My 2023 Butterfly season
Another year where the full set was not gonna be possible, but as I've done an account for the last few years, and can't help but to go butterfly'ing here is my 2023 Butterfly season.
1. Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni
18/03/2023 Pennyquick, Nr Bath (Picture from Crete 12/06/23)
2. Peacock-Aglais io
27/03/2023 Chew Valley Lake (Picture 29/07/23 Shipton Bellinger, Wiltshire)
Although a little worn I think one of my favorite pictures of the year, a beautiful butterfly for sure.
3. Comma-Polygonia c-album
07/04/2023 Bath Mill Laneway, Bath (Picture 21/03/20 Garden)
Looking at iRecord I saw only 8 individuals, and Just one photographed this year, and the photos were not great.
4. Small White-Pieris rapae
07/04/2023 Bath Mill Laneway, Bath. (Picture 25/06/23 Alners Gorse, Dorset)
On a sunny day with a little bit of warmth and 2 species in one day, the season starts properly.
5. Clouded yellow- Colias croceus
17/04/2023 The Hump, Portland Bill, Dorset (Picture from 15/06/23 Crete)
while doing a bit of birding, I
saw to my surprise a Clouded Yellow fly past at speed, tried to chase but it went to ground, 30 mins later saw 4 more walking down to the Bill
saw to my surprise a Clouded Yellow fly past at speed, tried to chase but it went to ground, 30 mins later saw 4 more walking down to the Bill
6. Speckled wood- Pararge aegeria
17/04/2023 Lodmoor, Dorset (Picture 16/06/23 Crete)
You'll note the slightly more orange/yellow colorization on the picture but this is the same species as the UK, maybe a bit more sun?
7. Small tortoiseshell-Aglais urticae
19/04/2023 Bathampton, Bath
A sunny day at Work and the small tortoiseshell flew into the Cement Bucket, still confused and sleepy no doubt, I rested it up in the sun and it flew off later to recover.
22/04/2023 Ham Wall, Somerset (Picture 29/04/23 Chew Valley Lake, Somerset)
Walking along Morton Lane, spotted a few flitting around, one landed so I assumed the position and led down for a few shots.......
later that day, I found a Tick on my belly!! ARRGGGG
9. Green Hairstreak- Callophrys rubi
01/05/2023 Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire
Back to my favorite hills, Battlesbury & Cotley a good showing of Hairstreaks.
10. Green-veined White-Pieris napi
07/05/2023 Newton St Loe, Bath Picture (22/05/23 Cinderford, Forest Of Dean)
A week past and I wandered around my local patch at Newton St Loe and the next 3 species were added to the year list.
11. Holly Blue- Celastrina argiolus
07/05/2023 Newton St Loe, Bath
12. Large White-Pieris brassicae
07/05/2023 Newton St Loe, Bath Picture (11/06/23 Crete Laurens Pic)
13. Dingy Skipper- Erynnis tages
07/05/2023 Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire.
Battlesbury is a great hill with easy parking and beautiful surroundings, most the the butterflies here are in a small area, but plenty of hillside to explore, for the more adventurous you can walk to Cotley Hill from here.
14. Grizzled Skipper- Pyrgus malvae
07/05/2023 Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire
15. Red Admiral-Vanessa atalanta
07/05/2023 Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire (Picture 08/07/23, Savenake, Wiltshire) In This Picture I used a flash and was led on the ground waiting for a Purple Emperor to land on a turd, which it did!
16. Duke of Burgundy-Hamearis lucina
07/05/2023 Arn Hill, Wiltshire.(13/05/23 Fovant down)
The Duke this year seemed to be everywhere with some very high counts, A new spot for me was Arn Hill, Wiltshire near Battlesbury. I always think it's important to explore new sites and with a couple of local Butterfly'ers Local knowledge Arn Hill was added to my Duke of Burgundy List.
17. Brown Argus- Aricia agestis
13/05/2023 Cotley Hill, Wiltshire (Picture 19/05/23 Bath) Photo from just over the road from me not a huge colony but always a few butterflies, although this year no Marbled Whites were seen.
18. Pearl Bordered Fritillary-Boloria euphrosyne
13/05/2023 Bentley Wood, Wiltshire
A trip With my mate Allan Chard, on entering the field spotted this one, luckily, as most of the others failed to pose and even stop for a photo.
19. Small Heath- Coenonympha pamphilus
13/05/2023 Cotley Hill, Wiltshire (Picture 27/05/23 Isle of Wight)
Cretan Small Heath- Coenonympha thyrsis
A little prettier than ours and I was very chuffed to find one in Crete on 13/06/23 on a holiday.
20. Wall Brown-Lasiommata megera
13/05/2023 Battlesbury Hill, Wiltshire (Picture 30/04/19 Cotley, Wiltshire) had to go deep into the archives for a photo as Wall Brown don't seem to stop for me!
21. Common Blue-Polyommatus icarus
19/05/2023 Sunnybank, Bath,
Another species on the hillside seconds from my house.
22. Marsh Fritillary-Euphydryas aurinia
20/05/2023 Prestbury Hill, Gloucestershire.
Another Day outing with my other mate Dave Hughes, Prestbury Hill a great spot and Loads of butterflies to marvel at and photograph.
23. Small Blue-Cupido minimus
20/05/2023 Prestbury Hill, Gloucestershire.
Small Blues this year Wow more than I've ever seen, Prestbury was covered in them.
24. Wood White-Leptidea sinapis
20/05/2023 Cinderford, Forest of Dean, Cinderford this year was not covered in wood Whites 2 hours were spent following 2 or 3 butterflies only, Hope it was just the day and not a decline here.
25. Adonis Blue-Polyommatus bellargus
26/05/2023 Cotley Hill, Wiltshire.
Back into Wiltshire and Cotley scores with Adonis Blues, It's not really recovered from the serious chop and cut the previous years, but let's hope it continues to improve.
26. Glanville Fritilary-Melitaea cinxia
26/05/2023 Whitesheet Hill, Wiltshire.
Still several Glanvilles at Whitesheet Hill, I think this year 12+ were counted and mating was seen, Of Course, I still went to the Isle of Wight. I can't miss that trip.
Bike on to the ferry, the ferry to I.O.W, and then ride to Compton Bay, a top day out, plus I even managed to ride up to Mottistone Quarry, great views over the Island and lots of butterflies, the ride back to the ferry from here is downhill, so bonus!
27. Small Copper-Lycaena phlaeas
26/05/2023 Whitesheet Hill, Wiltshire
28. Large Skipper- Ochlodes sylvanus
27/05/2023 Isle of Wight.
You can see the Hooks on Antena if you can't see the underneath to ID.
29. Large Blue- Phengaris arion
29/05/2023 Green Down, Somerset.
2 visits this year to get pictures, and fewer were seen on the first visit, although they were reported a week earlier. The lower slopes seemed better this year.
30. Heath fritillary- Melitaea athalia
05/06/2023 Haddon Hill, Somerset.
A great day out with plenty of Heath Fritillary on the wing, once on the site it's flat and easy.
31. Meadow Brown-Maniola jurtina
05/06/2023 Green Down, Somerset
32. Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary- Boloria selene
07/06/2023 Priddy, Somerset.
Only a few were seen, in my normal spot here but a wander to the other side of ponds 10+ on the wing.
33.Small Skipper-Thymelicus sylvestris
24/06/2023 Severnside, S Gloucestershire
34. Gatekeeper -Pyronia tithonus
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset
35. Marbled White- Melanargia galathea
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset
36. Purple hairstreak- Favonius quercus
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset.
This year I felt Alners gorse was lacking on the normal 100's of Purple Hairstreak, but could have been too early or late.
38. Silver-washed Fritillary- Argynnis paphia
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset
Just out of the Reserve, Silver Washed, and the Valensina form were abundant, and even better not a sole in sight.
39. White Admiral- Limenitis camilla
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset
40. White-letter hairstreak-Satyrium w-album
26/06/2023 Alners Gorse, Dorset
37. Silver-studded blue-Plebejus argus
26/06/2023 Higher Heath, Dorset
I left Alners and headed to Higher Heath my go-to spot. This year the wind was blowing a hoolie, which always but photography a little harder, still with so many here made it a bit easier.
41. Painted Lady-Vanessa cardui
07/07/2023 Hazelbury Common, Wiltshire
42. Purple Emperor-Apatura iris
07/07/2023 Savernake, Wiltshire
A fabulous day out in the forest, I almost stumbling on this one as I left the car!
43. Ringlet-Aphantopus hyperantus
08/07/2023 Oversley Wood, Warwickshire
Went again to Oversley for PE, I saw one tree top height but it never came down settled for a fresh Ringlet.
44. Dark Green Fritillary-Speyeria aglaja
17/07/2023 Edge Common, Gloucestershire
45. Essex Skipper-Thymelicus lineola
20/07/2023 Seven Acre, Bath
The Essex is just hanging on in a small corner near my home.
46. Chalkhill Blue-Polyommatus coridon
29/07/2023 Perham Down, Wiltshire
Perham down was full of flutterby. again the day we went not a sole about.
47. Silver Spotted Skipper-Hesperia comma
29/07/2023Pernham Down, Wiltshire
48. Scotch Argus- Erebia aethiops
06/08/2023 Smardale, Cumbria
Love this trip and the Lake District, Smardale never disappoints, not so many butterflies as last year but the scenery and a Tawny Owl in the car Park was amazing.
49. Brown Hairstreak-Thecla betulae
09/08/2023 Shipton Bellinger, Dorset
Shipton was fantastic this year, parked other end and not far from the village this beauty feeding on Goldenrod, just to add a bit more colour.
50. Grayling-Hipparchia semele
15/08/2023 Crook Peak, Somerset,
My annual climb up Crook Peak in Somerset, has fantastic views and lots of Grayling.
Cretan Grayling
From Crete and Endemic, a new lifer from my holiday in June this year.
51.Long-tailed Blue- Lampides boeticus
21/08/2023 Lancing Ring, W Sussex
A very tatty specimen from Lancing but I think lucky to find one this year, later in the year more were seen here.
Cyprus Oct, on a failed hunt to find a Lime Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) a recent arrival to Cyprus.
So that was my year lots of beautiful Butterflies and stunning places visited. 51 UK species were seen, I think fewer butterflies too which is sad, Red Admiral my most seen, a large influx later in the year. So here's to next year, I hope to add a few soon to my life list as a Criuse to Carribean is on the cards.
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