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Also see: National 1st sightings & Archive 2015+

 

Dec 15 Brimstone 1 Beddington FarmlandsTQ276662 Ian Rowbotham 

Red Admirals continued to be seen across our area in the latter part of November. Two more were noted in Richmond Park on 3rd December and the last 15th December in Coulsdon

Surrey_December_Holly_Blue_Richmond
An extremely late Holly Blue, seen by Teresa Grafton, in Richmond, 2nd December, 2024
Dec 02Holly Blue1RichmondTQ184745Teresa Grafton
Nov 29Peacock1Ash GreenSU905494Roger Deason
Nov 25 Painted Lady 1Quarry Hangars TQ316517Alex Patterson
Nov 24Brimstone1Pewley DownTQ009490Alan X
Surrey_November_Speckled_Wood_Beddington_Farmlands
Nov 13 Speckled Wood  1Beddington TQ286661Richard Thomas
Surrey_late_Comma_131124_Newdigate
Nov 13Comma1NewdigateTQ204427Stephen Woodcock
Nov 13Peacock1HindheadSU893397Charles Crichton
Nov 13Peacock1SuttonTQ265640Keith Millar
Nov 11Brimstone 1Battersea TQ270748Ian Cunningham
Nov 10Small White  1Ash Green SU904495Roger Deason

The warm sunny interlude Oct 16-28 produced regular sightings of Speckled Wood, particularly in Greater London. Red Admirals remained widespread. Here are the latest October sightings for 12 further species.

See iRecord for details

Oct 29Comma1WisleyTQ060580Sarah Linch
Oct 28Peacock1BalhamTQ277735Ian Cunningham
Oct 27Holly Blue1SuttonTQ265640Keith Millar
Oct 27Brimstone1 SuttonTQ265646Keith Millar
Oct 24Large White1KenningtonTQ314770Simon Saville 
Oct 24Large White1Wandsworth CommonTQ271734Ian Cunningham
Oct 24  Common Blue1Kew GardensTQ185767Jenny Wasiak
Oct 22Small Copper1TatsfieldTQ422560Ruth Yeeles
Oct 22 Meadow Brown    1Albury Estate   TQ047491Simon Riley 
Surrey_late_Small_White_181024_Wandle_Meadows
One of two Small Whites seen on Wandle Meadows, Wimbledon, 18th October, Richard Thomas
Oct 19Small White1TootingTQ270710Bill Stone
Oct 18Painted Lady1Morden parkTQ244673Ian Cunningham
Oct 18Small Heath1Denbies HillsideTQ132497Gillian Elsom
Surrey_late_Large_White_Bookham_161024
Oct 16Large White1Bookham CommonsTQ130557Colin Kemp
Oct 11 Green-veined White1BeddingtonTQ288662Barbara L
Surrey_late_Brown_Hairstreak_250924_Bookham_Commons
Sep 25Brown Hairstreak 1Bookham Commons   TQ123561Colin Kemp
Surrey_late_Brown_Hairstreak_1_of_16_Tolworth_Court_Farm_Fields
One of at least 16 Brown Hairstreaks seen in the immediate area, Marian Thomas
Sep 21Brown Hairstreak16Tolworth Court Farm FieldsTQ197649Marian Thomas
Stephen Reisbach

N.B. The Long-tailed Blues were in the garden of a private residence, which has 24-hour security and is not accessible to the public

Surrey_Long-tailed_Blue_Richmond_Park_030924
Sep 3Long-tailed Blue2Richmond ParkTQ194712Steve Read
Sep 1 Small Tortoiseshell 1Lingfield NR TQ387441Richard Stephens 

 

Surrey_Adonis_Blue_ab_puncta_Denbies_300824
Aug 30 Adonis Blue ab. puncta2Denbies Hillside  TQ135499Richard Thomas  

As the main part of the season draws to a close it is still possible to see a Painted Lady among the many sightings of Red Admirals

Surrey_Painted_Lady_Bookham_Commons_290824
Aug 29Painted Lady1Merritts Cottage TQ125563Colin Kemp
Aug 15  Silver-washed Fritillary (f)  valezina1Dollypers Hill TQ316585Martyn Mance
Surrey_Jersey_Tiger_underside_2024_Wallington
Jersey Tiger moths have been seen across our area: this example, caught on a window in Wallington by Matthew Tugnell, shows the underside
Aug 8 Jersey Tiger1Wallington  TQ301650 Matthew Tugnell

Painted Ladies: There has been a recent influx of Painted Ladies, first noted at Wisley (17th July) and being seen on an almost daily basis across our area from Oxted in the east, to Godalming in the west with several sighted in the London area in, for example,  Peckham, Sheen, Tooting and Battersea 

Surrey_Brown_Hairstreak_Mitcham_Common_2024
First Brown Hairstreaks noted on Mitcham Common transect, 9th August, Richard Thomas
Aug 9Brown Hairstreak 2Mitcham CommonTQ296679Richard Thomas
Aug 5Dingy Skipper 1Box Hill TQ178510Peter Brown
Aug 4 Adonis Blue  (2nd brood) 1Denbies Hillside TQ149501David Miller

 

Surrey_Dark_Green_Fritillary__Longdown_July_2024
First Dark Green Fritillary seen in recent years on Longdown, Hog's Back, 30th July, Nick Boucher
Jul 30Dark Green Fritillary   1Longdown, Hog's BackSU909481Nick Boucher
Jul 28  Clouded Yellow    1Denbies Hillside   TQ154501David Miller     
Surrey_1st_Brown_Hairstreak_Bookham_260724
July 26   Brown Hairstreak    1Bookham Commons TQ125560Colin Kemp
Surrey_1st_Silver-spotted_Skipper_Headley_Warren_240724
Jul 24   Silver-spotted Skipper         2Headley     TQ189500 Gary Margetts  
Surrey_Chalk_Hill_Blue_Denbies_170724
Chalk Hill Blue, the same week, 17th July, Denbies Hillside, Colin Kemp

 

Jul 14  Chalk Hill Blue              2  Pewley Down       TQ008489  Peter Curnock        
Jul 2Grayling1West HeathSU937560Bill Downey

 

Surrey_White-letter_Hairstreak_Ashtead_Park_010724
A few days later, 1st July, Colin Kemp
Jun 25   White-letter Hairstreak       12   Richmond Park      TQ182731  Nigel Jackman

 

Surrey_Silver-washed_Fritillary_Bookham_250624
Silver-washed Fritillary, Bookham Common, Colin Kemp
 
Jun 24Silver-washed Fritillary3BookhamTQ132563Colin Kemp
Jun 21Dark Green Fritillary1Denbies HillsideTQ137500Stephan Morris
Jun 20Gatekeeper1ChilworthTQ041462Robert Delamare
Jun 17White-letter Hairstreak1Tooting,                                                              
Graveney Common		TQ288715Alan Wilkinson
Jun 16Purple Emperor1ChilworthTQ022478Sean Bailey
Jun 16Glanville Fritillary1Tice's MeadowSU874486Paul Bamford
Jun 14Small Skipper1Richmond ParkTQ204734Steve Read
Surrey_1st_White_Admiral_underwing-140624
Surrey_1st_White_Admiral_Bookham_140624
In very windy conditions on the following day, 14th June, Bookham Common, both photos Colin Kemp
Jun 13White Admiral1Bookham CommonTQ122562Sheila Hart
Jun 13Essex Skipper1Tolworth CourtTQ192692Robb Reeves
Jun 9Marbled White5Molesey ReservoirsTQ123685Chris Cutcliffe
Surrey_1st_Purple_Hairstreak_Mitcham_Common_090624
Jun 9Purple Hairstreak1Mitcham CommonTQ283674Richard Thomas
Jun 9Ringlet2Tolworth Court FarmTQ200652Robb Reeves
Surrey_Silver-studded_Blue_visible studs_Fairmile_Common_2024
Silver studs clearly visible on this photo, taken the following day, 6th June, Colin Kemp
Surrey_1st_Silver-studded_Blue_050624_Fairmile_Common
5th June, Marian Thomas
Jun 5Silver-studded Blue1Fairmile CommonTQ116617MarianThomas,                                                           Stephen Reisbach
Jun 5Silver-studded Blue1Thursley CommonSU903415James Giles
Surrey_Black_Hairstreak_Epsom_Common_020624
May 30Black Hairstreak1Epsom CommonTQ188603Gareth Tilley
Surrey_1st_Meadow_Brown_photo_270524
Meadow Brown, Water Colours, Merstham, 29th May, Gordon Hay
May 24Meadow Brown1Clandon WoodTQ049513John Mairs
Surrey_Black-veined_White_Hutchinsons_Bank_270524_open_winged
Both photos, 27th May 2024, Martin Wills
Surrey_Black-veined_White_Hutchinsons_Bank_270524
Offspring of last year's females have hatched at Hutchinson's Bank
May 20Black-veined White1Hutchinson's BankTQ382614Martin Wills
May 17Grizzled Skipper2LongdownSU90804815Nick Boucher
May 17Grizzled Skipper2Little LongdownSU91334825Nick Boucher
 Rare westerly Grizzled Skipper records, Hampton Estate, Hog's Back
Surrey_1st_Large_Skipper_170524_open_wings_Denbies
Surrey_1st_Large_Skipper_170524_Denbies
May 17Large Skipper1Denbies HillsideTQ13785001Colin Kemp
Dingy Skipper
Dingy Skipper: a rare record for Bookham Common
May 16Dingy Skipper1Bookham Central PlainTQ125559Colin Kemp
Surrey_Adonis_Blue_Dukes_2024
May 15Adonis Blue4Denbies HillsideTQ148500Bill Downey
Surrey_1st_Common_Blue_2024_Mick _Rock
Surrey_1st_Common_Blue_2024_Underwing_Mick_Rock
May 10Common Blue3Molesey ReservoirsTQ119686Mick Rock
Surrey_Small_Blue_2024_Howell_Hill
Small Blue at Howell Hill several days later, Richard Thomas
May 10Small Blue2Hutchinson's BankTQ381616 Clare Seymour
May 8Brown Argus1Denbies HillsideTQ154501Keith Cogan
May 5Glanville Fritillary1Hutchinson's BankTQ381615Elizabeth Parker
Surrey_1st_Small_Heath_2024_Dukes
May 5Small Heath2Dukes, Box HillTQ518460Ken Owen
Apr 30Small Copper1Denbies HillsideTQ154501Bill Downey
Wood White males
Apr 30Wood White6Tugley WoodSU983340Ken Elsom
Surrey 6 spotted Green Hairstreak Denbies Hillside 290424
Six-spotted Green Hairstreak, Denbies Hillside, Gordon Hay
Apr 29Green Hairstreak1Denbies Hillside Gordon Hay
Surrey 1st Grizzled Skipper 290424
Denbies Hillside, Colin Kemp, one of several Grizzled Skippers seen on 29th
Apr 29Grizzled Skipper2Denbies HillsideTQ136500Colin Kemp                                                              
David Hasell                                                              
Gordon Hay
Apr 29Grizzled Skipper1Chapel BankTQ386602Martin Wills
Apr 29Grizzled Skipper1Quarry HangersTQ316535Brian Smith
Surrey 1st Dingy Skipper 240424
Apr 24Dingy Skipper1Denbies HillsideTQ133498Colin Kemp
Apr 20Emperor Moth1Denbies HillsideTQ135500Colin Kemp
Apr 18Painted Lady1Ashtead CommonTQ181505Nikki Campana
Surrey 1st Duke of Burgundy top wing 2024
Surrey 1st Duke of Burgundy pairing 2024
Apr 18Duke of Burgundy4Chapel BankTQ385607Martin Wills

A second Large Tortoiseshell seen this spring at Hutchinson's bank

Apr 14Large Tortoiseshell1Hutchinson's BankTQ381615Martin Wills
Surrey Green Hairstreak Denbies Hillisde 2024
Green Hairstreak, Denbies Hillside, 12th April, Colin Kemp
Apr 6Green Hairstreak1Hutchinson's BankTQ161452Louise Kahan,                                                              
Tim Bates
Surrey Green-veined White Mitcham Common 2024
Green-veined White, Apr 11, Mitcham Common, Richard Thomas
Apr 6Green-veined White1GuildfordTQ008527Warren Justice
Apr 5Large White1Horton CPTQ192633Pamela Harwood
Apr 5Large White1HogsmillTQ205666Peter Short
Surrey First Orange-tip_290324
Mar 29Orange-tip1ChessingtonTQ179653Nigel & Yvonne Jackman
Mar 20Painted Lady1FetchamTQ144564Charlotte Barnes

Three Large Tortoiseshell butterflies have now been noted in our area in the last eight days

Mar 17Large Tortoiseshell1FrimleySU890581Paul Collett
Mar 16Large Tortoiseshell1Sidney WoodTQ02553470Cheryl Turkington
Mar 16Speckled Wood1Ham LandsTQ230768Paul Cook
Surrey_Small_White_Wandle_2024
First photo of Small White, Wandle Path, Richard Thomas, Mar 26
Mar 16Small White1Wetland CentreTQ230768Michael Robinson
Mar 16Small White1Beddington FarmlandsTQ287665Keith Millar
Surrey 1st Holly Blue photo 2024 Mitcham Common
1st photo of Holly Blue, Apr 11, Mitcham Common, Richard Thomas
Mar 10Holly Blue1GuildfordSU995503Keith White
Surrey Large Tortoiseshell hind wing
Large Tortoiseshell underwing, Martin Wills
Surrey, first Large Tortoiseshell of season, Hutchinson's Bank
Large Tortoiseshell now noted in each of last four years in Surrey/SW London
Mar 9Large Tortoiseshell1Hutchinson's BankTQ382614Martin Wills
Surrey first 2024 Small Tortoiseshell image
1st Small Tortoiseshell image, Hutchinson's Bank, 18th February, Martin Wills
Feb 15Small Tortoiseshell1Hutchinson's BankTQ381616Martin Wills
Feb 15Comma1HeadleyTQ194538Gary Margetts
Feb 15Brimstone20+Chapel BankTQ385607Stephan Morris
Surrey 1st Brimstone Image 2024 Headley
1st image of Brimstone, Headley, 15th February, Gary Margetts

With the advent of milder weather towards the end of the month further Brimstones were seen at Tatsfield and Oakenwood on 25th, and Red Admirals were noted on 24th in Richmond Park and at Hogsmill, at Chelsham (2) and Richmond on 26th, and Chertsey on 28th.

DateSpeciesTotalSiteGridRecorder
Jan 24Brimstone1North HolmwoodTQ168472Malcolm Cline
Jan 23Red Admiral1Cucknell's WoodTQ040430Deborah Simmons
Jan 23Red Admiral1Elephant & CastleTQ322788Danny Smith
Jan 18Peacock1Unstead WetlandSU994458Deborah Simmons
Jan 6Red Admiral1South GodstoneTQ354468Richard Stephens