Southrey Wood Blog 2024

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 via email.

If you would like to visit the site or any of our other sites in Lincolnshire, please take a look at our Events.
2024 Workparties:
Dates arranged are as follows. (All 10 til 3ish)
T.B.A

It is area 1 this winter, the piece nearest the eastern car park. This is a large area and may not get finished so as many volunteers as possible please.

At present, we are still not able to use chainsaws so are limited to hand tools only, and will just have to get on as best we can.

As a consequence, I would ask that people who can come out help cutting down the trees and shrubs, rather than just taking out wood for themselves- we can spend so time towards the end of the day clearing out cut material.

View the Southrey Wood Blog 2023

Southrey Wood Blog 2024

Thursday 29th August
Nice sunny morning.
Lots of Red Admirals about today, especially on the Devil's-bit Scabious.

Southrey Butterflies (John Davison) 290824 — Clockwise: Peacock, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral

Other butterflies included Large & Small White, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Comma.

Tuesday 13th August
Warm morning with the Devil's-bit Scabious now in full flower.

Devil's-bit Scabious at Southrey (John Davison) 130824 — Devil's-bit Scabious (John Davison) 130824

Butterflies included Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Brimstone, Large, Small & Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Peacock and Silver-washed Fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritilary at Southrey (John Davison) 130824 — Silver-washed Fritilary (John Davison) 130824

There was also a couple of Eyed Hawk-moth Larva on sallow.

Eyed Hawk-moth Larva at Southrey (John Davison) 130824 — Eyed Hawk-moth Larva (John Davison) 130824

Friday 19th July
Very warm morning but still surprisingly few butterflies on the wing (quantity-wise).
Large, Small & Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Ringlet & Gatekeeper and a couple of Silver-washed Fritillary.

Silver-washed Fritillary at Southrey (John Davison) 190724

Wednesday 17th July
Peter Cawdell reports.........
Set off about mid-day along main ride from Horncastle Road towards turning circle. Quite warm with sunny periods:

5 White Admiral, flitting, gliding and nectaring on bramble flowers.

2 Red Admiral (m), guarding territories down on track.

2 Purple Hairstreak, one flew up off flowers, other one flitting around low oak branches.

About 10 Meadow Brown.

About 24 Ringlet.

2 Gatekeeper.

6 Large White.

4 Green-veined White.

2 Brimstone (f).

1 Comma.

1 Silver-washed Fritillary, flying fast along ride.

A fox walked towards me quite close as I Stood still and it didn't notice me.

In our Coppice Area clouds had taken over and it cooled off rapidly:

20 Ringlet.

14 Meadow Brown

2 Gatekeeper.

1 Essex Skipper (m), in New Ride.

1 Small Skipper (f), in New Ride.

3 Green-veined White.

Thursday 27th June
Warm morning with intermittent sun.
First Silver-washed of the year together with White Admiral, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Large Skipper and Green-veined White.