This page, edited by Ken Owen, is for first/notable sightings. Please email [email protected] with date, species, number, site, grid ref, your name and any comment.
For general records, please use iRecord website or iRecord Butterflies app
More details are on our Recording Page
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Also see: National 1st sightings & Archive 2015+
The record warmth of the last days of December continued into 2022
Dec 30 | Red Admiral | 1 | Walworth Garden, SE17 | TQ319780 | Simon Saville |
Dec 29 | Red Admiral | 1 | Surbiton | TQ1766 | Marian Thomas |

Nov 23 | Red Admiral | 1 | Dorking | TQ165504 | Jenny Desoutter |

Nov 22 | Red Admiral | 1 | Mercers Lake | TQ295517 | Gordon Hay |

Nov 22 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Wimbledon | TQ265708 | Richard Thomas |
The exceptionally mild and sunny weather in the third week of November has brought out a remarkable number of species
Nov 18 | Red Admiral | 1 | Westcott | TQ139487 | Sandra Preston |
Nov 18 | Brimstone | 1 | Denbies | TQ145527 | Tim Bright |
Nov 18 | Brimstone | 1 | Hammerwood Common | TQ172465 | Roger Lee |
Nov 18 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Tooting Common | TQ294718 | Alan Wilkinson |
Nov 17 | Red Admiral | 1 | Clandon Wood | TQ045512 | Matt Phelps |
Nov 17 | Small Tortoiseshell | 1 | Reigate Heath | TQ237500 | Jo Hurren |
Nov 16 | Peacock | 1 | Gt Bookham | TQ145517 | Tim Bright |
Nov 16 | Red Admiral | 1 | Addington Golf Course | TQ367643 | Peter Frost |
Nov 16 | Red Admiral | 1 | Chertsey | TQ044667 | Steven Penn |
Nov 12 | Red Admiral | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ186728 | Nigel Jackman |
Nov 12 | Large White | 1 | Westhumble | TQ167513 | Tim Bright |
Nov 11 | Peacock | 1 | Gt Bookham | TQ134545 | Tim Bright |
Nov 11 | Red Admiral | 1 | Cobham | TQ100605 | Nigel Jackman |
Nov 9 | Small White | 1 | Tooting Common | TQ291719 | Alan Wilkinson |
Nov 7 | Red Admiral | 1 | Denbies | TQ155506 | Tim Bright/Andy Merritt |
Nov 6 | Red Admiral | 1 | Carshalton Beeches | TQ268619 | Keith Fowler |

Nov 2 | Red Admiral | 1 | Surbiton | TQ1766 | Marian Thomas |
Nov 2 | Holly Blue | 1 | Lambeth | TQ311801 | Ian Cunningham |
Nov 1 | Red Admiral | 1 | Warlingham | TQ357587 | Martyn mance |
By the third week of October there were still sightings of Small Copper, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Peacock, and Red Admiral. In the final week the mild weather continued with regular sightings of Red Admiral from London southwards and further sightings of Speckled Wood, Peacock and Brimstone.
Oct 31 | Red Admiral | 1 | Badshot Lea | SU861482 | Roger Deason |
Oct 27 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Spynes Meer | TQ299521 | Richard Perry |
Oct 27 | Brimstone | 1 | Spynes Mere | TQ299521 | Richard Perry |
Oct 27 | Peacock | 1 | Denbies Lodge | TQ161514 | Tim Bright |
Oct 19 | Small Copper | 1 | Lloyd Park, Croydon | TQ341650 | Martyn Mance |
Oct 19 | Brimstone | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
Oct 13 | Comma | 1 | Redhill | TQ278508 | Peter Frost |
Oct 12 | Meadow Brown | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ167513 | Tim Bright |
Oct 10 | Painted Lady | 1 | Ham Lands | TQ166721 | Paul Foulkes-Arellano |
Oct 9 | Small White | 1 | Horsell Allotments | SU989593 | Simon Lumsden |

Oct 6 | White Admiral | 1 (f) | Chilworth | TQ035503 | John Austin |
The last week of September saw 19 species still flying, with single examples of Adonis Blue and Clouded Yellow
Sep 30 | Painted Lady | 1 | South Godstone | TQ354468 | Richard Stephens |
Sep 26 | Clouded Yellow | 1 | Chipstead | TQ270572 | Brian Gardner |
Sep 22 | Adonis Blue | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ136500 | Mark Goodwill |


Sep 21 | Brown Hairstreak | 16 | Tolworth Court Farm | TQ199649 | Stephen Reisbach Marian Thomas |
Tolworth Court Farm Fields continues to be a hotspot for Brown Hairstreaks. Stephen Reisbach and Marian Thomas found 16 females around the site, most clustered around TQ199649.

Sep 18 | Long-tailed Blue (f) | 1 | Croham Hurst, Croydon | TQ338533 | Stephan Moris |
On the 15th September, the start of the second half of the month, there were 22 species reported: Small Copper, Small Heath, Brown Hairstreak, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Holly Blue, Brimstone, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Comma, Silver-washed Fritillary, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Clouded Yellow, Painted Lady, Red Admiral (for details, see iRecord)
Sep 13 | Purple Hairstreak | 1 | Mogador | TQ240530 | Gordon Hay |

Sep 12 | Painted Lady | 1 | Chessington | TQ182600 | Nigel Jackman |
Sep 12 | Gatekeeper | 1 | Colekitchen | TQ084489 | Adrian Thompson |

Sep 11 | Clouded Yellow | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ145499 | Jenny Desoutter |

First sighting of Adonis Blue on Newlands Corner West transect
Sep 11 | Adonis Blue | 2 | Newlands Corner West | TQ036490 | Adrian Clark/ Nicola Sainsbury |
We reach the latter part of the season when latest sightings become relevant. In the first week of September, there were still 24 species of butterfly on the wing in our area. For example, all six Blues were still active (Chalkhill, Adonis, Common, Small, Holly, Brown Argus), plus a probable accidental import on Sweet Pea, a Long-tailed Blue at the Muslim Peace Garden in Woking.

Sept 5 | Long-tailed Blue | 1(m) | Woking | TQ015598 | Philip Osso |

Aug 22 | Brown Argus ab. graafii | 1(m) | TQ016493 | Pewley Down | Field Trip, photo Andrew Kingston |
Brown Hairstreak completes the list of 44 butterflies now associated with Surrey. This year we can add Large Tortoiseshell and Marsh Fritillary.

Jul 27 | Brown Hairstreak | 1 (m) | Epsom Common | TQ195519 | Maurice Jones |

July | Clouded Yellow | Along the North Downs from July 19 | |||
Jul 21 | Silver-spotted Skipper | 1 | Mickleham Down | TQ184540 | Philip Shorrock |

Jul 20 | Silver-washed Fritillary fem form valesina |
1 | Bookham Common | TQ128564 | Gary Margetts |
Jul 9 | Chalkhill Blue | 4 | Denbies Hillside | TQ152500 | Bill Downey |
Jul 9 | Grayling | 1 | Barossa Common | SU887632 | Geoff Pierce |
Jul 2 | Purple Emperor | 2 | Bookham Common | TQ126568 | Colin Kemp |
Jul 1 | Gatekeeper | 1 | Ashtead Common | TQ176605 | Frank Boxell |
Mick Rock's photos of Essex and Small Skipper provide us with a useful reminder of the difference between the two species. Just look at the antennae |

Jun 24 | Essex Skipper | 1 | Molesey reservoirs NR | TQ122685 | Mick Rock |
Jun 24 | Essex Skipper | 1 | Ashtead Common | TQ176600 | Frank Boxell |

Jun 23 | Small Skipper | 1 | Hurst Meadows | TQ142689 | Mick Rock | |
Jun 23 | Small Skipper | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ379619 | Kevin Turner | |
Jun 23 | Small Skipper | 2 | Dukes, Box Hill | TQ184510 | Ken Owen | |
Jun 23 | Purple Hairstreak | 1 | Ashtead Common | TQ181595 | Nikki Campana | |
Jun 16 | Silver-washed Fritillary | 1 | Bookham | TQ133568 | David Hasell | |
Jun 15 | White Admiral | 1 | Epsom Common | TQ185608 | Field Trip | |
Jun 13 | White-letter Hairstreak | 1 | Tooting Common | TQ288715 | Alan Wilkinson | |
Jun 13 | Marbled White | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ134500 | Peter Carlill | |
Jun 13 | Marbled White | 3 | Dukes, Box Hill | TQ184510 | Ken Owen |

Jun 12 | Dark Green Fritillary | 1 | Chapel Bank | TQ386606 | Kevin Turner |
Jun 11 | Ringlet | 1 | Wotton | TQ14 | Helen Thomas |
Jun 11 | Silver-studded Blue | 2 | Fairmile Common | TQ118617 | Dave Page |

Jun 10 | Black Hairstreak | 1 | Epsom Common | TQ189603 | Gareth Tilley |
Jun 5 | Meadow Brown | 1 | Hurst Meadows | TQ142689 | Mick Rock |
Marsh Fritillary: after several unauthorised introductions last year, particularly in Hampshire and Surrey, there have been late-May sightings in Surrey and other counties north and south of the Thames.
May 31 | Large Skipper | 1 | Nonsuch Park | TQ233641 | Paul Tiller |
May 29 | Clouded Yellow | 1 | The Moors, Merstham | TQ529202 | Gordon Hay |


May 25 | Glanville Fritillary | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ538161 | Martin Wills |

May 12 | Large Tortoiseshell | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ379619 | Liz Burgess |

May 11 | Small Blue | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ381616 | Andy Simes |
May 11 | Adonis Blue | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ137500 | David Hasell |
May 9 | Wood White | 1 | Botany Bay, Chiddingfold | SU980343 | James Driver |

May 9 | Common Blue | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ135499 | Gordon Hay |
May 9 | Common Blue | 1 | White Down | TQ118489 | Jo Hurren |

May 9 | Brown Argus | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ136500 | Gordon Hay |

May 7 | Duke of Burgundy | 1 | Chapel Bank, New Addington | TQ386538 | Stephan Morris |

May 1 | Small Heath | 1 | Dukes, Box Hill | TQ184511 | Ken Owen |
Apr 27 | Small Copper | 3 | Fairmile Common | TQ116617 | Dave Page |
Apr 26 | Painted Lady | 1 | Nr Oval | TQ305775 | Amanda Holden |

Apr 25 | Painted Lady | 1 | Riddlesdown | TQ337594 | Michael Rowland |

Apr 23, first London Green Hairstreak, Richmond Park (TQ194714), Steve Read |

Apr 22 | Dingy Skipper | 1 | Netley Monument, Shere | TQ078485 | Francis Kelly |

Apr 22 | Painted Lady | 1 | Barnes | TQ226770 | Penny Smallshire |

Continuing high pressure during April brought consistently dry weather and extended sunny periods, but the emergence of butterflies has been hindered by the consistently below average temperatures. Nonetheless, 22 April, at Horton Country Park, Castle Hill Nature Reserve and a short stretch of adjoining land (TQ190634), Nigel Jackman observed 20 Orange-tip (17m, 3f), 4 Small White, 2 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, I Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue and 1 Comma. Quite a hot spot.

Apr 20, Grizzled Skipper, Hutchinson's Bank, Stephan Morris
Apr 19 | Green Hairstreak | 2 | Denbies Landbarn | TQ137499 | Bill Downey |
Apr 17 | Grizzled Skipper | 1 | Whistlers Steep, Oxted | TQ388544 | Sonya Miller-Smith |
Apr 4 | Large White | 1 | Bookham Common | TQ123560 | Eleanor Heys |
Apr 1 | Painted Lady | 1 | Blatchford Down | TQ103485 | Cathy Mead |

Apr 1 | Green-veined White | 1 | Spynes Mere | TQ308523 | Gordon Hay |

Apr 1 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
Apr 1 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Beddington Farmlands | TQ286663 | Andy Merritt |
At the end of March, the warmest days of the year so far occurred, with temperatures into the low 20s, and further Holly Blues appeared on 30 March in Berrylands, Petersham and Chiddingfold

Mar 29 | Orange-tip | 1(m) | Howell Hill | TQ238618 | Richard Donovan |
Mar 29 | Orange-tip | 1(m) | West Ewell | TQ195641 | Robb Reeves |
Mar 29 | Orange-tip | 1(m) | Leatherhead | TQ164561 | Keith Lelliott |
Mar 29 | Orange-tip | 1(m) | Hydestyle | SU976411 | Robert Daniels |
Mar 29 | Holly Blue | 1 | Woking | SU983581 | Neil Bew |
Mar 22 | Small White | 1 | Wandle Edge, Carshalton | TQ283654 | David Warburton |



We then had to wait until 22nd March for butterflies to be seen across the county and south London in any number. The most notable location was perhaps Headley Warren where 6 Brimstone, 3 Comma and 3 Peacock butterflies were noted by Gary Margetts and Richard Stephens (all photos)

The stuttering start to the season continued during the early days of March with widespread sightings of a Brimstone on the 9th, along with Comma and Peacock. The first photo of a Brimstone below (by Richard Stephens) taken on the Lingfield Nature Reserve reminds us of his recent talk to our group on the development of the site, (now accessible on line). The second (right), on the same day by Gordon Hay brings out the remarkable camouflage ability of the butterfly
Mar 9 | Small Tortoiseshell | 1 | Burgess Park | TQ334780 | Simon Saville |

Feb 23 | Comma | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ193711 | Stephen Read |

Feb 20-23: Fourteen Brimstone were noted across the county and in outer London, from Haslemere in the west to Hutchinson's Bank in the east, along with a Peacock and a Red Admiral (photo Gordon Hay, Mercer's Lake, Redhill).
Feb 6 | Small Tortoiseshell | 1 | Farnham, West St. Cemetery | SU831463 | Richard Angliss |
Feb 5 | Peacock | 1 | Banstead, Beecholme Rec. Ground | TQ243604 | Peter Camber |
The last noted sighting of 2020, was way back on 13th November, of a Red Admiral. After a particularly wet and cold start to the year, the 2021 season began with three species appearing, tricked by the first gloriously sunny day of the year, 22nd January, only for a heavy frost and snow to follow two days later.
Jan 22 | Red Admiral | 1 | Chertsey | TQ045660 | Martin Foale |
Jan 22 | Brimstone | 1 | Woodmansterne | TQ276600 | Susan Davies |
Jan 22 | Brimstone | 1 | Norbury Park | TQ149542 | Mike White |

Jan 22 | Peacock | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ381538 | Martin Wills |