And to end the 2019 season, there was a festive sighting of a Red Admiral in London and a second one in the easternmost part of Surrey on the penultimate day of the year
Dec 30
Red Admiral
1
Limpsfield
TQ401528
Sonya Miller-Smith
Dec 25
Red Admiral
1
Balham
TQ290428
Mark Patterson
Red Admirals were again to be seen in November in Horley, Redhill, Surbiton and South Croydon (3rd), Addiscombe (5th), Cranleigh, and Surbiton again (6th), Oxted (7th), Chessington (10th), Kew (13th)
Nov 29
Peacock
1
Richmond Park
TQ197734
Sandra Hucks
Nov 13
Brimstone
1
Chapel Bank
TQ386608
Anna Guerin
Nov 4
Comma
1
North Cheam
TQ239658
David Sykes
Nov 3
Small Tortoiseshell
1
Addlestone
TQ054643
Toni Sawyer
Latest sightings: Red Admirals continue to be seen across our area in the latter part of October (noted in Walton-on-Thames, Reigate, Coulsdon, Cheam, West Horsley, Croydon and Wimbledon), and Speckled Woods to a lesser extent (Surbiton, Rotherhithe).
Oct 27
Painted Lady
1
West Humble
TQ164518
Mike Weller
Oct 27
Peacock
1
South Godstone
TQ350525
Richard Stephens
Oct 22
Brimstone
1
Godstone Farm
TQ353509
Sue Smith
Oct 22
Brimstone
1
Epsom, Castle Heath
TQ197598
Helen Middlemas
Oct 22
Painted Lady
1
Surbiton
TQ170660
Marian Thomas
Oct 22
Speckled Wood
1
Epsom, Castle Heath
TQ197598
Helen Middlemas
Oct 20
Comma
1
Chaldon
TQ316563
Brian Smith
Oct 15
Peacock
1
Ashtead Common
TQ169595
Pamela Harwood
Oct 15
Meadow Brown
1
Box Hill, Dukes
TQ183151
Ken Owen
Oct 14
Small White
1
Globe Theatre, London
TQ320805
Charles Farrell
Oct 14
Long-tailed Blue
1(m)
Addlestone
TQ361365
Kathy Miller
Oct 10
Large White
1
Compton
SU958473
Bill Downey
Oct 10
Silver-washed Fritillary
1
Vann, Hambledon
SU983374
Mary Caroe
Oct 10
Clouded Yellow
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ377621
Martin Wills
Product of Godstone egg
Oct 10
Long-tailed Blue
1
Godstone
TQ353475
Richard Stephens
Oct 9
Painted Lady
1
Vann, Hambledon
SU983374
Mary Caroe
Oct 7
Humming-bird Hawk-moth
1
Balham
TQ290726
Nicholas Moll
Oct 6
Small Copper
1
Puttenham Common
SU914465
Steve Marshall
The last days of September saw Brown Hairstreaks still on the wing at Gatwick and Redhill (28th); Common Blues were noted in Reigate and Carshalton (28th). The particularly wet, cool weather in early October restricted sightings. Early in the month, Comma, Large and Small White, Small Copper, Small Heath, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral were still to be seen.
Sep 26
Small Tortoiseshell
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ384614
Martin Wills
Sep 21
Small Blue
m
Howell Hill
TQ238620
Marian Thomas
Sep 14
White Admiral
1
Bookham Common
TQ126562
Stephen Middleton
Sep 11
Long-tailed Blue
1
Strood Green
TQ200481
Julia Hatto
Aug 26 Long-tailed Blue returns to Godstone garden. Larvae (above) now emerging! Richard Stephens
Nearest Brown Hairstreak yet to Central London
Aug 24
Brown Hairstreak
f
Tooting Common
TQ289722
Alan Wilkinson
Richard Stephens, female egg-laying on everlasting pea
The Silver-spotted Skipper has spread along the Downs, with sightings at Fetcham Downs, Polesden Lacey and Juniper Hill.
Evidence of spread of Silver-spotted Skipper. Peter Brown
Aug 6
Silver-spotted Skipper
1
Juniper Hill
TQ175525
Peter Brown
Aug 4
Long-tailed Blue
f
Caterham
TQ324561
Mike Bromley
On sweet pea in garden of branch member Mike Bromley.
Aug 3
Glanville Fritillary
2nd brood
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ380618
Stephan Morris
Jul 28
Graylings
fem right
Pirbright Ranges
SU918554
Peter Cureton
All Surrey & SW London's 42 species of butterfly have now been seen
Jul 22
Brown Hairstreak
m
Ashtead Common
TQ174588
John Stather
Gary Margetts
Jul 20: one of 9 Silver-spotted Skippers reported from Headley Warren by Gary Margetts
Jul 17
Silver-spotted Skipper
1
Norbury Park
TQ153549
Julia Collyer
Jul 10
Silver-washed Fritillary
Ab. occelata or valesina
f
Capel
TQ187482
Nick Ward
Nick Ward
Following the abnormally early sighting of a Chalkhill Blue on Jun 2, the first Chalkhills appearing in their usual July period were reported on Box Hill Dukes on Jul 10 by the NT/BC working party
The Silver-studded Blues are a first at this location
Jul 7
Silver-studded Blue
fem R
Brookwood Cemetery
SU952567
Peter Cureton
Peter Cureton
Jul 6, New Members' Day walk on Ashtead Common (fully subscribed by late May): 18 species, incl 5 Purple Emperors & 3 White Admirals.
Jul 6
Grayling
1
Dawney Hill
SU952567
Peter Cureton
Jun 29
Silver-washed Fritillary
ab. ocellata
1
Bookham Common
TQ123565
Marian Thomas
Marian Thomas
Jun 28
Dark Green Fritillary
3m, 1f
Tugley Wood
SU982332
Francis Kelly
Jun 26
Gatekeeper
1
Fairmile Common
TQ117617
Marian Thomas
Marian Thomas
Jun 26
Essex Skipper
3
Hurst Meadows,
East Molesey
TQ144690
Mick Rock
Over the last two weeks of June an increasing number of Painted Ladies have been seen across Surrey, London and the UK. An invasion is clearly taking place. Jenny Desoutter's photo (Jun 24) was one of a flock seen in Norbury Park. At least 50 were seen over two days (Jun 23-24) in Richmond Park.
Jun 22
Purple Hairstreak
1
Bookham Common
TQ132568
Alan Lobb
Jun 22
Clouded Yellow
1
Ashtead Common
TQ178602
Frank Boxell
Jun 22
Dark Green Fritillary
1
Chiddingfold
SU986336
Andrew Reekie
Sherry Pentek
Jun 20
Purple Emperor
1
Richmond Park
TQ200723
Sherry Pentek
Jun 17
Purple Emperor
1
Bookham Common
TQ123567
Rob Hill
Jun 17
White Admiral
1
Bagmoor Common
SU920429
John Tallon
Jun 16
Silver-washed Fritillary
1
WWT Barnes
TQ227767
John Stacey
Jun 15
Small Skipper
1
North Sheen
TQ191753
Eleanor Heys
Jun 14
Ringlet
1
Hill Park,
Tatsfield
TQ422560
Jim & Ruth
Yeeles
Jun 9
White-letter Hairstreak
6
Tooting Common
TQ288715
Alan Wilkinson
Jun 8
Marbled White
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ136502
Mike Thurner
Jun 6
Dark Green Fritillary
1
Denbies Landbarn
TQ134499
Gail Jeffcoate
Jun 6
Silver-studded Blue
2
Fairmile Common
TQ117616
Gary Margetts
Jun 2
Chalkhill Blue (f)
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ139409
Martin Wills/
Branch walk
Painted Ladies were seen over the first weekend of June in Tatsfield, Brockwell Park and on the group's Denbies Hillside walk.
May 25
Glanville Fritillary
4
Wrecclesham
SU847446
Pauline Richards
May 23
Small Copper
ab. schmidtii
1
Tadworth
TQ235552
Nicola Sainsbury
May 22
Meadow Brown
3
Chipstead Downs
TQ271580
Brian Gardner
May 22
Large Skipper
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ380618
Stephan Morris
May 20
Small Blue
170
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ379619
Martin Wills
May 11
Adonis Blue
2
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ382615
Martin Wills
May 11
Small Blue
20
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ379619
Martin Wills
May 10
Wood White
10
Chiddingfold
TQ027346
David Hasell
May 7
Brown Argus
1
Burgess Park
TQ327775
Simon Saville
1
Newlands Corner
TQ0449
Steve Chastell
Apr 22
Common Blue
1
Box Hill Dukes
TQ184511
Ken Owen
Apr 21
Small Heath
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ133499
Marian Thomas
Apr 20
Glanville Fritillary
1
Hutchinson's
Bank
TQ379619
Martin Wills
Apr 18
Grizzled Skipper
6
Oxted Downs
TQ387543
Richard Stephens
Apr 18
Dingy Skipper
7
Oxted Downs
TQ387543
Richard Stephens
Three weeks of cool, cloudy weather finally dissipated in the last week of March; the rising temperatures and return of sunshine brought out all our hibernators, with Small Tortoiseshell being noted in eight locations (see i-record for details). However, two weeks of cold weather returned with persistent easterly winds negating the effects of the sunshine. Spring only truly arrived with the approach of the late Easter weekend, bringing sightings of Green Hairstreaks, including three at Gangers Hill, and our first Skippers.
Photos: Richard Stephens
Apr 17
Small Copper
1
West Hanger
TQ064489
Ken Elsom
Apr 17
Grizzled Skipper
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ152501
Bill Downey
Apr 17
Dingy Skipper
1
Denbies Secretaries
TQ151501
Bill Downey
Apr 11
Painted Lady
1
The Oval
TQ310777
David Hasell
Apr 10
Large White
1
Chessington
TQ179653
Nigel Jackman
Apr 1
Green Hairstreak
1
Headley Heath
TQ192539
Gary Margetts
Mar 30
Small Copper
1
Chobham Common N
SU968656
Chris Lamsdell
Mar 25
Speckled Wood
2
Molesey Heath
TQ135675
David Hasell
Mar 25
Speckled Wood
1
Sheen Common
TQ195745
Sarah Elliott
Mar 24
Green-veined
White
1
Cranleigh
TQ059398
Neil Willis
Mar 24
Small White
1
Salfords
TQ300461
Jo Hurren
Mar 24
Small White
1
Burgess Park
TQ331776
Simon Saville
Mar 24
Orange-tip
m
Cranleigh
TQ082394
Francis Kelly
Feb 27
Holly Blue
1
Reigate Castle
TQ252503
Graham Revill
Last week of Feb: further exceptional weather brought widespread sightings of Brimstones and Red Admirals, the occasional Peacock arousing itself from hibernation, and more Small Tortoiseshells and Commas. Details are on i-record. David Hasell noted 36 Brimstones on Epsom Common on Feb 25; returning on Feb 26 he counted 56 in two hours - the photo of one male is on the Ranger's arm.
Feb 23, first photo of the year: Brimstone (Richard Stephens), one of seven on Oxted Downs
Feb 23
Small Tortoiseshell
2
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ380618
Martin Wills
Feb 21
Humming-bird
Hawk-moth
1
Herne Hill
TQ326740
Peter Roseveare
Mid-Feb: a period of warm weather, some five degrees above the seasonal average, combined with lengthy periods of sunshine, produced a flurry of sightings: Red Admirals: Bookham, Guildford, Leith Hill, Walton-on-Thames, Westhumble & Wisley. Brimstones: Ashtead, Camberley, Chessington, Denbies, Elstead, Farleigh, Frimley, Guildford, Juniper Hall, Redhill, South Godstone & Wisley.