recentsightings

This page is intended to serve as an indication of the butterflies and moths recently seen in the Yorkshire region (the Yorkshire Moths group also provides good information on moth sightings). Sightings don't have to be rare or unusual, the idea is to give other website users an idea of what to look out for. If you have sightings to report, send an e-mail to the webmaster with details of what you saw, the date you saw it and the general area in which it was. If you took any pictures on that day that you would like to share then include your favourite picture with the e-mail (we are looking for current photos, rather than your best pictures from the archives). We encourage you to submit your sightings to your Vice County Recorder details of whom can be found on the Recorders page. There is a standard form for recording butterflies which can be downloaded here and there is a checklist and notes about moth recording in Yorkshire which can be downloaded here. Click on the small picture or the links in the individual reports to see any attached photos - please note that
Images are the property of the photographer and should not be reproduced without permission.

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3rd July 2009

Gary Hudson was in Lofthouse this week where he recorded Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Large Skipper, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood. Steve Bamford acted on David Plews' suggestion and visited Lindrick Common where his sightings yesterday included yesterday 100+ Silver Studded Blues, 60+ Dark Green Fritillary and 80+ Marbled Whites. Steve says that there is a new colony of Dark Green Fritillary in a woodland ride bordering a meadow at Anston Stones where he saw at least 10 and a few were mating low on an oak tree. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was Barred Red. Jesika Bone has captured three Elephant Hawk-moths and a Beautiful Golden Y in her York moth trap. A Comma visited her garden, on The Stray there were Small Tortoiseshells and Small White and in the university grounds Speckled Wood, Ringlet and Meadow Brown. On 2nd July Dave Howson saw a White-letter Hairstreak flying round its Ilkley treetop at 09.30am. Tim Howson saw a Small Copper perched on a rock near the top of Simons Seat in Wharfedale. Graham Featherstone saw his first ever Humming-bird Hawk-moth whilst at work yesterday in Glaisdale but typically didn't have his camera! Today he went to Skinningrove sand dunes and cliffs and says he has never seen so many butterflies and oths.Uncountable numbers of Meadow Brown and Ringlets.Thousands of burnet moths,lots of Large Skippers,Common Blues and Small Heath along with Latticed Heath moths, Diamond-backs and Silver Y. At Fen Bog he met Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp where they all watched the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries and seven other species including Dark Green Fritillary.

2nd July 2009

Lee Westmoreland was on castle hill in Scarborough today where sightings included Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Painted Lady and Ringlet. New moths in the trap overnight were Coxcomb Prominent and Swallow-tailed moth. Jackie Dawson spotted this Burnished Brass in her Elvington garden. Barry Dalton visited Brockadale on the 29th June where he saw many Marbled Whites and Large Skippers plus good numbers of Six-spot Burnets. Moths around his Norton house and garden have included Grey Dagger,Small Fan-foot,,Common Emerald, Barred Yellow,Riband Waves,Swallow-tailed Moth,Small Magpie and a Mullein larva feeding on the Buddleia. Alan Miller tells us that for many years he has been doing a Breeding Bird Survey for the BTO around Romanby. This year the BTO and BC have joined forces and asked recorders to survey the same area for butterflies. Alan went around his square at Romanby today and saw 46 Meadow Brown, 43 Ringlet, 1 Speckled Wood, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Large White, and 2 Snout. Ian and Gillian Edgar were at South Gare today where they saw 15+ Grayling and at least 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths on the Viper's Bugloss. Other sightings included Small, Green-veined and Large Whites, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Painted Lady and Small Tortoiseshell. Paz Fletcher had a tramp around the back of Heslington today where he says Red Admirals have been appearing over the last couple of days. The star butterfly today, however, was a single Marbled White heading determinedly NE across open fields near White House Farm. Dave Hatton in Farsley has captured Foxglove Pug, Beautiful and Plain Golden Ys, Pyrausta aurata and Aleimma loeflingiana. Michael Flowers has been out and about today at Kilnsea where there were many Burnet moths, a Silver-Y, Abundant Meadow Browns, slightly fewer Ringlets, 3 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Common Blues, a handful of Painted Ladies & 2 Red Admirals. On Spurn there was a Small Heath and at Beacon Ponds a Gatekeeper. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Diamond-back, Bird Cherry Ermine, Catoptria falsella and Lozotaeniodes formosanus. Paul Brothers and Julian Matthews were at Cross Gates, Leeds where their sightings included Purple Hairstreak which were very active in the tree tops. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has captured Brown China-mark, Golden Plusia, Grey Arches, Rhyacionia pinicolana and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla.

1st July 2009

David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Pempelia formosa, Small Yellow Wave, Crambus perlella and Light Arches. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was the Herald. A walk over Fylingdales Moor gave sightings of Common Blue, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (in numbers), Large Skipper, Clouded Buff, and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet. Jesika Bone in York captured an Elephant Hawk-moth. Her garden was visited by a Hummingbird Hawk-moth and three Small Tortoiseshells have hatched in her sun room. Alan Miller had a superb couple of hours at the RSPB Reserve at Saltholme, Cleveland today where he saw 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath, 1 Red Admiral, 12 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 12 Meadow Brown and 2 Speckled Wood together with 1 Six-spot Burnet Moth. Andrew Ashworth tells us that there was a White-letter Hairstreak on the Thwaite Street Elm in Cottingham, Marbled Whites are out in Kiplingcoates and a Bordered Sallow was seen nectaring near and egg laying on Restharrow there yesterday. Sandra Lemons saw a Painted Lady in Hornsea on the 28th. She saw Five-spot Burnet Moths in Handsworth, Sheffield along with several Skippers.

29th June 2009

Ian Atkin photographed this Cinnabar moth today at Booze in Arkengarthdale. he doesn't remember seeing one in the dales before but says that tere have been two there since Tuesday, near a patch of ragwort at an altitude of about 330 metres. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Short-cloaked, Beautiful Golden Y and Clouded-bordered Brindle. Lee and Jax Westmoreland in Scarborough captured a Clay. Belinda Robson in Scarborough tells us that Peter Robson saw Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady on the cliffs above the north bay and that there were two pristine Red Admirals in her garden this afternoon. Steve Bamford paid a visit to Anstones and Lindrick Dale and saw all the common butterflies plus Dark Green Fritillary at both sites and a Marbled White at Anston Stones

28th June 2009

Graham Featherstone has been to Glaisdale where sightings have included Mottled Beauty, Blood Vein, Snout and Nemophora degeerella. He tells us that the Nemophora were swarming in two clouds of 20 to 30 individuals,dancing and spiralling up and down amongst some trees near Glaisdale beck at 9am.Quite a sight. Dave Hatton in Farsley has captured Green Pug, Codling Moth, Riband Wave, Brimstone and Small Magpie. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Small Rivulet, Burnished Brass, Gothic, Common Emerald and Blue-bordered Carpet. Paul Brothers reports from the field trip to Crossgates where seven members attended and had views of several species of butterfly and moth but not the target White-letter Hairstreak. Eagle eyed Maurice Gordon spotted something unusual at Wimbledon - follow the link to a tennis match and fast forward to 8 minutes 50 seconds and see what happens next!!!!

26th June 2009

Paul Kipling in Richmond has captured Figure of Eighty and Lime Hawk-moth. Damian Money in Skelton has captured Lempke's Gold Spot along with Garden Tiger and Green Silver-lines. Graham Featherstone has been to Dalby Forest where he saw Ringlets on Ellerburn Bank, Large Skipper at Haygate and Aethes cnicana in Cropton Forest. Paz Fletcher has been to Burton Leonard Lime Quarry north of Knaresborough where he saw a nice range of butterflies when the sun showed in the early afternoon - the three common Whites, a very fresh Comma, single Painted Lady, nearly 50 Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood were all present. The undoubted highlight though was the White-letter Hairstreaks jinking and chasing each other round the top of a conspicuous elm on the quarry edge, and perching up on the leaves. The highest count was 4 at one time. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Barred Red, Poplar Grey, Coxcomb Prominent, Broad-barred White, Willow Beauty and Fan-foot. Paul Brothers was at Fairburn Ings where his sightings included Red Admiral, Small and Large Skippers and good numbers of Ringlets and Meadow Browns. Moths seen included Yellow Shell, Six-spot and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets.

25th June 2009

Dave Hatton in Farsley captured this Magpie Moth and found this Vapourer larva on his neighbour's Mahonia. Paul Brothers found a pair of Lime Hawk-moths in his Leeds garden. Barry Dalton tells us that the activity around Norton (VC63) is dominated by 6 Spot Burnet moths of which there are many dozens in all the meadows. There are still larvae about ,though most have now pupated, cocoons are everywhere and the adults are ensuring the next generation will be as plentiful! The first Ringlets ,Common Blues, Meadow Browns and Large Skippers are now appearing. A few fresh looking Small Tortoiseshells have arrived and there are still a few Painted Ladies about but they are mostly very worn. Moths seen have included Marbled Beauty, Angle Shades,Silver Ground ,Common and Garden Carpet and Silver Y. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has been busy with the moth trap where her sightings have included Celypha striana, Blastodacna hellerella, Marbled Orchard Tortrix and Small Clouded Brindle. Jesika Bone saw her first Small Skipper and Meadow Brown in the grounds of York University and captured this photograph of a Large White emerging from a pupa. Ginni Darbyshire reports that in front of Black Mill (Beverley Westwood) there are two poplar trees. As she approached, she noticed that there are hardly any leaves on the trees, one was completely stripped, the other had a few branches with very tattered leaves. Closer inspection revealed webs on the ends of branches, with caterpillars inside while other caterpillars were marching up and down the trunks. They were hairy, with white markings down their backs and some red. Ginni wonders whether anyone can help her to identify the larvae.

24th June 2009

Damian Money has been out and about at Fen Bog on the 22nd he recorded Small Argent and Sable (with second photo) and Large Heath. At Skelton on the 22nd Opsibotys fuscalis and at Kilton Thorpe on the 21st Common Blues. A Blomers Rivulet was a surprise to see in the Skelton garden trap this morning. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Uncertain, Marbled Beauty, Bordered White and Lathronympha strigana. Michael Flowers recorded Large Heath at Thorne Moors on the 14th June. David Plews reports Dark Green Fritillary on Lindrick Common today where he also saw, Silver Studded Blue 30+, Marbled White 12+, Ringlets 20+, Meadow Brown 2, Gate Keeper 1, Small Heath 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1. . Belinda Robson tells us that once again her garden is a territory for Speckled Woods, in particular one sunny corner.They have been coming to this corner for several years now. and there were at least three yesterday. Belinda watched one feeding on the flowers of Symphoricarpus and witnessed a pair spiralling upwards into the trees as two males were disputing the territory. Steve Bamford had a short visit to Thorne Moors yesterday where he saw 20+ Large Heaths, 6 Small Tortoiseshell, plenty of Large Skippers, Whites, Speckled Wood and Meadow Brown. Derek Parkinson tells us that Burnished Brass has started to appear in his Baildon moth trap and Cherry Fruit Moths (Argyresthia pruniella) are easily found by shaking the cherry tree each evening!

23rd June 2009

Dave Hatton in Farsley has trapped Marbled Beauty, Small Yellow Wave and Bee Moth. Dave saw his first Ringlet of the year at Fairburn Ings on the 21st. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Gothic, Dot Moth and Riband Wave. Jesika Bone in York is concerned about a parasite which appears to be attacking Small Tortoiseshell larvae. Can anyone suggest what it might be?

22nd June 2009

David Baker in Tadcaster captured this Swallow-tailed Moth. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp visited South Milford, Fairburn Ings and Crossgates and report good numbers of butterflies in all three locations. An Eyed Hawk-moth larva was recorded at Fairburn Ings. Maurice Gordon saw his first Ringlets at North Cave Wetlands yesterday and found this Brimstone (beautifully modelled by his daughter!) in his Kirk Ella house. Alan Miller had a super day wandering around Nosterfield yesterday where sightings included 1 Large Skipper, 2 Ringlet, 1 Green-veined White, 6 Meadow Brown, 8 Speckled Wood and 1 Painted Lady. Alan also disturbed a Silver-ground Carpet. Ange Garrod has been busy trapping in Sheffield where her catch has included Light Emerald, Green Oak Tortrix, Green Silver-lines, Bee Moth , Clouded Silver, Ash Bud Moth and Lozotaenia forsterana. Butterfly sightings in the garden have included Speckled Wood and Large White. Jesika Bone reports 3 Small Tortoishells on Walmgate Stray and four by the river in York. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Foxglove Pug, Silver Y and Map-wing Swift.

20th June 2009

Steve Mattock spotted this Ringlet along with several Speckled Woods in York Cemetery. Graham Featherstone found this Drinker on Lealholm Moor. Martyn Priestly tells us that a visit to Raw Nook NR at Low Moor Bradford on the 21/06/09 produced sightings of Meadow brown, Ringlet (both first sightings of the year) Common Blue, Small Copper, Large White and a single Mother Shipton moth. John Hume went around Harwood Dale this afternoon and reports a proliferation of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries with at least a dozen on the roadside verge near the Goldfish Ponds. There were another dozen or so at the top of Castlebeck Woods and about a quater of a mile upstream another 20 or more with odd ones in between. John says he has never seen so many in one afternoon before. Painted Ladies and Common Blue were also recorded. Moths recorded on the walk were White Ermine and Chimney Sweeper. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Elephant Hawk-moth (just warming up), Chrysoteuchia culmella and Rivulet. Dave Hatton captured three new species for his Farsley garden overnight White Ermine, Figure of Eighty and Light Emerald. Paul Brothers was at Fairburn Ings where sightings included Speckled Wood, Small Copper, Ringlet, Yellow Shell and Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet.

19th June 2009

Graham Featherstone recorded the first sighting of a Large Heath at Fen Bog today. Michael Flowers spotted this Drinker on Beacon Lane at Spurn where he also saw Painted Ladies, Common Blues, Small Heath, Speckled Wood, and Small White despite the dreadful wind. Paul Brothers and Julian Matthews were at Deepdale today where they recorded Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, Painted Lady, a late Orange-tip, Common Blue, Dingy Skipper and a Comma. At Ellerburn Bank they saw Small Heath, Speckled Wood and Common Blue. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Mottled Beauty and Green Arches.

16th June 2009

Graham Featherstone had this Purple Clay come to his Lealhome conservatory light. Alan Miller recorded his first Speckled Wood in his Romanby garden. Steve Bamford went down to Paull Road, Saltend, today and saw 100+ Common Blues, 100+Meadow Browns, 2 Painted Ladies, 4 Small Heath, 1 Peacock, Small White, and a few Large Skippers. Steve says that it is a great site for the Common Blue and it was good to see so many at once. Damian Money visited Fen Bog on Sunday and found several interesting species including Incurvaria oehlmanniella,Small Purple-barred,Smoky Wave,Marsh Pug along with several Small Pearl -bordered Fritillaries and Painted Ladies. Damian also saw Dingy Skippers and Painted Ladies at Ellerburn Bank along with a Pyrausta aurata on Saturday. Susan Stead tells us that at the Shipley Station open day the plants were looking good, there were 3 male and 2 female Common Blues and up to 10 people attended the event. Maurice Gordon was at Tophill Reservoir where sightings included Yellow Shell, 3 to 4 Meadow Brown and a very weary Painted Lady.

15th June 2009

Ange Garrod in Sheffield has been busy with her moth trap recording Small Fan-foot, Lime-speck Pug, Small Dusty Wave and Dusky Brocade amongst the catch. Mike Clayton in Sheffield found this Lime Hawk-moth under his patio table. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Willow Beauty, Phlyctaenia coronata, Ancylis achatan and a Snout. Lee and Jax Westmoreland in Scarborough captured their first Lime Hawk-moth and Ghost Moth of the year. Paul Brothers tells us that Hubert Hung was at Brockadales today where he saw Marbled Whites. Graham Featherstone was at Ellerburn Bank where sightings included Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Wall and Painted Lady along with Yellow Shell and Clouded Border. Maurice Gordon has been in Northamptonshire where he saw Black Hairstreak. Dave Hatton has been to Lincolnshire where his sightings were many and included Orange-tip, Brown Argus, Latticed Heath and Middle-barred Minor.

14th June 2009

Tom Hubball reports a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in his Silsden garden today. Graham Featherstone recorded his first Large Skipper and Chimney Sweeper at Glaisdale today. Jesika Bone spotted this Blood Vein in the grounds of York University. David Baker tells us that after a cracking storm around midnight 28 species still made their way to his moth trap last night. Newcomers for 2009 were Pandemis cerasana, Small Dusty Wave, Large Yellow Underwing, Elephant Hawk-moth, along with Straw Dot and Green Silver-lines. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp have been out and about near Nabgate where sightings included Painted Lady, Small Heath, Small Copper, Dingy Skipper, Large Skipper and Holly Blue. At Fairburn Ings with Julian Matthews and Hubert Hung sightings included Peacock, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Yellow Shell, Cinnabar and Shaded Broad-bar. At Brockadales sightings included Painted Lady, Brown Argus, Orange-tip and at South Milford Small Tortoiseshell, Large Skipper, Holly Blue and Peacock were amongst the species seen.

13th June 2009

Sally Whale reports a Speckled Wood in her Headingley garden on the 12th June. Ginni Derbyshire tells us that she had her first visit to Spurn Point fortoday where she saw two Speckled Woods in the carpark of the 'Crown and Anchor', then several Large Whites, a Painted Lady and two male Common Blues on the Point itself. She thinks she saw a Meadow Brown, but it blew off too quickly! Ginni also saw the BrownTail moth webs and two lovely Garden Tiger moth caterpillars. Belinda Robson recorded the first Small Skipper of the year in Scarborough. Jon Harvey was at Kiplingcotes where he saw more than fifty Common Blue (male and female) along with Speckled Wood, Small Heath and a Painted Lady. David Baker trapped Cherry-bark Moth, Teleiodes vulgella and found a twig that looked like the original blueprint fot the Buff-tip moth! Graham Featherstone was at Ellerburn Bank where sightings included Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and Small Heath, at Deepdale there were Painted Lady, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Red Admiral and at Fen Bog The Whites, Common Blue, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Painted Lady and a Green Hairstreak. Moths recorded included Burnet Companion at Fenbog and at Eulia ministrana Deepdale. Paz Fletcher had a wander around Fulford village and Ings on the 12th June where he saw his first Meadow Brown of the year. Painted Ladies were still in evidence, though spread thinly - 17 were seen. Also recorded were a single male Brimstone, Large and Small Whites, Orange-tips Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood. It was a bumper night in the moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland with seven species new for year including Buff-tip (no it's not a twig!), Pebble Prominent, Dark Arches, Peach Blossom, Epiblema cynosbatella, Dusky Brocade, Dipleurina lacustrata and Argyresthia brockeella. A walk along the Sea Cut provided sightings of the whites, Speckled Wood and more than twenty Painted Ladies.

11th June 2009

Ian Marshall tells us that over the past fortnight, he's been catching a few more moths in North Ferriby and has been wandering around at Flamborough on a weekend with the net and camera. Over the weekend of the 30th/31st May, there was an obvious influx of Silver Y at Flamborough with about 50 during the daytime on the Sunday. The undoubted highlight though was a Marsh Pug, the second year in a row one has been seen at Flamborough.On 7th June Ian spotted Elachista albifrontella and Nemapogon cloacella at Flamborough. In North Ferriby it has been an excellent year for May Highflyer, new for the garden was Green Silver-lines, Unusually, a Marbled Beauty was caught in May. There have been three new micromoths Argyresthia trifasciata, Nematopogon schwarziellus and Endothenia nigricostana.This week has seen new for year Double Square-spot and Phyllonorycter leucographella. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured Dagger agg. and Marbled Minor agg. new for year in the Scarborough moth trap. Graham Featherstone in Lealholme spotted a Plain Golden Y and Sheila Hirst in Brockholes saw these Large White larvae on Honesty in her garden. Chris Frost in Withernsea has captured Waved Umber, Silver-ground Carpet and Green Carpet.

7th June 2009

Tom Hubball has been to Shipley Station where he spotted a couple of Common Blues (underside picture). Belinda Robson tells us that Peter Robson took this picture of a Speckled Wood in Scarborough today. Several of you were spotted at Dalby Forest today - see the report on the news page. The Guardian are running an online call for photographs of butterflies from readers on their website and promoting Butterfly Conservation's effort to track Painted Ladies. They are collecting the photos on a flickr group and will ask readers to vote on the best from a short-list of 10 or so. There is no prize as such other than kudos! Follow the link if you are interested in submitting an entry Guardian Competition but hurry - the closing date is the 16th June.

6th June 2009

Graham Featherstone was out and about in Dalby Forest yesterday were his sightings included Scoparia pyralella, Aethes cnicana and Yellow Shell. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Flame and Common Wainscot. Paul Brothers was at Wilton Heights Quarry yesterday where his sightings included Painted Lady, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Cinnabar.

4th June 2009

David Baker has been trapping at Elvington where the catch has included Grass Rivulet and Sandy Carpet, also caught were Bird’s Wing, Green Silver-lines, Miller, Marbled Brown and Cream-bordered Green Pea to name but a few. At home in Tadcaster his catch has contained Gold Spot and Angle Shades. In the Scarborough moth trap Lee and Jax Westmoreland have captured Beautiful Golden Y and Setaceous Hebrew Character. Christ Pellant was at Kiplingcotes on the 2nd June where his sightings included Painted Lady, Small Heath, Orange-tip, Large and Small Whites, Cinnabar and Silver Y. Dave Hatton in Farsley has captured Heart and Dart, Brown House Moth, and Gothic.

3rd June 2009

Derek Parkinson in Baildon tells us that the dark form of the Peppered Moth (f. carbonaria) was in his garden trap this morning and It prompted him to notice the melanism that also frequently occurs in Scalloped Hazel which is the commonest species in the Baildon trap at the moment. Derek tells us that a Robin inspects the trap each morning but that it got a shock when it encountered this Puss Moth - or is it a Sallow Kitten? Derek has also recruited his daughters to help with the moth trap and wonders whether one of them has drawn the short straw! Terry Crawford walked about 9 miles this afternoon in the Derwent valley above Kirkham where he saw more than 40 Painted Lady. Judith Waddington saw a Brimstone in her Honley garden. Richard Bennett was at Nosterfield where he saw male and female Common Blue, Painted Lady and Large Skipper. Ange Garrod has been busy trapping in Sheffield where her catches have included Small Phoenix, Poplar Grey, Dagger sp, Celypha lacunana, Skin Moth, Acrolepia autumnitella, and Plutella porrectella. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Small Magpie, Timothy Tortrix and Ingrailed Clay.

2nd June 2009

Richard Bennett has driven over 150 miles from Easingwold via Thirsk, Kepwick, Osmotherley, Middlesbrough, Seesay and Topcliffe. On every part of the journey he saw huge numbers of Painted Lady butterflies and finally gave up counting! Richard says that they were quick, on the move and not resting anywhere. All had a slightly faded look. Richard stopped off at Topcliffe where he saw six Large Skippers, first sightings of Meadow Brown and Ringlet, Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell and a Wall. Syd Cochrane recorded the first sighting of a Clouded Yellow today on Primrose Valley in VC62 along with Dingy Skippers (2 very worn individuals from his best count of 6) , and 44 Large Skippers the best count in Filey for a number of years. Graham Featherstone recorded Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Darnholm yesterday along with Painted Lladies, Small Heath and Small Copper. There were many Common Heath and Brown Silver- line. 5 Painted Ladies were seen at Fenbog and Orange-tip at Ruswarp garden today with Small Tortoiseshell and 2 more Painted Ladies. Alan Miller tells us that yesterday afternoon he had a Brimstone Moth in his Romanby garden. Today in the same area Alan reports 1 Small Copper, 6 Green-veined White, 6 Wall, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Painted Lady and 1 Small White. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp have been in the Helmsley area where sightings have included Duke of Burgundy, Red Admiral and Brown Silver-line.

1st June 2009

Sheila Hirst found this Painted Lady feeding on Thrift in her Brockholes garden. Stuart Ogilvy strolled through Rawcliffe Meadows yesterday and saw five Painted Ladies along with the Whites and Brimstone. David Plews was at Gypsy Marsh near Wombwell where his sightings included Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Green-veined White along with an Orange-tip larva. Nick Hall has been lucky enough to have a visit to Wadswick Common in Wiltshire where he saw Large Skipper and Marsh Fritillary. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Small Angle Shades, Treble Lines and Turnip Moth.

31st May 2009

Lee and Jax Westmoreland have been to Deepdale today where sightings included Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Dingy Skipper, Painted Lady and Six-spot Burnet larva. Their Scarborough moth trap contained Flame Shoulder new for this year. Belinda Robson reports a Holly Blue in her Scarborough garden today. Paz Fletcher tells us that 35 Painted Ladies passed through his 20m strip on Heslington Tillmire on the 30th and on a bike ride he managed to record at least one butterfly in 15 1km squares Painted Ladies being recorded in 10 of them. Other species found were: Brimstone, Green-veined White, Small White, Large White, Orange-tip, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Common Blue, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Wall and Small Heath. Paz says that he was pleased to find 9 Walls in total in 5 different locations as this is much more encouraging than the dreadful declines that were evident when he was recording in Derbyshire a couple of years ago. Barry Dalton had a walk at Brockadale yesterday where he saw several Chimney Sweepers, Painted Lady (12 ) Common Blue, Small Copper and 4 Brimstones. Peter Swallow was in the Kelk area today where his sightings included Orange-tip, Wall, Small White and at least 6 Painted Ladies (which were a welcome sight and exceeded his total of that species for the whole of 2008 by 6!) In the afternoon at Skipsea, during an hour in the garden, Peter saw a total of 22 Painted Ladies flying past at some speed, with a following wind. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Timothy Tortrix, Lychnis, Tawny Marbled Minor and Marbled Minor in his moth trap over night. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp were out and about in Nabgate where sightings included Large Skipper, more than 70 Small Heath, more than 50 Dingy Skipper, Burnet Companion and Cinnabar. At Ellerburn Bank sightings included Painted Lady, Dingy Skipper and Common Blue. At Fen Bog Dingy Skipper, Common Heath, Small Heath and Painted Lady were present.

30th May 2009

Paul Kipling in Richmond has captured his first Eyed Hawk-moth. Graham Featherstone was out and about on Ellerburn Bank and at Deepdale where he had views of the Whites, Dingy Skipper, Wall, Small Heath and Common Blue. Tim Batchelor-Wylam reports Painted Lady butterflies passing through his garden at Brodsworth/Pickburn at a rate of 4 per hour as at midday today. Jesika Bone tells us there were 12 Painted Ladies on campus at York University today. Tim Quantrill reports an Elephant Hawk-moth in his Skipton garden. Paul Brothers was at Fairburn Ings today where sightings included Holly Blue , Wall, Small Copper, Silver Y, Celypha lacunana, Peacock, Painted Lady and Speckled Wood.

29th May 2009

Derek Parkinson was at Kettlewell today where he saw three freshly emerged Northern Brown Argus and was amazed to see how furry one of them was! Derek called at Grass Wood on the way back and saw three very flighty Specked Yellows. Painted Ladies were feeding on Bugle flowers with four competing for a small patch. All the Painted Ladies seen today at Grass Wood and Kettlewell seemed to be heading west rather than north. Sylvia Brennan travelled from Sledale to Danby Beacon today and reports lots of Small Copper on the heather moors along the journey and plenty of Painted Lady flying through at both Sleddale and Danby Beacon but rarely stoppng. Sylvia also had a Painted Lady flying around the horse she was riding at Swainby on Tuesday. Steve Graham had his usual lunchtime walk from Emley Moor (750' above sea level), near Huddersfield and saw 5 Painted Ladies purposefully flying West in the sunshine. Barry Dalton noted significant numbers of Painted Lady in and around Norton and probably a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. There also seems to be plenty of Silver Y in the area. Maurice Gordon was returning from a visit to Norfolk today and notes that there were Painted Ladies stumbling through the air doggedly heading northwards. Paz Fletcher was at North Cave Wetlands where sightings included Painted Lady, Wall, Common Blue,Brimstone, Speckled Wood and Whites. Jesika Bone reports at least twelve Painted Lady on the Stray in York, also on the wing were Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Caloptilia syringella, Freyer's Pug, Bright-line Brown-eye and Phyllonorycter leucographella. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp went to Brockadale where they saw Large Whites (10+) and Green-veined Whites (50+), Chimney Sweepers, at least twelve Painted Ladies, Orange-tips, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Small Copper, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Brimstones and a very tatty but active Comma. The pair also saw Common Blues (5+ males, 2 females). On the way home they called into South Milford and saw similar butterflies to those at Brockadale and a couple of Mother Shiptons. Dave Hatton in Farsley has captured Brown House-moth, White-shouldered House-moth, White-spotted Pug, Light-brown Apple-moth (flying during the day) and Common Marbled Carpet. Butterflies seen in the garden include Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood and Small and Large Whites.

28th May 2009

New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland overnight was Figure of Eighty. Jax spotted a Painted Lady in the grounds of Scarborough hospital along with Green-veined Whites and a Hebrew Character which had been attracted to the security lights. Dave O'Brien was working in Kirkleatham Woods in Redcar today, where he saw his first Painted Lady, as well as 5 Speckled Woods. Paz Fletcher tells us there were up to ten Painted Ladies at Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit and that the butterfly has also been spotted at Burnby, Londesborough.

Derek Parkinson captured this Buff-tip in his Baildon moth trap overnight. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Clepsis spectrana, Flame Shoulder and Shears. Dave Wainwright has recorded Cistus Forrester on the North York Moors along with Small Heath, Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper.

26th May 2009

Nick Hall was at Sherburn Willows where he recorded Common Blue, Painted Lady, Small Heath, Wall and Orange-tip. Damian Money recorded his and our first Large Skipper at Skelton yesterday where Painted Ladies were also seen. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Muslin, Cabbage and Pale-shouldered Brocade overnight. Painted Ladies continue to arrive on the castle hill in Scarborough while new in the moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was Buff Ermine. Derek Parkinson captured Poplar and Elephant Hawk-moths in his Baildon trap overnight Derek found this larva on his garden Elm and thinks that the whitish spiracular line is mostly absent on the third and fourth rings and the tip of the hump on the eleventh segment is yellowish, which lead him to think that this is Copper Underwing Amphipyra pyramidea rather than Svensson's Copper Underwing Amphipyra berbera. Derek is going to rear the caterpillar to see which of the two closely related species emerges. Paul Brothers was at Fairburn Ings on the 24th where his sightings included Adela reaumurella, Small Copper, Green-veined White, Mother Shipton and Common Blue. Steve Bamford went for a walk near Pickering on the 25th where he saw plenty of butterflies on the wing, including many Brimstones , all the Whites, Small Heaths, Small Coppers , Common Blue, Peacocks, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 20 Painted Ladies and a Speckled Wood. Dave Hatton was at Fairburn Ings where he saw Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined and Large Whites, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Common Carpet, Angle Shades, Bird Cherry Ermine larvae in a web and Cinnabar.

25th May 2009

Lee and Jax Westmoreland were in the north bay area of Scarborough where they witnessed Painted Ladies coming in to land from the sea. Also on the wing were Holly Blue, Common Blue, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshells, Silver Y and Large White. Lesser Swallow Prominent and Brown Silver-line were new in the moth trap. David Baker in Tadcaster captured White Ermine, Nut Tree Tussock and Tinea trinotella overnight. Paul Kipling was out in Yorkshire on Saturday where he saw Pearl-bordered Fritillary. His Richmond moth trap contained May Highflyer and Clouded-bordered Brindle. John Brookes was also about on Saturday and also saw Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Duke of Burgundy. His Long Marston moth trap contained White Ermine, Spectacle and Waved Umber. Michael Flowers was at Kiplingcotes where he spotted this Dingy Skipper. Barry Dalton was by the River Went today where he saw Six-spot Burnet larvae. Arnold Robson has spotted his first Painted Ladies in his Richmond garden. Jesika and Jim Bone have also seen Painted Ladies at York. Graham Featherstone recorded several moths in Dalby Forest on Friday including Adela reaumurella, Crambus lathionellus, Brown Silver-line and Pyrausta aurata. He saw Brimstones at Flamingo Land and his first Wall at Glaisdale today.

24th May 2009

Ange Garrod in Sheffield has been busy trapping in her garden where new species have included Small Magpie, Eudonia mercurella, Anthophila fabriciana and Scalloped Hazel. Green-veined White and Large White butterflies have also been seen. Peter Swallow saw three Walls in Kelk this morning along with six Orange-tips and Green-veined and Small Whites in numbers. Paz Fletcher says there seems to have been an influx of Painted Lady at Fulford Ings where ten were seen along woth Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and Green-veined White. Barry Dalton reports that there has been some increased moth activity around Norton over 23/24th May with Mother Shipton, Common Pug, Common Carpet, Garden Carpet, Silver Ground Carpet, Silver Y and Waved Umber recorded. Butterflies in the area have included Peacock, all the Whites, Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell. David Baker reports an Epiblema cynosbatella in his Tadcaster trap. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured Bright-line Brown-eye and Angle Shades overnight. The pair were out and about in the vale of Pickering where they recorded Duke of Burgundy, Orange-tip, Peacock, Comma and Brimstones, moths included Syndemis musculana, Brown Silver-line and Dingy Shell. Dave Hatton was on Ilkley Moor where sightings included Common Heath, Adela reaumurella, Green Hairstreak and Orange-tip. On Otley Chevin Dave reports a very fresh Painted Lady, Green Hairstreak, Speckled Wood and Brown Silver-line. Paul Brothers saw a Large White and a Comma at Bempton yesterday and tells us that there are lots of Drinker larvae at Fairburn Ings where he watched one caterpillar spinning its pupa. Paul also photographed an Orange-tip larva and a Cocksfoot Moth. John Hume was at Ellerburn bank where he photographed Burnet Companion and Dingy Skipper including two mating. At Pexton Bank he got close to a pair of Orange-tips and photographed their mating ritual also. Jesika and Jim Bone report Painted Ladies in York University grounds, there were Brimstones, Whites and Orange-tips on The Stray along with a ragged Peacocok.

23rd May 2009

Dave O'Brien and Robert Parks were out and about in Yorkshire yesterday looking for the Duke of Burgundy.They visited four known sites. At the first site nothing was flying due to the weather, but an egg search turned up good numbers of eggs - an excellent result, as the butterfly hadn't been recorded from there for the last couple of years. At the second site a brief sunny interval tempted a freshly emerged female into flight. Torrential rain accompanied their walk to the third site where, unfortunately neither eggs nor adults were found. The sun once again appeared when they reached the last site and two (one and two ) were seen - both quite fresh. Just for good measure, Dave decided a Duke in the hand was worth two in the bush! The only other butterfly seen all day was a Dingy Skipper. Dave Hatton reports Iron Prominent, Scalloped Hazel and Brown House-moth in his Farsley garden moth trap. In Scarborough, Lee and Jax Westmoreland had several species new for year in their garden moth trap including Spectacle, Brimstone Moth, Common Marbled Carpet, Common White Wave and Rustic Shoulder-knot. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Oak hook-tip, Rustic Shoulder-knot and Bryotropha affinis.

22nd May 2009

Graham Featherstone reports Dingy Skipper and Small Heath on Ellerburn Bank, Orange-tip and Green-veined White at Deepdale and Green-veined White, Peacock and Common Heath moths at Fen Bog. Paul Kipling captured Lychnis and Flame Carpet in Richmond overnight and reports Walls on the wing this afternoon. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Garden Carpet, Heart and Dart , Buff Ermine and Dichrorampha acuminatana overnight. Lee and Jax Westmoreland also captured Heart and Dart in Scarborough. Nick Hall spotted a Painted Lady at Stockbridge House Cawood on the 12th May, and several Walls on 14th of May, along with Small, Large and Green-veined Whites, Orange-tips, Speckled Woods, Peacocks, and a Holly Blue.

21st May 2009

New for the garden for Lee and Jax Westmoreland in Scarborough overnight was Lunar Marbled Brown. New for the year was Peppered Moth. There was also a White-shouldered House-moth in the trap no doubt one of the more than 200 that emerged in the shed a few days ago!!! At Elvington David Baker trapped Green Carpet, Flame Carpet and Small Phoenix and back home in Tadcaster a Scalloped Hazel was recorded. Dave Hatton in Farsley, Leeds has captured Small Phoenix, Cabbage Moth, Light-brown Apple-moth and Common Pug. Sally Whale in Headingley has seen Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Large and Small Whites in her garden today.

20th May 2009

Paul Kipling in Richmond has captured his first Spruce Carpet. Dave Oliver found this Lime Hawk-moth on a wall near his Guisborough moth trap and wonders whether it didn't go in due to an aversion to Cockchafers! David Baker in Tadcaster captured his first Poplar Hawk-moth of the year along with a Diamond-back and a Mottled Pug. Steve Bamford tells us that he was at Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire yesterday where he saw Painted Lady, a few Small Whites and a Small Heath. Today he saw his (and our) first Common Blue of the year down Paul Road, near Saltend, Hull. Martin Priestly tells us that whilst at Punta Prima on the Costa Blanca in Spain he observed a massive influx of Painted Ladies all moving north. On the 14th of May hundreds were seen coming in off the sea from North Africa. Then on the 15th of May he went by car east along the coast road to Clot de Gavney NR a distance of 30 miles and there were butterflies moving the whole journey many landing on the roads. At Clot de Gavney NR the place was alive with Painted Ladies and at just 'one' bush Martin counted over 100 butterflies. On the 16th of May the movement had stopped. Martin estimates that the whole movement must have contained many many thousands of butterflies, so lets hope Yorkshire is set for an invasion!

19th May 2009

In a brief interlude of sunshine in Headingley this afternoon Sally Whale managed to photograph this Orange-tip in her garden. Jesika Bone found this Angle Shades as a pupa and waited patiently until it emerged today. David Baker in Tadcaster caputered a Spectacle and Mompha subbistrigellaovernight. The migrants are finally coming to Scarborough. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured a Diamond-back overnight along with nine other species, the best night's trapping for a while.

18th May 2009

New in the Tadcaster trap for David Baker was this Lime Hawk-moth. Also in the trap were Small Square-spot , Garden Carpet and Brimstone. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Small Square-spot and a very very battered Green Carpet. It seemed to be a night for carpets as there were also Spruce, Garden and Flame carpets in the trap with a Scalloped Hazel and a Cockchafer.

17th May 2009

David Baker in Tadcaster captured this Chinese Character overnight. Edward Jarratt has recorded a Peacock butterfly near Huddersfield. Tom Hubball went on the away day to Cumbria today where, depite the overcast condiotns, sightings included Duke of Burgundy (with second picture), Speckled Wood, Brown Silver-line and Speckled Yellow.

16th May 2009

Sally Whale in Headingley recorded this Garden Carpet overnight. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured Clouded-bordered Brindle, Freyer's Pug and Mompha epilobiella in Scarborough overnight and offer another note to the unwary that the trap also contained a large, very smelly, mite-ridden Nicrophorus humator beetle. Jesika Bone is looking after several Large White pupa which have overwintered in a storage box in York. Paz Fletcher spotted his first Painted Lady of the year near Appleton Roebuck. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has captured a variety of species including the first Firethorn Leaf Miners of the year.

14th May 2009

David Baker captured this Brimstone moth along with Pale Tussock in Tadcaster overnight. Mike Pearson found this Drinker larva at Flamborough. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured another form of Scalloped Hazel along with their first Ancylis badiana in Scarborough overnight.

13th May 2009

Tim and Joe Furness walked down the cinder track in Scarborough where they saw several Speckled Wood including one guarding his territory. Also on the walk they spotted several Whites and Orange-tip eggs on Cuckoo Flower. Tim Quantrill walked around Skipton Moor where he saw several Green Hairstreaks at High Bradley Moor and at Jenny Gill, including two in conflict. Arnold Robson reports a Speckled Wood and eight Wall at Bolton on Swale.

12th May 2009

Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured this spikey haired Muslin (with normal pose) in their Scarborough moth trap overnight. Michael Meadowcroft spotted this Twenty-plume Moth in Leeds. Steve Bamford was at Kiplingcotes Quarry where he saw his first Dingy Skippers of the year along with several Wall. Maurice Gordon has been visiting Hampshire where he saw Dingy Skipper, Duke of Burgundy and Small Heath.

11th May 2009

Dave Hatton was near Brough yesterday where he saw Common Carpet and Small White on the wing at 9.30am. At Thorngumbald and Keyingham there were Orange-tips and at Spurn yesterday the ground was littered with Brown-tail Larvae (with web photo and more larvae) there were many Garden Tiger larvae, a Ruby Tiger larva, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and all the Whites. Tom Hubball was at Fairburn Ings yesterday where he saw Common Carpet and Peacock larvae. Paul Brothers found this Wood Tiger larva at Otley Chevin where he also saw more than 60 Green Hairstreaks and this green larva on red valerian in his Leeds garden. Christine Frost captured this Golden-rod Pug on the 2nd May at Withernsea. Steve Bamford was on Hook river bank on the 9th where he saw Small and Green-veined Whites and his first Small Heath of the year. Jim and Jesika Bone were out and about in York where they saw this Large White female laying eggs, their garden was visited by male and female Brimstone and Small White, there were Speckled Wood, Peacock, Orange-tip and all the Whites at the Allotments. John Hume was on Ellerburn Bank today where he saw Wall, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. Graham Featherstone was at Glaisdale yesterday where he saw Ancylis badiana, Orange-tip and Green-veined White. Lee and Jax Westmoreland managed a solitary White-shouldered House-moth (sorry David!) and their first Cockchafer (beware the new moth trapper - it's not only moths that come to light!) of the year in their Scarborough moth trap overnight.

9th May 2009

Paul Kipling reports a Red Sword-grass that appeared at his Richmond porch light over night. Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured their first Shuttle-shaped Dart in Scarborough last night. Chris Pellant tells us that a ride on the steam railway behind the newly built Tornado from Grosmont to Pickering and back provided some butterflies on May 7th. When the train stopped just north of Pickering there were planty of Orange-tips, three Brimstones and a Peacock all having a look at the train. Jesika and Jim Bone report the Whites, Speckled Wood and a very battered Orange-tip at York University.

Butterfly Conservation
saving butterflies, moths and their habitats