beside remnants of water in a drainage ditch. The photos aren't brilliant but give some idea of numbers and density - the gathering was very active.

Something I'd not come across before and quite a sight.

Thursday 6th July
Silver-washed Fritillary out at Laughton Woods - Tuetoes Ride.

A good day for moth larvae (all spotted by John Petyt).....
 

Clockwise:Eyed Hawk-moth Early Instar, Final Instar (Green Form) Swallow Prominent Moth, Silver Y, Knot Grass

Tuesday 4th July
Grayling now out at Risby.

and Silver-washed Fritillary in Broughton West Wood near Scunthorpe.
 

Saturday 1st July 2023                                                                                                                       
Malcolm & Marilyn Goodman emailed: "After Derek Fox’s successful visit to Hardy Gang Wood, we tried this afternoon. Similar species list, maybe 25/30 sightings of White Admiral of 10+ individuals (allowing for duplication). No Hummingbird Hawk-moth, but the big surprise was a Purple Emperor after minerals on the ground for about 15 minutes"

June 2023

Friday 30th June 2023

Helen Kirk emailed: "Decided to take a look at Snakeholme Pit, a Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation nature reserve just a few miles distant from Chambers Farm Wood as I'd never visited it before.  A fascinating site of around two acres with three different areas to it.  First gem was a male Banded Demoiselle in vegetation along the stream edge to the east and then a Kingfisher's distinctive piping as it moved along the waterway.  Double figures of Ringlet and Meadow Browns, a couple each of Green-veined Whites and Gatekeeper.  Perhaps a dozen Six-spot Burnet Moths on various flower heads but tucked down low out of the wind was a small golden green longhorn moth with a snazzy punk yellow hair do and the obviously long antennae.   It was not one I was familiar with so managed a couple of record photographs and thought no more about it till I got home and downloaded it.  The nearest I could get it to was Nemophora cupriacella.  Now a bit of research suggests it's not a particularly common moth so I begin to doubt my ID and decided to run it past Martin Gray who promptly responded with 'Certainly is and quite a rarity, only the 5th Lincolnshire Record - duly recorded.'  Well, quite a result for a Yorkshire visitor to this site for the first time.  Just goes to show there's always something interesting to be found even on not ideal weather days!"       

Thursday 29th June 2023

• Adrian Royle emailed: "A visit to Chambers Farm Wood produced an Emperor Moth caterpillar in Little Scrubbs Meadow and Purple Emperors along the main ride and easy access trail. Also Currant Clearwing, Light Emerald and White Admirals."
• Chris Atkin messaged: "A Red-veined Darter today on the Easy Access Trail adjacent to the Rimac scrape today. Also, my first Emerald Damselflies and Gatekeepers of the year (2 of the latter)."                                                                                                                                              

• Roy Harvey emailed: "I made a quick visit to Nettleton LNR late afternoon, and noted Cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort. Also, a Six-spot Burnet."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "Today's survey started in the glorious late morning sunshine and finished shortly after the cloud came in early afternoon. The full counts are as follows: 121 Small Skipper, 174 Small/Essex Skipper, 56 Large Skipper, 1 Large White 1 Small White, 1 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 3 Gatekeeper, 282 Meadow Brown, 41 Ringlet and 33 Small Heath. There must have been a mass emergence of Small Skipper over the last week."
• Derek Fox emailed: "I visited Hardy Gang Wood this afternoon and spent about two hours there. 

• White Admirals were on the wing and it was the most I have ever seen, with at least 25-30 nectaring on bramble blossom. Lots of thinning the side of the rides has allowed lots of bramble to establish. Lots of fresh species on the wing including 5 summer brood Comma, 4 Red Admiral, 8 Green-veined White, 3 Small White, 2 Large White, and 2 Speckled Wood. Meadow Brown 

• around 100, Ringlet not doing so well with only about 20, and a lone Purple Hairstreak high upon a large oak. A poor wood for skippers, with only 2 Large and 1 Small Skipper. The biggest surprise was seeing a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Wild Honeysucke. I think it's the best day I have ever had there!" 
• Graham Catley emailed: "Small Heaths in a 'scuffle', Six-spot Burnet, pristine Small Tortoiseshell and first Small Skippers at the farm at Searby today. At least 11 Banded Demoiselles as well."

Wednesday 28th June 3023

• Alan Daws messaged: "Attended the Well Vale walk today and noted lots of Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods, a few Green-veined Whites and a single Comma. Later, called into Swinn Wood LWT Nature Reserve and had 5 White Admiral sightings along the main ride."
• Roy Harvey emailed: "I visited Cress Marsh at Stallingborough late morning, and there were good numbers of Meadow Browns present plus a few Ringlet. Also a single Red Admiral, a few Small Heaths and 3 Six-spot Burnet moths."
• Graham Catley messaged: "Silver-washed Fritillary this morning at Laughton, along the ride at Tuetoes."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I spent a couple of hours in Cleethorpes Dunes today. I saw a very large number of Meadow Browns (50+ but I stopped counting after 50), 15 Small White, 3 Large Skipper, 7 Small Skipper, 12 Ringlet, and moths included 8 Mother Shiptons and 12 Six-spot Burnets."

Monday 26th June 2023

• Michael Flowers emailed: "I spent a couple of hours this morning at Chambers Farm Wood. There were at least 4 White Admirals on the wing, plus 2 Red Admirals, several Large Skippers, a Ringlet, a few Meadow Browns, but the strong winds may have been putting off some species. I was almost back at the car park, when I noticed what looked like a small dark moth fluttering weakly near the path. It turned and there was a hint of purple, so I kept my eye on it as it nestled 

• on a Hawthorn sprig. Sure enough it was a Purple Hairstreak. This seems a little early, as all the other ones I've seen have been in July!" 
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Paid a brief visit to my local patch, just off Westward Ho in Grimsby, and found 2 Small Skippers."
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "Had the trap out overnight and managed 183