BUTTERFLY DIARY
This year's sightings from S. Gloucestershire
JANUARY 2022
Wednesday 26th
The first butterflies of the year (Red Admirals - one putative, one definite) were reported from Coalpit Heath and Mangotsfield.
FEBRUARY 2022
Wednesday 2nd
Two Red Admiral on the wing in a Thornbury garden.
Friday 4th
A Small White was discovered in a kitchen at a private address in Yate today!
Small White | Mark Coller
Friday 11th
A red Admiral was seen on Sunningdale Drive, Longwell Green today.
Red Admiral | Wayne Tucker
Tuesday 22nd
A Small Tortoiseshell was noted at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, Emerson's Green today.
Sunday 27th
A Small Tortoiseshell was present on Chipping Sodbury Common today.
Small Tortoiseshell | Mark Coller
MARCH 2022
Monday 7th
Small Tortoiseshell noted at Tubbs Bottom, Frampton End.
Thursday 10th
Small Tortoiseshell in a garden at Longwell Green and a Red Admiral in Kingsgate Park, Yate.
Saturday 12th
A Peacock, the first of the year, was noted in a Thornbury garden today.
Monday 14th
On the wing today; Comma at Yate and Oldland Common and Brimstone at Oldland Common, Longwell Green and Oldbury Power Station.
Comma and Brimstone | Donna Harvey
Thursday 17th
On show today were several Small Tortoiseshell at Chipping Sodbury Common and Thornbury plus Peacock and Brimstone at Tubbs Bottom, Frampton Cotterell.
Friday 18th
The first Holly Blue of the year was seen in Bradley Stoke today! It represents the earliest ever record for this species in S. Gloucestershire! The previous earliest date was March 24th 2017 in at Alveston.
Holly Blue | Frampton Cotterell Nature
Saturday 19th
Noted on the wing across the recording area in recent days was Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Small White and Red Admiral.
Tuesday 22nd
A Speckled Wood at Organic Blooms, Latteridge today was the first of the year!
Speckled Wood | Donna Harvey
Saturday 26th
The first Orange-tip of the year (a male) at Bradley Stoke!
Monday 28th
The first Green-veined White of the year was seen by the R. Frome at Black Rocks, Frampton Cotterell.
Green-veined White | Frampton Cotterell Nature
APRIL 2022
Saturday 9th
On the wing over the last several days; Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Orange-tip, Brimstone, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Comma and Holly Blue.
Wednesday 13th
On the wing in the last few days; Orange-tip, Small White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone, Holly Blue.
Orange-tip | Chris Teague
Monday 25th
The first Large White was seen in a private garden at Yate today!
Thursday 28th
The first Small Heath of the year was located at Oldbury Power Station today!
Small Heath | Heather England
MAY 2022
Sunday 8th
The first Small Copper of the year was seen on Yate Common, Yate.
Monday 16th
A Small Copper aberration 'caeruleopunctata' the first of the year was seen at Winterbourne and a Painted Lady at Oldbury Power Station was likewise.
Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas 'caeruleopunctata' | Vic Savery
Painted Lady | Mark Coller
Thursday 19th
The first Common Blue of the year was seen at Lower Hazel, Bradley Stoke.
Common Blue | Vic Savery
Saturday 22nd
The first Large Skipper of the year was seen at Littleton-upon-Severn.
Large Skipper | Vic Savery
Monday 30th
The first Meadow Brown of the year was found at Winterbourne today.
JUNE 2022
Wednesday 1st
This year's first Brown Argus was on the wing at Oldbury Power Station today!
Brown Argus | Heather England
Wednesday 8th
On the wing in recent days: Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown. Small Heath and Common Blue.
Speckled Wood | Mark Coller
Friday 10th
The first Marbled White of the year was logged at Oldbury Power Station today!
Marbled White | Heather England
Sunday 12th
This year's first Ringlet was found at Webb's Heath today!
Ringlet | Heather England
Wednesday 22nd
The first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year was noted at Lower Woods, Wickwar today!
Friday 24th
Three White-letter Hairstreak, the first of the year, were seen on the Frampton End side of the R. Frome at Frampton Cotterell today!
White-letter Hairstreak | Frampton Cotterell Nature
Saturday 25th
This year's first Small Skipper was located at Meadow Wood, Willsbridge.
Small Skipper | Mark Coller
Sunday 26th
A White Admiral and at least nine Silver-washed Fritillary at Lower Woods, Wickwar.
White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary | Mark Coller
Tuesday 28th
This year's first Gatekeeper was reported from Frampton End, Frampton Cotterell today!
Thursday 30th
Two new butterflies for the year today... Essex Skipper on Chipping Sodbury Common and Purple Hairstreak in the Stonybridge Wood area at Lower Woods, Wickwar.
JULY 2022
Friday 1st
Butterflies on the wing today: Small, Essex and Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large, Small and Green-veined White, Silver-washed Fritillary, White and Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Common Blue.
Essex Skipper | Paul Sadley