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: @email or david.k.wright49@gmail.com

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 2023

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. 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." 

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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. valezina, 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. valezina), 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 valezina form, which they were not (Toby showed me a photo he had taken at Minting Triangle which was definitely f. valezina 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!"

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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. valezina), 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 valezina 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

  

  macros of 57 species. New for the year were 5 Single-dotted Wave, 1 Small Fan-footed Wave, 1 Barred Yellow, 1 Lilac Beauty, 1 Buff Arches, 1 White Satin Moth, 2 Plain Golden Y, 4 Poplar Hawk-moth, 1 Eyed Hawk-moth, and 2 Privet Hawk-moth."
• David Bee emailed: "Only a quick visit to Southrey Wood at around teatime today, produced 10+ White Admiral (literally everywhere), 10+Meadow Brown, 5 Ringlet, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Comma, 1 Large White and 1 Green-veined White."

Sunday 25th June 2023: Purple Emperors and Silver-washed Fritillaries!

• Ian McGlynn emailed: "I saw 2 Purple Emperors today at Morkery Wood, just two miles from Castle Bytham."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "3 White-letter Hairstreaks in People's Park, Grimsby today, my first of the year. Also, 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths in my garden, nearby."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "I had 2 Siver-washed Fritillaries and a White Admiral at Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve today."
• Suzanne Nelson messaged: "I visited Chambers Farm Wood today and spotted the following butterflies: 10 Large Skipper, 8 Speckled Wood, 19 Meadow Brown, 7 Ringlet, 1 Red Admiral, and 2 Black Hairstreak between Fiveways and Minting Triangle. These are the first Black Hairstreaks I have seen in Lincs, as I usually visit Glapthorn Cow Pastures, so I am really pleased that I saw them! My first White Admirals, grand total of 5, and my first Silver Washed Fritillary of the year! I also spotted Green-veined White, Small White and a pair of Common Blues."
• Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "This morning's trap produced 269 moths of 73 species, but the star was a Red-tipped Clearwing to pheromone this afternoon."

Saturday 24th June 2023

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "A search of Castle Bytham limestone grassland hillside of about 2 acres yielded sightings of 91 Marbled Whites. Other butterflies seen were 30 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet, 7 Small Skipper, 3 Large Skipper, 5 Small Heath and just 1 Small White. I then went

  

  on to Little Bytham Spinney Meadow where I counted 40 Marbled White, 32 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Heath, 1 female Common Blue, 1 Small White and 1 Green-veined White. Difficult to believe that only a few years ago we had to go on 'out of County' trips to see Marbled Whites at Ketton Quarry. Now A firmly established species in Lincs."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "Visited Crowle Moor today with Mark Johnson and Liam Andrews. We didn't do a full loop of the reserve, but managed the following totals: 29 Large Heath, 91 Large Skipper, 33 Ringlet, 19 Meadow Brown, 5 Red Admiral and 3 Speckled Wood."

  

• Laura Gundy emailed: "This morning's catch from the moth trap in my Benniworth garden included a little cutie - a Round-winged Muslin. A first for me and quite unusual for Lincs, I believe"
• Graham Catley emailed: "This morning I returned to Searby, to complete my survey on the other

  

  side of the farm. I counted an amazing 530 Meadow Browns, plus 11 Ringlet, 14 Small Heath, 13 Large Skipper, and singles of Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Comma and Common Blue. Also 2 Broad-bodied Chasers and 120 newly emerged Common Darters." 
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gib overnight and managed 293 moths of 85 species. An unusually even split with 146 macros and 147 micros. New for the year were Green Silver-lines, Kent Black Arches, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lyme Grass, Peach Blossom, Tawny-barred Angle and Treble Brown Spot."

Friday 23rd June 2023

Alan Pike emailed: "I saw 5 White Admirals in Potterhanworth Wood this evening, while walking the dog. Also, there were Commas, lots of Speckled Woods and a single Small Skipper."

Thursday 22nd June 2023: White Admirals and White-letter Hairstreaks!

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Paid a quick visit to Chambers Farm Wood today. I was surprised not to see any Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths at the Chambers Farm Wood Centre, but there was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on the Red Valerian instead. After a visit to Little Scrubbs Meadow, I saw my first White Admiral of the year, elegantly gliding high up in a Sallow tree. Later, in Coningsby, I had an afternoon walk on The Pingle LNR and was delighted to find 2 White-letter Hairstreaks flying around the large elm at the western end of the reserve. What an impressive tree it is; you don't see many elm trees that size anymore!"
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 224

  

  moths of 84 species. New for the year macros were Clouded Magpie, Common Footman, Common Wave, Delicate, Pebble Prominent, Rosy Footman and Smoky Wainscot."
• Graham Catley messaged: "Visited Alkborough Flats this morning and a small section between the car park and the new reedbed, produced 58 Ringlet, 37 Meadow Brown and 10 Large Skipper."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "The transect at Rimac today produced the following species: 19 Small Skipper, 56 Large Skipper, 7 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 207 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet and 57 Small Heath."
• Stuart Mackman emailed: "During an afternoon visit to Chambers Farm Wood, I spotted Black

  

  Hairstreaks at Fiveways. There were probably 7 or 8 in total seen over the one hour period of time I spent there. I also had a White Admiral in the vicinity too, but no shot recorded on this occasion unfortunately, as just too high and far away for a reasonable photograph."
• John Davison reported: "A pleasant day at Southrey Wood - nice to see White Admiral out! Other butterflies included Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Ringlet and Meadow Brown."

Wednesday 21st June 2023

• Martin Kew reported from Twyford Wood: "At the reserves Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Skipper are now on the wing."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "2 Marbled Whites, male and female, flying in Little Ponton Quarry near Grantham."
• Graham Catley messaged: "Conducted a survey at a private site near the village of Searby today and noted the following species: 2 Red Admiral, 230 Meadow Brown, 11 Ringlet, 5 Small White, 11 Small Heath, 14 Large Skipper and a Speckled Wood. A few recently created pools produced a staggering 40+ Black-tailed Skimmers, 30+ Four-spotted Chasers, 5 Emperors, including an egg-laying female, 10 Red-eyed Damselfly, several Banded Demoiselle, 500+ Azure Damselfly and 20 Common Darter."                                                                                    

  

• Pete Roworth messaged: "Hummingbird Hawk-moth this afternoon at Sea View, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "Today I took the opportunity for a walk around Gooseman's Field and the

  

  Woodland Burial Ground in Grimsby. Gooseman's was quite productive with: 14 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 6 Common Blue, 10 Large Skipper, 6 Small Heath and 2 Ringlet. There were also a few moths: 1 Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet and 3 Mother Shipton. I did less well in the Woodland Burial Ground, possibly because the council had been round with the mower, but I saw 3 Speckled Wood and 4 Meadow Brown."

Tuesday 20th June 2023

Caroline Sanderson emailed: "The other day I found a caterpillar in my Spalding garden, feeding on Purple Toadflax. It was one of many and I believe it's a Toadflax Brocade. Today's photo (see below) was taken at 13:20 PM and you can just make out a few of the 21 that I counted."

Monday 19th June 2023

• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "It is still very slow going in our butterfly garden, although Holly Blue and Orange-tip have had a superb spring, and the Brimstone is doing well. Speckled Wood looks set to break a few records too! Just lately there has been an influx of mainly very fresh Red Admiral. I counted 11 today, alongside 3 worn Painted Ladies in the last few days and a few Silver Y. The freshness of the Red Admirals makes me wonder if they are offspring of hibernated ones. A bit confusing really, although there is a school of thought that says migrants can arrive fresh because they don't get involved in skirmishes whilst migrating. Don't know what happened to the Painted Ladies then!"
• Peter Calvert emailed: "What a great population of Black Hairstreak you have at Chambers Farm

  

  Wood. I visited today for my first sighting ever! On my previous visit I found a White Admiral caterpillar starting to pupate."

Sunday 18th June 2023

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Elliott and I headed for Red Hill LWT Nature Reserve and on arrival were greeted by a couple of Marbled Whites, and witnessed a very swift flypast by a Red Admiral. Soon after, we saw a male Orange-tip, which was totally unexpected, as it's been a while since either of us had seen one. There was a good number of Common Blues on the

  

  reserve: 15 being our final tally. Elsewhere, this species seems very thin on the ground! The Meadow Browns were emerging in numbers now: 27 seen in our brief time on site, and we saw 7 Marbled Whites before the light levels dropped with the approaching thunderstorm. Various moths were recorded whilst we were there: Yellow Shell, Silver Y, Burnet Companion, Six-spot Burnet, and Chimney Sweeper. Despite seeing 11 of the latter, they proved very difficult to photograph - almost on a par with the Small Heath, of which we saw one!" 
• John Davison emailed: "Today I had both Ringlet and Meadow Brown at Mesingham Sand Quarry. Yesterday, John Petyt and I visited Crowle Moor, which seems to be the in-place at the moment, and recorded Large Heath and our first Ringlet."
• Dale Middleton emailed: "I visited Chambers Farm Wood today and noted the following: 6 Black Hairstreak at Fiveways, 12 Speckled Wood, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth and 1 Current Clearwing by the brick building in the car park."

Saturday 17th June 2023

Kev Armstrong emailed: "Had the trap out overnight, here at Wold Farm, Nettleton, and caught my second Rannoch Looper in less than a week! Another highlight was my first Bird's Wing of the year."

Friday 16 June 2023

• Howard and Penny Smith emailed: "Today we made our annual visit to wonderful Crowle Moor,

  

  where on a glorious day we were treated to a selection of stunning sightings, including our first Large Heath of the year.  We also spotted a Rannoch Looper alongside the drain on the way down to the moor area. We are aware of a small number in Yorkshire, so this looks as if a significant movement has occurred."
• Adrian Royle emailed: "Today I popped over to Crowle Moor with Toby Ludlow. Did the loop

  

  clockwise, a slow start but eventually the Large Heaths started to appear and we managed to photograph a few. About 30 seen, also Large Skippers about."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "Another trip To Chambers Farm Wood today and I was pleased to catch up

  

  with Black Hairstreak. At least 8 (probably more) very mobile around the top of the Blackthorn at FiveWays. One little character very obliging in terms of facilitating observation, but not easy to get a photograph due to bramble and nettles and not wishing to disturb it feeding on probable aphid honeydew on the surface of a bramble leaf. Three worn and two intact Marsh Fritillary nectaring on bramble in Little Scrubs Meadow.  Five Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths very active around

  

  the valerian in the Butterfly Garden, with a stunning male Emperor Dragonfly around the car park checking visitors to the garden!  Other lepidoptera of interest were some magnificent specimens of Mullein larvae devouring their foodplant. In serious numbers of at least 50 were Tortrix viridana around oak in the 'far' car park, and also present in moderate numbers on oak in Little Scrubs Meadow. Other lepidopteran species observed - Speckled Wood, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Red Admiral and Nemorpha degeerella."
• Roy Harvey emailed: "I looked in at Nettleton LNR again this afternoon. The main change from six

  

  days ago was Meadow Brown butterflies with 12 counted. I also saw 3 of what I took to be Yellow Shell moths and 2 Cinnabars."
• John Walker messaged: "On a 6.4 mile circular walk from Brinkhill, taking in Snake Holt and Fox Covert, I recorded the following butterflies: 1 Peacock, 3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 5 Large Skipper, 3 Small Heath and 3 Speckled Wood. On the footpath downhill back to Brinkhill, a small tall growth meadow produced 7 Meadow Brown and a Holly Blue."

• David Bee emailed: "I spent two or three hours at Chambers Farm Wood this morning with Toby

  

  Ludlow and saw 7 Black Hairstreaks (Fiveways), 1 Comma, 1 Large White, several Speckled Wood, and 1 Large Skipper. I then went on to Red Hill LWT Nature Reserve and the Marbled Whites have definitely started. I saw three together and probably six individuals. There were numerous Common Blues, but I was very pleased to see two Meadow Browns."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 169

  

  moths of 62 species. Gib speciality - Rosy Wave the best of it!"
• Adrian Royle emailed: "9 Black Hairstreaks at Fiveways, Chambers Farm Wood this morning. Lots of activity, occasionally one would come down low enough for a photo. Also, a Holly Blue there and a Small Magpie moth seen at the White-letter Hairstreak site near the old orchard."

Wednesday 14th June 2023: Rannoch Looper in Nettleton!

• Kev and Pat Armstrong from Nettleton reported: "We've had two 'mothing' sessions this week, here at Wold Farm and, after inspecting the trap on Monday morning, I was well pleased with the haul of 359 macros of 54 species, 23 of which were new for the year. These included Marbled White Spot, Broad-barred White, Pale-shouldered Brocade, Privet Hawk-moth, Small Elephant Hawk-moth and 87 Cream-bordered Green Pea, a number far exceeding previous years with yearly totals usually in single figures. However, while we were inspecting the catch

  

  from yesterday morning, Pat pointed out a small moth which we weren't familiar with. Eventually, we came to the conclusion that it had to be a Rannoch Looper! This has subsequently been confirmed by Martin Gray today, and is apparently only the second record for Lincolnshire and VC54, following one from Boston in 1960."
• Les Austin emailed: "We visited Redhill LWT Nature Reserve today, but there wasn't much about where the meadows were exposed to the fresh wind. We fared better in the shelter of the quarry and found good numbers of Common Blues. We got 6 Small Heath and were rewarded with a fresh Marbled White and a Meadow Brown."
• David Bee emailed: "I visited Crowle Moor today and initially the search for Large Heath looked hopeless. However, after encouragement from a chap recording Thorne Woods, my effort was eventually rewarded with 10/12 Speckled Woods, 4 Large Skipper, 6 Small Heath and then the main event - at least a dozen Large Heath!"

Tuesday 13th June 2023

• Adrian Royle emailed: "Black Hairstreaks seen at Fiveways (Chambers Farm Wood) this morning. I saw the first with Toby Ludlow, then a total of 12 sightings over 90 minutes - 10:30-12:00. I managed only distant, heavily cropped pictures. Also, a Pebble hook-tip and several Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths, 4 seen together by the garden gate, and a few others out and about."

  

• Paul Daubney emailed: "I met Adrian Royle at Chambers Farm Wood this morning, to be entertained and teased by Black Hairstreaks - lots of sightings but no more than two at once, and only one coming down below 10 ft. above the ground (see attached). Also, an Orange-tip still on the wing, Holly Blue, Speckled Woods and my first Meadow Brown of the year. Then to Little Scrubbs Meadow where, among the Common Spotted Orchids, there are still a few Marsh Fritillaries about. And, courtesy of Toby Ludlow, my first Dingy Skipper of the year. Emperor Dragonfly also there. Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth and Ruby-tailed Wasp at the Butterfly Garden car park. 
• Dave Wright reported: "My first Ringlets of the year this morning, 2 seen during a brief visit to the Pyewipe Line at Great Coates. Also noted 4 Large Skipper, 5 Common Blue, 1 Speckled Wood and a male Orange-tip."
• John Walker messaged: "I walked the Rimac Transect at Saltfleetby-Theddlerhorpe Dunes NNR today and noted the following: 5 Large Skipper, 1 Small Copper, 5 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Speckled Wood, 5 Meadow Brown and 36 Small Heath. No other species seen on or near the Transect route."

Monday 12th June 2023

• Gary Fenwick emailed: "This afternoon I popped over to Linwood Warren LWT Nature Reserve and saw my first Large Skipper (2) of the year. There were also about 4 Holly Blue and 10 Meadow Brown." 
• Malcolm and Marilyn Goodman emailed: "Today we visited Chambers Farm Wood and a few hours around early afternoon produced 3+ Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths around the butterfly garden gate. A quick walk around Little Scrubbs Meadow had 5 Marsh Fritillary (although others had more - mostly going over now). Few other species - 1 Brimstone and a few Speckled Wood."

Sunday 11th June 2023

Martin Kew reported from Twyford Wood: "I walked the Transects this morning and recorded two new species for the season - a single Marbled White and 6 Large Skipper. Other species recorded across the two reserves were: 3 Grizzled Skipper, 7 Dingy Skipper, 16 Small Heath, 16 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Brimstone, 1 Large White and 2 Speckled Wood."

Saturday 10th June 2023

• Roy Harvey emailed: "I decided to visit Nettleton LNR this afternoon and found several butterflies on the wing. The following species were seen: 1 Brimstone, 1 Large White, 6 Common Blue, 8 Brown Argus, 4 Small Heath, 3 Speckled Wood and 3 Orange-tip. I also noted several medium sized whites flying around but these evaded identification."
• Nige Lound emailed: "107 moths of 47 species to MV Robinson overnight at Syke's Farm,

  

  Gibraltar Point NNR. Undoubted highlight was a Clouded Buff which I believe is a first for the NNR."
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "This afternoon I enjoyed a couple of hours exploring Kingerby Beck LWT Nature Reserve, on a guided walk with the Market Rasen Branch of the Lincs Trust. In the superb meadows were numerous Common Blue (c.60), 8 Speckled Wood and a Red Admiral. Moths were represented by 2 Yellow Shell and 2 Silver Y. It was good to see literally hundreds of orchids too! Earlier in the day I had my first Meadow Brown of the year, 2 in the surrounding fields of Toft Newton Reservoir."
• Dave Wright reported: "After days of unseasonal weather, it was great to get out today with wall-to-wall sunshine and much higher temperatures. My wife and I decided to take a walk in the Donnington on Bain area, taking in the Public Bridleway south from Mill Lane, past Benniworth House Farm to Benniworth Haven. Surprisingly, and rather disappointedly, there were few butterflies on the wing, and we only noted the following: 2 Brown Argus, 2 Brimstone, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Orange-tip and 1 Speckled Wood. At Low Pond (Benniworth Haven) 20+ Red-eyed Damselflies were over the lilypads and I also found a Silver Ground Carpet moth. We returned to the car via the Public Footpath down to Donnington on Bain, noting 1 Brown Argus, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brimstone, 3 Speckled Wood and a Holly Blue along the

  

  way. We then paid a brief visit to Redhill LWT Nature Reserve nearby, concentrating on the old quarry side of the reserve, and noted the following: 18 Common Blue, 3 Small Heath, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Small White. As a bonus, a Quail was heard calling from the field just below the reserve."

Friday 9th June 2023: Large Heath at Crowle Moor!

• Phil Lee emailed: "The Large Heath is out on Crowle Moor. This is one of seven seen along north tram this afternoon in blustery but sunny conditions."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "I was doing my regular survey of an old quarry about 2 miles west of Louth this afternoon by kind permission of the owner. The warm sunny weather was spoilt by a gusty breeze which kept butterfly sightings lower than usual. I was fortunate enough to have Laura Gundy with me as her sharp eyes spotted a Wall Brown making short flights about 40 ft. up a chalk cliff face. We were both nearly certain of the identification but, as this was a really good record, we wanted to be 100% sure. As it had settled on a bare rock with its silhouette being clearly visible through binoculars, I sent her scampering up to get as close as possible for a 'record' shot (ungentlemanly conduct you might think, but she is younger than me!). Thankfully she brought down the proof in a picture that certainly would not win any awards, but showed it to be a definite Wall Brown. I hadn't recorded this species here for about ten years so this was really pleasing. Other butterflies seen were 18 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 1 Meadow Brown, 11 Small Heath, 2 Large Skipper, 2 each of Large White, Small White and Green-veined White, 3 Brimstone and a male Orange-tip. We also visited Welton le Wold LWT Nature Reserve  and saw another 16 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper and 2 Small White."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "I visited Sedge Hole Close LWT Nature Reserve today, where moderate

  

  numbers of Chimney Sweeper moths were active in the meadow. What was particularly fascinating to observe was the moth settling lowish down on stems and stalks (flowers and grasses) and agitating their wings, was this to disperse pheromones to attract males (none observed in cop)? Later, at Crowle Moor South Reserve, 8 mobile Large Heath, possibly a couple more, but not exclusively monitoring this species. Nemophora degeerella leking by the entrance gate."

Thursday 8th June 2023

• Phil Lee emailed: "A Lime Hawk-moth of the form brunnea was in the garden trap here at Misterton last night, and is the first time we have had this form in the garden. Note the colour difference to a normal one."
• Graham Catley messaged: "This morning I had my first Meadow Brown of the year on a private site near Searby."

Wednesday 7th June 2023

Dave Wright reported: "On a day that felt more like autumn rather than 'flaming June', Chris Atkin and I had a great time at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, despite the weather trying to dictate otherwise! Our perseverance paid off with two new butterfly species for the year - Large Skipper and Meadow Brown. We also noted: 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Heath and 1 Brown Argus. Moths included: 4 Burnet Companion, 2 Straw Dot, 5 Cinnabar, 5 Yellow Shell, 2 Fox Moth, 1 Silver Y, 2 Timothy Tortrix, 16 Grass Rivulet and a Garden Tiger caterpillar crossing the track along Willow Hedge, Rimac. However, the highlight of the day was seeing 2 Turtle Doves in flight over the dunes north of Churchill Lane car park."

Monday 5th June 2023

• Josh Forrester messaged: "I found a mating pair of Lime Hawk-moths today, along Weelsby Road in Grimsby."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the trap produced a new species for the garden, a Chamomile Shark."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "I visited Little Scrubbs Meadow at Chambers Farm Wood and although this morning's weather wasn't ideal for a sun loving butterfly, I caught up with one Marsh Fritillary around 10:30 quietly settled on a bramble flower. In the afternoon I was able to find a few more, settled or nectaring on bramble, but not in any significant numbers. I was also lucky to find a few Emperor Moth larvae on bramble leaves. Also of note was the Tortrix Aethes piercei (Devil's-bit Conch) and whose larval food plant is unsurprisingly Devil's-bit Scabious."

Sunday 4th June 2023

• Phil Lee emailed: "At least a dozen Chimney Sweeper moths were on the wing today at Sedge Hole Close, which is its stronghold here in the Isle of Axholme. In a good year the count can be over a hundred."
• Laura Gundy emailed: "Three years ago I sowed a mix of wildflower seeds into a rubbishy area of left-over hardcore in the farmyard at Benniworth Walk Farm. Since then the poor plants that grew

  

  have endured various droughts, crazy hailstorms and being driven over by lorries. In spite of this they have done well, and I was really pleased to spot both a Treble-bar sitting right next to its larval foodplant of St John's Wort and several Six-spot Burnet moth larvae feeding on Bird's-foot Trefoil. So to paraphrase, 'if you plant them, they will come'."
• John Davison emailed: "This morning I had my first Large Skipper of the year at Messingham Sand Quarry LWT Nature Reserve."

Friday 2nd June 2023

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Fresh Meadow Brown and 2 Small Tortoiseshell at Grimsthorpe today - summer must have arrived?"
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Paid a visit to Chambers Farn Wood this afternoon and it was

  

  immediately evident that we've hit the 'June Gap': I don't recollect seeing a single butterfly on the journey there! On arrival, at the CFW Centre, a Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth was frantically going about its business, nectaring on the Sweet Rocket, and a couple of Holly Blues and a male Brimstone flew through the car park, but that was all. A walk down to Little Scrubbs Meadow did produce a fresh, second-brood Speckled Wood, enjoying an area of dappled shade. A circuit around LSM produced approximately a couple of dozen Marsh Fritillaries, most now past their best and getting a little 'greasy', but there were a couple of females there in reasonable condition. Whilst there, I didn't see any Dingy Skippers, but could hear that one had been seen in the meadow extension. I walked back to the CFW Centre and there were now 2 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths nectaring on Red Valerian, and I later spotted what could have been a third one in the Butterfly Garden."

---

May 2023

Bank Holiday Monday 29th May 2023

Richard Smith emailed: "Two years ago I checked a brownfield site, south of Dysart Park and along the River Witham in Grantham, and found Grizzled Skipper. Today I noted 11 Grizzled Skippers, 14 Common Blues and 2 Small Heath. 

Saturday 27th May 2023: Twyford Wood BC Field Trip

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "For once we chose an excellent day for this Field Trip with blue skies and sunshine throughout and temperatures in the low 20 degrees C. A healthy turnout of 16 adults and 3 children seemed to really enjoy the event. A surprisingly large group of South Lincs botanists had, by chance, also assembled in the car park, and several of them were known to the Branch for recent help with contributing important butterfly records and assisting in protecting a key site near Castle Bytham. We set off at 10:30am and made our way to the BC Lincs Sanctuary Reserve in the north west corner of the wood. We soon notched up good sightings of our 3 target species:

  

  Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper and Green Hairstreak. All species and numbers of butterflies and other wildlife were recorded separately here, on the 'in between areas', and at our later afternoon visit to the BC Lincs Glades Reserve in the south east corner of the wood. The Final totals are as follows: 1 Small Copper, 60 Grizzled Skipper, 57 Dingy Skipper, 9 Green Hairstreak, 52 Common Blue (including 3 mating pairs), 8 Holly Blue, 4 Brown Argus, 18 Small Heath (including a mating pair), 6 Speckled Wood, 5 Peacock, 2 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip, 8 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 2 Small White and a single Comma. Moths included Cinnabar, Burnet Companion and Mint Moth. We were really pleased to view so many butterflies about doing their business. Some members were able to see species for the first time and for some it was their first visit to this wood. It was rewarding to see that the winter volunteer work over many years has kept this habitat in such good condition for these scarce county butterflies. We were all flagging a bit in the heat and completed the walk back at the car park about 3:30 pm - a bit later than planned! Thanks to Martin Kew (transect recorder) for leading the event.
• John Walker messaged: "Walked up through organic grassland out of Donnington on Bain, and picked up the bridleway leading north past Benniworth House. Butterflies seen: 3 Brimstone, 2 Large White, 3 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small Heath, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 3 Orange-tip.  
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "Perfect conditions today on Gooseman's Field in Grimsby, produced only 1 Large White and 1 Small White. I can only assume that everything is late emerging. I did slightly better in the Woodland Burial Ground, with 2 Holly Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Orange-tip and 1 Large White. Later on I saw 2 Holly Blue and 1 Small White in my Scartho garden. Yesterday I walked through St Giles Churchyard in Scartho and saw 1 Speckled Wood and my first Red Admiral of the season."
• Richard Doan reported: "The butterfly transect at Heath Meadow LWT Nature Reserve this afternoon produced: 1049 Common Blue (never seen anything like it, with 580 in just one section), Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus, 6 Orange-tip, Brimstone and 1 Small White."

Friday 26th May 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning I spent about a couple of hours at Cleethorpes Coast LNR, concentrating on the area between the leisure centre and Buck Beck car park. The highlight for me was a Sharp-angled Peacock, which flew up out of the grass and settled in the Sea

  

  Buckthorn (see attached). It was my first along this stretch of the Lincolnshire coast. Other moths included Blood-vein and Mother Shipton. Most of the butterflies were seen in the sheltered areas amongst the dune scrub, and I noted the following: 3 Green Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus, 14 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, a mass of Small Tortoiseshell larvae, 11 Orange-tip, 1 Large White, 2 Green-veined White and 11 Small White (including a mating pair)."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "It is pleasing to read that the Green Hairstreak are having another excellent season along the Lincs coastal strip. A friend told me he had seen 5 on a Hawthorn bush at Spurn Point the other day. Yesterday Tony Burgess, who lives on the edge of Grimsby, about 5 miles from the coast, informed me that he had one in his garden this year. The species is also doing quite well in south west Lincs - unless I am just being lucky with my sightings. I was particularly taken with the record of Dave Wright, and associated photograph by Mike Pickwell, of an egg-laying female at Rimac on Sea Buckthorn, even including an egg. Green Hairstreak are described as having the most catholic taste of any British butterfly in its choice of egg/larval host plant (although from my experience I would rate Holly Blue as a close rival). Favourites are Rockrose (particularly in south England), and Bird's-foot Trefoil. Alder and Purging Buckthorn are mentioned but they are completely different species of a different plant family. When we started Lincs BC in the early 1980's there was some debate as to the Green Hairstreak's status and larval foodplant in coastal Lincs. I made several trips to the area and eventually found a female egg-laying at ground level on Bird's-foot Trefoil. However, we still kept getting Green Hairsteak records of sightings stating that they 'were seen around their foodplant bushes Elder, Hawthorn or Sea Buckthorn'. We, and I include myself here, were rather dismissive of these mentions which we attributed to male territorial bushes just being used in perching and mating behaviour. Anyway, now we know Sea Buckthorn is utilised, occasionally at least, so well done for the record and picture. Never too old to learn!"

Thursday 25th May 2023

Pete Cawdell emailed: "Fears over the Marsh Fritillary population at Little Scrubbs Meadows have been allayed somewhat by recent sightings. Emergence of adult butterflies has been at least 2 weeks later than in recent years due to the cold, wet spring weather. Today, I counted 20 butterflies including 2 females - all but one on the original meadow. Not a great year but probably enough to keep the colony going. The FC decision to make an earlier than usual cut in late summer last year put this species in peril with the danger of removing the larval webs before they were settled low down for winter hibernation."

Wednesday 24th May 2023: National Nature Reserves Week

Dave Wright reported: “To celebrate National Nature Reserves Week, myself and Toby Ludlow were invited by Owen Beaumont and Renata Jackson from Natural England to lead a guided butterfly and moth walk at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, focusing on the Rimac area. Twenty of us spent an enjoyable two and a half hours exploring the site in glorious weather, starting from the car park, south through the dunes to the MOD track and returning via the seaward side of the dunes. We noted the following butterflies: 13 Wall, 8 Small Heath, 10 Brown Argus, 15 Green Hairstreak (including 3 females egg-laying on Sea Buckthorn), 10 Small Copper, 6 Common Blue, 1 LargeWhite, 1 Small White, 1 Orange-tip (female), and a Peacock. Moths included: 8 Burnet Companion, 4 Silver Y, 1 Latticed Heath, 3 Mother Shipton, 1 Cinnabar, 2 Yellow Belle, and 12 Grass Rivulet.

There were lots of dragonflies on the reserve and included the following species: Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, and Azure Damselfly. As a bonus, a Common Lizard was seen making the most of the warm sunshine, sat on a fence rail close to the car park. We also had excellent views of Marsh Harriers and a Grasshopper Warbler, in full voice, sat on top of a small bush.

After a break for lunch, Toby and I stayed around and decided to cover two more areas not included in the walk. The first of these, was the dune area just north of Quarry Hill, and we added the following: 23 Wall, 21 Small Heath, 31 Brown Argus, 6 Green Hairstreak, 4 Small Copper, 11 Common Blue, 1 Peacock, 2 Burnet Companion, 1 Silver Y, 7 Mother Shipton, 2 Cinnabar, and 1 Common Carpet.

To end the day we surveyed the Zion Hill area which produced: 27 Wall, 8 Small Heath, 6 Brown Argus, 3 Green Hairstreak, 5 Small Copper, 3 Common Blue, 1 Small White, 5 Burnet Companion, 4 Mother Shipton, and 1 Silver Ground Carpet. It was an excellent and most rewarding day at Rimac, especially seeing so many Wall. A Red Listed species, which has been lost from so many inland areas of Lincolnshire, is definitely thriving on this important coastal reserve."

Tuesday 23rd May 2023

• Richard Doan reported: "The butterfly transect at Heath Meadow LWT Nature Reserve this afternoon produced 537 Common Blue (mass emergence - most I've seen for many years), 9 Orange-tip, 4 Small Copper, 2 Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Painted Lady, 2 Brimstone and a Peacock."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "A walk through the dunes at Cleethorpes Coast LNR this morning produced 5 Common Blue, 2 Green Hairstreak, 1 Holly Blue, 12 Orange-tip, 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock and 2 Green-veined White." 
• Toby Ludlow phoned: "Paid a flying visit to Chambers Farm Wood today, and noted 20+ Marsh Fritillary in Little Scrubbs Meadow, with another 2 in the Extension. Also 5 Dingy Skipper."
• David Bee emailed: "I really enjoyed my visit to Chambers Farm Wood today - quite a few eager butterfly spotters about! My tally was: 6 Marsh Fritillary, 3 Dingy Skipper, 3 Orange-tip and 5 Common Blue."

Monday 22nd May 2023

• Pete Smith emailed: "Had a look at Greetwell Quarry on Saturday 20th hoping to see Green Hairstreak, and also maybe some Common Blues and Small Heaths, but ended up finding none of the above. A return trip today was rather different - Common Blues emerging in numbers! I counted 43 during a stroll through the more sheltered areas, all but one of these being males frantically scouring the vegetation for females. The one female I did find clearly didn't stand a chance in the face of such priapic behaviour and was swiftly paired up. Still no sign of Small Heath there yet, surely due any day?"
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had a walk around Gooseman's Field and the cemetery in the Grimsby area this afternoon when the sun came out at 14:00. Despite the cold, blustery northerly wind I managed to photograph 2 Speckled Woods in the Woodland Burial Ground, where its was more sheltered. I noted the following: 5 Holly Blue, 14 Orange-tip (10 male and 4 female), 2 Large White, 4 Speckled Wood, 6 Small White and 2 Small Tortoiseshell. I have recently started a project to record and photograph the wildlife in Scartho St Giles churchyard. In an hour visit on Sunday at 12:00 I noted 2 Speckled Wood, 1 male Orange-tip and 1 Holly Blue."

Sunday 21st May 2023

• Paul Daubney emailed: "Today I dropped in at Chambers Farm Wood in the hope of finding early fritillaries. Very few butterflies of any description  at Little Scrubbs Meadow but, on my second circuit, I found one small Marsh Fritillary. Result! Also saw my first Common Blue of the year there. Another first for me at this site were three spikes of Green-winged Orchid, unfortunately past their best, right next to the path in the newer meadow."
• John Walker messaged: "Walked vehicle track alongside dune at Donna Nook Realignment whilst doing the WeBS count, 07:30 to 09:30, and noted 3 Wall, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock and 1 Small White."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Paid a visit to Woodhall Spa Airfield today, and was rewarded with my first Common Blue of the year - a fresh male. This was closely followed by 2 further males, and 3 Brown Argus, which were all favouring Common Vetch ssp. nigra on which to nectar. Apart from 6 Brimstones, nothing else on the butterfly front was flying!"

Saturday 20th May 2023

• Keith Walton emailed: "Visited Chambers Farm Wood today and there were at least 7 Marsh Fritillary in Little Scrubbs Meadow."
• Graeme Baker emailed: "Today I counted 8 freshly emerged Marsh Fritillaries in Little Scrubbs Meadow, during early afternoon."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Today I went to Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve, and a walk along the main track over the heath from the main gate to the old car park produced a total of 43 Small Coppers. For a butterfly that is usually seen in ones and twos elsewhere, this would be a decent count on another day, but Small Copper numbers have dropped by more than half from their recent peak. So, if you wish to see Small Copper in really good numbers, I would urge you to visit Kirkby Moor in the next few days. Also of note, I saw my first Brown Argus at this site today. In addition, there has been an explosion of blue damseflies and Four-spotted Chasers, and many Hairy Dragonflies were also on the wing." 
• Martin Kew reported: "I had a good afternoon walking the transects today with four new species for the season, which included at the Glades: 2 Small Heath, 1 Brown Argus, 2 Green Hairstreak and 4 Common Blue. Other species recorded were 5 Grizzled Skipper, 11 Dingy Skipper, 2 Green-veined White and a Peacock. At the Sanctuary numbers were: 4 Grizzled Skipper, 15 Dingy Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 2 Common Blue and a Speckled Wood. Several moths on the wing as well including Latticed Heath, Mother Shipton, Cinnabar and a Silver Y."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I went to Monks Wood (Ashing Lane Nature Reserve) near Dunholme

  

  today to look for Broad-bodied Chasers, but they hadn't emerged yet, sadly. However, I did find a few butterflies - 3 Orange-tips, 3 Small Whites, 3 Brimstone, 1 Peacock and 2 Mint Moths."

Thursday 18th May 2023

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Stopped off at Colsterworth Butterfly Bank at lunchtime to check this cracking little LWT Roadside Reserve. It is either side of a cross-over bridge for the A1, just to the north of the village. Last year there were a couple of Green Hairstreak there, but today I viewed 5 different individuals, all at ground level, including a female egg-laying on Bird's-foot-trefoil. There were also at least 4 Dingy Skipper. The stoney limestone habitat, full of Wild Strawberry,

  

  seems perfect for Grizzled Skipper, but they do not appear to have 'found' the site yet. I the ventured on to visit Grimsthorpe Estate in the Scottlethorpe Road area. I spent about 2 hours there and found a good selection of butterflies - 1 Green Hairstreak, 24 Dingy Skipper, 16 Small Heath, 2 Speckled Wood, 3 Holly Blue, 3 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 4 Brimstone including 1 female, 8 Orange-tip including a female and several eggs, 1 Large White, and half a dozen . All together 13 species."
• Phil Lee emailed: "This afternoon I called in at Chambers Farm Wood and had a Dingy Skipper on Little Scrubbs Meadow, but no Marsh Fritillaries yet!"

Wednesday 17th May 2023

• Phil Lee emailed: "We are slowly catching up here in the Isle of Axholme, where at Crowle Moors today, we had our first Small Copper for the year and a male Wall on the road near the car park, that was very flighty."
• Dave Wright reported: "Orange-tips seem to be having an excellent year in the Grimsby area. It was still warm and sunny late this afternoon, when I decided to take a walk along a small section of the Pyewipe Line between Great Coates and Mawmbridge Drain. Here, I counted an amazing total of 21 male Orange-tips, with a mating pair nearby. The only other butterflies seen were 2 Small Whites and 2 Green-veined Whites."

Tuesday 16th May 2023

• Peter Cawdell emailed: "I visited Welton le Wold near Louth this afternoon. On a south facing chalk hillside, during a warmer sunny spell, 2 fresh Small Heath males became active. Then, a very fresh Common Blue male appeared. At the top of the hill, 2 tatty Peacock were still interacting while at the bottom a supercharged Painted Lady was zooming around - too fast for a photo unfortunately."
• David Bee emailed: "A walk at Saltfleet produced 3 Green Hairstreak and 1 Wall."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "An impromptu transect at Rimac today, as the weather stayed good: 9 Wall, 3 Green Hairstreak, 2 Small Heath, 2 Orange-tip, 1 Brown Argus and 2 Peacock. Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion moths also seen."

Monday 15th May 2023

• Phil Lee emailed: "I had this Brown Argus this afternoon along Langholme Lane, and it's our earliest ever In the Isle of Axholme by three days, which is not bad for this year."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "A minimum of 18 Wall today, between Sea View and Rimac at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR."
• Ian McGlynn emailed: "I saw 3 Dingy Skippers today, on private land near Robert's Field LWT Nature Reserve."
• Peter Cawdell emailed: "Checked out the Castle Bytham sites this afternoon and bagged the 'Holy

  

  Trinity' of Grizzled Skipper (1), Dingy Skipper (12) and Green Hairstreak (1), in the remaining patches of habitat left at the old Quarry, now being developed for housing."

Sunday 14th May 2023

• Les Catchick emailed: "I saw 3 Grizzled Skippers at Twyford Wood today."
• John Walker messaged: "Both Common Blue and Small Heath in the Rimac area today."
• David Bee emailed: "20 Small Copper at Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve today."

Thursday 11th May 2023

• Martin Kew reported: "Walked the transects this afternoon during a break in the showers and saw my first Dingy Skipper of the season. They have appeared in good numbers over the two reserves and I recorded a total of 11. Grizzled Skipper are still thin on the ground with 3 recorded. Other sightings were: 4 Speckled Wood, 3 Orange-tip, 4 Green-veined White and a Peacock. Lots of Mint Moths around and also a large Grass Snake crossing transect 2 at the Glades."
• Pete Cawdell reported: "Had a tour around some of the South Lincs sites today with Rhona, our Regional Officer. The weather was generally kind, but by the time we reached our last destination, Twyford Woods Lincs BC Sanctuary Reserve, rain showers set in. In a brief sunny spell a Dingy Skipper flew around onto a grass stem and a Red Admiral landed a few metres away. Earlier in the day Brimstones, Orange-tips and Green-veined Whites were at most sites with fresh Holly Blue males at Swayfield Drift and in the centre of Corby Glen."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "There are about 6 Red Admirals in the vicinity of our Amber Hill garden, plus today a Painted Lady came hurtling through in a NW direction."
• John Walker messaged; "Lovely sunny day here at Coastguard Gardens butterfly count: 2 Holly Blue, 2 Small White, 2 Orange-tip, 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Wall and 1 Small Copper."

Wednesday 10th May 2023: 'Green' Day at Rimac!

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "A 'green' day at Rimac: Green Hairstreak, Green Carpet and Green Woodpecker. After two failed attempts to see Wall on the Lincolnshire coast, the third visit finally produced the goods! A 45-minute circuit before lunch at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR with my son, Elliott, resulted in several sightings of our target species. But before that, while I was still getting out of the car and sorting my life out, Elliot had spotted 3 Green Hairstreaks fighting over a desired perch on a Hawthorn bush. By the time I had gone over to investigate, he had already spotted a Brown Argus - a new species this year for both of us. We walked on and not only notched up the butterfly species, but we recorded numerous moth species too: Burnet Companion (honorary Dingy Skipper), Mother Shipton (honorary Grizzled Skipper), Green Carpet, Common Carpet, Silver Y and Ruby Tiger. In addition we saw our first dragonfly of the year - a Four-spotted Chaser, closely followed by our second - a Hairy Dragonfly, both having just emerged. By the time we left, we had seen 11 species of butterfly, the most notable being the 15 Wall we'd seen. Most of them were male, but there were a few females on the wing too, and we were absolutely delighted when we discovered a mating pair clinging to a tussock of grass. The 14 Green Hairstreaks and 3 Brown Argus were a bonus!"
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Visited Cleethorpes Coast LNR this morning and noted the following butterflies: 11 Green Hairstreak, 6 Orange-tip, 1 male Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Green-veined White and 2 Peacock."

Tuesday 9th May 2023

• Phil Bowler emailed: "Managed to fit in a couple of hours this afternoon at Kirkby Moor LWT

  

  Nature Reserve before the rain came, and at long last - with the guidance of Toby Ludlow - I managed to get some photos of the Emperor Moth. Toby came across a male crash landing into the heather, having sniffed out a freshly emerged female. They posed wonderfully for us. I later saw a further two males dashing across the heath, but I didn't have the chance to check out the more wooded areas properly. I did however see a Common Heath moth, 4 male Brimstones, 1 Small White, 1 Orange-tip, and 77 Small Copper all along the track feeding on Heath Violet, Common Storksbill (the Brown Argus foodplant here), and what I believe to be 'Changing Forget-me-not'."
• Dave Wright reported: "Although heavy showers were predicted for the Grimsby area today,

  

  around midday it was pleasantly warm and sunny. Therefore, I decided to keep it local and take a stroll down to Town's Holt. Not surprisingly, good numbers of butterflies were on the wing with Orange-tip being the dominant species. The final tally was 18 (16 males & 2 females). I also noted the following: 2 Red Admiral, 8 Peacock, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Large White, 7 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 5 Holly Blue and 8 Speckled Wood." 
• Trevor Baily emailed: "Today I saw 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange-tip and 2 Holly Blue in the graveyard of St Thomas Church in Boston."
• John Walker messaged: "Walked a circuit around the private nature reserve at Thorpe Park in Humberston today and recorded the following butterflies: 12 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 6 Orange-tip, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 2 Holly Blue and 2 Speckled Wood."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had an hour at Donna Nook NNR this morning photographing Green

  

  Hairstreaks. The weather was better than forecast, warm and sunny, so there was plenty of activity. We saw 10 Green Hairstreaks and singles of Speckled Wood and Small White."
• Graham Catley emailed: "My morning haul at a site near Searby included the following butterflies:

  

  3 Orange-tip, 1 Brimstone, 1 Red Admiral, c10 Small and Green-veined White,  and a single Small Copper."

Monday 8th May 2023

Mark and Sally Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "We had the garden trap out last night for the fourth time this year - 14 moths of 9 species caught. Highlight was 5 Seraphim, last year we had one which was a new moth for us. Others were - 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Muslin Moth, 1 GreenCarpet, 1 Shuttle-shaped Dart, 1 Purple-bar, 2 Cinnabar, 1 Chocolate-tip and 1 Clouded Drab. On the butterfly front, we had 1 Large White, 1 Small White and the first Wall in the garden this morning. This afternoon we went to try and relocate a Great White Egret that Sally had seen earlier in the day, but unfortunately there was no sign. However, we did have a fleeting glimpse of a Painted Lady!"

Sunday 7th May 2023

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "An afternoon walk in the Woodhall area with my son Elliott produced a cracking total of 146 Small Coppers. Many females have emerged, and lots of courtship

  

  behaviour was witnessed, so looks good for the future progeny. Amongst the total were many caeruleopunctata aberrations, along with two more unusual aberrations: an ab. radiata, where the copper marginal band on the hindwings has been reduced to leave copper streaks, or rays, and a second aberration which had a pale dorsal area on its right-hand forewing. It was also pleasing to see a good number of Brimstones, 35 in total, with 6 females looking for suitable egg-laying locations on Alder Buckthorn."
• Andy Weston emailed: "I have only a basic knowledge of butterflies and moths, but today, about

  

  mid-afternoon, I spotted a Green Hairstreak on gorse near Hungerton."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "Today we had our first 2 Red Admiral in our Amber Hill garden. And, at long last, 3 Holly Blue centred around a dogwood bush, but I saw 1 egg-laying on holly. I was beginning to think that the periodic population drop had kicked in around here. 5 Speckled Wood, 6 Brimstone with eggs being laid, 6 Orange-tip, 9 Green-veined White, 3 Small White, 2 Large White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock made up the rest."
• Dave Wright reported: "As soon as the sun broke through the cloud this afternoon, I had multiple sightings of Holly Blue in my Grimsby garden with a maximum of 3 at any one time. Also, singles of Large and Small White."
• Mark Johnson emailed: "This afternoon I had a walk across the dunes from Stonebridge car park to the breach, at Donna Nook NNR. I found an amazing total of 54 Green Hairstreaks and my first Wall of the year. Also noted 4 Speckled Woods, 2 Peacocks and a male Brimstone."

Saturday 6th May 2023

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm Nettleton emailed: "Had the trap out tonight, but only caught 5 moths of 5 species - Pale Tussock, Muslin Moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Waved Umber and an unidentified Pug."

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

• Pete Smith emailed: "I think everyone has found this year a bit of a slow starter for butterflies, but today I had a few sightings that show promise for at least two of our native Lincolnshire species. A quick visit to Woodhall Spa resulted in excellent numbers of Small Coppers on the wing - 52

  

  counted during a 30 minute stroll - quite impressive numbers for the first generation. Returning home via Chambers Farm Wood, I found two mud-puddling Holly Blue males. It is usually a good sign when Holly Blues turn up in the wider countryside in sites such as woodlands, away from their normal strongholds in towns and villages, and this was further confirmed when I took the dog out for her afternoon walk in Heighington, where males were appearing left, right and centre! Fingers crossed for a good Holly Blue year."
• Owen Beaumont reported from Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "7 Green Hairstreak, 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 3 Speckled Wood and 1 Orange-tip in the dunes south of Crook Bank as per Dean Nicholson."
• Martin Kew reported: "Today I visited Twyford Wood with Pete Cawdell and we saw our first

  

  Grizzled Skipper of the season, a single individual at the Sanctuary. Other butterflies on the wing were: 8 Peacock, 4 Green-veined White and a Comma."
• John Davison reported: "A sunny day at Snakeholme Pit with Large, Small and Green-veined White on the wing. Others included Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Holly Blue and Peacock."
• Graham Catley emailed: "This morning I must have walked about two miles down sunny rides in Laughton Forest, but only came across 1 Peacock, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Small White and a Holly Blue. Later, a stroll in another part of the forest produced 3 Brimstone, 3 Holly Blue, 4 Orange-tip, 1 Speckled Wood  and a Comma."

Monday 1st May 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "It was typical Bank Holiday weather today - cloudy and cool - when my wife and I decided to take a walk along the seafront at Cleethorpes. Not ideal conditions for butterflies, but a brief unexpected sunny spell prompted me to walk along the landward side of the dune scrub, just south of the leisure centre. Amazingly, 3 Green Hairstreaks were found in sheltered pockets of vegetation and these were the first for me this year at this particular site. The only other butterfly seen was a single female Orange-tip."
• Tina Negus emailed: "Small Tortoiseshell feeding on Purple Wallflowers and a female Holly Blue on Arbutus in my garden on the Manthorpe Estate in Grantham today."

---

April 2023

Sunday 30th April 2023

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had a walk along the Freshney and Town's Holt in Grimsby this afternoon. Not much activity on the butterfly front, just 1 distant unidentified White and 2 Speckled Woods."
• Dave Wright reported: "Met up with Laura Gundy this morning to do a recce for a future Butterfly Conservation walk around Hallington near Louth. The weather wasn't ideal, but we did manage six species including Holly Blue and a female Orange-tip."
• Cliff Morrison messaged: "2 Wall, Orange-tip, Holly Blue and Peacock, all seen today whilst trying to sort the garden out, here at Brickyard Lane (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."
• John Walker messaged: "Wall and Small Copper on the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today.

Saturday 29th April 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "A male Holly Blue appeared in my Grimsby garden this morning, on a day when Spring seemed to have arrived at last! Warm sunshine and a light breeze was a refreshing

  

  change from the dismal weather of late. The Holly Blue was first seen flitting about the Hydrangea petiolaris and then proceeded to nectar on Forget-me-not. It was later joined by a single Small White. Shortly afterwards I decided to take a walk around the outskirts of Great Coates, but surprisingly butterflies were thin on the ground, just a few Green-veined Whites and a Peacock. After lunch I resorted to my local patch of Town's Holt and was rewarded with the following species: 1 Large White (male), 6 Small White, 5 Green-veined White, 3 Brimstone (2 males and a female), 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 1 Comma, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue and 5 Orange-tip (all males), the latter being my first of the year."
• Mark Johnson messaged : "This morning I visited Donna Nook NNR  and had a walk along the

  

  dunes from Stonebridge car park towards Somercotes Haven. The only butterflies seen were 4 Green Hairstreaks and 2 Peacocks. During the afternoon an Orange-tip appeared in my North Somercotes garden." 
• Dean Nicholson reported: "4+ Green Hairsteak today within dune scrub near Brickyard Lane (Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR)."
• Steve Palmer messaged: "First Holly Blue in my Healing garden today." 
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "Had my first Orange-tip around the garden today. Also noted: Comma, Peacock, Brimstone and Holly Blue."

Tuesday 25th April 2023

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "We were going to try for the Green Hairstreaks at Donna Nook today, but the forecast was a bit bleak. I went to Covenham birding instead, but along the roadside on the south side, found 1 Speckled Wood and my first Orange-tip of the year."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "With the weather forecast for the rest of the week looking decidedly iffy, I ventured out to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve to see if anything was enjoying today's sunshine. On arrival, there was a cold  NNW breeze blowing and the temperature was only a mere 8 degrees C. This meant that despite the sunshine nothing much was flying. After about half an hour the wind dropped and, although the thermometer read 9 degrees C, it felt considerably warmer, more like 11 degrees C. This was enough to coax a few butterflies out: a Speckled Wood was the first to show itself, followed by a couple of Green-veined Whites, and then a brace of Small Coppers, both really fresh and resplendent in their fiery livery."
• Graham Catley messaged: "My first Orange-tip of the year this morning along Pasture Road near the railway crossing in Barton-upon-Humber."
• Mark Johnson reported: "Around midday I saw my first Orange-tip of the year along Ings Lane in North Cotes." 

Monday 24th April 2023

Laura Gundy from Benniworth Walk Farm emailed: "I currently have a little herd of Common Footman larvae living on my house wall eating the lichens. During the day they are active and out in the open, but as night approaches (or bad weather) they retreat down the wall behind some vegetation for protection."

Saturday 22nd April 2023: Scarlet Tiger Larva in Heighington!

Pete Smith emailed: "I saw my first ever Lincolnshire Scarlet Tiger Moth in my Heighington garden back in July 2021 and had a fabulous sighting of 3 Scarlet Tigers in the air at once, one memorable sunny evening back in June 2022. I have suspected that they have been breeding locally for a while, and this morning I finally found conclusive evidence of this - an almost full grown larva feeding on Green Alkanet just outside my back porch! Green Alkanet is closely related to Comfrey, a well-documented foodplant for this species. Great to have this beauty breeding so close to home. It really has spread significantly at the national level in recent years, from its south-westerly UK distribution. Green Alkanet is a very common opportunistic plant in our area, so the fact that Scarlet Tigers are using this as a foodplant bodes well for their future!" 

Thursday 20th April 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "Following Chris Atkin’s sightings of Green Hairstreak at Rimac earlier this week, I met up with him this morning in the hope of finding a few more at Donna Nook NNR, a site traditionally good for this species. The cool north-easterly breeze was certainly a hindrance, so therefore we concentrated on the sheltered landward side of the dunes, north of Stonebridge car park. It was hard going, but we eventually managed to find 3 Green Hairstreaks. There was very little else on the wing apart from 1 Green-veined White, 10 Peacocks and a Cinnabar moth. We also noted lots of Brown-tail larvae on their webs amongst the Sea Buckthorn.   
• Owen Beaumont reported from Saltfeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "First Wall of the year on the landward side of the dunes, just south of Churchill Car Park (John Walker), Green Hairstreak, Comma and male Orange-tip at Sea View (Peter Roworth), and Holly Blue seen at Brickyard Lane for the last 3 days (Cliff Morrison)."  
• Toby Ludlow phoned: "My first Small Copper of the year today, during a brief visit to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve."

Wednesday 19th April 2023

Owen Beaumont reported from Saltfeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "Green Hairstreak at Saltfleet Haven today (Geoff Williams), and Orange-tip and Green-veined White at old terminal site at Theddlethorpe (Dean Nicholson)."

Tuesday 18th April 2023: Green Hairstreak at Rimac!

• Chris Atkin emailed: "Visited Rimac today and had 2 Green Hairsteaks, my first of the year! The first was found high up on a Hawthorn bush in the dunes, south of the car park. Also noted the following: 14 Peacock, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Brimstone and a Speckled Wood." 
• Ian McGlynn emailed: "I saw a Holly Blue in my Bourne Garden this morning. Later, during the afternoon, I had a walk in Bourne Woods and saw numerous Peacocks, 1 Brimstone, 1 Comma, 1 Small White and 2 Speckled Woods."
• Dave Wright reported: "Just before midday, I took a walk down to Town's Holt in Grimsby, and noted 52 Butterflies of 7 species. These included 19 Small Tortoiseshell, 12 Peacock, 2 Comma, 6 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone, 7 Small White and 5 Green-veined White, the latter being my fist of the year. Later, another new species for the year came in the form of a single Holly Blue, which conveniently flew across in front of my car, while I was parked near the junction of Weelsby Road and Park Drive in Grimsby."

Monday 17th April 2023 

 

 

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had another walk around the cemetery and Gooseman's Field this afternoon. Plenty of butterflies about again, but some are getting quite worn now. I saw 10 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 9 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Comma."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "This afternoon I paid a visit to my local patch just off Westward Ho in Grimsby, and noted the following: 8 Peacock, 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Brimstone, 2 Small White and 2 Green-veined White."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Species no. 10 for the year in the bag - a male Orange-tip at Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve."
• Phil Lee emailed: "Our first Holly Blue of the year this afternoon in our Misterton garden."                                                                                                                                                           

Sunday 16th April 2023

• Kev Armstrong from Nettleton emailed: "Decided to put the trap out overnight, here at Wold Farm, and caught 59 macro moths of 15 species. New for the year included: 1 Streamer, 2 Early Grey, 2 Waved Umber, 1 Brindled Beauty, 3 Red Chestnut, 1 Pebble Prominent and 1 Powdered Quaker."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I enjoyed a very pleasant walk along the Freshney and Town's Holt in Grimsby this morning, with quite a few butterflies about. I saw my first Brimstone and Holly Blue of the year, along with a Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma and 5 Small White. 
• Dave Wright messaged: "This weekend, the first butterflies of the year appeared in my Grimsby garden. Yesterday, a female Large White lingered briefly, and this morning probably the same butterfly was seen interacting with a male Small White." 
• Graham Catley emailed: "Today I had 3 Green-veined Whites at Winteringham Haven. "

 

Saturday 15th April 2023

• Owen Beaumont reported from Saltfeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR: "6 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Small White, 1 Brimstone, 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma seen between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane today (John Walker)."
• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "I had visits from a Small White and a Speckled Wood in my Scartho garden this afternoon."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had another 2 Holly Blues today on The Pingle LNR, spiralling up around some Ivy."

Tuesday 11th April 2023: Holly Blue in Coningsby!

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "My son, Elliott and I, had a Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Woods and 2 Holly Blues on the Pingle LNR in Coningsby today."
• Brian Hedley emailed: "I had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on wallflowers in the rainy garden here at Marton today."
• Phil Lee emailed: "This afternoon, Langholme Wood was a sheltered sun-trap and in 20 minutes I saw 2 Brimstone, Orange-tip, 3 Speckled Wood, 3 Green-veined White, 5 Comma and a Peacock."
• Mark Johnson messaged: "Green-veined White this morning, along High Street in Grainthorpe."
• Paul Daubney emailed: "I went to Owlet Wood, Blyton this morning and saw my first Orange-tip of the year. The small number of butterflies seen there included Green-veined White, Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.                                                                                                 

  

                                                                                                                                           

Easter Sunday 9th April 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "After the cloud finally cleared around noon, decided to have a walk around Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve. However, even though it was quite warm, it proved hard going at first, and the only butterfly I saw for some considerable time was a male Green-veined White - my first sighting for 2023, which seems to be a couple of weeks late this year. Gradually, a few butterflies began to appear, and I notched up a brace of Peacocks and 4 Commas, and then a couple of Brimstones on the walk back to the car."

Saturday 8th April 2023

• Ian McGlynn emailed: "I went to some private land today, close to Robert's Field and I saw 7 Brimstone, 2 Peacock and 2 Orange-tip."
• Alan Barker emailed: "In spite of a cool breeze, our garden in Doddington Park was visited in the spring sunshine today by a male Brimstone, Comma and male Orange-tip, which settled for a while on some yellow pansies."
• Mike Pickwell emailed:"I have just had a very pleasant walk around the cemetery and Gooseman's Field in Grimsby. I saw 2 Comma, 10 Small Tortoiseshell and 18 Peacock."
• Dave Wright reported: "A vast improvement in the weather in the Grimsby area today, warm and

  

   

  sunny with a light breeze, meant that a walk down to my local patch of Town's Holt was definitely on the agenda. Along the way, I had to negotiate the Wybers Wood Estate field margin and noted the following: 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 8 Peacock, 3 Small White and a single Comma. At long last, it was refreshing to see butterflies on the wing! Town's Holt was no exception and produced 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Peacock, 1 Comma, 2 Small White, 5 Speckled Wood and an immaculate female Large White, the latter being a totally unexpected find and my first of the year."

 

Thursday 6th April 2023

Toby Ludlow messaged: "My sixth Small White of the year today near Coningsby, but the first female."

 

 

Tuesday 4th April 2023

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Double-digit day! With the sun shining and not a single cloud in the sky, the temperature gradually rose to 11 degrees C. In the sun, it felt much warmer, and this enticed many butterflies onto the wing. A couple of hours spent in the Coningsby/Kirkby area produced a magnificent haul of 41 butterflies, comprising 6 species, but, alas, there were no new ones for the year. However, of note, I did see my first female Brimstone of the year, which was in a courtship flight with an amorous male - a true sign that spring is in the year! Also, having been told by my son that he had just seen a Red Admiral in our garden, a search together on the neighbouring Pingle LNR produced another brace, surely a further indication that this butterfly is overwintering in our county."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "This week at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, has largely

  

  been rather nice and, despite the cold nights, we've seen a few butterflies on the wing. Sunday 2nd: 2 Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral at Brickyard Lane. Monday 3rd: male Brimstone and Comma at Crook Bank, and Small Tortoiseshell at Churchill Lane. Today, the first butterfly transect of the year recorded 2 Peacock. There were also 6 Peacock off the transect and a Comma at Crook Bank again."
• Trevor Bailey emailed: "Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Peacock nectaring on Grape Hyacinth in

  

  my Boston garden today."
• Keith Robinson reported: "This morning I found 4 Small Tortoiseshells while walking a circuit of Covenham Reservoir. Later, in my Holton le Clay garden, I had another Small Tortoiseshell and my first Small White of the year."
• Mark and Sally Johnson reported: "Today we had 2 Brimstones in North Somercotes, the first along Conisholme Road and the second at Bank End."
• Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon, I had my second Small White of the year, this time along Humberston Road in Cleethorpes."

Monday 3rd April 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning I had to visit the Grimsby Community Recycling Centre on the Pyewipe Industrial Estate, and was amazed to see a Small White on waste ground close to the entrance of the site. This was my first of the season and brings my species total to seven for the year."
• Chris Atkin messaged: "Speckled Wood, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell today at Doona Nook NNR, all in a sheltered area close to Stonebridge car park."

Sunday 2nd April 2023

Dave Wright reported: "Today I met up with Laura Gundy and visited two LWT Nature Reserves - Kirkby Moor and Moor Farm. It was quite cool in the north-easterly breeze, but the sheltered areas of both sites produced a few butterflies when the sun decided to shine. Kirkby Moor: 2 Peacock and singles of Comma and Brimstone (male). Moor Farm: 4 Peacock and 2 Comma.

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March 2023

Thursday 30th March 2023

Dave Wright reported: " Along with Chris Atkin, spent an enjoyable few hours at Messingham Sand Quarry LWT Nature Reserve, despite the changeable weather. During one of the brief sunny spells, we came across a Speckled Wood, our first for the year, as were 2 Commas and a single male Brimstone. The latter was seen briefly in flight, before it sought shelter under a nettle leaf during a heavy shower. Later, shortly after leaving the reserve, we saw another Brimstone patrolling the verge along Brigg Road."  

Monday 27th March 2023

• Phil Lee emailed: "A couple of Comma were basking in the warm sunshine at Haxey Turbary this afternoon, where an unidentified White flew past and kept going."
• Dave Wright reported: "With virtually wall-to-wall sunshine in the Grimsby area today, I decided to make a brief visit to my local patch of Town's Holt, in the hope of seeing a few butterflies. I could only muster 3 Small Tortoiseshells along the River Freshney, close to where the bridge crosses over to Laceby Acres. On my way home another Small Tortoiseshell was seen along Oakwood Drive on the Wybers Wood Estate."

Friday 24th March 2023: Small White in Coningsby!

 

Toby Ludlow messaged: "My first 'true' butterfly of 2023 today - a Small White flying in my garden, which takes my species total to 6 for the year! Nearby, I had my second Hummingbird Hawk-moth of the week, when my son Elliott, found one in my Mum's garden!"

Thursday 23rd March 2023:

 

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had my first 'garden' butterfly today - my son Elliott spotted a Comma, so I went out to enjoy the sighting of the first butterfly, of what we hope will be many more, in our garden."

Wednesday 22nd March 2023

 

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "With the sun shining, had a walk around Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve with my son today. We walked over the heath, and it wasn't long before we spotted a Peacock flying - our first for 2023. A little further on and we saw another Peacock flying over the heathland, although this one was less graceful due to some wing damage. By now, the air temperature had risen to 13 degrees C., but it felt cold in the open due to the Moderate Breeze that was blowing. However, in the rides where it was sheltered, it felt warm. Here, Elliott soon spotted a male Brimstone, which was roosting on some dried reeds, basking in the sunshine - this Brimstone being our first of the year. Within seconds, a shout went up, and Elliott pointed to a Comma which was heading skyward, up into a Silver Birch tree. This Comma represented my fifth species of the year and Elliott's fourth, after he found a Small Tortoiseshell earlier in the day. As we continued on our way, we came across another male Brimstone; this one flew past us and began sparring with the first one we'd seen, before separating and going their separate ways. The cloud began to thicken and the sunny intervals became less frequent, so we decided to head back to the car. We were lucky to disturb a third Peacock before it had totally clouded over. Earlier in the day, I had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in my Coningsby garden. It investigated the pansies, but they weren't to its liking. Eventually, it found the lungwort plants that were in flower and these were more to its liking."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "It seems to have been a long winter, but I have finally seen my first butterfly of the year: a Comma at Far Ings NNR.
• Kev Armstrong messaged: "A male Brimstone and my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year today, here at Wold Farm, Nettleton."
• Steve Palmer messaged: "Small Tortoiseshell today, at the local nature reserve at the back of Healing."
• Ian McGlynn emailed: "A Peacock was in my Bourne garden this morning, the first I have seen this year!"
• Chris Atkin messaged: "A visit to Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, produced my first butterflies of the year - 2 Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell at Rimac."

Monday 20th March 2023

• Michelle Bellini messaged: "I saw a Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Castlethorpe this lunch time."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "3 Brimstones (2 males and a female) in the garden today. Off to a good start!" 

Sunday 19th March 2023

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "My third Small Tortoiseshell of the year, this morning, in Coningsby."
• Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "Just the usual suspects in the garden trap this morning - 19 Common Quaker, 1 Clouded Drab, 2 Hebrew Character and 6 Red Chestnut. Later in the day, butterfly sightings included 2 Small Tortoiseshells at Thoresby Bridge, and a male Brimstone and Peacock close to home."

 

Friday 17th March 2023

• Dave Wright reported: "It was quite mild, with the occasional sunny spell in the Grimsby area this morning. I decided to take another walk along the Wybers Wood Estate field margin, and was rewarded with my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year."
• Graham Catley from Barton-upon-Humber messaged: "Brimstone in my garden today - first butterfly I've seen this year!"
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "First male Brimstone of the year in my garden this afternoon."
• Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "This morning the trap produced 1 Twin-spotted Quaker, 2 Hebrew Character, 4 Common Quaker, 6 Clouded Drab and a single Lead-coloured Drab, which was new for the garden."
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "The conditions looked favourable this evening and so I decided to put the moth trap out overnight, managing 84 macro moths of 9 species - 10 Small Quaker, 14 Clouded Drab, 1 Dotted Border, 4 Red Chestnut, 2 Twin-spotted Quaker, 24 Common Quaker, 3 Oak Beauty, 18 Hebrew Character and 8 March Moth."

 

Thursday 16th March 2023

Mark Johnson messaged: "This afternoon, as I came out of the builders merchants in Louth, I found the attached Small Tortoiseshell at the bottom of the steps."

 

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February 2023

Sunday 26th February 2023

Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon I took a walk along the field margin, bordering the Wybers Wood Estate in Grimsby. Traditionally this is a good site for early sightings of Small Tortoiseshell, but no such look today. However, I was rewarded with my second butterfly of the year, this time a Red Admiral!"

Friday 24th February 2023: Hummingbird Hawk-moth in Coningsby!

Kathy Burrell emailed: "This morning I had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth hovering over winter flowering violas in my garden at Coningsby."

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "Decided to put the trap out last night and was rewarded with an Oak Beauty, which was new for the garden."

Tuesday 21st February 2023

• Mark Bannister reported: "Brimstone and Red Admiral this morning in my garden along Westfield Road in Barton."
• Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "Red Admiral in my garden today, feeding on pansy."

Monday 20th February 2023

 

Kev Armstrong from Nettleton messaged: "Trapped overnight for the first time this year and caught 28 macro moths of 8 species - 3 Common Quaker, 1 Chestnut, 1 Satellite, 1 Clouded Drab, 6 Pale Brindled Beauty, 2 Dotted Border, 1 Spring Usher and 13 March Moth. Not a bad start!" 

 

Sunday 19th February 2023

Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "We had a male Brimstone in the garden on the 11th February, but we had disturbed it whilst cutting the privet hedge. Today was a genuine sighting of a male out of hibernation, traversing the whole garden as if getting to know the layout already for its Spring patrols. It was full sun but only 10.5 degrees C."

Wednesday 15th February 2023

Phil Lee emailed: "We had our first butterfly of the year today, a Red Admiral along the old railway line at Langholme, but it wouldn't pose for a photo."

Saturday 12th February 2023

 

Roy Harvey from Grasby messaged: "This Pale Brindled Beauty (see attached) came to our house window this evening."

Sunday 5th February 2023

Dave Wright reported: "A Peacock flying along Haven Bank at Saltfleet this afternoon, was my first butterfly of the year. Also, a Ruby Tiger caterpillar was found crossing the track nearby."

 

Friday 3rd February 2023

Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "First moth of the year tonight in the garden trap, a Dotted Border. My sister Michelle, had 2 Spring Ushers at North Thoresby on the same night."

 

Thursday 2nd February 2023

 

Phil Lee emailed: "The 2nd February was mild, so we put the trap out in our Misterton garden and next morning we had the attached micro in the trap. There are a couple that look very much alike, Acleris logiana which we have seen in Lincs at Langholme Wood and Messingham Sand Quarry, and Acleris kochiella which is an Elm feeder and very rare this far north. To be sure, we took it to Martin Gray who performed the gen. det. which confirmed it as being a female Acleris kochiella. The first record for Notts, VC56 with only two Lincs records and only one for Yorkshire, so a rarity and one to keep a lookout for!" 

---

January 2023

Tuesday 31st January 2023

Josh Forrester messaged: "I've just seen my first butterfly of the year: a Red Admiral jetting past at the junction of Peaks Parkway and Weelsby Road in Grimsby."

Sunday 29th January 2023: Southrey Work Party

John Davison emailed: "A Brimstone flying made the work all the more worthwhile."

Saturday 21st January 2023: Small Tortoiseshell in Coningsby

Toby Ludlow phoned: "Just had my second butterfly of the year this afternoon, a Small Tortoiseshell along Marmion Road in Coningsby."

Bank Holiday Monday 2nd January 2023: We're off!

 

Toby Ludlow emailed: "The attached Red Admiral was in my mum's garden along Marmion Road in Coningsby today. She phoned me to say that there was a brown butterfly flying around her driveway. So popped over, but couldn't find it initially. Looked in her backed garden and hey presto! Surprised to see it flying as it was only about 4 degrees C."

---

December 2022

Boxing Day Monday 26th December 2022

Grahame Hopwood emailed: "I managed to photograph a Boxing Day Red Admiral on my neighbour's porch roof at Lissett Close in south Lincoln."

 

Tuesday 20th December 2022

Chris Atkin messaged: "I had a Red Admiral in off the saltmarsh today at 12:40 pm, just south of the conifers at the bottom of Sea Lane, Saltfleet."

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November 2022

Friday 18th November 2022

• Darren Wozencroft emailed: "Visited Gibraltar Point NNR today and had a Red Admiral near Syke's Farm and a Peacock at the Visitor Centre."
• Kev Armstrong phoned: "Surprised to see a Red Admiral in my garden at Wold Farm, Nettleton today."
• Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "A male and female December Moth in the trap this evening and a new species for the garden."

Wednesday 16th November 2022

Chris Atkin messaged: "A Red Admiral today down Sea Lane at Saltfeet."

Monday 14th November 2022

Nige Lound emailed: "Two nights recently at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR - 14 moths of 9 species on 10th and 63 moths of 15 species on 14th. Scarce Bordered Straw on both nights with Mottled Umber new for the year on 14th."

Friday 11th November 2022

Darren Wozencroft emailed: "A Red Admiral at Far Ings NNR today."

Wednesday 9th November 2022

Dave Wright reported: "Visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR with Chris Atkin today and a warm sunny spell just before midday at Rimac, produced 2 Red Admirals. Later, we bumped into Cliff Morrison on the reserve and he said that he'd also had 2 Red Admirals yesterday, but in his garden at Brickyard Lane."

Saturday 5th November 2022

Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "Put the trap out in my garden this evening and had a new species for the garden - Scarce Bordered Straw. Also had 2 Feathered Thorns which were new for the year."

Friday 4th November 2022

 

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "It was a beautiful sunny morning, so decided to visit Moor Farm Nature Reserve, Kirkby on Bain. Despite being sunny, the sun was low in the sky and this combined with the cold west-northwesterly wind made the temperature seem cooler than the recorded 11 degrees C. This ultimately had a bearing on the sightings and 2 faded Peacocks were all I could find there. Later in the afternoon, in Coningsby, I spotted another butterfly – a fresh Red Admiral.
• Kev Armstrong messaged: "Small Copper in my garden today at Wold Farm, Nettleton. Yesterday a Hummingbird Hawk-moth made a brief appearance."

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October 2022

Monday 31st October 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR again overnight, and despite the strong wind and rain, I managed 64 moths of 19 species. Nothing new for the year, but 6 Scarce Bordered Straw, 3 Dark Sword-grass and 4 Delicate were of note."
• Kev Armstrong emailed: "This morning I disturbed this Herald moth while walking through some vegetation on my land at Wold Farm, Nettleton."

 

Sunday 30th October 2022

Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "A few migrants in this morning's trap - 2 Diamond-back Moths, 6 Rush Veneers, 3 White-points, Scarce-bordered Straw and Vagrant China-mark Diasemiiopsis ramburialis. The last two species were not only new for the garden, but also lifers for me. Apparently the Vagrant China-mark is the 3rd record for Lincolnshire and the first since 1998."

 

Saturday 29th October 2022: Crimson Speckled at Gibraltar Point NNR!

 

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped again at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight, and given the unseasonably warm weather, I put out four traps. For those of you who know Gib, I had one in Syke's Farm yard, one in the plantation, one in the orchard and one behind the workshop. I was rewarded with 143 moths of 32 species. The undoubted highlight was a Crimson Speckled, a first for the NNR and as far as I am aware the only modern-day county record! Other bits included the 9th Delicate of the year and the 4th Scarce Bordered Straw, as well as a few other migrants. 

Thursday 27th October 2022

 

• Collette Tait emailed: "Found this Pale Tussock moth caterpillar at the kid's school in Toynton All Saints today."
• Graham Catley messaged: "Surprised to see a female Brimstone on the wing at Searby today."
• Steve Palmer from Healing messaged: "Had the garden trap out overnight and was pleased to catch a Merveille du Jour this evening."
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "Not a great night, but the Feathered Thorns keep coming! 14 in the trap this morning and that makes it 63 this year so far, compared to 20 last year.                       

   

  

Wednesday 26th October 2022

• John Walker reported: "Three species of butterfly in my garden near Churchill Lane, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today - 5 Red Admiral, 1 Comma and 1 Small Tortoiseshell."
• Dave Wright reported: "Spent the day birding with Chris Atkin and came across three butterflies - a single Red Admiral along the north embankment of Covenham Reservoir and 2 Red Admirals at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, between Rimac and Sea View."
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "An interesting night! As of today it looks as though November Moth aggs have peaked and it's not even November, and in the trap this morning a December Moth, which was new for site. All the cold December nights trying to catch one last year! Other highlights included 22 Feathered Thorns, another superb Merveille du Jour and a White-point."                  

   

  

Tuesday 25th October 2022

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Small White, Painted Lady and 9 Red Admiral in the Coningsby area today."

Saturday 22nd October 2022

• Richard O'Connor emailed: "I was astonished to see a Small Copper feeding on a dandelion flower this morning at Syston Park 'Pick Your Own' Farm near Grantham."
• Dave Wright reported: "The ivy flowers in my Grimsby garden are still providing an important source of nectar for various insects, and this afternoon they attracted a single Red Admiral." 
• Chris Atkin messaged: "Had a brief sighting of a Wall at Toby's Hill LWT Nature Reserve this afternoon."
• Laura Gundy messaged: "Red Admiral and Comma in my garden at Benniworth Walk Farm today."

Friday 21st October 2022

 

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 70 moths of 17 species. The undoubted highlight was a female Tunbridge Wells Gem, a rare migrant and the 1st county record. Many thanks to Martin Gray for confirming the record. Feathered Thorn was also new for the year. Another 2 Delicate were of note and brings the year total to 8 individuals."

Wednesday 19th October 2022

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "Decided to put the trap out and had a good night for the time of year, and despite quite a strong wind. Had 56 moths of 20 species, the highlight being a Merveille du Jour, long awaited and a nice surprise to find in the trap. Also a Blair's Shoulder-knot, my second of the year so far."

 

Tuesday 18th October 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 100 moths of 16 species. The 6th Delicate of the year (albeit a rather worn one) the highlight with 2 November Moth agg new for the year."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Spent a couple of hours on the coast at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today. Although sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky, the cold breeze made for hard going on the butterfly front. Apart from an initial fly-by by a Red Admiral, it was nearly an hour before I saw anything else. Then, in a few sheltered spots, I started to see the odd Wall. Although not fresh, there were a few brighter examples amongst my final tally of 8, but interestingly, all 8 were male, so perhaps the females were having a lie-in!"
• Dave Wright reported: "Following the report last week by Andrew Kurch on his visit to Cleethorpes

   

  

  Coast LNR, I decided to make a brief visit there myself just after midday today. During the unseasonal warm and sunny conditions I managed to find 6 male Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus and a single Small White. I also noted 3 Common Darter dragonflies, which included a mating pair."

 

Monday 17th October 2022

• Freddy Johnson emailed: "To celebrate my successful cataract removal operation (distance spectacles no longer needed), my son Alex and I visited Southrey Wood and Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden. In the sunny intervals we saw: 1 Red Admiral at Southrey Wood, and 6 Red Admiral on one large bed of Michaelmas Daises plus one Comma in Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden."
• Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "Today I saw 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, a male Brimstone and 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (2 yesterday) in the garden."

Sunday 16th October 2022

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR where the overnight low was a mild 12 degrees C. I managed 92 moths of 18 species. One of the volunteers checked the trap around 22:00 and managed a photo of a Clifden Nonpareil just inside. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the moth when I checked it this morning. This is the 2nd record for Gib, a long time since the first one back in 1976. A personal highlight was another new moth for me in the form of a Streak (the last record here was 2011). Another fresh Delicate was also of note."

Saturday 15th October 2022

Andrew Kurch phoned: "This afternoon I made a return visit to my local patch, just off Westward Ho in Grimsby and noted 1 male Small White and 3 Red Admiral. "

Friday 14th October 2022

Andrew Kurch phoned: "Popped over to my local patch, just off Westward Ho in Grimsby and was surprised to find a Holly Blue! Also noted 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Red Admiral."

Thursday 13th October 2022

Andrew Kurch phoned: "It was quite warm and sunny in the Grimsby area today and so I decided to take a walk through the dunes at Cleethorpes Coast LNR. It was great to see a few butterflies on the wing and included the following: 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White, 2 Small Copper, 4 male Common Blue and 1 male Brown Argus."

Tuesday 11th October 2022

Chris Atkin messaged: "Today I visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR, and a walk between Sea View and Rimac produced the following butterflies: 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 3 Wall, 1 Common Blue, 1 Speckled Wood, 4 Small Copper and 2 Small White."

Saturday 8th October 2022

• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Popped over to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve today for an hour. Although there was a Moderate Breeze blowing from the west and the mercury only registered 13 degrees Celsius, it felt quite warm and I braved the conditions in my T-shirt! It was slow going to start with, but some sheltered spots on the edge of the heathland started to produce the goods. I only saw one species whilst I was there, but notched up 22 Small Coppers, not bad for the time of year and considering the two earlier broods had been poor. The third brood has been rather protracted and there are several fresh specimens, only a day or two old, mixed in with some that are (like me) well past their best! It was good to see several egg-laying females today, which bodes well for the next generation. Also on the plus side, the Sheep's Sorrel has recovered well after the intense summer temperatures, and it is in good condition and carpeting the second heath."
• Dave Wright reported: "While sat in the football stand and waiting for the 'Mighty Mariners' to come onto the pitch at Blundell Park, Grimsby this afternoon, I saw a single Red Admiral flying along the touchline. It was obviously a good omen as 'Town' went on to win their first home match of the season!"

Thursday 6th October 2022

 

Pete Cawdell emailed: "I made a brief visit to the Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe coast today to check out the 3rd brood Walls. Despite the strong winds I am pleased to say there were at least 5 seen during the sunny spells. 2 males were flying at Sea View and, in another tetrad, 2 males and 1 female made several appearances at Rimac. Also at Rimac I recorded 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small White and 3 Small Copper (1 male, 2 female)."

Tuesday 4th October 2022

 

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 108 moths of 14 species. The highlight was another pristine Delicate. The attached Hummingbird Hawk-moth was on Station Road, Burgh le Marsh yesterday."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "Merveille du Jour and Red-line Quaker new for the year in the garden trap this morning."

 

Sunday 2nd October 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 112 moths of 18 species. Green-brindled Crescent was new for the year and noteworthy was the 2nd Scarce Bordered Straw of the year."
• Dave Wright Reported: "It was sunny and quite warm in the Grimsby area this afternoon. I decided to take a walk in my local area in the hope of seeing a few late butterflies and noted the following: 1 Small White along the Wybers Wood Estate field margin, 3 Speckled Wood and 1 Large White in Town's Holt, and 1 Large White in Freshney Bog. On returning home, 2 more Large White were seen in my garden, where a single Red Admiral was nectaring on the ivy flowers on the back fence."

Saturday 1st October 2022

 

• James Smith messaged: "I was at Whitgift Academy in Grimsby this morning and was surprised to see this Painted Lady on the school playing field."
• Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "I never ever thought I would see a Holly Blue in my garden in October. Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain a photograph, thanks to a gust of wind which dislodged it into next door's garden. Despite searching for about thirty minutes, I was unable to relocate it."

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September 2022

Friday 30th September 2022

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "Deep-brown Dart, Black Rustic, Large Wainscot and Small Blood-vein from the garden trap this morning."

 

Thursday 29th September 2022

 

Chris Atkin messaged: "Visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today and had a walk between Rimac and Sea View. Still a few butterflies about and I noted the following: 2 Common Blue, 4 Wall, 2 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Copper and a Small Heath, the latter the first I've seen in a few visits and I just presumed they'd gone off the wing."

Friday 23rd September 2022

• Pete Cawdell emailed: "Visited my acre of land next to the Water Rail Track near Southrey today. Pleased to find 10 Red Admirals feeding up on my late flowering yellow buddleias. Will they look for a place to hunker down here for the winter or attempt the migration back to warmer European destinations? How do they decide? Maybe it's the lazy ones that stay! Also present were a couple of Commas, 2 Large Whites and 3 Small Whites. Overhead 2 late Swallows polishing off a variety of smaller flies over the bushes.... they too probably contemplating the long journey south?
• Dave Wright reported: "Recently, the only butterflies visiting my Grimsby garden have been Large and Small White, so imagine my surprise this afternoon when a Painted Lady made a brief appearance, nectaring on the Red Valerian."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "Went to Rimac today. Was good to see third brood of Walls doing fine (10 males and 4 females). Also saw 8 Small Copper, 5 Common Blue, 7 Meadow Brown and 1 large Small Heath. No Whites!"

Thursday 22nd September 2022

 

• Nige Lound emailed: "Another busy trap overnight with 349 moths of 40 species. Feathered Ranunculus was new for the year. Earlier a Convolvulus Hawk-moth larva was found in Beach Car Park. Attached Photograph courtesy of the finder Phil Millns."
• Chris Dobson from Langworth emailed: "Thought you might like to see this super

   

  

  Pale-lemon Sallow I got last night. On the 22nd September 2006 I got the first record for Lincolnshire and then managed further examples on 3rd October 2016 and 20th September 2019. Could be coincidence, but it makes you wonder whether there might be a small population in the locality?

Wednesday 21st September 2022

• Dave Wright reported: "It's been a good year for Hummingbird Hawk-moth sightings in the County and this morning I had yet another in my Grimsby garden, nectaring on the Red Valerian."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the garden trap produced Dark Sword-grass, Pink-barred Sallow and Grey Shoulder-knot."

Tuesday 20th September 2022

 

• Nige Lound emailed: "Busy traps at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight with 347 moths of 43 species. New for the year were Barred Sallow, Blackneck and a Vestal found on the saltmarsh late afternoon. Other migrants included Dark Sword-grass and Pearly Underwing. Personal highlight was Deep-brown Dart, a new moth for me and I believe a first for the NNR."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the garden trap produced two new species for the year - Large Ranunculus and Large Wainscot."

 

Sunday 18th September 2022

 

• Stewart Haynes emailed: "Another Clifden Nonpareil in my trap this morning at Roughton Moor near Woodhall Spa. I expect you will consider two in one year as lucky!"
• Steve Palmer from Healing emailed: "2 Beaded Chestnut and 3 Black Rustic were new for the year in my garden trap this morning."

Saturday 17th September 2022

Toby Ludlow messaged: "Nipped over to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve mid-morning. It was a beautiful, sunny day, 13 degrees C when I got there, but with a cold northwesterly Moderate Breeze taking the edge off the temperature and it felt quite cool. As the day progressed the temperature rose by a couple of degrees, and the wind lost its cold bite. After a slow start, butterflies started to become more frequent. Following two poor broods this year, the third brood Small Copper numbers seemed fair, 16 being seen on this occasion. There were a smattering of Commas (7) too, most nectaring on the late-flowering Devil's-bit Scabious, and half a dozen Speckled Woods dotted around the reserve, still feisty and combatant, but there was little else about apart from a single Small White and several Large Whites. My biggest surprise, however, was the total absence of Brown Argus, which I would have laid money on seeing."

Friday 16th September 2022

 

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton messaged: "Tried the trap again overnight - 24 moths of 7 species, mainly Lunar Underwings and Beaded Chestnuts. Also, the first Red Underwing of the year so a nice surprise!"

Thursday 15th September 2022

 

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "Only 28 moths of 12 species in the trap overnight, but included a Dusky-lemon Sallow, which was new for site!"

Wednesday 14th September 2022

 

• Keith Walton emailed: "Ron Henderson and I travelled down from Washington today with the detailed help of Phil Bowler to see the Clouded Yellows near Swineshead Bridge. We managed to find 65+ Clouded Yellow and 3+ f. helice in the field. At least 20 Common Blue were also present. A friend was down the day before us and saw 35+ Clouded Yellow. It would appear that a couple of gravid females laid eggs at the end of July and the adults are still emerging."
• Dave Wright reported: "Accompanied by Chris Atkin, visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes

   

  

  NNR today, concentrating on the area between Paradise and Churchill Lane. Our visit had a distinctly autumnal feel, emphasized by the skeins of Pink-footed Geese passing at regular intervals overhead. The final total involved over a thousand birds. 3 Short-eared Owls quartering the saltmarsh first thing was another interesting addition to the bird list. During the day we managed to find a respectable nine species of butterfly, mainly in the Rimac area, and noted the following: 21 Small Copper, 4 Common Blue, 1 Brown Argus, 11 Wall, 1 Painted Lady, 9 Meadow Brown, 5 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, and 1 Speckled Wood. Moths included singles of Vapourer and Silver Y, and 2 huge Fox Moth caterpillars. There were lots of dragonflies on the wing, mostly Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers, but we also saw 7 Ruddy Darters, 2 Southern Hawkers and a single Willow Emerald damselfly. 2 Common Lizards were also seen during a spell of warm sunshine."

 

Tuesday 13th September 2022

 

Kev Armstrong from Wold Farm, Nettleton emailed: "The trap overnight produced only 15 moths of 8 species, with Pink-barred Sallow and Beaded Chestnut new for the year. However, I've been aware of recent reports of Clifden Nonpareil in Lincolnshire, so imagine my excitement when I realised that one was actually resting on the outside of the trap. I've caught some interesting moths this year, including my second Vestal on 4th September, but this 'lifer' is the Holy Grail as far as I'm concerned."

 

Monday 12th September 2022

 

• Laura Gundy emailed: "With the forecast of light rain all night, I decided to put the moth trap out in the dog run in my Benniworth garden last night - that way it had a roof over it (no dogs in the run!). I didn't hold out much hope of a catch doing this, but was pleasantly surprised to find that 15 species had found their way into the trap, with Beaded Chestnut new for the year and a very pretty Vestal as the highlight - new to my garden."
• Keith Robinson messaged: "During a short sunny spell there were 8 Clouded Yellows along the east bank of Covenham Reservoir this morning (4 yesterday)."

   

  

• Phil Bowler emailed: "Today I disturbed this resting moth in our Amber Hill butterfly garden meadow and managed this record shot of it before it vanished into the undergrowth. I consider myself lucky to stumble across this migrant Vestal in the daytime!"

Sunday 11th September 2022

• Dave Wright reported: "This month has seen only Large and Small Whites visit my Grimsby garden, apart from a single Holly Blue on 1st. Therefore, I was surprised to see a pristine Small Tortoiseshell, a species I've not seen since 27th August, nectaring on the few remaining flowers of the Buddliea this afternoon. Later, a walk to Freshney Bog nearby, produced 3 Speckled Woods, small numbers of Large and Small White, and a single Green-veined White. However, the highlight was finding Willow Emerald (3 - including a mating pair), the first time that I've seen this damselfly species at this site!"
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and it was rather quiet given the conditions. Thick cloud, light wind, and an overnight low of 14 degrees C resulted in 97 moths of 24 species, with Lunar Underwing being new for the year."

Saturday 10th September 2022

 

• Laura Gundy from Benniworth Walk Farm emailed: "I discovered one of my Purging Buckthorn plants has been completely defoliated by this Peppered Moth caterpillar. It took me ages to realise I wasn't looking at one of the twigs on the plant! Not many butterflies in my garden - only a few Small and Large Whites. Usually the sedums are covered in Small Tortoiseshells and a few Commas, but no such luck this year. Went for a little wander locally and saw 5 Red Admirals and 3 Commas feasting on blackberries, and 1 worn Brown Argus along a field margin. 6 Speckled Woods looked lovely and fresh though, so they're still going!"
• Mark Johnson messaged: "Singles of Wall, Small White and Common Blue at Donna Nook NNR today, between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall."

Friday 9th September 2022

 

Phil Bowler emailed: "Following on from my previous post re the neighbouring Clouded Yellows, I can now confirm the presence of at least one helice form. I even managed a half decent photograph of it open-winged. Chuffed!"

Thursday 8th September 2022

Owen Beaumont messaged: "Just after midday I had a Clouded Yellow on Elm House Farm, Saltfleetby."

Wednesday 7th September 2022

• David Bee emailed: "Yesterday I visited Chambers Farm Wood, but unfortunately there wasn't a lot to see, just 2 Comma and 4 Speckled Wood. However, one of the volunteers in the butterfly garden drew my attention to about 6 Brown Hairstreak eggs. Sadly, it appears as though the butterfly year is all but over. Today I visited three other sites and noted the following: Southrey Wood - 1 White Admiral, 1 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 10 Large White, 12 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 1 Brown Argus and 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths. Mill Hill Quarry - 4 Large White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood and a very forlorn Common Blue. Red Hill - 3 Large White, 4 Small White and 2 Green-veined White (mating pair)."
• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "The other evening Ros and I discovered that the large field just down the lane from us is an environmental stewardship scheme, comprised of Red Clover, vetches and Bird's-foot Trefoil. There are two more even larger fields sowed similarly in the village. Today, almost as expected, we found at least 6 Clouded Yellows bobbing around our neighbouring field, possibly more, and I think one was a f. helice. We only have until next week before the crop has to be cut, but I managed a few shots in the meantime. After all the searching I've done over the last few years for them, they crop up in numbers almost on our doorstep. How ironic!"

 

Tuesday 6th September 2022

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 184 moths of 30 species. Archer's Dart, and European Corn Borer were the highlights."

Monday 5th September 2022

Keith Robinson messaged: "3 Clouded Yellows at Covenham Reservoir this morning."

Sunday 4th September 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 434 moths of 43 species. New for the year were Sallow, Vapourer and Brown-spot Pinion."
• Mark Johnson from North Somercotes emailed: "This morning's trap had a few migrant moths - 5 Diamond-backs, 3 Rush Veneers, 2 Dark Sword-grass and pick of the bunch 2 Convolvulus Hawk-moths."

 

Saturday 3rd September 2022

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This week I've had two new moths for the garden. This morning the trap revealed a Pinion-streaked Snout, I thought it was a micro at first! Yesterday I caught a Loxostege sticticalis which took me a while to sort it out. Not in my books!"

 

Friday 2nd September 2022

Keith Robinson messaged: "A single Clouded Yellow this morning on the east bank of Covenham Reservoir."

Thursday 1st September 2022

• Phil Bowler emailed: "An afternoon at Snakeholme Pit resulted in one very fresh female Brown Hairstreak being seen fumbling around in short shrubs on the bank, before flying off into the higher Blackthorn. Very little else seen: 1 Large White, 6 Small White, 5 Green-veined White, 3 fresh Small Copper (third brood?), 3 Brown Argus, 1 female Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma and 5 Speckled Wood."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 312 moths of 37 species. Brick was new for the year."

---

August 2022

Wednesday 31st August 2022: Clifden Nonpareil at Healing, near Grimsby!

 

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I received a message from Steve Palmer, who lives at Healing, stating that he'd struck gold in the garden trap - a Clifden Nonpareil! Needless to say I shot round immediately to inspect this amazing moth, a lifer for both of us! This was just reward for Steve who had continued trapping despite recent poor catches producing mainly Large Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic and Setaceous Hebrew Character. Last night's catch also revealed an Angle Shades and a White-point, which was new for the garden."

Monday 29th August 2022: Clifden Nonpareil at Swanpool!

Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "A Clifden Nonpareil in my garden trap this morning was new for the year and my third ever!"

 

Saturday 27th August 2022

 

Toby Ludlow reported: "I decided to pay a visit to Chambers Farm Wood today and met up with Dave Wright there. The weather was gorgeous - lengthy sunny periods with little in the way of wind being the order of the day. However, the fauna gave a distinctly autumnal feel to the place: squadrons of Migrant Hawker dragonflies patrolled overhead and numbers of most butterfly species have plummeted. The only exception to this in the wood proper was Speckled Wood. Here, a new crop of individuals have supplemented and overlapped the previous brood giving an interesting contrast between the really fresh, and the tired and faded ones. Over the course of the day we counted 80 Speckled Wood in total. The main target of the day was, obviously, Brown Hairstreak and between us we managed to see 4 females: 2 at Fiveways and 2 past Minting Triangle. With little else about in the wood, we paid a late afternoon visit to the meadows where, again, butterfly numbers in total were low. We did have a decent count of 20 Common Blues there, supplemented by 8 Brown Argus, one of which was incredibly fresh and posed beautifully in the late afternoon sunshine, showing a resplendent array of colours in the process."

 

Friday 26th August 2022

 

Dave Wright reported: "During the last couple of weeks, there has been a dearth of of butterflies in my Grimsby garden, apart from the occasional Large and Small Whites. Therefore, following yesterday's prolonged downpour, I wasn't expecting much of an improvement today, but was surprised by the appearance of the following: 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Comma, 3 Holly Blue, 3 Large White and 5 Small White. Also, another Hummingbird Hawk-moth was seen 'buzzing' around the Red Valerian, that's the third in a week!"

Thursday 25th August 2022: Clifden Nonpareil at Roughton Moor!

 

Stewart Haynes from Roughton Moor near Woodhall Spa emailed: "This Clifden Nonpareil was in my garden trap last night. Looking at all the information on this moth it appears as though it's not seen very often in Lincolnshire."

Wednesday 24th August 2022

 

Ian Saggers emailed: "We travelled up to Chambers Farm Wood from our Norfolk home today and arrived there shortly before lunch, despite the best efforts of two separate road closures to the east of the Lincoln bypass to thwart us. A very hot and sticky afternoon, but virtually no direct sun. I found a particularly washed-out Brown Argus at Minting Triangle. Eventually the sun shone for approximately 20 minutes, during which time we spotted 2 Brown Hairstreaks about halfway between Minting Triangle and Fiveways."

Tuesday 23rd August 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I took advantage of the warm weather and trapped again at Gibraltar Point NNR overnight. Busy again with 718 moths of 61 species. Most numerous species was Setaceous Hebrew Character with 177. 2 Hedge Rustic were new for the year."
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "This afternoon, on my third visit in a week, I finally connected with Brown Argus (3) and Brown Hairstreak (1), so very pleased! Today I also saw 1 Painted Lady, 2 Common Blue and seemingly equal numbers of Green-veined White, Small White and Speckled wood (approximately a dozen). In addition, on Sunday 21st I saw singles of Comma and Painted Lady."
• Pete Smith emailed: "For more years than I care to remember, I have driven past Lincoln's South Common on my way to work, or to go shopping or generally travelling about. It never stood out to me as a particularly promising site for butterflies, and I never went there. However, Philip Johnson informed me some months back that he had found Small Heath there recently, and I decided that I would look for myself this year. I found one Small Heath on the common way back in June, and today I found three on the wing - one of these being notable as ab. biocellata. I was also struck during my June visit by the quantity of sorrel in flower, and sure enough, I also found an egg-laying Small Copper there today. Much of the common is quite rank grassland/scrub/thistle etc, but there are some nice areas of more heavily grazed, finer, heathy grassland, and occasional interesting small patches of flora such as Devil's-bit Scabious, Ladies Bedstraw, etc. It won't win any prizes as a butterfly site, but is nice to find another local spot where Small Heath and Small Copper can still be found."

 

Monday 22nd August 2022

 

• Andy Simms from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the garden trap produced my second ever Bordered Straw."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "Attached below is one of my record shots of Brown Hairstreak from today's visit to Chambers Farm Wood. Two females were observed (first was spotted by Toby Ludlow) and posed obligingly. The second I spotted in flight further along the track and which was higher up and where frustratingly it settled only briefly on Blackthorn, upper wings seen but unable to get a photpgraph. Otherwise, usual supporting cast including: 2 Large White, 4 Small White, 9 Green-veined White (including 2 mating pairs), 3 Purple Hairstreak, Common Blue (well worn female), 9 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 3 Peacock, 6 Comma, 18 Speckled Wood and a well worn Meadow Brown. A couple of Silver Y moths also observed in Little Scrubbs Meadow."

 

Sunday 21st August 2022

Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped At Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and had 555 moths of 75 species. New for the year macros were Feathered Gothic, Large Thorn, Pale Mottled Willow and a migrant Pearly Underwing. A single Vine Moth Eupoecilia ambiguella was of note here."

Saturday 20th August 2022

 

• Laura Gundy from Benniworth Walk Farm emailed: "25 macro species in the garden trap last night, consisting mainly of Setaceous Hebrew Character; 123 of them in fact! The prize for prettiest moth went to Tawny-barred Angle and new for the year was Centre-barred Sallow. New for the garden was Square-spotted Clay, not a common species in these parts.  

•  

  

  Keith Walton emailed: "Visited Chambers Farm Wood today and was disappointed by the lack of butterflies, so went to Snakeholme Pit for dragonflies. Walking on the path near the gate I noticed a fresh Meadow Brown fluttering around, but was distracted by a chocolate-brown butterfly which dashed across in front of me - a female Brown Hairstreak! Amazingly three or four were in the area of the entrance gate, two were very elusive, but two photographable."                                                                 

   

  

• Dave Wright reported: "This evening I had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on the Red Valerian in my Grimsby garden at 18:45."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had a walk around Gooseman's Field in Grimsby today and saw very little in the way of butterflies. Everywhere was dried to a crisp with no plants left in flower for butterflies to nectar on. In total I saw 2 Small White, 2 Speckled Wood (bordering the Woodland Burial Ground) and 3 male Common Blue. The Woodland Burial Ground itself produced a further 3 Speckled Wood and a handful of Whites."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning the trap produced a Plain Wave, which was new for the garden. Yesterday a Gold Spot was new for the year."

 

Friday 19th August 2022

 

• Own Beaumont messaged: "A fair selection of butterflies on the wing at Rimac today and, despite recent heavy rain, some were looking remarkably fresh. On transect were 6 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Small Copper, 1 Brown Argus, 11 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 3 Painted Lady, 12 Speckled Wood, 8 Wall, 4 Meadow Brown and 25 Small Heath."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Wow! 6 Hummingbird Hawk-moths nectaring on my neighbour's Buddleia at the same time."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "Today I spent the afternoon in Chambers Farm Wood and eventually saw 2

   

  

  Brown Hairstreak. A male was flying high around a Blackthorn at Fiveways, then in the favoured area beyond Minting Triangle, I stumbled across a pristine female low down on the Blackthorn, right next to the path. My luck got even better when she obliged by laying an egg! (See attached photograph). Also seen: 5 Purple Hairstreak, 4 Brown Argus, 1 female Common Blue, 2 Holly Blue, 15 Speckled Wood, 1 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, 17 Small White, 12 Green-veined White, 4 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Comma and 1 female Silver-washed Fritillary."

 

Thursday 18th August 2022

 

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 472 moths of 76 species. Scarce Bordered Straw was new for the year. Bycatch included Oak Bush-cricket and Great Diving Beetle."
• Pat Scott emailed: "4 Hummingbird Hawk-moths on one clump of Red Valerian today in Timberland."

Monday 15th August 2022

• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and had 351 moths of 76 species.The only new for the year was a Frosted Orange."
• Chris Dobson from Langworth emailed: "Despite the heat I'm getting lower catches than I would've expected and certainly species more suggestive of autumn than summer! Two nights back I caught a Centre-barred Sallow, the earliest I have had in nineteen years of garden trapping!"

Saturday 13th August 2022

Steve Swain emailed: "I live in Brant Broughton near Lincoln and this week in the garden we've had the following: Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Holly Blue and Hummingbird Hawk-moth."

Friday 12th August 2022

 

Phil Bowler emailed: "I spent the day at Rimac, part of the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR, primarily looking for Wall. I only found them in and around the 'quarry' that is right next to the car park. I saw 13 in total, 2 of which may have been female. Until later in the day they always had their wings closed, despite it being much cooler here than further inland. Some were vividly fresh, others very worn. What I found really interesting is that none of them were basking or resting on the ground, as is their wont, but instead perched on the Sea Buckthorn growing up the sides of the 'quarry', from where they lurched themselves at passing butterflies. At least 5 of the males were seen doing this at any one time, only later in the afternoon did they open their wings. There was extremely little nectar around for them, unless they were taking something from these bushes? Also noted were: 53 Meadow Brown, 36 Small Heath, 2 Gatekeeper, 30 Common Blue, 11 Brown Argus, 5 Small Copper (including what was either an excessively worn typical Copper, or one of those white aberrations), 2 Small White and 1 Red Admiral."

Wednesday 10th August 2022

 

• Zoe Shreeve from Healing emailed: "We thought that we has seen a Hummingbird Hawk-moth laying eggs on the bedstraw in the back garden earlier this year. Today, I rescued this from becoming a Robin's lunch!"
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "I spent this afternoon doing the 4 butterfly transects over at Grimsthorpe Park near Bourne. On another hot, sunny day, butterflies were found to have rapidly decreased amongst the parched grasslands and woodland rides; only 114 of 15 species recorded in about 4 hours. The highlights had been a single Silver-washed Fritillary on Bramble, and a faded Dark Green Fritillary nectaring on Dwarf Thistle. On the last leg of my long walk I glanced down, and then had to do a double-take on what I was gazing at....a second brood Dingy Skipper nectaring on Birdsfoot Trefoil - something I was not expecting. This is a rare occurrence in Lincs and certainly the first time I've witnessed it. If I remember correctly the last time this was reported was a second brood individual at Twyford Wood several years ago. It only happens this far north in exceptionally hot summers."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I went back to Rimac today to try to improve on my Wall images. There were plenty about, but they were very flighty and reluctant to settle, especially with wings open, so photography was a challenge. There were lots of butterflies on the wing and I was especially pleased to see so many Common Blues (29), as well as lots of Ruddy Darters, the occasional Migrant Hawker and a few Emerald Damselflies. I walked south down the path between dunes and marsh and then around the freshwater marsh by the pond, which is virtually dry now. Many butterfly species are starting to look very worn! In total I saw: 29 Common Blue, 9 Meadow Brown, 11 Gatekeeper, 14 Wall, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 1 Small Heath and 1 Small White."

 

Tuesday 9th August 2022

 

• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "White-point, Six-striped Rustic and Frosted Orange were new for the year in my garden trap this morning. The White-point was only my 2nd ever record!"
• Brian Hedley emailed: "August Thorn in my garden trap here at Marton last night and a new moth

   

  

  for me! I get plenty of Early and Dusky Thorns, plus occasional Canary-shouldered and Purple Thorns, so this was a nice addition."

Monday 8th August 2022

 

• Phil Lee emailed: "Attached is a photo of one of the two Brown Hairstreaks I saw today at Chambers Farm Wood, between Fiveways and Minting Triangle."
• Pete Smith emailed: "After blanking on the Brown Hairstreak last Thursday, I decided a return trip to Chambers was in order today. In my haste to get to my favourite spot east of the main woodland complex, I missed out on a couple of females that were seen by others between Fiveways and Minting Triangle, but did manage to find a male, down on knapweed, alongside a hedgerow about 300 metres from the eastern wood edge. Returning to the Triangle, Toby Ludlow and Mark Joy had found a lovely female Common Blue, ab supra-caerulea. Just along from here were a mating pair of Common Blues, both lovely and fresh. Nice to see decent numbers of second brood Common Blue and Brown Argus appearing on the wing in various places!"

 

Sunday 7th August 2022

 

• Eliot Taylor emailed: "A group of six of us from Butterfly Conservation East Midland Branch made a visit to Chambers Farm Wood today. 18 butterfly species were seen, plus a Latticed Heath. The highlight was a female Brown Hairstreak seen egg-laying from the path past Minting Triangle. Also, 24 Silver-washed Fritillary (mostly females) all looking past their best, 5 Green-veined White, 25 Small White, 4 Large White, 3 Brimstone, 1 Large Skipper, 5 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Small Copper, 6 Peacock, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 3 Comma, 5 Meadow Brown, 1 Ringlet, 20 Gatekeeper and 2 Speckled Wood."
• Les Austin emailed: "A trip to Chambers Farm Wood today rewarded us with only one Brown Hairstreak egg-laying female, just beyond Minting Triangle. We did see a male on the main ride. Many Silver-washed Fritillaries, good numbers of fresh Brimstones, 3 Common Blues, 2 Brown Argus and 6 Red Admirals." 
• Mark Johnson phoned: "This afternoon I walked the sea embankment from Horse Shoe Point north towards the old airfield and had brief views of a Clouded Yellow, before it sped off in the direction of Northcoates Point. Also noted 1 Wall, 2 Gatekeeper, 2 Meadow Brown and at least 30 Common Blue."
• Neil Storey emailed: "Today I paid a visit to Kirkby Moor LWT Nature Reserve and the highlight was undoubtedly a Clouded Yellow seen nectaring on heather (see attached photograph). 

 

Saturday 6th August 2022

 

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning 9 members from Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch attended the field trip at Rimac, which is part of the Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe NNR. We were joined by Owen Beaumont (reserve manager) and John Walker (volunteer warden), and in an attempt to cover the area more thoroughly for our target species the Wall, we decided to split into two groups. Owen led the first group through the dunes basically adopting the transect

   

  

  route, while John took the second south from the car park along the footpath on the edge of the saltmarsh. I accompanied Owen and we noted 18 species, with 27 Wall being the obvious highlight, plus the following: 22 Small Skipper, 2 Large White, 6 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 3 Small Copper, an impressive 17 Brown Argus, 44 Common Blue (including a mating pair), 1 Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 14 Peacock, 1 Comma, 5 Speckled Wood, 32 Gatekeeper, 56 Meadow Brown, 5 Small Heath and 4 Ringlet. Moths included 7 Shaded Broad-bar, 2 Latticed Heath and a single Silver Y. Lots of dragonflies on the reserve and we must have counted at least 50 Migrant Hawkers, but 7 Willow Emerald damselflies was an unexpected bonus and a first for me at this site. John's team produced similar species with Wall totalling 10. We also had a further 3 Wall in the car park area."                                               

   

  

• John Walker emailed: "I walked a circuit in the dunes from home (Churchill Lane) to Brickyard and back, then continued around dunes to MoD counting a total of 26 Walls. Makes a total of 66 with the morning's count at Rimac and then Brickyard."
• Toby Ludlow messaged: "Had a trip over to Moor Farm LWT Nature Reserve today. Even though the weather was gorgeous, there were several indicators which gave a distinct autumnal feel to the site: virtually all the Bramble blossom had gone, giving rise to a bountiful crop of blackberries, there were squadrons of Migrant Hawker dragonflies patrolling just overhead, and some of the summer species of butterfly, such as the skippers, had disappeared. Fortunately, a good number of female Gatekeepers were still on the wing, a legacy of the amazing year this butterfly has had, which must rank as one of the best ever for this species. Also on the plus side, there were some fresh Brown Argus about and some Small Coppers, a few of which were slightly darker in appearance due to a wider marginal band, perhaps a result of the extreme temperatures we have recently had to endure. Totals were: 13 Brown Argus, 7 Common Blue, 5 Small Copper, 3 Large White, 2 Small White, 13 Green-veined White, 1 Brimstone, 1 Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Ringlet, 2 Speckled Wood, 80 Meadow Brown and 75 Gatekeeper."
• Mike Pickwell emailed: "Today I went for my usual walk around the cemetery and Gooseman's

   

  

  Field in Grimsby. It was warm and sunny at 22 degrees C and I saw: 1 Holly Blue, 1 Peacock, 15 'Whites', 3 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, 4 Small Heath, 6 Common Blue, 2 Brown Argus and 1 Speckled Wood. Also, 2 Common Darters and 2 Migrant Hawkers."
• Laura Gundy messaged: "Popped over to Sotby Wood today and it was beautiful! 17 species of butterfly, including 16 Brimstone, 30 Peacock, 37 Gatekeeper, 4 Silver-washed Fritillary and even a Large Skipper!"
• Jan Rousseau emailed: "I visited Chambers Farm Wood this morning with John Scott. We had a good morning seeing pretty much the same as recently recorded. However, at Minting Triangle we found the valesina form of Silver-washed Fritillary."

Friday 5th August 2022

 

Dave Wright reported: "This morning I spent an enjoyable couple of hours with my grandson Thomas, searching for insects at Cleethorpes Country Park. On entering the site, Thomas immediately heard a loud 'buzzing' sound resonating from multiple locations in the long grass. He was initially perplexed and then somewhat amused when I revealed I couldn't hear a thing. Sadly, the days of listening to Roesel's Bush-cricket have long gone, but fortunately we did manage to unearth a few. We also came across several Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers and an impressive large hoverfly - Volucella inanis. Not long after we found a female Emperor Dragonfly roosting in tall vegetation, followed by lots of Migrant Hawkers, 9 Common Blue Damselflies, 2 Blue-tailed Damselflies, 6 Common Darters and 12 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on floating weed on the main lake. Nearby, I managed to find one of the latter settled on a bramble leaf along the edge of the path. Butterflies noted included the following: 32 Meadow Brown, 17 Gatekeeper, 7 Common Blue, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Speckled Wood and 1 Holly Blue. Also, 1 Shaded Broad-bar, 1 Latticed Heath and 2 Cinnabar caterpillars."

 

Thursday 4th August 2022

 

• John Davison emailed: "Called in at Ingoldsby Wood this morning.....5 Large White, 11 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 16 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 3 Red Admiral, 3 Large Skipper, 2 Ringlet, 3 Meadow Brown, 3 Gatekeeper, 2 Painted Lady and 8 Silver-washed Fritillary. Highlight - a Clouded Yellow!
• Graham Catley emailed: "5 Wall today at the top of the escarpment above Alkborough Flats."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "At least five enthusiasts, besides Pete Smith and myself, were at Chambers Farm Wood today searching for Brown Hairstreak, but none of us found any! It's a bit alarming really considering how advanced the season is. For me, their friends the Purple Hairstreak made up for it by 3 of them coming down to low level and feeding from the acorns (see attached). A further 3 were encountered elsewhere.The star of the show once again has to be the wonderful Silver-washed Fritillaries. I could watch them all day! 17 males and 13 females counted. Also seen: 1 Small/Essex Skipper, 2 male Large Skipper, 7 Brimstone, 10 Large White, 15 Small White, 18 Green-veined White, 2 Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus, 4 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 7 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 7 Peacock, 7 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood, 5 Gatekeeper, 12 Meadow Brown and 3 Ringlet. As you can see, mainly very low numbers, especially Peacock and Speckled Wood. Moths included 2 Mint Moth and 2 Latticed Heath."

 

Wednesday 3rd August 2022

 

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "I had a trip down the coast today to show my brother Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR. We parked at Rimac and walked south through the dunes, returning along the path on the edge of the saltmarsh. There were lots of butterflies on the wing and they were very much attracted to the Fleabane. I was delighted to find 12 Wall but they were challenging to photograph. There were large numbers of Meadow Brown (including a mating

   

  

  pair), Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper, Common Blue (including a mating pair), Small White, Red Admiral and Peacock. The ones I counted included  a single Six-spot Burnet moth, 12 Wall, 2 Small Copper, 1 Large White, 6 Small Skipper (all very worn), 3 Small Heath, 2 Speckled Wood and 1 Painted Lady. There were also a lot of Ruddy Darters (mainly male), quite a few Migrant Hawkers and over the water a few superb Emperor Dragonflies."
• Dave Wright reported: "This afternoon my wife and I had a walk through the dunes at the Humberston Fitties. Initially it was mostly cloudy and breezy, but we still managed to note the following: 1 Large White, 6 Small White, 7 Green-veined White, 3 Brown Argus, 7 Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Painted Lady, 1 Peacock, 6 Gatekeeper and 2 Meadow Brown. We continued our walk along the bridleway bordering Thorpe Park and encountered similar species, with the addition of Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Speckled Wood." 
• Adrian Royle emailed: "Visited Chambers Farm Wood today and there were good numbers of Silver-washed Fritillaries, some fresh, some really worn and included a female f. valesina."

 

Tuesday 2nd August 2022

 

Ian McGlynn emailed: "I saw a Clouded Yellow today and the attached photograph was taken from the footpath between Great Humby and Kirton Woods."

Monday 1st August 2022: Brown Hairstreak at Chambers Farm Wood!

 

• Paul Daubney emailed: "I took advantage of the sunshine this morning to take a trip to Chambers Farm Wood, in the hope of finding Brown Hairstreaks. The place was swarming with butterflies - I saw 21 species without getting as far as the meadow, and yes, I did see a single female Brown Hairstreak, along the path past Minting Triangle. I've never seen so many Silver-washed Fritillaries at Chambers before, most were quite worn, but one or two were looking very fresh. And on the way back to the car park I had a special fly past, a Purple Emperor to round off the morning. Although the access road and car parks are now open, they are horribly dusty! Be warned!"
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "The transect at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR was fairly

   

  

  productive today, although some numbers are starting to drop off now. Around the Rimac route were 27 Small/Essex Skipper, 3 Large White, 4 Small White, 5 Green-veined White, 3 Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus, 27 Common Blue, 6 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 18 Wall, 77 Gatekeeper, 83 Meadow Brown, 4 Ringlet and 1 Small Heath. John Walker had 11 Wall between

   

  

  Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane. Also, there were 9 Gatekeeper, 6 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Small White and 1 Small Skipper."

---

July 2022

Saturday 30th July 2022

• Richard Rowland emailed: "I found a pristine Clouded Yellow on some waste ground at the side of Ridge Walk, Scunthorpe this morning."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "This morning my garden trap produced a Webb's Wainscot, which was new for the year. Also, so far this year I have caught 9 Tree-lichen Beauty, compared to 5 last year, the first ever being caught in July."

 

Friday 29th July 2022

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "This morning I went for a quick walk around Scartho Woodland Burial Ground in Grimsby. It was rather quiet, possibly because both sides of the path have been flailed. Nevertheless, I managed to see the following: 4 Large White, 2 Small White, 6 Speckled Wood, 3 Meadow Brown, 3 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral and 1 Peacock."
• Phil Lee from Misterton emailed: "We had the attached Dark Crimson Underwing in our garden trap last night."

 

Wednesday 27th July 2022: Chalk Hill Blue at Southrey Wood!

 

• Darren Wozencroft emailed: "Arriving at Chambers Farm Wood at 09:45 the butterfly garden was alive with activity, Silver-washed Fritillary, Peacock, Comma, Red Admiral, a single Painted Lady, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, numerous Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Whites, a few Ringlet, 2 Small Skipper and singles of Small Copper and Holly Blue. Heading on the main path towards Fiveways a Purple Emperor glided overhead with another female sat on the track and a few Speckled Wood basked. At Little Scrubbs Meadow, another Painted Lady, a Brimstone, more Silver-washed Fritillary, Peacock and Red Admiral, with Common Blue added to the day list and Purple Hairstreak in the oaks nearby. After only three hours, 20 species had been seen. A quick visit to Southrey Wood produced more of the same plus a stunning White Admiral. A large pale blue species then caught our attention as it moved south down the main ride, stopping to feed briefly, allowing a good view and a single photograph. This was enough to confirm later what I suspected at the time, that the butterfly was a Chalk Hill Blue! With the nearest colony maybe 40 miles away and the habitat completely wrong for this species, I can only guess what/how it ended up there? It did cap a fantastic few hours in the field. Could the heatwave last week have played a part in displacing this individual? (As ever it was exciting and a privilege to see something so unexpected).
• Richard O'Connor emailed: "Today I was out doing some botanical recording on the runways of the former RAF Colsterworth airfield in Twyford Wood. I was accompanied by Malcolm Pool and around midday we disturbed a superb Clouded Yellow in mint condition. Good views were obtained as the butterfly came to rest a few times with wings closed." 
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "This afternoon 5 Wall were the highlight of the butterfly transect around Rimac."
• Graham Catley messaged: "18 Silver-washed Fritillary at Laughton Forest today and at least 15 Red Admirals. Also had a Wall on the wet heath track as well."                                                      

   

  

• Mike Pickewell emailed: "I went for a walk around Gooseman's Field and the Woodland Burial

   

  

  Ground in Grimsby today. Unfortunately, as I reached the burial ground the sky clouded over, but I still enjoyed a good session! On Gooseman's I found: 4 Large White, 9 Small White, 23 Gatekeeper, 19 Meadow Brown, 1 Comma, 2 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Small Copper, 12 Common Blue, 4 Speckled Wood and a Dusky Sallow moth. I also saw a 1 Migrant Hawker and 7 Common Darter. In the Woodland Burial Ground I noted: 2 Large White, 9 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 2 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet and 2 Gatekeeper."
• Nige Lound: "I trapped in the East Dunes at Gibraltar Point NNR some 200 metres north of Mill Hill and managed 449 moths of 72 species. Not as busy as expected mainly due to quite a strong onshore breeze keeping the temperature down maybe? 140+ of the moths were Pediasia contaminella and Straw Underwing was the only macro new for the year. A bycatch Brown Hawker was the first time I have seen one in a moth trap."
• Andy Sims from Swanpool emailed: "Bordered Straw was new for the garden today! 2022 has

   

  

  been an excellent year for new species in my garden - Tawny Marbled Minor on 28th May, Treble Brown Spot on 18th June, Plain Golden Y on 23rd June, Lackey on 27th June, Least Carpet on 9th July, Silky Wainscot on 12th July and Brown-veined Wainscot on 19th July."

 

Monday 25th July 2022

Graham Catley messaged: "A Wall today on bank at Marsh Lane, Winteringham.

Sunday 24th July 2022

• Roy Harvey emailed: "Linda and I visited Red Hill LWT Nature Reserve this afternoon. It was mostly cloudy, with occasional sunshine, but windy. Not a single Marbled White was seen. Accurate counting of Meadow Brown was not carried out, but this was the most common species seen. Gatekeeper was the next most numerous. Other species noted were as follows: 2 Large White, 5 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Small Skipper and 3 Peacock. 
• Nige Lound emailed: "Trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR again - 400 moths of 102 species, with Copper Underwing agg and Red Underwing new for the year."

Thursday 21st July 2022

• John Walker emailed: "Rob Scott and I watched a Purple Hairstreak in Swinn Wood today, my first sighting of one there!"
• Nige Lound emailed: Trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight - 458 moths of 97 species with Bird's Wing (another new one for me), a pristine Delicate and Tawny-speckled Pug all new for the year."
• Graham Catley messaged: "A pristine Painted Lady and a few Large Whites at Alkborough today. Yesterday I noted a single Comma and at least 100 Gatekeeper."

 

Wednesday 20th July 2022

 

• Mike Pickwell emailed: "Nice to have a cooler day today! It was good to be able to do my usual butterfly walk in the Grimsby area, taking in the Scartho Woodland Burial Ground and Gooseman's Field after three weeks away. The first site produced 3 Large White, 2 Small White, a mating pair of Green-veined White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 10 Speckled Wood, 8 Gatekeeper and 1 Holly Blue. In Gooseman's Field I found 19 Meadow Brown, 5 Ringlet, 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Small Skipper, 2 Red Admiral and a single Six-spot Burnet moth."
• John Davison emailed: "Had Silver-washed Fritillary at Burkinshaw's Covert, Immingham last week, but 3 White-letter Hairstreaks there today!"

 

Tuesday 19th July 2022

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "On the hottest day ever recorded in the UK, I spent a few hours out at Chambers Farm Wood. Needless to say, I was the only one stupid enough to be out there in THAT heat: on arrival, the temperature was already 35 degrees Centigrade and rose to 39 degrees Centigrade whilst I was there. Given the conditions, I thought I would struggle to find any Purple Emperors, but it pays to not second-guess nature, and on a walk up to ‘Fiveways’ I recorded three females down on the track and three males which were also grounded. However, this was not the strangest behaviour seen out there: the heat had caused a bizarre phenomenon – Purple Hairstreaks littered the path and every footstep kicked up 4 or 5. In the walk to ‘Fiveways’ alone I recorded 377 down low, and there must have been thousands throughout the entire complex. Most were sheltering from the heat (as much as they could) by resting down low in shade and orienting themselves towards the direction of the sun, so as to present a minimal profile. However, not all were successful and, on the walk back to the car, it was quite sad to see that some had paid the ultimate price, wings bent back displaying their purple uppersides."
• Alan Pike emailed: "While running through our local wood (Potterhanworth) yesterday evening, I

   

  

  came across a bloom of Purple Hairsteaks. I was quite excited as we had only just moved into the area last year and was hoping the wood would provide some butterfly interest. Today, I managed to persuade my wife that it was worth a return visit around 6 pm in the 40 degrees C heat! There were Purple Hairstreaks everywhere and I gave up trying to count how many - a really special day! Also, 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, Speckled Woods, lots of Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Gatekeepers, Peacocks, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells."

Monday 18th July 2022

 

• Dave Wright reported: "Early this morning there seemed to be a small influx of butterflies into my Grimsby garden, before the intense heat could take affect. I found a second brood Holly Blue nectaring on Hemp Agrimony (see attached), followed by a fresh male Brimstone and a Small Skipper on the Buddleia, the latter being a first for my garden. Other species attracted to the Buddleia included 1 Red Admiral, 5 Peacocks, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 3 Large Whites, 4 Small Whites and a single Meadow Brown. A Gatekeeper also made an appearance."
• Mike Pickwell from Grimsby emailed: "This morning while it was still cool enough to be in the

   

  

  garden (it reached 38.3 degrees C this afternoon), I did a 'Big Butterfly Count'. I noted 3 Large White, 2 Small White, 1 Gatekeeper, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Red Admiral."
• Josh Forrester messaged: "Despite the hot weather warning decided to visit Chambers Farm

   

  

  Wood today. Had a look in the butterfly garden first and was astounded to find a Purple Emperor at the pond. It went to drink from the water and got stuck, so we had to rescue it. Having it in the hand was a very special experience. Also, fairly reasonable views of Purple Hairstreaks and we had them flying between our feet and over our heads. Very hot today during our visit, but very worthwhile!"
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "I did the butterfly transect at Rimac today which was a bit chaotic, especially in areas with patchy shade, but my best counting efforts are as follows: 126 Small/Essex Skipper, 7 Large White, 13 Small White, 11 Green-veined White, 2 Brown Argus, 11 Common Blue, 3 Peacock, 1 Speckled Wood, 299 Gatekeeper, 99 Meadow Brown, 163 Ringlet and 3 Small Heath."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped near Mill Hill at Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and had 571 moths of 135 species. Macros new for the year were Double Lobed, Least Carpet (5), Mere Wainscot, Rosy Rustic, Rufous Minor, Small Phoenix, Small Wainscot, Tree-lichen Beauty (2), Twin-spotted Wainscot and White Satin. Bycatch included Long-winged Conehead, Roesel's Bush-cricket and 2 Great Diving Beetles."
• Phil Bowler emailed: "More news from my garden. We have been receiving visits from the

   

  

  occasional Silver-washed Fritillary since 2018. Coincidentally since, the violets have gone berserk throughout the garden, almost as if they know they are needed! On the 15th July I witnessed a pristine female Silver-washed Fritillary weaving in and out of the woodland garden pathways, assumedly looking for violets. It was so good to see her in such fine condition after the ragged ones the day before in Southrey Wood. There had already been a male passing through some days prior to this sighting, so it is highly likely that this female was gravid - otherwise why would she be acting in this manner? Here's hoping that this is the next butterfly to claim residency in our garden! Also, today despite the heatwave, the Brown Argus is suddenly seen all over the garden in ones and twos. Everywhere I walk one pops up! An excellent recovery from their almost non-existent first brood."

 

Sunday 17th July 2022

Stuart Mackman emailed: "With little time to spare and the forecast of a hot day, I had just an hour available for a stroll on the main ride in Southrey Wood this morning. Within less than five minutes I had spotted half a dozen Purple Hairstreaks, all at low level in the small trees. I had a total count of 8 along with just 1 White Admiral, 1 Silver-washed Fritillary, many Meadow Brown, Large and Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 6 Peacock and 20+ Gatekeeper. I was delighted to capture a couple of photographs of the hairstreaks and to see good numbers overall in the very limited time I spent there."

 

Saturday 16th July 2022

• Laura Gundy emailed: "Several farmers in my local area have given me permission to wander about on their land to record butterflies this year. I am very grateful to them and struggling to find the time to fit it all in! I got a couple of hours in this morning on a new site near Market Stainton - land that has been left unmanaged for several years. Amongst other species I counted 48 Small Skipper, 214 Meadow Brown, 38 Ringlet and 2 Purple Hairstreak. Oh, and did I mention the Purple Emperor above my head and the Marbled White that flew past my chin!"
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "Earlier today I spent a good few hours at Red Hill LWT Nature Reserve and noted the following: c350 Meadow Brown, 3 Marbled White, 12+ Small White, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 8+ Large White, 1 Small Heath, 3 Peacock, 1 Common Blue, c40 Gatekeeper, 20+ Ringlet, 3 Large Skipper and 1 Small Skipper. Moths included c120 Six-spot Burnet."
• Freddy Johnson emailed: "Buddleias and large patches of Marjoram have brought a good selection of butterflies to my Bracebridge Heath garden today: Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and the 3 Whites. In the past week I've also had Brimstone and Small Copper, and a Painted Lady visited in May."

Friday 15th July 2022: Female Silver-washed Fritillary (f. valesina) in Morkery Wood! 

 

• Toby Ludlow reported: "Met up with Dave Wright early this morning and we headed southwards to visit Temple Wood. As seems customary now at our southern woodlands, we were greeted on arrival by a Red Kite flying low over the trees at the entrance to the wood. We walked southwards along the main north/south track in the wood, but as the sun had not got high enough to percolate down into the ride system there was little butterfly activity; it even proved difficult to find the ubiquitous Ringlet at first! But as we ventured on and the sun got higher, it eventually lit the top of the Oak and Ash trees. This was just the catalyst to spur Purple Hairstreaks into life and they began to dance upon high and every tree seemed to contain a few of these small, silvery butterflies. We soon amassed a respectable total of 80 before concentrating on some of the other woodland denizens at ground level. Here, of particular note, were the Silver-washed Fritillaries.

   

  

  After a bend in the track, we encountered a short stretch of Bramble that was covered in them - 35 in total; one small patch just a few feet across had 9 on alone. For a moment we had to just stand and watch the interaction between them all: combatant males sparring on the one hand contrasting with several instances of courtship behaviour between males and females on the other. We eventually tore ourselves away and continued on; by the time we had reached the end of the north/south ride we had seen 86 of these graceful creatures and had thoroughly enjoyed our time spent in this woodland. Later in the afternoon we headed to Morkery wood in the hope of seeing a few Purple Emperors, but the cloud had thickened by then and it initially looked like we would be unlucky. Nevertheless, we headed up the hill from the car park and in a brief sunny spell we saw a male Purple Emperor flying high up around a Field Maple. Enthused by this, we carried on up to the top of the rise. Here we spotted a female Purple Emperor circling low down just above the track. Initially we thought it was going to land, but alas it didn't and continued further along the track before sailing up and into the trees. A couple of minutes later and we had the sighting of the day: a female Silver-washed Fritillary f. valesina. This is the first valesina that I've seen in Lincolnshire, so a historic day for me, but it didn't hang around for us to get a photograph and we were left rueing what could have been! However, a little further down the ride a second valesina caught our attention. This was definitely a second individual because it was marked slightly differently. We managed to get a quick photograph of this one before it headed into deep cover and out of sight. By now the cloud had cleared significantly and the heat of the sun brought with it an increase in butterfly activity. In particular, we went on to see a further 4 male Purple Emperors of which the last one was grounded, which made a welcome change!
• Richard Doan reported: "A female Purple Emperor at Swinn Wood this morning along with 4 White Admirals."
• Kev Graham emailed: "We saw a White Admiral on our walk this morning in Manby, near Louth. Didn't have a camera with me and despite going back, it had disappeared 15 minutes later."

Thursday 14th July 2022

• Phil Bowler emailed: "The Southrey Wood mission was a huge disappointment, mainly because the weather went against the forecast and there was very little sun. So no Purple Emperor on the track as had been reported yesterday - plenty of Nymphalids warming up on the ground though: 3 brand new Red Admirals, a very worn Painted Lady, 3 Commas, male Silver-washed Fritillary and 17 Peacock. The Silver-washed were another disappointment - only 3 of each sex seen and curiously the males were much fresher than the badly worn females. One attempted to lay an egg on my trouser and then tried thistle stems instead! There were no White-letter Hairstreaks down on the thistles in the bottom corner of the reserve (or anywhere), and I only saw 3 Purple Hairstreaks. Just the one female Common Blue and 2 Brown Argus. No Brimstones were evident and the Whites counted: 5 Large, 3 Small and 26 Green-veined. Just 4 Small Skippers and 3 Large. Gatekeepers were very fresh and seemingly all male - 16 seen. Meadow Brown totalled 40 and as ever, the real numbers were reserved for the Ringlet - 190. Only day-flying moths seen were a Blood-vein and a Silver Y."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "Today I found 4 Purple Hairstreaks in Town's Holt, and this is just one site where I've come across this species in the Grimsby area recently. The others are as follows: 25 Dixon's Wood on 13th, 35 Bradley Woods on 11th, 28 Weelsby Woods on 10th and 2 People's Park on 9th."            
• Derek Fox emailed: "I cannot believe my luck! Just came back from Welton and this big butterfly was nectaring on the Buddleia nearest to my house at Langworth. It was a female Silver-washed Fritillary!

 

Wednesday 13th July 2022

 

• Chris Atkin messaged: "Visited Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR today, and had a Wall just south of Paradise Wood gate. I haven't heard of any other sightings of 2nd generation Wall on the wing at the moment, so I think this might be a slightly early one. Lots of butterflies about and it was great to see a Hummingbird Hawk-moth on Viper's Bugloss."
• Pete Cawdell emailed: "On Sunday I spent the day at Grimsthorpe Estate covering for Chris and Susan Howes doing their four transects. In the wall to wall sunshine it actually took me 6 hours from when I started the 1st until I finished the 4th! Anyway there were plenty of butterflies about and I counted and identified 808 of 21 species. Highlights were 76 Marbled White, 31 Dark Green Fritillary, 6 Silver-washed Fritillary, 10 Purple Hairstreak and 1 White-letter Hairstreak. Furthermore, on Monday Chris tells me he had a sighting of a Purple Emperor - the first he has seen there in his 25 years as Park Ranger and living on the Estate. (One was also reported to him by a visitor last year."

Tuesday 12th July 2022

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "On Sunday 24th July I'm helping Dave Wright with the Butterfly Walks at the 'Wild Wilsford' event. With that in mind, I had to take my son to Grantham station today and passed through Wilsford, so I decided to do a quick recce at the Quarry. It was overcast, but really warm, and I only had 10 minutes there. I saw about a dozen Meadow Browns there before I walked around the back of the playing field. As I was stood behind the goal I looked up and saw a large butterfly gliding around an Ash tree. I initially thought (stupidly) that it looked a bit like a Purple Emperor, so I paid it more attention and had a good look at it. Lo and behold, it WAS a male Purple Emperor!!! It circled round and landed two feet in front of me on the embankment. You could have knocked me over with a feather! 
• David Broome emailed: "An hour and a half at Morkery Wood this morning produced 10 butterfly species, including 3 Purple Emperor, 11 Silver-washed Fritillary logged (difficult to be totally sure how many individuals) and 5 Purple Hairstreak."
• Martin Meechan emailed: "I visited Chambers Farm Wood today, but not many butterflies on the wing, in the cloudy, and sometimes showery conditions. The highlights were seeing a Purple Emperor on the ground, half a dozen pristine Peacocks and a similar number of Silver-washed Fritillaries."

Monday 11th July 2022

• David Broome emailed: "I had opportunity for a first to visit to Bourne Woods today during a work-related trip to Lincolnshire. Butterflies seen included 1 Purple Emperor gliding off an Oak not far NW of the car park, 1 White Admiral, minimum 9 Silver-washed Fritillary and 5 Purple Hairstreak."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "The transect at Rimac today produced the following: "201 Small/Essex Skipper, 6 Green-veined White, 1 Small Copper, 121 Gatekeeper, 123 Meadow Brown, 146 Ringlet, 8 Small Heath and a Common Blue seen off transect route."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped At Mill Hill at Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and managed 616

   

  

  moths of 134 species. New macros for the year were the following: Clay, Cloaked Minor, Coast Dart, Crescent Striped, Currant Pug, Dot Moth, Ear Moth agg, Fen Wainscot, Haworth's Pug, Lackey, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Cream Wave, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lyme Grass, Rosy Minor, Shaded Broad-bar, Shore Wainscot, Small Dotted Buff and Twin-spotted Wainscot."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "Recently I had a fabulous first visit to Chambers Farm Wood, so much so I ventured back today. I enjoyed at least 6 Purple Emperors,

   

  

  but none as obliging as that of last Wednesday. Attached is an image of one on dog poo. A few White Admirals and plenty of Silver-washed Fritillaries about, but all very mobile. Purple Hairstreak still in reasonable numbers as well as other usual supporting cast."

Sunday 10th July 2022

 

• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "At last! After all these years and having many mature elms in the garden and close by, we finally see White-letter Hairstreak for definite. I even managed the attached photo of one quite high up in an ash tree. Three seen in total, hopefully this is the start of our very own breeding colony in our butterfly garden."
• Suzanne Nelson messaged: "Today I visited Crowle Moors and noted the following species:

   

  

  Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small White, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and only 4 Large Heath."
• Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "Had a fresh second brood Holly Blue in the garden today."

Saturday 9th July 2022

 

• Dave Wright reported: "This morning I met up with Laura Gundy at Sotby Wood and spent an enjoyable few hours searching for butterflies. The highlight was undoubtedly 2 Purple Emperor sightings along the main track from the car park. We also saw 2 female White-letter Hairstreaks, egg-laying low down on the Elm further along this track. Nearby, a Silver-washed Fritillary made an appearance and was a first for both of us at this site. We also counted a staggering 395 Ringlets! Other species noted

   

  

  included the following: 5 White Admiral, 13 Purple Hairstreak, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 9 Comma, 56 Meadow Brown, 52 Gatekeeper, 13 Large White, 3 Small White, 21 Green-veined White, 16 Large Skipper, 26 Small Skipper, 3 Speckled Wood and a very fresh Brown Argus. Moths included a single Hummingbird Hawk-moth, 2 Dingy Footman, a Common Carpet and a mating pair of Yellow-tails. It was also great to hear and see a Turtle Dove in a recently felled area, sadly a very rare occurrence these days!"
• Suzanne Nelson messaged: "I visited Risby Warren today and here is my list: numerous Meadow

   

  

  Brown and Ringlet, 13 Gatekeeper, 15 Grayling, 5 Dark Green Fritillary, 50 Small Heath, 1 Large White, 4 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Painted Lady, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small Copper, and numerous Small Skipper."
• Graham Catley messaged: "I had at least 14 Essex Skippers today at Alkborough Flats, but got

   

  

  the impression that they were just getting going. Last week I had 1000+ Meadow Browns on a rewilding site I am monitoring at Searby."
• Alan Daws emailed: "Today I called in at Swinn Wood LWT Nature Reserve near Aby. There were lots of butterflies about, including 4 White Admirals."
• Derek Fox from Langworth emailed: "Today in my garden I had one fresh Peacock and one fresh female Brimstone. Yesterday another Hummingbird Hawk-moth made an appearance, nectaring on the buddleia. This is the third one I have seen this year!"
• Gary Fenwick emailed: "I went to Chambers Farm Wood today and had a great four hours! I saw the following: 3 or 4 Purple Emperor, 15+ Silver-washed Fritillary, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Gatekeeper, 60+ Meadow Brown, 10+ White Admiral, 2 Comma, 30+ Ringlet, 3 Speckled Wood, 15+ Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Brimstone, several Large White, and lots of Small and Green-veined White."
• Roy Harvey emailed: "Sadly, we saw no Purple Emperors at Chambers Farm Wood today,

   

  

  although one or two were reported by others. We did not see Purple Hairstreaks, but others did. I did not do any counting, but to give an idea there were 25+ Silver-washed Fritillaries and 20+ White Admirals. As you might expect, there was an abundance of Meadow Browns and Ringlets. Other species noted: Large White, Green-veined White, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Gatekeeper."

 

Friday 8th July 2022

• Phil Bowler emailed: "Today I trudged my way to Chambers Farm Wood in the heat, but it was worth the effort. Star of the day was the Silver-washed Fritillary: 16 seen in total but only one female, so plenty of time to still see them fresh. White admirals were mainly still fresh - 11 seen. Purple Emperors were mainly keeping to the tree tops, but I saw 3 at ground level out of a total of 10, including a female in an Ash tree. Only 4 Purple Hairstreaks were seen, but no White -letter Hairstreaks. Ringlets were the most numerous with 124 clicked. Only 2 Gatekeepers - running late! A brand new male Brimstone was encountered plus 3 Peacocks. Small Tortoiseshells scored 15 and I saw 8 Commas, all of the hutchinsoni form. Making up the rest were: 6 Large Skipper, 2 Small Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper, 6 Large White, 2 Small White, 22 Green-veined White, 4 Speckled Wood and 16 Meadow Brown. Unfortunately the road works are way off completion."
• Stuart Mackman emailed: "Visited Chambers Farm Wood this afternoon, the approach road and

   

  

  car park are still closed to visitors, but I parked at the entrance on Hoop Lane and walked into the wood hoping to photograph some butterflies. I saw only 1 Purple Emperor near the visitor centre, but he was uncooperative and didn't settle. Similarly, spotted 8 Purple Hairstreaks at the very top of the Oak trees, but unfortunately too far away for any photographs. Better luck next time! However, there were still others to see with many Silver-washed Fritillaries, a few White Admirals, lots of Ringlets and 3 Hummingbird Hawk-moths. 

 

Thursday 7th July 2022

 

• Dave Wright reported: "The cloudy conditions in the Grimsby area this morning, gradually gave way and it became quite warm and sunny, with a light breeze. Therefore, I decided to pay another visit to Long Strip Wood on Immingham Dock, a site where I recently saw my first White-letter Hairstreaks of the year. This species can be elusive at the best of times, but I spent a magical hour around midday watching at least 15 of these special little butterflies. Most of them were 'buzzing' around the tops of the Elm and accompanying Oak and Ash, occasionally descending onto Elm sucker re-growth, where I managed to get the attached record shot. The wood also produced 5 Gatekeeper (my first of the year), 25 Ringlet, 1 Large White, 4 Green-veined White, 2 Speckled Wood, 2 Comma and a single Red Admiral. Nearby, at North Beck Drain, I had a further 10 Gatekeeper, 1 Small Heath and 1 Small Skipper."
• Owen Beaumont messaged: "I got out for the Rimac transect this afternoon with the clear blue

   

  

  skies. 83 Small Skipper, 10 Essex Skipper, 33 Small/Essex Skipper, 5 Green-veined White, 2 Small Copper, 1 Speckled Wood, 40 Gatekeeper, 86 Meadow Brown, 129 Ringlet and 10 Small Heath. A Silver-washed Fritillary was seen by John Walker at Churchill Lane this afternoon, before flying south. It had been seen briefly at Brickyard Lane, just after lunchtime, but only identified as a fritillary sp. at the time."
• Andrew Kurch phoned: "On the 29th June I found 9 Purple Hairstreaks (my first of the year), on my local patch, just off Westward Ho in Grimsby. This evening I returned and saw a staggering 42, by far my highest count for this site! Earlier in the day I noted: 2 Essex Skipper, 33 Small Skipper, 125 Ringlet, 12 Meadow Brown, 2 Gatekeeper and a single Holly Blue. I also found a huge female Privet Hawk-moth in the long grass."
• David Goff emailed: "Graylings out in good numbers today at Risby Warren. Also in high double figures - Small Heath, Skippers, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers. Also, 3 Dark Green Fritillaries!"

Wednesday 6th July 2022: Clouded Yellow at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR!

• Pete Roworth reported: "On two occasions this morning, a bright yellow butterfly 'fizzed' through my garden at Sea View. It was too small for a Brimstone and I'm almost certain it was a Clouded Yellow!"
• David Goff emailed: "I spent a pleasant hour at West Wood, Broughton today. Apart from the usual suspects - Ringlets and Meadow Browns - I came across 3 Essex Skippers, 2 Brown Argus and 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries."
• Nige Lound emailed: "I trapped at Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point NNR overnight and had 479 moths

   

  

  of 86 species. New for the year macros were Antler Moth, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Brown-line Bright-eye, Dotted Fanfoot, Iron Prominent, July Highflyer, Large Twin-spot Carpet, Mouse Moth, Scalloped Oak, and the highlight was another new moth for me in the form of a Small Mottled Willow."
• Helen Kirk emailed: "I managed to photograph the attached Purple Emperor at Chambers Farm Wood today, quite an amazing

   

  

  find given the dull weather. Other species observed were White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak (including the attached image), and very mobile Silver-washed Fritillaries, as well as the usual supporting cast. It was the first time I'd visited this site and given the weather I'd not expected the two gems but was highly delighted they obliged."

 

Tuesday 5th July 2022: Camberwell Beauty at RSPB Frampton Marsh!

• Roy Harvey reported: "This afternoon it was brought to my attention that a Paul Sullivan had seen a Camberwell Beauty at the bottom car park at RSPB Frampton Marsh. Apparently it drifted in and settled close to his car, but before he could grab his camera and take a photograph, it was spooked by a Reed Warbler."
• James Parry emailed: "Ran a moth trap in Louth town centre last night and was surprised to get

   

  

  as many as 12 species, including 2 Swallow-tailed Moths (see attached)."
• Adrian Royle emailed: "Another bike ride over to Chambers Farm Wood today, mostly cloudy but with sunny intervals. Lots of Ringlets, but not much else until the sun popped out at 10:30. White Admirals are still about in good numbers, plus 12 Silver-washed Fritillaries. Of course at this time of the season we all want Purple Emperors, but I only managed 3, 2 high up at Fiveways and another along the main ride, but it was very shy and didn't stick around for a photo shoot."
• Phil Bowler from Amber Hill emailed: "The first Peacocks are out in our garden today, alongside our first 3 Purple Hairstreaks. Exciting!"

Monday 4th July 2022

 

Pete Smith emailed: "As a post-script, I referred this example of a Ringlet aberration from 30th June on to Paul Dunn (author of 'Aberrations of the Ringlet Butterfly') and it now has a name - ab. novem-luscens."

Sunday 3rd July 2022

• Laura Gundy messaged: "This morning I nipped over to Sotby Wood and found a White-letter Hairstreak on Elm sucker regrowth along the main track. Also, 2 Purple Hairstreaks before the sun disappeared." 
• Suzanne Nelson messaged: "Despite the closure of the access road and main car park at Chambers Farm Wood, I paid a visit today and noted the following: 4 Purple Emperor, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 4 White Admiral, 2 Silver-washed Fritillary, 4 Large Skipper, 1 Small Skipper, 40+ Ringlet, 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Large White and 4 Speckled Wood."
• Marian Markham emailed: "I visited Morkery Wood this morning in the sunshine . It was quite busy with butterflies along the track vegetation. These are my counts: 4 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 6 Purple Emperor, 10 Dark Green Fritillary, 5 Ringlet, 1 Meadow Brown and 2 Large Skipper."

Saturday 2nd July 2022

• Lesley Robinson messaged: "Six people (3 from out of county) attended our field trip today at Crowle Moor. 13 Large Heath seen as well as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock larvae, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Comma. A good day, sunny intervals and quite blustery at times."
• John Nelson phoned: "Today I visited my local patch, an area of waste ground just behind Grimsby Town's football ground. It was quite productive for butterflies and I noted the following: 130 Ringlet, 24 Meadow Brown, 35 Large White, 15 Small White, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Common Blue, and several each of Large and Small Skipper. A few Six-spot Burnet moths were also present."

Friday 1st July 2022

 

• Toby Ludlow emailed: "Today I met up with Keith Robinson at Chambers Farm Wood and we enjoyed a few hours searching for Purple Emperors. We had a few brief tree-top sightings before the light level dropped considerably and these sightings dried up. It was almost midday before it brightened up and sightings resumed. When the sun finally broke through, we had a sustained good spell, which included seeing 6 Purple Emperors in one vista. Four of these

   

  

  males were particularly interested in the top of a Sallow tree, and I suspect a female was lurking there, but it was just out of sight so we couldn't confirm that. As we progressed on, I spotted a Comma in flight that was black instead of the usual russet colour, so I knew it would be a good aberration. Fortunately, it settled in front of me, so I immediately took a good look and confirmed it was a Comma ab. suffusa, the most extreme Comma aberration I have seen to date. As I approached with the camera, the Comma annoyingly flew onto my lens, thus preventing me from getting a picture. As I encouraged it off the lens, it took flight again and circled above before landing on my head. I think, as they say, it was extracting the urine!"
• Martin Meechan emailed: "I was down the seafront at Cleethorpes today, photographing bees on Lavender, when a Hummingbird Hawk-moth paid me an all too brief visit. One day I'll manage to get a photo! Butterfly wise, one each of Large White, Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady.
• Roy Harvey messaged: "A quick late afternoon visit to Cress Marsh near Stallingborough, produced lots of butterflies along the main track, including my first Gatekeepers of the Summer. Also Painted Lady and Small White."

 

---

June 2022

Thursday 30th June 2022

 

• Pete Smith emailed: "Early this evening my wife drew my attention to a Ringlet in our back garden which she thought might be mildly aberrant. As is often the case, although it pains me to admit it, she was correct! Although I don't believe it is a recognised named aberration, there is definitely an extra spot in the underside hindwing at S4, and almost an extra un-pupiled spot in S2, with the S2 spot becoming cuneiform, or tear-drop, in shape. It has elements of several other known aberrations, but for now I think it goes down as ab. nov."
• Stuart and Eileen Mackman emailed: "Attached is a photograph of a Privet Hawk-moth seen in our Washingborough garden this afternoon."