Butterfly Conservation - Upper Thames Branch

Butterfly Sightings for July 2024 (Species seen this year: 42)

This page shows recent sightings in the UTB region. By default, sightings for the current month are displayed (if there are none, the most recent sightings are displayed). You can select a month and year from the drop-down menus. First reported sightings are shown in bold red text. Clicking an image will show a larger version.

You can submit sightings either by emailing sightings@upperthames-butterflies.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk or via the web form. Records which appear on the sightings page wil be added to iRecord, unless you state that you have done this yourself.

If you are submitting images, please read the Copyright statement, and please don't submit more than three images per report.

15-Jul-2024

From Rikki Harrington : "Like England football fans, I set out more in hope than expectation this morning into the cloudy Ivinghoe Hills, Bucks (SP960162). At last, I saw my first Small Tortoiseshell of the year. Goal! Also, Green-veined White (1), Red Admiral (2), Dark Green Fritillary (2), Speckled Wood (1) and several Small Heath, Marbled White, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and Small/Essex Skipper."

Small Tortoiseshell, Ivinghoe Hills, Bucks, 15-Jul-2024 (© Rikki Harrington)

Dark Green Fritillary, Ivinghoe Hills, Bucks, 15-Jul-2024 (© Rikki Harrington)

14-Jul-2024

From Nancy Massie : "In woods at Moor Copse, Berks (SU640739) today: Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Small White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Comma. Meadows: Marbled White, Essex Skipper, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown."

Essex Skipper, Moor Copse, Berks, 14-Jul-2024 (© Nancy Massie)

Comma, Moor Copse, Berks, 14-Jul-2024 (© Nancy Massie)

13-Jul-2024

From John Erkki Warren : "Seen on grass verge between Crowthorne Road and Mill Lane, Bracknell, Berks (SU860677) today were 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Meadow Brown, 2 Ringlet and 4 Small/Essex Skippers. "

Gatekeeper, Bracknell, Berks, 13-Jul-2024 (© John Erkki Warren)

12-Jul-2024

From Esmond Brown : "My first Chalk Hill Blue of the year and a couple of Dark Green Fritillaries at Grangelands, Bucks (SP828048) today."

Chalk Hill Blue, Grangelands, Bucks, 12-Jul-2024 (© Esmond Brown)

Dark Green Fritillary, Grangelands, Bucks, 12-Jul-2024 (© Esmond Brown)

11-Jul-2024

From Matthew Milne : "2 Ringlet, 2 Marbled Whites and a Small Skipper at Cliveden, Bucks (SU913851) today."

Small SKipper, Cliveden, Bucks, 11-Jul-2024 (© Matthew Milne)

From John Kearns : "Sudden influx of visitors to the garden in Caversham, Berks (SU727754) today. Ringlet, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper x 2, Gatekeeper x 2, Large White x 2, Meadow Brown. "

Red Admiral, Caversham, Berks, 11-Jul-2024 (© John Kearns)

Ringlet, Caversham, Berks, 11-Jul-2024 (© John Kearns)

From Hugh Smith : "Starting from the car park at White Horse Hill, Oxon (SU303865) this afternoon I counted on the usual transect: 5 Red Admirals, 36 Meadow Browns, 50 Ringlets, 28 Marbled Whites, 12 []Small Heath, 16 Gatekeepers, 5 Large Skippers, 1 Small Skipper, 3 Small/Essex Skippers (all flying so not identified), 1 Large White and 10 Small White. "

From Hugh Smith : "3 White-letter Hairstreaks seen at Hardwell Lane, Woolstone, Oxon (SU288877) this morning, one on bramble."

From Geoff Dymott : "1 Chalk Hill Blue among many Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper and a few Marbled Whites in the Devil's Punchbowl, Hackpen Hill, Oxon (SU353848) today. Also one Dark Green Fritillary. "

10-Jul-2024

From Andy Bolton : "One Small Tortoiseshell at Garden Art Plus, edge of Hungerford, Berks (SU342689) today. At last, the first I've seen this year, hopefully the beginnings of a new brood."

From Rikki Harrington : "I saw my first Silver-washed Fritillary of the season today at Old Copse, Ashridge Estate, Bucks (SP969122), plus Meadow Browns, Ringlets and a Green-veined White."

Silver-washed Fritillary, Ashridge Estate, Bucks, 10-Jul-2024 (© Rikki Harrington)

From Tom Dunbar : "I have had a major focus on White-letter Hairstreak sightings over the last two weeks, mostly on several roadside sites between Aylesbury and Bicester. I had my first sighting on 24th June and my most recent on 8th July. Total to date is sixteen, mostly at altitude on sheltered spots on the elms. One site had regular small numbers of the species nectaring at ground level on creeping thistle. This summer's numbers are well down on last year. Recent poor weather has been a major restricting factor with very few warm sunny windless days. These weather conditions are necessary for this species to be active on the elms. Summer 2023 weather was far more suitable, when I had over fifty sightings."

White-letter Hairstreak, Bucks, 24-Jun-2024 (© Tom Dunbar)

08-Jul-2024

From Trevor Lea : "Plenty of Ringlets on the Oakley Wood transect in Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP617112) this morning. One caught my attention as it was flapping its wings furiously but going nowhere. It had been caught in a web underneath a bramble flower and could not escape. I rescued it using my pen. Also seen: a Silver-washed Fritillary probing the path and a Marbled White with serious wing damage. "

Silver-washed Fritillary, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 08-Jul-2024 (© Trevor Lea)

Ringlet, Bernwood Forest, Bucks, 08-Jul-2024 (© Trevor Lea)

From John Whitworth : "An obliging late morning Purple Emperor landed on my trousers at Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP613113) today."

From Rikki Harrington : "On a two hour walk of the Ivinghoe Hills, Bucks (SP965155) and Ashridge Estate this morning I saw Dark Green Fritillary, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small Heath, Marbled White, Common Blue, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper. It seems to be the year of the Ringlet."

07-Jul-2024

From Rikki Harrington : "I saw one male Dark Green Fritillary at 4pm today near Incombe Hole, Bucks (SP958157), plus nearby Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Small Heaths, Marbled Whites, a Red Admiral and a Large Skipper. "

04-Jul-2024

From Gerry and Penny Kendall : "We went to Ardingdon, Oxon (SU433886) today hoping for White-letter Hairstreak. No luck there, and few other butterflies. But a Purple Emperor flew in and landed at our feet. It spent several minutes picking up minerals and showing very well. Alas we had no camera."

From David Hastings : "A pristine male Purple Emperor was found on the main track at Bernwood Forest, Bucks (SP611115) this morning. It feasted on "canine deposits" for several minutes before flying off. Other species were Ringlet (50+), Large Skipper (20+), Silver-washed Fritillary (6), Marbled White (6), Comma (5), Red Admiral (4), White Admiral (3), Purple Hairstreak (2) and Meadow Brown (2)."

From Hugh Smith : "At least four White-letter Hairstreaks on regenerated elms to either side of double metal gates across Hardwell Lane, Woolstone, Oxon (SU288877) today. Probably easiest to see in the morning when the sun is to the east of the lane."

01-Jul-2024

From Brian Crathorne : "Today at Maidenhead golf course, Maidenhead, Berks (SU795887), late afternoon, cloudy at a temp of about 18°C. A White-letter Hairstreak was observed settled on closely mown grass near a small copse of mature trees."