This page, edited by Ken Owen, is for first/notable sightings. Please email @email with date, species, number, site, grid ref, your name and any comment.
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More details are on our Recording Page
November: Despite extremes of weather in recent weeks, in addition to species noted below, there have continued to be regular sightings of Red Admiral and Speckled Wood. In addition, Small White were seen on the 26th October in Copthorne, 28th in Clapham Junction and 30th in Vauxhall Park.
On 6th November, Red Admirals were reported in Richmond Park (3), Ash Green, Copthorne and Farnham, and Speckled Wood again in Richmond Park (2), Wimbledon, and Kingston.
By the 9th, it was Red Admirals only, noted in Normandy, Hankley Common and Worplesdon and again, on the 11th at Surbiton, Longdown, Wimbledon, Upper Hale and Sanderstead. Sightings continued with four noted in Richmond Park on the 17th and one in Chessington on the 18th, one in Reigate on the 23rd and four more in Richmond Park. On the 24th the butterfly was seen in London Wetland Centre and Claygate and on the 25th at Polesden Lacey.
Occasionally, other species were seen, as noted below:
Nov 25
Small Tortoiseshell
1
Woking
TQ007589
Youssef Einahas
Nov 24
Peacock
1
Arbrook Common
TQ146632
Geoff Barter
Nov 24
Brimstone
1
Wetland Centre, Barnes
TQ226769
Martin Honey
Jenny Desoutter
Nov 23
Brimstone
1
Dorking
TQ161502
Jenny Desoutter
Nov 23
Brimstone
1
Richmond Park
TQ186728
T Wilson
Nov 23
Peacock
1
Abinger Hammer
TQ095474
Trevor Collett
Nigel Jackman
Nov 13
Holly Blue
1
Richmond Park
TQ186728
Nigel Jackman
Nov 7
Holly Blue
2 (m)
Richmond Park
TQ186728
Nigel Jackman
Nov 7
Holly Blue
1(f)
Beddington
TQ286660
Richard Thomas
Nov 1
Clouded Yellow
1
Ewhurst
TQ100420
Alice Breeveld
Oct 31
Brown Argus
1
Denbies Vineyard
TQ158506
Jenny Desoutter
Oct 31
Brimstone
1
Guildford
TQ020500
Gillian Elsom
Oct 24
Painted Lady
1
Coulsdon
TQ290590
Peter Brown
Oct 22
Large White
1
Ash Green
SU905494
Roger Deason
Oct 22
Peacock
1
Horley
TQ272440
Michael Cuff
Oct 20
Small Copper
1
Ash Green
SU905495
Roger Deason
Oct 20
Comma
1
Farnham
SU832467
Libby Ralph
The latest of a number of sightings this autumn across our area
Oct 14
Painted Lady
1
Kew Gardens
TQ176838
Marian Thomas
Oct 10
Brown Argus
1
Beddington Park
TQ296654
Ian Cunningham
Oct 10
Common Blue
2
Beddington Park
TQ296654/ TQ298653
Ian Cunningham
Oct 8
Wall Brown
male
Denbies Hillside
TQ135499
Jenny Sparks
Oct 6
Painted Lady
1
Beddington
TQ286665
Richard Thomas
Sep 28
Painted Lady
1
Godstone
TQ355525
Gordon Hay
Sep 15
Small Copper
50+
Richmond Park
TQ197723
Nigel Jackman
Sep 14
Meadow Brown
2spots
1
Bookham Common
TQ124560
Colin Kemp
A Meadow Brown with two spots is not that uncommon, but is found more frequently in the north of the UK
Sep 3
Meadow Brown
2 spots
1
Holmethorpe
TQ288513
Gordon Hay
Ian Kehl
Aug 7
Adonis Blue, 2nd brood
10
Box Hill
TQ187511
David Hasell
A relatively common Small Copper aberration worth looking out for is caeruleopunctata referring to the additional blue markings on the hind wings
Aug 7
Small Copper ab. caeruleopunctata
1
Mitcham Common
TQ296677
Richard Thomas
Aug 2
Brown Hairstreakab. spinosea
1
Bookham Commons
TQ125559
Kirsty Gibbs
Big Butterfly Count, July 14 to Aug 6, gives an opportunity to record the Red Admiral. Large numbers are across our area, for example, 22 Oxted Downs (17th), 12 Box Hill (18th).
It is relatively unusual to see a Purple Hairstreak descend and then open its wings.
Jul 26
Purple Hairstreak
1
Banstead Woods
TQ235551
Nicola Sainsbury
Silver-spotted Skipper completes the list of regular Surrey & SW London species. In addition so far this year: one Camberwell Beauty, Duke of Burgundy, Marsh Fritillary, Black-veined White, making for 47 species in all.
Jul 19
Silver-spotted Skipper
1
Headley
TQ1890500
Gary Margetts
Jul 10-11
Clouded Yellows
Oxted Downs & Horley (2)
Richard Stephens
Jul 7
Brown Hairstreak
m
West Molesey garden
TQ130687
Emma West
Colin Kemp
Jul 5
Chalkhill Blue
3
Denbies Hillside
TQ135499
Dave Miller
Colin Kemp
Jul 2
White Admiral
ab. nigrina
1
Bookham Common
TQ125564
Colin Kemp
Jun 30
Grayling
1
Chobham Common
TQ969664
Harry, Lin Matthews
1st recorded sighting: Cox's Walk, Sydenham Hill Wood, LNR (further sightings 12th/19th July)
Jun 28
White Admiral
1
Sydenham Hill
T1345727
Ernest Thomason/ Julian Allen
The Heart Moth is a rare priority species found in mature oak trees in Surrey in late June and July
Jun 27
Heart Moth
3 (m)
Hatchlands
TQ066521
Paul Wheeler
A further sighting of a Purple Emperor, Bookham Common, 24th June, Colin Kemp
Jun 21
Purple Emperor
2
Bookham Common
TQ124567
Colin Kemp
A useful photo of an Essex Skipper to help with identification; one of three at Cannon Hill Common, Raynes Park, 24th June, Richard Thomas
Jun 19
Essex Skipper
1
Chapel Bank
TQ385609
David Lands
Early Silver-washed Fritillary, Bookham Common, 20th June, Colin Kemp
Jun 17
Silver-washed Fritillary
1
Epsom Common
TQ189603
Alison and Gareth Tilley
Jun 17
Gatekeeper
1
Priest Hill
TQ229610
David Robinson
Jun 15
Ringlet
1
Epsom Common
TQ186518
Richard Stephens
Jun 14
Small Skipper
1
Richmond Park
TQ188716
Steve Read
Jun 13
White Admiral
1
Bookham Common
TQ128567
Matthew Piggott
Jun 13
Dark Green Fritillary
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ134499
Ian Kehl
Jun 13
White-letter Hairstreak
2
Tooting Common
TQ288715
Alan Wilkinson
Early Marbled White, 11th June, Molesey Reservoirs, Mick Rock
Jun 9
Marbled White
1
Box Hill
TQ187510
Bill Downey
Jun 7
Silver-studded Blue
1
Fairmile Common
TQ118617
Marian Thomas
Stephen Reisbach
Mating Black Hairstreak pair, Epsom Common, 15th June, David Hasell
Jun 7
Black Hairstreak
1
Epsom Common
TQ189603
Sarah Clift
Jun 7
Purple Hairstreak
1
Forestdale
TQ371626
Ian Cunningham
Small Blues on a bird dropping during the field trip to Howell Hill. Reminiscent of Chalkhill Blue behaviour.
Jun 3
Small Blues mineralising
4
Howell Hill
TQ614523
Branch field trip
Jun 3
Clouded Yellow
1
Mitcham Common
TQ296677
Richard Thomas
May 30
Large Skipper
1
Denbies Landbarn
TQ137499
Bill Downey
May 30
Meadow Brown
1
Norbiton
TQ200690
R Rice
One of several Black-veined Whites in New Addington, 31st May, Stephan Morris
May 28
Black-veined White
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ382615
Ben Heath
Nigel Jackman, Branch field trip, 24th May, Hutchinson's Bank.
Fraternising fritillaries, Glanville (foreground) and Marsh.
May 21
Glanville Fritillary
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ381617
Kate Marler
May 18
Adonis Blue
2
Denbies Hillside
TQ135500
Trevor Collett
May 18
Marsh Fritillary
3
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ381616
Martin Wills
May 14
Common Blue
2
Denbies Hillside
TQ136499
Branch field trip
May 13
Small Blue
2
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ380617
Rose Fletcher
May 11
Brown Argus
1
Denbies Hillside
TQ148500
Bill Downey
May 10
Wood White
2
Botany Bay
SU982341
Pauline Richards
Colin Kemp
May 7
Small Heath
5
Denbies Hillside
TQ137500
Colin Kemp
David Hasell
In a season when, even in the early days of May, Dingy Skippers remain scarce, here is a reminder of their underside: Colin Kemp, Denbies, 3rd May
1st May Colin Kemp
Apr 29
Duke of Burgundy
1
Chapel Bank
TQ385607
Kevin Turner
Apr 29
Grizzled Skipper
1
Denbies
TQ137500
David Hasell
Apr 25
Small Copper
1
Thursley Common
SU912412
Arthur/Anne Norton
Apr 24
Dingy Skipper
1
Hutchinson's Bank
TQ382614
Martin Wills
Apr 20
Painted Lady
1
Mitcham Common
TQ295673
Ian Cunningham
Marian Thomas
Apr 17
Green Hairstreak
3
Fairmile Common
TQ119618
Marian Thomas/ Stephen Reisbach
Apr 17
Green Hairstreak
1
Whistlers Steep
TQ385542
Sonya Miller Smith
Colin Kemp's discovery of a colony of Holly Blues in St Martin's Churchyard, Dorking allows for an early season reminder of how to distinguish between male and female. On the uppersides of the wing wing, the female has broad black borders which are absent in the male.
Apr 17
Holly Blue
10
St Martin's, Dorking
TQ165494
Colin Kemp
Early Green-veined White, 7th April, Merton, Richard Thomas
Early Speckled Wood, 7th April, Merton, Richard Thomas
Apr 5
Green-veined White
1
Rotherhithe
TQ361799
John/Janet Cadera
Apr 4
Large White
1
Hog's Mill Trail
TQ207664
Peter Short
Apr 2
Speckled Wood
1
Tytings Farm
TQ028487
Emily Rowles
Mar 27
Orange-tip
1
Dorking
TQ165505
Jenny Desoutter
One of four Comma butterflies seen, the first photograph received, the others were noted at Wimbledon, Thornton Heath and Egham and are almost six weeks later than our first
Mar 27
Comma
1
Headley Warren
TQ191539
Gary Margetts
James Herd
Mar 27
Camberwell Beauty
1
Wisley Common
TQ075587
Adam Bolton
James Herd
Mar 23
Small White
1
Richmond Park
TQ100741
Eleanor Hays
Following several weeks of cold grey weather, temperatures at last began to rise in the middle of the month with Brimstones seen across our area on 16th - in Sheen, Oxshot, Blackwater and Lingfield
Mar 16
Holly Blue
1
Pirbright
SU930530
Katherine Ramsay
There were numerous sightings of Brimstone on the 14th and 15th of February, for example, in Pirbright, Guildford, Dorking and Banstead
Please ensure you place all your sightings on i-record.
East Horsley, 15 Feb, Colin Kemp
Feb 15
Comma
1
Rotherhithe
TQ361799
Audrey Reid
Feb 14
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
1
Gatwick
TQ278423
Andrew Bashford
Feb 10
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
1
Sheen
TQ204746
Peter Burrows-Smith
Spring slowly makes it's approach and it is worth being on the lookout for butterflies anywhere in a sheltered sunny spot. Red Admirals, for example, were seen (3rd Feb), two in Barnes, four in Richmond Park and one in Croydon, all in the Greater London area. The first photograph of the year came three days later, (6th Feb, Beddington Farmlands), when there were also sightings of Red Admirals in Surrey, at Wisley and Reigate.