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The Great British Butterfly Hunt
As several British butterflies flutter towards extinction, The Independent invites you on a safari and a national health check. We're offering a chance for everyone to get out into the countryside for the first time this spring, with the launch of an innovative wildlife project: the Great British Butterfly Hunt.
Use the comments section of this blog to to record species as you see them, including exactly where and when. And keep a butterfly diary, listing your personal hunt in full. The person or group (eg school class) to spot the most native butterfly species by August - there are 58 in total - will win a unique prize: a trip with experts to find our most elusive butterfly, the brown hairstreak, (more details here)
Use the comments section of this blog to to record species as you see them, including exactly where and when. And keep a butterfly diary, listing your personal hunt in full. The person or group (eg school class) to spot the most native butterfly species by August - there are 58 in total - will win a unique prize: a trip with experts to find our most elusive butterfly, the brown hairstreak, (more details here)
Today we once more invite readers to join in the Great British Butterfly hunt , not least as a low-cost, all-summer cheering-up exercise in the current economic gloom. Butterflies are free, remember, in more than one sense - free-flying, which is a great part of their charm, but these most beautiful of all the insects cost you nothing to gaze upon. We invite you to join our quest to see as many as possible, and the person or group sighting the most will win a special safari with the charity Butterfly Conservation, to find for the last and most elusive of all the British species, the brown hairstreak.
You can catch up with our own reports on the status of the species here. And read the latest developments on the campaign here.
To enter, briefly record your sightings as you make them - species, place and date seen, and your name below) . Record them also in your own butterfly diary, and send us this, with a short description of your hunt as a whole, by 12 noon on Monday August 17. (We will publish an address to send it to later, as the Independent is shortly moving.)
Share your butterfly sightings in the comments form below
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wildgeese71 : Cabbage White [+0] - jostafford : Large white, Small white [+0]
- jostafford : More butterflies! [+0]
- gardennewbie1 : Butterflies in Uxbridge [+0]
- sccheshi : If you love butterflies... [+0]
- m_mccarthy : GBBH sightings [+0]
- jleach : (no subject) [+0]
- marpenrob : butterflyhunt [+0]
- marpenrob : more butterflies [+0]
- daisymaizie : Small Copper [+0]
- daisymaizie : and a speckled wood or three [+0]
- sue_lindsay : ? Grizzled Skipper [+0]
- vlooivh : Checkered Skippers spotted [+0]
- marpenrob : Green Hairstreaks [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Duke of Burgundy et al [+0]
- cmlyons : Great British Butterfly Hunt - 11th May 2009 [+0]
- furphy4 : North East Hertfordshire - 4 x Butterflies [+0]
- frwilliams : Seen so far this year [+0]
- david_newland : Grizzled -v- Chequered Skippers [+0]
- astrid_h : Orange Tip [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Mike Mccarthy: eight more species [+0]
- cmlyons : GBBH Sightings [+3]
- gannetmod : Sightings 2009 [+0]
- loravs : Painted Ladies [+0]
- geedeejay : butterflies.... [+0]
- flypopa : What is this Butterfly or Moth? [+1]
- cmlyons : More GBBH Sightings [+0]
- logimorph : Peacock [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Mike McCarthy: ten more species in the GBBH [+0]
- cmlyons : GBBH Sighting [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Mike McCarthy: five more species [+0]
- gargantua65 : The butterfly in the main picture above [+0]
- gannetmod : (no subject) [+0]
- gannetmod : 2009 Sightings - continued [+0]
- gannetmod : "009 sightings - continued [+0]
- m_mccarthy : (no subject) [+0]
- cmlyons : More GBBH Sightings - some help needed! [+0]
- gannetmod : Just one more new sighting [+0]
- gannetmod : Three new sightings today [+0]
- m_mccarthy : GBBH Indy total: now 53 out of 58 [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Indy GBBH reaches 55 species [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Indy total in GBBH reaches 56 with Scotch argus [+0]
- m_mccarthy : Indy reaches all 58 in GBBH [+1]
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Comments
Small White, Cheltenham - Honeybourne Line public footpath 12.04.09 in flight around shrubs.
13.04.09 Clouded Yellow lots of them on the Honeybourne Line in Cheltenham - a disused railway line that is now a footpath with wooded areas - around brambles and nettles.
Orange Tip in my garden, just flying around. I live on a '20's council estate which has a lot of well maintained largish gardens and privet hedges.
Holly Blue in my garden, around some ivy.
we also saw loads of large and small whites, another type of blue butterfly that didn't sit still long enough to ID, and a brown speckley job that also moved too fast!
You could also try www.warwickshire-butterflies.org.uk.
Steve
Peacock: April 5,Bebington, Merseyside
Small tortoiseshell: April 10, Dorchester, Dorset
Brimstone, orange tip, small white, speckled wood, comma, holy blue: April 19,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
http://www.independent.co.uk/environmen
Commas,Peacocks,Orange tips,Brimstone.My first Commas of the year spotted in this sheltered dale on 1/4/09 basking on newly opened coltsfoot flowers
Duke of Burgundy, chequered skipper, dingy skipper
all at Butser Hill, Hampshire
I'm new to this Great British Butterfly Hunt (GBBH)- just heard about it and think it's a great idea!
I have been keeping a butterfly diary for a little while and hope it's Ok to post my entries from when the GBBH was launched.
12/4/09 Easter Sunday
Plymouth Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
It was a glorious, sunny afternoon and I was walking over to my in-laws, not actually thinking about butterflies at all! Suddenly, I spot something white bobbing about in the hedgerow and realise that it's an Orange Tip. I was so chuffed but then I spotted two more and was jumping up and down with glee! Only, one problem, I was by a main road and all the drivers thought I was completely nuts!!
16/4/09 Thursday
Hillcrest Drive, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
I was on one of my 'keep-fit' walks...... I'd just reached the top of a particularly steep hill, was puffing hard and quite frankly, looking for a reason to take a breather! It duly arrived in the form of a Peacock which flew up from the pavement into my face! I had startled it. Or had it startled me?!! Lovely to see, either way!
17/4/09 Friday
Glen Park Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
I had been hoping to see them every time I passed a wooded patch but I think they knew I was scouting for them! Finally, I spotted a Speckled Wood or is it speckled a 'Spotted Wood'!
27/4/09 Monday
Hillcreast Drive, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
I was back on my 'keep-fit' walk again..... Yet again a kind butterfly came to my rescue as I reached the top of the hill! I had to stop to watch a Small White playing in the bramble patch. Of course I did!
2/5/09 Saturday
Language, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
I had made the rash decision to go out on my road bike for the first time in six years...... This ensured that I saw various butterfly silouettes fly past me in the opposite direction, at great speed! However, as I turned for home, I did finally spot a Large White. At last, something had taken pity on me and stayed around long enough for me to identify!
8/5/09 Friday
Chaddlewood, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon.
I was minding my own business in my postage-stamp of a garden when a Red Admiral decided to drop in and inspect my washing! Clearly satisfied that I had passed muster, it flew off over next door's fence to have a look at theirs!
Well, that's it for now. I must remember to take my camera with me so I can wrestle with the technology and try to upload a few photos!
Happy hunting everyone!
CML
We also saw a Peacock (Inachis io) in Wymondley Woods (SG4) on Easter Monday (13th April). It kept landing on a Rugby ball, much to the delight of our sons!
Furphy Family
Incidentally, I am no butterfly expert but I note a couple of posts of sightings of the chequered skipper in southern England. I was under the impression that this species had been extinct in England for about 30 years and in now confined to Scotland. I gather there have been attempts at re-introduction in England. Are these sightings the results of re-introductions?
Happy butterflying!
Area: grassy & bushy meadows near the river Tay
Four Orange Tips
One Small White
Saw several more, but they flew off before I could identify them.
Great British Butterfly Hunt
Mike McCarthy
Personal Species 12 to 19
May 22 2009
Pearl bordered fritillary
Small pearl-bordered fritillary
Marsh fritillary
Large white
All at Bentley Wood, Wilts
Green-veined white
Pitton, Wilts
Adonis blue
Figsbury Ring, Wilts
Small heath
Dean Hill, wilts
May 23 2009
Painted lady
London Wetland Centre, Barnes
23/5/09
Cann Woods, Plymouth, Devon
1 x Pearl Bordered Fritillary
1 x Red Admiral
Loads of Painted Ladies 10+
1 x Speckled Wood
2 x Large White
1 x Small White
(Loads of Speckled Yellow Moths)
I didn't have my butterfly book with me and hope I have identified the Pearl Bordered Fritillary correctly. Does anyone have exerience of seeing them at this time of year at this location? I hope I haven't got it mixed up with the Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary!
CML
Incidentally Painted Ladies have been flooding into the UK from N Africa in the last few days, and I saw several hundred pass through my garden in south Cambs on Sunday. They were all flying south to north and travelling at about 20 mph. Only a few stopped at flowers to refuel on the way!
DEN
Many thanks for your reply.
The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the butterfly I saw was a Pearl Bordered Fritillary rather than the Small PBF. Obviously, I can't be 100% but your email has helped to convince me!
I know exactly what you mean about the Painted Ladies. The day after I posted my email I must have seen 40+ in the space of half an hour! They weren't stopping to refuel either! Very Lewis Hamilton!!
Thanks again for your reply.
CML
I now think I got it wrong!
I went back to the same site this weekend (see my new post from 30/5/09) and I got a much better look at the butterfly this time. I had my book with me too!
I reckon that I saw a Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary.
As I saw the two new SPBF in exactly the same place, I am thinking that the butterfly I saw on my earlier visit was a SPBF too!
Shows how much I know!
CML
Red Admiral, Peacock, Brimstone, Comma, Painted Lady, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip.
No Small Tortoishell seen yet
A wonderful sight!
21.apr
peacock: in the back field at home Bradford, Yorkshire
23.apr
orange tip : in front of home Bradford, Yorkshire
25.may
cabbage white : bank of the Wharfe in Otley
25.may
marbled white (male) : woods on Otley Chevin
25.may
peacock : in fields below Otley Chevin
What is it? This is a link to the video that I have posted.
http://www.vimeo.com/4963435
I think what you saw is a Garden Tiger which is a type of moth.
Try this link - you need to scroll down the page to see a picture of the moth.
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/t
I hope this helps.
CML
Mount Batten, Plymouth
Large White
Small White
Painted Lady x 5
Speckled Wood
Common Blue
Upper Chaddlewood, Plymouth
Large White
Small White
Red Admiral
Painted Lady x 5
Common Blue
30/5/09
Cann Wood, Plymouth
Speckled Wood x 2
Brimstone
Large White
Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary x 2
Painted Lady x 3
Peacock
Large Skipper
31/5/09
Noss Mayo
Large White x 7
Speckled Wood x 9
Painted Lady x 18
Green Veined White
Common Blue x 2 (1 definately female)
Wall Brown x 2
(Speckled Yellow Moth)
A good set of outings! The weather helped though!!
CML
On June 2
Small copper: Bonchurch Down, Isle of Wight
Wall: Bonchurch Down, Isle of Wight
Large skipper: Bonchurch Down, Isle of Wight
Glanville fritillary: Binnel Point, isle of Wight
Green hairstreak: Compton Down, Isle of Wight
Small blue: Compton Down, Isle of Wight
On June 8
Chequered skipper: Glasdrum Wood, Argyll
On June 15
Large blue: Green Down near Somerton, Somerset
Meadow brown: Green Down near Somerton, Somerset
Marbled white: Green Down near Somerton, Somerset
This takes the Independent's own total from 20 to 30
GBBH Sighting
1 x Ringlet
Plympton,Plymouth
Five more species for the Independent itself in the GBBH
Friday June 19
swallowtail at How Hill, Norfolk
red admiral at Catfield Fen, Norfolk
Saturday June 20
heath fritillary at Blean Wood, Kent
Sunday June 21
Black hairstreak at Glapthorn Cow Pastures, Northants
This takes the Indy total to 35 out of 58
Lulworth Skipper (Lulworth & Portland, Dorset)
Large Skipper (Portland & Horndean, Hampshire)
Dingy Skipper (Lulworth & Portland)
Small Tortoishell (60+ 16/06/09 Shapwick Heath NNR, Somerset
Large Blue (4 16/06/09 Collard Hill, Street, Somerset)
Small Blue (Portland in large numbers)
Marbled White (Portland & Horndean)
Meadow Brown
Ringlet (17 01/07/09 Horndean)
Small Skipper (01/07 Horndean)
Green Hairstreak - May 2?th Titchfield Haven, Hampshire
Clouded Yellow - May 26th Farlington Marshes, Hampshire
Adonis Blue - May 26th, Farlington Marshes.
That makes my total 25 to date.
As a note that may be of interest, I undertake transect surveys for Butterfly Conservation (BC) from April 1st to September 30th each year on several locations near to my home. Sightings are reported through a co-ordinator who collates the input from each area, each week and then submits the data to BC HQ.
Gatekeeper, 08/07/09 Horndean, Hampshire.
Total to date: 26
In the last posting I added five species but only mentioned four. I should have included ringlet at Glapthorn cow pastures, Northants, on Sunday June 21, which took the total to 35 out of 58.
We can now add eight more species
On Monday June 29 at Arnside Knott, Lancashire
High brown fritillary
Dark green fritillary
Grayling
Northern brown argus
On Monday June 29 at Meathop Moss, Cumbria
Large heath
On Monday June 29 on the high fells above Wrynose Pass, Cumbria:
Mountain ringlet
On Tuesday July 7 at Cheshunt Golf course, Herts:
White letter hairstreak
On Tuesday July 7 at Broxbourne Wood, Herts
Purple hairstreak
This takes the Independent total to 43 out of 58.
Sunday 12th July
Cann Wood, Plymouth
I saw:
10 + Ringlets
5 + Meadow Browns
3 Hedge Browns
1 Silver Washed Fritilliary
3 Small Skipper - I think! I couls swear that one of these three had black tipped antennae underneath. surely, I have not seen an Essex Skiper this far south??! Could anyone advise?
1 x black and yellow caterpillar - don't think it was a cinnabar moth caterpillar as the yellow bands didn't seem wide enough and I found it on a wild strawberry leaf with no St John's Wort in sight! Any ideas anyone?
Thanks in advance!
CLyons
This was the only blue I saw during the Transect (survey) of Windmill Hill, but counted 248 butterflies in total, 11 different species.
Silver Washed Fritilliary
Dark Green Fritilliary
White Admiral.
Counted 16 species in total which is the most I have ever seen in one outing.
On Tuesday July 14
In Alice Holt forest, Hampshire
Five more species
Purple emperor
Silver washed fritillary
White admiral
Gatekeeper
Small skipper
This took the Indy total to 48
On Thursday July 23
In Dorset
Four more species
Brown argus
Chalkhill blue
Silver studded blue
Lulworth skipper
This took the total to 52
On Wednesday July 29
at Chiddingfold Forest, Surrey : wood white
This took the total to 53
Species 54 and 55
Essex skipper
silver-spotted skipper
both seen on July 31
at Denbies Hillside, Surrey
This brings the Indy total to 55 species out of 58. The three species still to see are clouded yellow, Scotch argus and brown hairstreak
58 out of 58 in a single summer
thanks to everyone who helped
Mike McCarthy
Glaziers Cumbria