Discover the latest news and sightings from the Southrey Wood butterfly reserve below...

You can report your sightings and send your photos from Southrey Wood to John Davison at: @email

If you would like to visit the site or any of our other sites in Lincolnshire, please take a look at our Events. Work party times usually run from 02.00 till 4.00 p.m. However, any time you can give would be welcomed!

Workparties:  

Sundays - 9.30 am -3.00 pm (or what time you can spare)

12th January - 26th January - 9th February - 23rd February


View the Southrey Wood Blog 2018

Southrey Wood Blog 2019

8th December:
15 volunteers again turned out to continue this years maintenance work. Slight improvement in that the Butterfly Conservation contingent had increased to 4. Still a lot of you still out there.........

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (1)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (1)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (2)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (2)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (3)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (3)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (4)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (4)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (5)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (5)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (6)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (6)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (7)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (7)

 

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (8)
Workparty (John Davison) 081219 (8)


10th November:

15 willing volunteers turned out for the first workparty of the "winter", 12 from the Lincolnshire Organic Gardener's Organisation (LOGO) and 3 from Butterfly Conservation - where are you all(!!!!).
Unfortunately we are down to one chainsaw operator at the moment so would really appreciate any operator out there who could lend a hand.
Still, we made a decent start on, considering recent weather, an exceptionally fine day.

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (1)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (1)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (2)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (2)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (3)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (3)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (4)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (4)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (5)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (5)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (6)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (6)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (7)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (7)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (8)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (8)
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (9)
Workparty (John Davison) 101119 (9)

2nd October:

Southrey Workparty (Derek Fox) 021019
Workparty (Derek Fox) 021019

Workparty continued brushcutting & raking off the ride.
 

Southrey Ride - After (Derek Fox) 021019
Ride - After (Derek Fox) 021019

20th September: Peter Cawdell reports......."This is usually a good time to see Commas in numbers as they are quite obvious nectaring on the remains of blackberries amongst the briar patches. Today I spotted 23 on the Transect which sounds a lot but is actually a bit low compared to recent years. The highlight was a Clouded Yellow flying purposefully south to north along the main ride. I think it was just passing through."

18th September:

Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 180919
Southrey Workparty (John Davison) 180919
Southrey Ride - Before & After (John Davison) 180919
Southrey Ride - Before & After (John Davison) 180919

23rd August: Peter Cawdell reports...."Remarkable numbers of Red Admirals flying today - actually counted 294!
Pete Smith had alerted me to his recent find of several White Admiral larvae. These included a couple on exactly the same sprig of honeysuckle where I followed the progress of one last Autumn and this Spring on this blog.Today I was able to see 2 larvae on leaves with typical feeding damage and them resting on the protruding mid-rib. There was another similar leaf unoccupied ... apparently predation is 'brutal' at this stage. This was on Section 5, I found another unoccupied home on Section 9.

13th August: 

White-letter Hairstreak Hatched Pupa at Southrey (John Davison) 130819
White-letter Hairstreak Hatched Pupa (John Davison) 130819

 

Peter's White-letter Hairstreak pupa finally hatched last week

 

 

 

Quite a few butterflies about in between the showers including 3 White Admiral.

 

 

There was also a Latticed Heath Moth and larvae of Elephant Hawk-moth and Pebble Prominent.

Elephant Hawk-moth Larva at Southrey (John Davison) 130819
Elephant Hawk-moth Larva (John Davison) 130819
Pebble Prominent Larva at Southrey (Johgn Davison) 130819
Pebble Prominent Larva (John Davison) 130819

Other Fauna.........

Green Shieldbug - 2nd Instar at Southrey (John Davison) 130819
Green Shieldbug - 2nd Instar (John Davison) 130819

23rd July:

White Admiral at Southrey (John Davison) 230719
White Admiral (John Davison) 230719

4 people attended the workparty where overhanging branches were cut back on the BC Ride.

Silver-washed Fritillary at Southrey (John Davison) 230719
Silver-washed Fritillary (John Davison) 230719


2 Silver-washed Fritillary were enjoying the Thistles at the end of this ride. Other butterflies on the wing included White Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Small Skipper, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and all the Whites. 

 

16th July: Peter Cawdell reports...

A rewarding Transect this afternoon when I recorded Silver-washed Fritillary for the first time. There was a male flying along the edge of the main Ride up from the Horncastle Road, but this was after I had spent half an hour watching and trying to photograph another very active male at the West end of the New Ride in our BC Lincs Coppice Area. It had staked out some perfect habitat territory, unfortunately along with a Comma, and they spent most of the time chasing each other off their perches. Brief spells were spent nectaring on the tall Marsh Thistles in the Ride. It is about 70 years since this species was last resident in Southrey Wood.

Silver-washed Fritillary at Southrey (Peter Cawdell) 160719
Silver-washed Fritillary (Peter Cawdell) 160719

Peacocks are now flying and also Essex Skipper. There were 2 Purple Hairstreaks down on the gravel - one male, one female - but both a bit worn.

2nd July: Pleasant morning with quite a few White Admiral flying, not so much settling. Meadow Brown and Ringlet plentiful, as were Painted Lady.

Ringlet at Southrey (John Davison) 020719
Ringlet (John Davison) 020719

Dragonflies were also on the wing with Four-spotted Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata at Southrey (Alan Woodward) 020719
Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata (Alan Woodward) 020719

Other Fauna......

Horned Treehopper - Centrotus cornutus at Southrey (John Davison) 020719
Horned Treehopper - Centrotus cornutus (John Davison) 020719
Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth larva at Southrey ( John Davison) 020719
Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth larva ( John Davison) 020719

28th June: Jill Hall reports...."Several White Admiral butterflies on the wing today at Southrey."

White Admiral at Southrey (Jill Hall) 280619 (1)
White Admiral (Jill Hall) 280619 (1)
White Admiral at Southrey (Jill Hall) 280619 (2)
White Admiral (Jill Hall) 280619 (2)

25th June: Workarty cancelled due to rain.

21st June: Peter Cawdell reports......
My Butterfly Transect this afternoon produced the first White Admiral of the season when a fresh male descended to nectar on bramble flowers. Another first were a couple of Ringlets. Meadow Browns had increased in numbers to half a dozen. There were a couple of Speckled Woods and a newly hatched male Common Blue, and also a very active Painted Lady. The White-letter Hairstreak pupa had still not hatched but it is very dark coloured now. Sunshine was in short supply but it didn't seem to bother the Broad-Bordered Bee-hawk Moths who continued to buzz round the Ragged Robin flowers regardless. Again there were a couple of Cinnabar moths in evidence.

17th June: Peter Cawdell reports.......
Just 11 butterflies made an appearance this afternoon during my Butterfly Transect. This was the first suitable butterfly weather for some time but the improved temperature of 22C was spoilt somewhat by a gusty Southerly wind. Along the main Ride from the Horncastle Road there were 2 Painted Ladies, a Red Admiral, a male Large Skipper and a female Orange Tip, plus a Large White. There was also a fresh Meadow Brown - my first sighting of this species this year - which Is a true summer butterfly. A few Broad Bordered Bee Hawk Moths were humming around the expansive stands of Ragged Robin and a Cinnabar moth made a few characteristically clumsy fly- byes. 

Common Spotted Orchids and Yellow Meadow Vetchling are now in full flower along many of the rides and the Marsh Thistles are nearly out. It is getting towards that humid feel of the woods which I associate with the White Admiral flight period ... but a few more days to go yet. Within our Coppice Reserve there were just 3 Speckled Woods and a male Brimstone flying. The White-letter Hairstreak pupa is about to hatch and there were at least 5 Brimstone larvae on an Alder Buckthorn shrub.

3rd June:

Peacock at Southrey 030619 (Peter Cawdell)
Peacock 030619 (Peter Cawdell)

Peter reports..........

Red Admiral at Southrey 030619 (Peter Cawdell)
Red Admiral 030619 (Peter Cawdell)

Red Admiral Immigrant

& Last years Peacock

still hanging in there

 

 

1st June:

Ragged Robin at Southrey 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
Ragged Robin 010619 (Peter Cawdell)

 

Not many butterflies around on today's transect but plenty of interesting things to see indicating plentiful days ahead. The White Admiral larva has now disappeared .. no doubt gone off to pupate in some out of the way crevice in the tree bark. Expect to see adults on the wing from the middle of June. A White-letter Hairstreak larva I found a week ago has now pupated and is well hidden amongst the Wych Elm leaves. Orange-tip eggs are ripening to bright orange beneath the Lady's Smock flower heads and Brimstone larvae are sprinkled at the tips of the Alder Buckthorn leaves.

 

Brimstone Larvae at Southrey 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
Brimstone larvae 010619 (Peter Cawdell)

There were some butterflies - a few remaining Green-veined Whites, a couple of Brown Argus, a Speckled Wood, male and female Orange Tips, and several Marsh Fritillary eminating from the population explosion at nearby Chambers Farm Woods NNR. I was delighted to see an active Red Admiral .. a vanguard for the usual early June immigration of this species.
Some lovely fresh dragonflies out as well.

 

 

Male Broad-bodied Chaser at Southrey 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
Male Broad-bodied Chaser 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
Four-spotted Chaser at Southrey 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
Four-spotted Chaser 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
White-letter Hairstreak pupa at Southrey 010619 (Peter Cawdell)
White-letter Hairstreak pupa 010619 (Peter Cawdell)

May 28th: Philip Johnson saw 8 Marsh Fritillary.

April 30th: 

Southrey Ride - Before 300419
Southrey Ride - Before (John Davison) 300419

 

Southrey Ride - After 300419
Southrey Ride - After (John Davison) 300419

Andy, Peter & myself turned out for the workparty and managed to finish brushcutting the ride and cut back the encroaching scrub.

 

 

 

 

 

Judging by the flora, the ride has certainly improved.

 

 

Orange-tip on Bugle 300419
Orange-tip on Bugle (John Davison) 300419

Lots of Orange-tip about together with Green-veined White, Peacock, Brimstone and Speckled Wood.
 

Mating Green-veined Whites 300419
Mating Green-veined Whites (John Davison) 300419
Early-purple Orchids 300419 (1)
Early-purple Orchids (John Davison) 300419 (1)
Early-purple Orchids 300419 (2)
Early-purple Orchids (John Davison) 300419 (2)

 

 

 

Early-purple Orchids are now in full flower.
 

 

 

White Admiral larva 300419
White Admiral larva (John Davison) 300419

 

 

 

Pete's White Admiral larva continues to grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Fauna..............

14 Spot ladybird - Propylea quattuordecimpunctata 300419
14 Spot ladybird - Propylea quattuordecimpunctata (John Davison) 300419
Lacebug Tachycixius pilosus 300419
Lacebug Tachycixius pilosus (John Davison) 300419


April 24th: Peter Cawdell reports.......

White Admiral Larva at Southrey 240419
White Admiral Larva (Peter Cawdell) 240419

"The White Admiral larva that Pete Smith found earlier ... I have been keeping an eye on this caterpillar since it left its winter hibernaculum about a month ago. It has survived the cold spell and is now feeding on the honeysuckle leaves every day, very near where it started life as an egg last summer. This is on section 6 of my weekly butterfly transect. Sorry about the poor picture but I left my better camera at home! Another highlight this week was nearly stepping on a Grass Snake basking on the New Ride which we have just cut on our work afternoon.

Early Purple flower spikes now number 106 in our special deer protective enclosure. Also 2 the other side of the Primrose Ride and 26 along the ditch-side at the side of the Viking Way that runs to the south of the wood. Still several of the overwintered butterflies flying ... Peacock, Comma, and Brimstone and a few 2019 edition whites - Small (inc. a mating pair), Green-veined  and Large Whites, and Orange Tips. Only 1 Speckled Wood sighted so far. The Brimstones are also laying eggs on the Buckthorn."

April 9th: 

Southrey Ride - Before 090419
Southrey Ride - Before 090419
Common Lizard at Southrey 090419
Common Lizard at Southrey 090419

Quite a nice day for the first Spring/Summer workparty. 5 volunteers turned out and we managed to cut and rake a section of the Ride as well as cutting overhanging branches  and regrowth to let the light in and encourage the flora. It seems to work as the flowers are looking spectacular at the moment and more to come as the Early Marsh-orchids are just starting to show colour.
A couple of Peacocks were flying as was a Buzzard overhread and the Lizard basking on a log.

Southrey Ride - After 090419
Southrey Ride - After 090419

March 10th: Last workparty of the winter, so a mad rush to get all the brash cleared away. Thanks to all who helped out over the year.

Southrey Workparty 100319 (2)
Southrey Workparty 100319 (1)
Southrey Workparty 100319 (3)
Southrey Workparty 100319 (2)

February 25th: Peter Cawdell reports...."Comma fluttering around in the strong sunshine. landing on the dried vegetation I was raking up near the seat area.
Brimstone male flying on the Main Ride from the Horncastle Road. Pete Smith showed me a tiny White Admiral larvae he had found, half out of its hibernaculum, attached to a withered honeysuckle leaf ... amazing eyesight he has! He photographed it with his 'phone (below)."

White Admiral larva in hibernaculum 250218
White Admiral larva in hibernaculum 250218

February 24th: Peter Cawdell saw 2 Peacocks, out of hibernation and flying around. Colts-foot, a good nectar source for these early butterflies, is out flowering already.

February 17th: A lovely sunny day as 7 volunteers continued the Winter work.

Southrey Workparty 170219 (1)
Southrey Workparty 170219 (1)
Southrey Workparty 170219 (3)
Southrey Workparty 170219 (3)

February 3rd: Southrey Wood was one of the clues in Radio Lincolnshire's Pirate Gold treasure hunt. Here Steve Green meets Rachel Baynton with the next clue in the hunt.

Rachel Baynton & Steve Green - Radio Lincolnshire Pirate Gold 030219
Rachel Baynton & Steve Green - Radio Lincolnshire Pirate Gold 030219

Steve then returned to help the other 9 volunteers who turned out on this cold but beautiful morning to continue this year's work.

Southrey Workparty 030219 (1)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (1)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (2)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (2)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (3)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (3)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (4)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (4)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (5)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (5)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (6)
Southrey Workparty 030219 (6)

January 6th: A few volunteers dusted off the cobwebs and tried to shed a few seasonal pounds by continuing the work on this winter's square (?).

Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (1)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (1)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (3)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (3)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (4)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (4)

 

Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (5)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (5)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (6)
Southrey Workparty by Philip Johnson 060119 (6)