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| 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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| 13th January 2012 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough has started the year off well by capturing Winter Moth, Chestnut and Dark Chestnut in her garden moth trap. Rick Ward tells us that he saw two Red Admirals on the wing in Heworth and a further Red Admiral on a wall in Acomb on the 9th January the first sightings of a butterfly in 2012. Terry Box has been trapping in Pilmoor Wood where the catch included Torticodes alternella, Chestnut, Winter Moth and Spring Usher. |
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2012
| November 27th 2011 |
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Having packed his Tadcaster moth trap away for the winter, David Baker was delighted to find this Mottled Umber attracted to a security light in his garden. Dave Hatton has been recording the variation in Satelite markings this year and sent us this compilation of the marking he has seen so far. Tim Furness in Scarborough found 7 more Small White larvae last weekend, in various stages of development, one being tiny and says that the mild October must have saved them. Tim brought them indoors and has put them on a new diet of cauliflower leaves and says that his sweet rocket seedlings are being destroyed much to the chagrin of his wife! |
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| November 21st 2011 |
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Gordon Brown spotted this Comma in Saltburn on the 19th. Derek Parkinson photographed this female Dotted Border which emerged from a caterpillar collected on Oak in woodland at Hawksworth (VC64) in May and says that it has hardly any wings! Jesika Bone in York spotted two Red Admirals in the Kilburn Road allotments on the 15th. Paul Holmes tells us that he was at Ox Close on Saturday 12th Nov where he saw a Peacock basking on a tree trunk. The weather was sunny and quite warm.
Paul also saw either a Red Admiral or Peacock the day before when the weather was cold and damp some 700m from the sighting on Saturday. Dave Hatton was at Woodhall Lake on the 14th where his sightings included Scarce Umber and Mottled Umber. Dave also spotted a Satellite and wonders what the ratio of white to orange staellites are - so far his are 20% white to 80% orange. |
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| November 15th 2011 |
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Dave Hatton has been to Woodhall Lake where his sightings have included Satellite, two forms of Winter Moth (one and two) and Dark Chestnut. Andrew Rhodes was at Coniston Cold where he spotted 2 Red Admirals nectaring on Field Scabious along the chalk bank and 1 Red Admiral nectaring on Musk Thistle in Sticky Meadow on the 8th. Graham Featherstone saw a Red Admiral at Egton Bridge on the 10th Jesika Bone spotted a Red Admiral on the wing at the Kilburn Road allotments. Barry Dalton saw a large yellow Underwing at Cusworth hall near Doncaster on the 11th and a Red Admiral by the A64 near Flaxton NorthYorks. on the 12th. John Heap spotted a Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell basking in the sun at the walled garden at Beningborough Hall on the 6th. |
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| November 8th 2011 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured her first Winter Moth. Barry Dalton spotted two Red Admirals nectaring on Ivy at Cusworth on the 4th. David and Rita Swallow tell us that on the 23rd October there was a Red Admiral in the Pool in Wharfedale garden nectaring on a fallen crab apple. Tim Furness saw a Red Admiral in the North Bay in Scarborough on Sunday afternoon. Tim tells us that the 4 very late Small White caterpillars that have been scoffing his Sweet Rocket seedlings have made it through a mild October and pupated. Tim spotted the eggs about 6 weeks ago and didn't think they had a chance but well done them! |
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| November 4th 2011 |
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Chris Jones spotted this Red Admiral basking in the sunshine on the 30th October in Easingwold and says he can't recall seeing one as late as this before. Dave Hatton was at Woodhall Lake on the 31st where his sightings included Feathered Thorn and Satellite. Jesika Bone tells us that there were three Red Admirals on the wing on Walmgate Stray in York on the 2nd Novermber. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured his first ever Northern Winter Moth. |
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| October 31st 2011 |
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Mike Walton spotted this Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the 29th in his Clifton (York) garden. Mike also recorded a Red Admiral on the wing at Clifton Backies and says that on the 18th, there were still Small Copper on the wing in the same location. Barry Dalton was at Bulmer (York) on the 29th where he noted a Grey Shoulder-knot. On the 30th he captured a Ruby Tiger in his Norton garden and recorded four Red Admirals on the wing. Allan Rodda walked on the cliffs in the Ravenscar area with Jackie Holder on the 30th where they saw 9 Red Admirals,1 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Speckled Woods and say that one of the Speckled Woods was half the size of normal. Steve Graham recorded a Red Admiral at Shelley on the 25th and says its the second latest ever for his garden. |
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| October 26th 2011 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough has captured December Moth, Silver Y and Emmelina monodactyla. Dave Hatton was at Woodhall Lake where he saw 50 moths in 40 minutes including, Red-green Carpet, Green-brindled Crescent and Satellite. Barry Dalton had a walk by the river Went at Norton today on the 24th where he saw six Red Admirals and a female Brimstone all on ivy. Barry also found a Ruby Tiger larvar on his back doorstep. |
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| October 23rd 2011 |
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Robin Jackson spotted this Hummingbird Hawk-moth on the 21st at Hooton Pagnell in Doncaster and says that it spent some time feeding from lavendar before it flew off. Alan Miller tells us that there was a Red Admiral in his Romanby garden on the 22nd. Christine Frost in Withernsea reports Red Admirals on the wing on the 20th along with a Hummingbird Hawk-moth nectaring on Hebe. Sarah Fletcher reports a lone Red Admiral feeding on ivy on the 20th in Nidd. Dave Hatton was at Woodhall Lake where his sightings included Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Satellite, Red-green Carpet, Red-line Quaker, Brick and his first ever Agonopterix Ocellana. |
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| October 20th 2011 |
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Dave Hatton in Farsley spotted this Frosted Orange in a spider's web. Jesika Bone reports 16 Red Admiral on the stray on the 16th. Tim Furness tells us that there were 2 Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral and a Peacock all nectaring on a sunny clump of ivy on the lovely wooded path leading down to the Open Air Theatre from Burniston Road in Scarborough. The Speckled Woods were moving together from flower to flower - bickering all the time but inseparable. David and Rita Swallow report a Red Admiral in their Pool-in-Wharfedale garden. Graham Featherstone was pleased to see Red admiral,Small Tortoiseshell and even a Small Copper in his Lealholm garden on the 16th. |
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| October 16th 2011 |
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John Harwood spotted this Clouded Yellow in Filey yesterday. Peter Swallow in Skipsea tells us that looking at his remaining buddleia flowers, in Skipsea yesterday it could have been
mid-summer. With 3 nectaring Red Admiral, a Comma and a Silver Y moth present. A Red Admiral was also taking advantage of fallen apples in a nearby orchard and basking in the warm sunshine. Allan Rodda was walking in Troutsdale on the 14th where his sightings included Peacock, Small White and 22 Red Admirals nectaring on ivy. Jesika Bone in York was out on the stray where her sightings included Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and a Woolly Bear (Garden Tiger) larva. |
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| October 14th 2011 |
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David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Juniper Carpet and December Moth. Lee Westmoreland was on the castle hill in Scarborough where his saw two Red Admirals. A Small Tortoiseshell was seen near St Mary's Church. |
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| October 12th 2011 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured Spruce Carpet, Angle Shades and November Moth agg. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Dark Arches and Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis. John Money was at Scaling Dam with Martin Blick, when the sun came out, they spotted
3 Red Admiral, 3 Common Blue, 2 Small Tortoiseshell and 4 Speckled Wood. John tells us that they were all in good condition apart from 1 Red Admiral. David and Rita Swallow in Pool-in-Wharfedale report that they saw a Red Admiral in their south facing garden and say that it looked to be in good condition. |
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| October 10th 2011 |
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David Oliver in Guisborough reports that around 5pm on the 9th, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was flying around his garden! New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were November Moth agg. and Merveille du Jour. |
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| October 8th 2011 |
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New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was Feathered Thorn. Also in Scarborough, Belinda Robson captured Large Wainscot. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Green-brindled Crescent f. capucina. Ginni Darbyshire on Tuesday 27th Sept, was at Temple Newsam in Leeds. She says that the herbaceous borders there are fabulous and extensive, but n spite of a superb collection of flowering plants, there were surprisingly few butterflies. The gardens also have the National Plant Collection of Aster novi–belgii and she would have expected to see lots of Small Tortoiseshells, but there were none.Ginni did see 4 Red Admirals and 4 Commas which she thinks is a poor showing. On Thursday 29th September, Ginni was up at Mount Grace Priory near Osmotherly. Here there was a lovely but considerable more modest border of sedums, asters etc. but she counted 10+ Small Tortoiseshells, 2 Red Admirals and 2 Commas. Ginni says that both days were hot and sunny and wonders whether Sturmia Bella has a really strong hold in Leeds? Why are Red Admirals not affected, if their caterpillars feed on parasitised nettles too? Why has Temple Newsam (a huge parkland with plenty of wild spaces) so few butterflies? Could anyone comment? |
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| October 5th 2011 |
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Terry Box trapped on Dallowgill Moor where his catch included Pale Eggar and Haworth's Minor. Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured Brimstone and Rusty Dot Pearl. Dave Hatton in Farsley has captured Epiniota immundana and Amblyptilia acanthadactyla along with Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Red-line Quaker and Light-brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana.
Dave was also netting at Woodhall Lake where he captured Yellow-line Quaker in three different forms (one, two and three). David Williamson reports a Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and two Red Admirals nectaring on holly in New Farnley, Leeds yesterday. David Baker in Tadcaster captured his latest ever Ruby Tiger along with Large Wainscot. Tim Furness was in the North Bay of Scarborough where his sightings included Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Large and Small White. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was Canary-shouldered Thorn. |
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| October 1st 2011 |
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Damian Money spotted this Clouded Yellow on he cliff tops near Brotton this morning and tells us that there were lots of other species heading north-west along the cliff tops too. At home in Skelton the moth trap contained Large Wainscot and Yellow-line Quaker. Paul Simmons captured this Ni Moth in his Kirk Smeaton garden trap along with Black Rustic, Green-brindled Crescent, Sallow, Spruce Carpet, Frosted Orange and Lunar Underwing. Alan Miller in Romanby has captured Merveille du Jour, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Common Wainscot, Green-brindled Crescent and Light-brown Apple-moth Epiphyas postvittana. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was Satellite. Jesika Bone was on the stray in York where she spotted at least ten Red Admirals flying south. |
| September 30th 2011 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough has captured Feathered Ranunculus, Green-brindled Crescent and Yellow-line Quaker. David Baker in Tadcaster has also captured Green-brindled Crescent along with Red-line Quaker. Judith Gothard in Pudsey spotted three Red Admirals in her garden on the 28th. |
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| September 29th 2011 |
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David Baker trapped in Elvington and captured Merveille du Jour, Black Rustic, Pine Carpet and Grey Pine Carpet. Peter Dunn in Cayton has captured Beaded Chestnut, Brown-spot Pinion and Angle Shades. Tim Furness in Scarborough tells us that his buddleia is still going strong and that a small group of butterflies must be sheltering close by, because every day he sees the same tattered or marked individuals among 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Red Admirals and 2 Peacocks. |
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| September 28th 2011 |
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New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Green-brindled Crescent and Red-line Quaker. Common Wainscot has reappeared and this Blood-vein was found nestled in leaf litter. Dave Hatton in Farsley captured Willow Beauty and the dark form of Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana. Graham Featherstone in Lealholm captured Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis and Black Rustic. |
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| September 27th 2011 |
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Ginni Darbyshire tells us that she has had up 24 Red Admirals nectaring on the ivy in her Beverly garden this week. Seven Commas have also visited and the wall seem to be alive with butterflies. Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured her first Dark Swordgrass. Alwyn Timms took these fabulous picures (one, two and three) of Walls that he saw in his Penistone garden on the 21st August. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Yellow-line Quaker and Beaded Chestnut. David Baker in Tadcaster captured Large Wainscot and a late Gold Triangle Hypsopygia costalis. |
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| September 26th 2011 |
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Lee Westmoreland walked along the sea cut in Scarborough yesterday and his sightings inlcuded Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Brimstone. New in the Scarborough garden moth trap for Jax Westmoreland were Large Wainscot, Brown-spot Pinion and Pink-barred Sallow. Steve Elliott spotted a female Brimstone yesterday at Bishop Wilton on a dandelion flower. David and Rita Swallow spotted this Speckled Wood in their Pool-in-Wharfedale garden. Dave Hatton went to Woodhall Lake where he tells us there were several flighty moths on the wing including Brick, Yellow-line Quaker, Common Marbled Carpet and Green Carpet. At Wood's Nook he recorded Emmelina monodactyla and Agonopterix alstromeriana and spotted this Buff Arches larva on brambles. Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured her first ever Vapourer and Blair's Shoulder-knot. Steve Elliott reports a Brimstone on the wing in Bugthorpe and another in Pocklington. |
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| September 21st 2011 |
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Rick Ward in Heworth has captured Angle Shades. David and Rita Swallow took this picture on the 19th of a Red Admiral on their south facing bedroom window in Pool-in-Wharfedale. Last week the pair recorded Speckled Wood and a Large White. |
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| September 18th 2011 |
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Dave Hatton in Farsley spotted this Amblyptilia acanthadactyla on his wheelie bin. Dave photographed this Acleris emaragana while on holiday recently. Belinda Robson in Scarborough captured a Silver Y on the 17th. Barry Dalton reports lots of Red Admirals in his Norton garden today and also spotted this moth on the wall of his house which we think may be a Silver Y in an odd resting position.What do you think? |
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| September 15th 2011 |
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Belinda Robson in Scarborough was amazed by the number of butterflies competing for a place on the sedum in her garden. Allan Rodda went with Jackie Holder to Sawdon Dale where their sightings included Brown Argus,Common Blue,Painted Lady,Red Admiral,The 3 Whites, Small Copper,Comma,Peacock,Speckled Wood,and 23 Small Tortoiseshells. On the way home the pair stopped at Wrench Green Hill Top where in a 2m square they saw 11 Small Tortoiseshell,1 Red Admiral and a Small White. |
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| September 10th 2011 |
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David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Lunar Underwing, Gem, various forms of Sallow, Dusky Lemon Sallow, Snout and Carnation Tortrix Cacoecimorpha pronubana. Belinda Robson in Scarborough has captured Canary-shouldered Thorn and Green Carpet. |
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| September 5th 2011 |
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Graham Featherstone trapped on Glaisdale Moor where his catch included Flounced Chestnut, Hedge Rustic and a Heath Rustic. Amie Featherstone spotted a caterpillar at Scaling Dam which has been identified as a Buff-tip. Belinda Robson in Scarborough has captured Centre-barred Sallow and Straw Dot. Dave Hatton in Farsley captured these two (one and two) Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana which demonstrate just how variable a species can be! Rick Ward in Heworth spotted this Painted Lady in a friend's garden. |
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| September 2nd 2011 |
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This Golden-rod Brindle was trapped by Damian Money, Robert Woods,Steve Farish and Alan Wheeldon near Guisborough on the 29th August. Heath Rustic and a Flounced Chestnut that were trapped by Graham Featherstone, Steve Farish Damian Money at Jugger Howe last night. Ian Thompson tells us that the catch in his garden in Marske by the Sea on included Large Yellow Underwing, Flounced Rustic, Mouse Moth, Rosy Rustic, Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing and Lunar Underwing. Ian also reports a Grayling at South Gare on the 20th August. Belinda Robson in Scarborough has captured Sallow and identified this Elephant Hawk-moth larva for Andrew Limb who had found it in his Falsgrave Garden. Alan Miller in Romanby has captured Flounced Rustic and Grey Chi. Martin Wainwright spotted this pretty moth on his travels in the Dordogne - does anyone know what it is? |
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