Butterflies in the Stevenage area

News 2018

Archive: 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

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22 Dec - Purple Hairstreak eggs update. Returning to site on southern edge of Watery Grove I found 3 more Purple Hairstreak eggs on same oak spray, 2 of which are apparently parasitised. Healthy egg shownhere

9 Dec - Brown Hairstreak eggs. On a field trip, which I attended, at the Stafford Road Open Space near Ickenkam, group found 14 Brown Hairstreak eggs and similar number of eggs of the Blue-bordered Carpet moth, all on blackthorn

6 Dec - More Purple Hairstreak eggs. 2 more Purple Hairstreak eggs on same oak branch where one found on 4 Dec, one of which was also parasitised (by trichogramma wasp?)

4 Dec - Purple Hairstreak egg. Purple Hairstreak egg found at about 1.5 metres high on well-established oak still bearing leaves and healthy-looking buds on southern edge of Watery Grove. None were seen on younger offshoots. Theeggappears to have been parisitised. Several hours searching on nettles north of Norton Green by the bridleway and Fairlands Valley Park for Red Admiral eggs/larvae have yielded nothing so far

28 Nov - Website updates. As a result of the latest UKBMS report relating to abundance of butterflies in the UK in 2017, each species account has been updated. In addition, new or replaced photos also posted and cosmetic changes made to the images on the right hand side

17 Nov - Small Copper latest. In temperatures of about 11 degrees, Small Copper was still in field south of Watery Grove - photo. Probably same specimen seen on 5 Nov - note nick on bottom of hindwing in Small Copper 1 photo

14 Nov - Small Copper and Red Admiral. Small Copper at the same spot south of Watery Grove where one of the individuals were seen last week. Red Admiral on grassy bank by Six Hills Way/Monkswood Way roundabout

5 Nov - Small Coppers still on the wing. 2 Small Coppers at around 2pm in field south of Watery Grove - both feeding on ragwort. Photos ofSmall Copper 1andSmall Copper 2

2 Nov - Small Copper near Norton Green. Tom Speller reports seeing a Small Copper at 9:50 am along Dyes Lane west of Norton Green

29 Oct - White-letter Hairstreak eggs. 2 more eggs found on same elm tree as the one discovered on 19 October. One had already hatched probably from last winter which I had missed!

24 Oct - Latest ever Common Blue. In the fields west of Novotel between Norton Green and Knebworth Park were 5 Small Copper including one in reasonable condition (will it last until November?) and the latest ever Common Blue in the TL22 decad (by almost 3 weeks). Southern Hawker also seen

21 Oct - Late Common Blue. Small Copper and a very worn Common Blue in field near Bareleigh. Red Admiral on flowering ivy in Aston. Photo of White-letter Hairstreak egg at Six Hills Commonhere

19 Oct - Season not over yet. 7 Small Copper (all very worn) in field south of Watery Grove. White-letter Hairstreak egg between bud and twig on elm at Six Hills Common inches away from my egg find here last winter

14 Oct - Website changes. Small changes to layout to make website more 'mobile-friendly'. Transect tables for each species added which includes figures for this year. Transect and phenology charts also updated accordingly

10 Oct - Knebworth Woods transect week 28. In spite of the gloriously sunny weather albeit with a stiff breeze, just one butterfly seen: Speckled Wood. A big cut at Norton Green Common with about 30% left alone. Outside the transect. several Small Copper in the field north of Burleigh Farm where I also found a Silver Y flying low over the nettles in a southerly direction

9 Oct - Stevenage transect week 28. 1 Small Copper and 1 Speckled Wood. The Small Copper look like one I saw in week 27 at the same spot

5 Oct - Knebworth Woods transect week 27. Did not walk the Knebworth Park transect but the Knebworth Woods transect in glorious sunshine yielded 2 Small Copper, 1 Brimstone and 1 Comma. Burleigh Meadow was widely cut (first of the year!) - hopefully will benefit butterflies next year

4 Oct - Stevenage transect week 27. Conditions warm (17c) and sunny enough (80%) - 2 Small Copper and a Speckled Wood at or near Shackledell Grassland. The Large White caterpillars on my nasturtium have disappeared - did any survive?

26 Sep - helice Clouded Yellow?. Likely. It was flying quickly quite high up 30 yards away near Peartree Wood in Fairlands Valley Park (TL250233). It was circling around for a few seconds, wings showing both yellow and white but as it flew in a NE direction over some tall trees I noticed the black borders on a white background. Not 100% sure but can it be anything else? Large White? Wings flapping faster and flight generally quicker as well as glimpses of deeper yellow

25 Sep - Knebworth transects week 26. 11 butterflies including 7 Small Copper. Also Small Heath, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Brimstone, In field north of Burleigh Farm, a Clouded Yellow flying NE close to the ground

24 Sep - Stevenage transect week 26. In unbroken sunshine but only 13 degrees, 5 butterflies (4 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Copper). A Small Copper in garden feeding on buddleia at 4pm, progeny of those seen in first week of August?

21 Sep - Common Blues. 4 Common Blues including a mating pair at Norton Green yards from the A1 underpass - photos: femaleandmating pair

17 Sep - Knebworth transects week 25. 29 butterflies (13 Small Copper, 9 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Heath). 2 Brimstone (male & female) in woods - not seen for months. In garden Large White larvae just emerged

16 Sep - Stevenage transect week 25. In almost unbroken sunshine, total of 24 butterflies (13 Speckled Wood, 6 Small Copper, 2 Small White) - best ever count for week 25 beating the 21 achieved in 1998 and 2008. 5 of the Small Coppers found in Shackledell Grassland which was drastically cut in mid July leaving many bare patches where the Dogwood had previously grown

13 Sep - Coppers galore!. Walk in eastern side of Knebworth Park and environs produced 59 Small Copper, 13 Small Heath, 13 Speckled Wood, 8 Small White, 4 Comma, Common Blue and Brown Argus. Many Small Coppers in pairs and in varying condition - best ever count

10 Sep - Knebworth transects week 24. 35 butterflies (15 Small Copper, 13 Speckled Wood, 6 Small Heath). Counted 9 Small Coppers in first 5 mins in field north-west of Burleigh Farm mostly feeding on low-growing thistles

9 Sep - Stevenage transect week 24. 17 (14 Speckled Wood, 2 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath). The Common Blues were fresh and probably 3rd brood since none seen here since week 20 (14 Aug). New cluster of Large White eggs on Nasturtium in the garden

7 Sep - Brown Hairstreak?. Don and I went to the Rabley Heath area close to where a Brown Hairstreak was seen last year, in particular the south-facing hedgerows. At around 12:30 we saw an orange butterfly fly from the ground towards some blackthorn in typical 'hairstreak' fashion but we lost sight of it and unable to get a close enough view. Small Coppers and a Small Heath were seen plus several Speckled Woods

6 Sep - 3rd brood Common Blues?. 13 Common Blues on the bank west of the Environmental Lake, Fairlands Valley Park compared to 4 on 1 September. The first of the 2nd brood (with 4 specimens) were seen here on 17 July - so is today's tally from a partial 3rd brood?

5 Sep - Poor year for migrants. Have seen very few Red Admirals, some Painted Ladies but no Clouded Yellows. The very cold weather in Europe in early spring may have killed off many immigrants before arriving here. Saw first Peacock for several weeks near Watery Grove

3 Sep - Knebworth transects week 23. Unbroken but hazy sunshine produced 44 butterflies (26 Speckled Wood, 7 Small Copper, 7 Small Heath). The 'blues' are virtually over now but saw 2 faded Common Blues off transect route near Burleigh Farm

2 Sep - Stevenage transect week 23. Unbroken sunshine on transect yielded 14 butterflies (10 Speckled Wood, 3 Small White, 1 Comma)

31 Aug - Small Copper larva update 2. Found 5 larvae (4 on or around the base of the plants and 1 under a leaf). The one heremight be preparing to pupate. 2 Small Tortoiseshells feeding on white buddleia

30 Aug - Knebworth transects week 22. Both transects together yielded 79 (53 Speckled Wood, 11 Small White, 5 Small Heath). One highlight was finding a mating pair of Small Coppersin NW Knebworth Park. In the garden, a Red Admiral appeared, a species not seen for several weeks

29 Aug - Stevenage transect week 22. Mostly cloudy conditions produced only 9 butterflies (7 Speckled Wood, 2 Green-veined White). The Small Copper larva I found in the garden on 27th is probably a 3rd instar as it was only about 7 mm long!

27 Aug - Small Copper larva update. In garden, found a Small Copper larva, probably in its final instar

24 Aug - More Common Blues. Found 2 fresh female Common Blues in the garden, more than a month since I previously saw this species here

23 Aug - Female Meadow Browns. Most Meadow Browns I have seen in the last month are females. Do females aestivate (undergo some sort of dormancy) in hot weather thus prolonging life, like they do in the Mediterranean?

21 Aug - Knebworth transects week 21. Similar counts to last week: 89 (38 Speckled Wood, 17 Common Blue, 11 Small White). The 7 Meadow Browns all female and of normal size. Some of the 8 Brown Argus still looking fresh and species having best year ever in my experience

20 Aug - Stevenage transect week 21. Very little sun but warm and humid. 18 butterflies (7 Speckled Wood, 4 Small White, 2 Brown Argus, 2 Small Heath). Not seen more than 1 Small Heath on this transect walk since 1995. Brown Argus also having a splendid season

17 Aug - WCBS August at Aston. Very low count of 15 (7 Small White) between 1030 and 1130 am in almost unbroken sunshine. All the hay has been cut in the farm fields and although some flowers along the edges perhaps not sheltered enough from the wind to attract insects

15 Aug - Knebworth transects week 20. Mostly cloudy conditions ensured many butterflies were inactive. Total of 87 (37 Speckled Wood, 24 Common Blue, 8 Small White) and just 1 Gatekeeper

14 Aug - Stevenage transect week 20. More cloud than sun yielded 20 butterflies (11 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue, 3 Green-veined White) but I saw my first Small Heath of the year here near Peartree Wood

13 Aug - Small Copper larva. In garden, very young (1st instar) larva found under a sorrel leaf, constructing a groove, transparent from above. Photo

12 Aug - Small Copper eggs update 2. The egg of which I posted an image on 5 August hatched at around 2:15 pm - the transformation took about 2 hours. See the hatched egg here

11 Aug - Silver-washed Fritillary surprise. While scouring the tall ash tree for hairstreaks, 30 metres west of the track south of Norton Green, I spotted a Silver-washed Fritillary basking in the canopy at 9:15 am!

10 Aug - Small Copper eggs update 1. Counted at least 10 eggs on the sorrel plants in the garden, 2 of which have hatched

8 Aug - Knebworth transects week 19. Combined count of 98 butterflies (35 Speckled Wood, 31 Common Blue, 9 Meadow Brown). Most of the Speckled Woods were seen in pairs and one instance of 4 together. Again, Common Blue numerous in Norton Green Common but noticeably few whites. Some Purple Hairstreaks outside transects but no Silver-washed. Poor Gatekeeper season

6 Aug - Stevenage transect week 19. Disappointing count of only 37 compared to 68 last year (16 Speckled Wood, 8 Small White, 6 Large White). Few suitable nectar sources along the route. Speckled Wood may peak 2 or 3 weeks early. In the garden, a female Common Blue paid a visit and a Red Admiral nectaring on white buddleia at 6pm

5 Aug - Small Copper eggs in garden. After finding a Small Copper on 3 August in my back garden, I found one (probably same individual) egg-laying on Sorrel at 11 am. Found 2 eggs one of which photo was taken - click here

3 Aug - Painted Lady and a Small Copper first. At 2:15 pm spotted a Small Copper in garden (first ever garden record) and a Painted Lady feeding on white buddleia for much of the afternoon

2 Aug - Small Coppers. Counted about 10 Small Coppers feeding on low-lying white daisies SE of Cowley's Corner Wood in less than 5 minutes

1 Aug - Knebworth transects week 18. Disappointing figures for the park transect with only 53 butterflies (17 Meadow Brown, 11 Common Blue, 7 Small White) but in the woods transect 96 recorded (34 Common Blue, 15 Meadow Brown). The most ever Common Blue and Brown Argus (6) on a local transect - majority in Norton Green Common

31 Jul - Stevenage transect week 18. Dramatic drop in numbers - 48 (compared to 89 in this week last year) - 16 Gatekeeper, 9 Common Blue and 6 Meadow Brown

27 Jul - North Fairlands Valley Park. Early morning trip to the park produced many Common Blue (40+) especially on east-facing bank west of the 'third' lake (TL253245) and up to 10 Brown Argus in the sparser parts at the bottom. Painted Lady seen in this area too

24 Jul - Devil's Dyke, Newmarket. 100s of Chalkhill Blues with the vast majority males. Saw several mating pairs. Painted Lady also seen on a flowery bank south of the A1304

23 Jul - Knebworth transects week 17. 210 butterflies (43 Meadow Brown, 33 Small White, 30 Gatekeeper). Very few skippers on the wing but found an unusual Small Skipper with white patches on the forewings at Norton Green Common

22 Jul - Stevenage transect week 17. Mostly cloudy but warm and humid. 96 butterflies (34 Gatekeeper, 19 Meadow Brown and 13 Common Blue). Would have counted many more if Shackledell had not been totally cut on around 16 July - looking like a desert with no uncut herbaceous vegetation

20 Jul - More Common Blues. 2 male Common Blues roosting in garden at 6:35 pm - likely colony. Bird's-foot Trefoil planted in the spring

19 Jul - First Common Blue. First Common Blue (female) in my garden ever at 6:45 pm

17 Jul - Dingy Skipper and Small Blue. Report from Mill Hill, Shoreham, Sussex for Dingy Skipper and Trumpington Meadows, Cambridge for Small Blue. Expect more second brooded species than normal

16 Jul - Knebworth transects week 16. Combined total of 381 butterflies (80 Small White, 75 Meadow Brown, 45 Green-veined White). Second brood Common Blue and Small Copper on the wing. Still several Purple Hairstreak low down

15 Jul - Stevenage transect week 16. 191 butterflies (34 Meadow Brown, 32 Ringlet, 26 Large White). Only 17 Gatekeeper - about half of previous week's total - expected numbers to increase. Current long dry spell impacted on immature stages through dehydration?

12 Jul - Norton Green Common field trip. 14 people turned up for the event. In spite of overcast conditions at the start, 20 species were seen including at least 5 Purple Emperor (1 female possibly egg-laying), 100 Purple Hairstreak (mostly low down), 4 White-letter Hairstreak, 5 Silver-washed Fritillary, a Gatekeeper excessa aberration, Small Copper and Brown Argus

9 Jul - Knebworth transects week 15. Combined total of 649 butterflies of which the 'whites' (including Marbled) made up more than half. Marbled White abundant in Knebworth Park. First Peacocks and Brimstone of the second generation on the wing

8 Jul - Stevenage transect week 15. 281 butterflies (62 Ringlet, 47 Meadow Brown and 33 Gatekeeper). Small pick-up in numbers of Marbled White (28), 2 Brown Argus seen together - the earliest ever from 2nd brood here - previous record was 22 July in 2006

5 Jul - Purple Hairstreak close-up. Having heard of reports of Purple Hairstreaks low down in the early part of the day I set off for Norton Green at 8:15am. Soon I found quite a few among the brambles immediately west of the track in the open area including this Purple Hairstreak

4 Jul - Purple Emperor assembly areas. Over the last few days I have been searching for assembly areas but no luck so far

2 Jul - Purple Emperor at Watery Grove. At 9:45 am I found a Purple Emperor near the top of a tall oak on the western edge of Watery Grove viewed from the common, Probably the same individual possibly seen on previous days

1 Jul - Stevenage transect week 14; Orange-tip seen. Counted 225 butterflies on my Stevenage transect week 14 (94 Meadow Brown, 63 Ringlet but only 16 Marbled White). May not be bad news for the Marbled White as it has probably dispersed to other suitable sites outside my transect. Highlight was a Silver-washed Fritillary not seen here since 2013. Male Orange-tip seen in Great Ashby garden

30 Jun - Norton Green Common visit. Looking for Purple Emperors in particular and assembly sites. Possible specimen at around 10:15 am near the bye-laws sign flying half way up an oak. Many Purple Hairstreaks low-down

29 Jun - Small White larva update. It is no longer on the foodplant so hopefully it has pupated

27 Jun - Purple Emperor in Stevenage!. Moira Rega found a Purple Emperor in her kitchen! Another possible sighting at Norton Green Common reported by Philip Barron.

26 Jun - Small White larva. Small White larva, probably in its 3rd instar, found on Garlic Mustard plant in garden

25 Jun - Knebworth transects week 13. Total of 366 with Meadow Brown again the most numerous - 200 but many of them were smaller than normal. Not many Ringlets but a sizeable number were found at the bottom end of Norton Green Common. My first local Silver-washed Fritillary of the year was seen in Wintergreen Wood

24 Jun - Stevenage transect week 13. Warm sunny morning at Stevenage produced 149 butterflies and 13 species (74 Meadow Brown, 27 Marbled White, 14 Ringlet). Expected the Ringlet count to be higher

22 Jun - White-letter close-up. A close-up view of a White-letter Hairstreak at Six Hills Common on southern edge of the elms at eye-level at 9:00 am

21 Jun - Small Skippers. First Small Skippers (2) close together in Burleigh Meadow. I was allowed to get very close and so butterflies probably just emerged. The two fully-grown remaining Orange-tip larvae in the garden may have pupated in the last two days but where are the pupae?

20 Jun - First Purple Hairstreak. Hoping for the other Purple species but pleased to see my first Purple Hairstreak of the year in Pigeonswick Wood

19 Jun - Knebworth transects week 12. In partly cloudy conditions (sun 40%) 116 Meadow Browns recorded out of a total of 153! Also 19 Large Skipper, 9 Speckled Wood but still no Marbled Whites

18 Jun - White-letters. Saw my first White-letter Hairstreaks of the year (3 in total) in the elm canopy at Six Hills Common between 0945 and 1000 hours. Stevenage transect week 12 yielded 58 butterflies including 26 Meadow Brown and 17 Large Skipper

16 Jun - Mullein moth caterpillar on buddleia. Mullein moth larva on buddleia in the garden - not seen one before

15 Jun - Small Heath having a good start. Probably the best Small Heath first brood locally since the 1990s. Large White caterpillars emerge on nasturtium in garden

13 Jun - Another couple of firsts. While scouring the chalky bank off Martins Way in mid morning I disturbed 3 Marbled Whites and 2 Ringlets, firsts of the year

11 Jun - Knebworth transects week 11. 55 butterflies overall (25 Meadow Brown and 15 Speckled Wood). 12 Chimney Sweeper moths in small area in Knebworth Park - nearest known colony about 20 miles away! Spreading east?

10 Jun - Stevenage transect week 11. Only 3 species recorded but includes my first Large Skipper of the year. 10 Speckled Wood and 7 Meadow Brown also seen

9 Jun - 5-spotted Meadow Brown. Some Meadow Browns are emerging now including one having 5 spots on its underside hindwings - probably very unusual. Also counted 59 Common Blues at Arlington Business Park (ex BAE site)

6 Jun - Knebworth transects week 10. Very sunny day yielded 35 butterflies including 22 Speckled Wood of which the vast majority of first brood specimens are emerging late as is usual here. Very few whites now, Large White being the most common with 3 individuals

3 Jun - Stevenage transect week 10. 13 butterflies but no 'whites'. Small Copper at Shackedell was the highlight - rarely seen here at this time of the year. 2 Meadow Browns also found

2 Jun - White-letter Hairstreak larva update. The larva was still at the exact same spot last Tuesday (29 May) but today it had disappeared. Being only 2 feet above ground it probably succumbed through predation. First Small Heaths of the year at Knebworth Park and Six Hills Common

1 Jun - Knebworth transects week 9. 11 species including my first Red Admiral of the year. The highlight, however, was finding a Chimney Sweeper moth in Knebworth Park. In the garden, the Orange-tip larva which emerged on 14 May, has finally got down to feeding on the leaves of the Garlic Mustard plant

28 May - Painted Ladies. My first Painted Ladies of the year: one near the Fairlands Way/Grace Way junction in Stevenage and another later in my garden feeding on 'Bowles Mauve'

27 May - White-letter Hairstreak larva 4th instar. 4th instar White-letter Hairstreak larva underneath elm leaf 1-2 feet above ground at Six Hills several feet away from earlier younger larva sighting. Stevenage transect yielded 12 butterflies including first Common Blues (2) of the year

26 May - Common Common Blues!. At the southern section of Arlington Business Park (ex-BAE site) among the carpets of Bird's-foot Trefoil were at least 40 Common Blues which I counted in about 15 minutes. Also seen was a Small Copper and a Brown Argus

22 May - Knebworth Woods transect week 8. Despite fine weather it was breezy which probably accounted for the low total of 6 butterflies (3 Small White, 2 Orange-tip and 1 Green-veined White). Nice to see what looked like a Black-headed Cardinal beetle which is apparently rare in the county but most probably under-recorded

21 May - Knebworth transect week 8. 31 butterflies recorded with fewer 'whites' about. Orange-tip caterpillar in garden had its first moult

20 May - Stevenage transect week 8. Only 13 butterflies recorded with the 'whites' much lower in numbers than the previous week

19 May - Dukes and Dingys. At Bison Hill, 30+ Duke of Burgundy and 20+ Dingy Skipper. 12 Green Hairstreak (mostly on hawthorn bushes) and a Grizzled Skipper. Butterflies were most active between 10 and 11 am

17 May - Alive and kicking. The Orange-tip caterpillar has resurfaced on the foodplant - I didn't look in the flowerhead underneath during the afternoon it emerged! See photo

15 May - Week 7 transects. On the Knebworth transects 63 butterflies with the vast majority being whites but saw my first Small Copper of the year in Knebworth Park. Only 2 Speckled Wood compared to 10 on the Stevenage transect on 14 May

14 May - Orange-tip larva emerges. Orange-tip caterpillar emerges from egg - see photo. Unfortunately, hours later not to be seen anywhere on the plant

13 May - White-letter Hairstreak larva. Found at Six Hills Common - 4th instar under elm leaves 3 feet above ground. See see photo

10 May - Orange-tip egg in garden. Orange-tip egg found in my garden on Garlic Mustard - see photo. Interestingly only one such plant apart from one other a few feet away and very little vegetation surrounding it

9 May - No Grizzled Skippers. Visit to site near Hook's Cross at 9:30 am for an hour yielded no Grizzled Skippers but Liz Goodyear and Andrew Middleton saw 3 there much later in the day

6 May - Dukes are now flying. Duke of Burgundy seen at Ivinghoe Beacon on 5 May

5 May - First Large Whites of the year. My first Large Whites, one (male) off the A602 near the railway bridge and one (female) near Burleigh Farm

1 May - No Speckled Woods. Still no Speckled Woods on Stevenage transect which I walked today. 2006 was the last year I had not seen one until week 6. Remember that great year (at least in these parts)!

27 Apr - Poor start to transect season. The first 4 weeks of my Stevenage transect third worst since I started in 1993 yielding just 22 butterflies. Only 1994 with 13 and 2001 with 10 fared more poorly although 1994 was above average overall

23 Apr - Large Tortoiseshell at Dungeness. Tatty Large Tortoiseshell at Dungeness Bird Observatory seen by 3 observers

21 Apr - Purple Hairstreak update 2. The second egg has now hatched - see photo. Unfortunately I did not find any Red Admiral larvae or larval tents in the area

20 Apr - 3 firsts of the year. 3 firsts of the year in the Stevenage area - Holly Blue, Speckled Wood and Orange-tips but the highlight was a sighting of an unusual Small Tortoiseshell ab griseomarginata

17 Apr - Purple Hairstreak update 1. The 2nd egg in Knebworth Park is still unhatched although now of a more dirty white colour

15 Apr - Red Admiral update 5. On 13 April, I revisited Fairlands Valley Park to check the nettle bed for any RA larvae. Found tent which looks good for RA but inconclusive - photo. However returning on 15 April revealed nothing. Perhaps the larva (if any) had moved on

12 Apr - Below average year for butterflies in 2017 in UK. Reported by Butterfly Conservation here. Species accounts updated accordingly

8 Apr - Churchill's favourite butterfly to return. Climate change may allow the Black-veined White to return to the UK - see Butterfly Conservation blog

5 Apr - 22 butterflies!. The early afternoon walk around Fairlands Valley Park (in only 10c temperatures but strong sun) produced 6 Brimstone (all males), 6 Peacock, 8 Comma and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Later, a Peacock sunning itself on concrete post in garden

3 Apr - First Commas of the year. Stevenage transect walk yielded 3 Commas, all basking on the ground

2 Apr - Do cold winters really benefit our butterflies?. See Richard Fox's article on Butterfly Conservation's blog

21 Mar - Purple Hairstreak egg. In Knebworth Park, second Purple Hairstreak egg found on one oak - may soon hatch photo. Despite glorious sunshine, no butterflies on the wing

15 Mar - Large Tortoiseshell in Sussex. Large Tortoiseshell reported from Woods Mill, Sussex at 1:45pm close to where some were seen last year www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/. Could it possibly be breeding here?

13 Mar - My first butterfly of the year. A Brimstone hugging the south-facing wall of my house at 12:15 pm. Temperature in the shade 10 degrees

9 Mar - White-letter Hairstreak egg hatched. At Six Hills Common, egg hatched since 25 February but was unable to find caterpillar - will check again in the coming days. Photo

17 Feb - Record 31 species in TL22 in 2017. Pages updated accounting for all records received for 2017 plus some minor cosmetic changes

25 Jan - Speckled Wood sighting and pupa. Seen at Bow, London. Also a larva pupating in South Wales - on twitter

17 Jan - Red Admiral update 4. Disappointing to find no larvae or eggs in Knebworth Park but there are very few nettles growing now with Ground Ivy taking over. Yesterday at Fairlands Valley Park, still plenty of nettles but unfortunately no eggs or larvae

7 Jan - Red Admiral update 3. In Knebworth Park, I found one egg still unhatched (on nettle) but no larvae - have they perished?

1 Jan - Happy New Year to all. For last year's news click here