Northants Sightings 2009

 If you have a sighting to report, please contact Douglas Goddard at goddarddouglas@hotmail.com

  Northants first sightings 2009 table

PURPLE EMPERORS ARE NOW OUT IN FERMYN WOOD. IF VISITNG THE SITE, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT EXTRACTION OF TIMBER IS TAKING PLACE IN LADY WOOD AND STEPHEN OAK RIDING. PLEASE PARK SENSIBLY BY THE MAIN GATE TO ALLOW SPACE FOR LORRIES COMING OUT.

Clouded Yellow has been seen in Northants (see May 30th)

July 2009

1st: Purple Emperor sightings were in double figures in Fermyn Wood today. 3 White Admirals and a Marbled White were among more common species at Salcey Forest, and Marbled White was recorded at Summer Leys. 30+ Marbled Whites and 50 Small Skippers were reported from Bradlaugh Fields. It is worth checking for Essex Skippers here.


June 2009

30th: Good numbers of Purple Emperors have emerged in the Cherry Lap area of Fermyn Wood. White Admirals are also more numerous than usual, with eight White-letter Hairstreaks and a couple of Purple Hairstreaks noted. There has also been a good emergence of Commas. White Admiral was also reported from Salcey Forest.

29th: Several observers reported the first Purple Emperors from Fermyn Wood. 67 Marbled Whites were seen on the Twywell Whitestones transect, with over a hundred seen over the whole site. 17 Small Heaths were also of note here.

28th: White Admiral, ten Marbled Whites and two Wood Whites were seen in the Yardley Chase MOD site.
At Collyweston Deeps, numbers of “browns” are building, 50 Ringlets, 40+ Marbled Whites, 30+ Meadow Browns, 10 Small Heaths being counted. 2 Brimstones were notable among eight other species present.

27th: Notable at Stanwick Lakes were 40+ Small Skippers and 24 Small Tortoiseshells. Two Purple Hairstreaks were reported from Hazelborough Forest.

25th: 5 Wood Whites were seen in Wicken Wood, and 14 in Bucknell Wood, where egglaying was again observed. Single White Admirals were seen at both sites, and a hutchinsoni Comma at Bucknell. Silver-washed Fritillary has continued to make an appearance at Glapthorn throughout the week, and photos taken today confirm at least two individuals present.
A Clouded Yellow was reported from the area near the visitor centre at Fermyn Woods Country Park.
3 Marbled Whites were among eleven species seen at Bradlaugh Fields.

24th: 13 Wood Whites were found in two separate parts of Hazelborough Forest, with egglaying seen. A White Admiral was recorded in Whistley Wood. Twelve Black Hairstreaks, some fresh, were found in north Northants.

23rd: During meetings between Butterfly Conservation and Forest Enterprise, 2 Wood Whites were seen during a short walk in Salcey Forest and 8 in Yardley Chase. A female was seen laying a couple of eggs at Yardley. In Twywell Hills and Dales, 5 Marbled Whites and 6 Small Skippers were seen.

22nd: A Small Skipper was seen by the Grand Union Canal near Duston Mill in Northampton.

21st: Six Black Hairstreaks only were seen by c.30 observers during our Open Day at Glapthorn Cow Pastures. The attention of those present was diverted for some time by the appearance of a male Silver-washed Fritillary - in one of the glades. One observer reported seeing two together in a different part of the wood. This is a very early date for this species in Northants, and it is only just emerging in the south, so the possibility of a release cannot be ruled out. Seven Black Hairstreaks were found at another site in North Northants.

18th: Another visit was made to the only Small Blue site in Northants, but again yielded no sightings. 15 Marbled Whites, 6 Small Tortoiseshells and several Ringlets were notable among other species present.
A second mating pair of Black Hairstreaks was photographed by an observer in Glapthorn Cow Pasture.

16th: Twelve Small Tortoiseshells were in meadows by the river at Wadenhoe, where Peacock and Small Copper and Peacock were also still flying. At nearby Pilton was a late Orange Tip.

15th: A Red Admiral was notable among species at Summer Leys.

14th: Six Black Hairstreaks at Glapthorn Cow Pastures included a mating pair. 7 Large Skippers, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 18 Speckled Woods and numerous Meadow Browns were seen between Cogenhoe and Brafield. Orange tip and Brimstone were still on the wing there, as was a Brown Argus at Collyweston Quarry.

13th: (additional) Three Wood Whites and a Ringlet were also seen by a separate party in Sane Copse, Yardley Chase (private).

Three Black Hairstreaks were seen at Glapthorn Cow Pasture today. Eight Wood Whites were among species on the wing in the Yardley Chase MOD site.

12th: Two Small Coppers were seen in a meadow in Harlestone village.

11th: A total of ten Small Tortoiseshells had hatched at Sywell Country Park. Some were feeding on goose droppings, Purple Emperor-style. Orange Tip and Small Copper were still on the wing there, along with six Meadow Browns and a Large Skipper. A Painted Lady fed for some time on a red-hot poker in the butterfly garden. There is a strong colony of Chimney Sweeper moths around the reservoir.

10th: Three Small Tortoiseshells, second brood, were seen at Summer Leys.

7th: The first Meadow Brown, two Large Skippers and two Small Heaths were notable among species at Summer Leys.


Around 20 Painted Ladies- in the fields of Nobottle along with about 6 Large Whites, one Green-veined White and one Speckled Wood.

May 2009

31st: A Small Magpie moth was seen in a shed in Duston -

30th: Two Clouded Yellows were reported from Lilford in north Northants.

29th: Eighteen Wood Whites in Salcey Forest today is the best count for five years. Among other butterflies seen were three Large Skippers, the first of the year, 13 Common Blues, 2 Small Coppers, along with dozens of Painted Ladies passing through. On a high ridge between Hollowell and Ravensthorpe Reservoirs, 109 Painted Ladies were counted crossing a small field of pasture, heading N/NNE, between 1350hrs and 1410hrs.

28th: Painted Ladies were present in numbers at Ditchford Gravel Pits.

26th: Near Brafield, in late afternoon, c. 30 Painted Ladies were basking on a dried mud path. They were also around in numbers at Wilson's Pit.

26th: Three Painted Ladies were in Doug Goddard's garden in Ashley Way this morning - .

25th: Six Painted Ladies were in a garden in Duston, flying until 9.30 p.m. It is well worth looking for this species in the evening.

24th: Several Painted Ladies were noted flying swiftly NNW between 12 and 1 p.m near Ravensthorpe Ponds. At Twywell Hills and Dales, there has been a good emergence of Brown Argus, seen mating and egglaying. Also counted on the whole site were 57 Common Blues, 18 Dingy Skippers, 12 Grizzled Skippers, 3 Green Hairstreaks, a Small Copper and Painted Lady.

23rd: 41 Common Blues and 3 Small Heath were among species at Welford Quarry.


23rd: Six Wood Whites were flying in three different sections of Yardley Chase (private woodland), plus a Small Copper and a Painted Lady , possibly two.

21st: A Male Wood White was seen in Salcey Forest and another in Cold Oak Copse near Yardley Hastings. Among species at Bradlaugh Fields were two Small Coppers and a Painted Lady .

20th: A female Wood White was in Hazelborough Forest, and a male in Bucknell Wood, while at Twywell, butterfly numbers are increasing - 30+ Common Blues, including four mating pairs, a dozen Grizzled Skippers, 20 Dingy Skippers, 3 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heaths and a Small Tortoiseshell .

17th: On our "Butterfly Day" at Fermyn Woods Country Park, in very unsettled conditions, six Grizzled Skippers, 2 Dingy Skippers, a Green Hairstreak, 2 Brown Argus and 3 Common Blues were among species seen during the day.

16th: The county's first Painted Lady of the year was seen in Barton Seagrave, and a male Wood White in Bucknell Wood.

15th: A Common Blue was seen at Twywell Hills and Dales feeding on common vetch - see video footage

14th: A dozen Grizzled Skippers, six Dingy Skippers and five Common Blues were found at Old Sulehay/Ring Haw in the north of the county. Alll were roosting on a dreary day.

12th: Sighting of two Small Heaths - at Twywell Hills and Dales along with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, an Orange Tip and two Common Blues.

11th: 10+ Dingy Skippers, 10+ Grizzled Skippers, Green Hairstreak - , two Common Blues and a Brown Argus - were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales.
At Fermyn Woods, there was a Green Hairstreak ovipositing on Bird's-foot trefoil - NEW! See video footage about 5 Grizzled Skippers and 4 Dingy Skippers were also seen. There was also a Cinnabar moth -

Six Common Blues - and a Small Copper - were among eight species at Stanwick Lakes, and Small Copper and Small Tortoiseshell were on the wing at Summer Leys.

10th: Four male Wood Whites were reported from Wicken Wood on the county boundary.
A Small Copper was seen in Yardley Chase in a location where it is usually scarce. No Wood Whites have been recorded there yet.

9th: A Common Blue was seen in the Sixfields area of Northampton near the Saints rugby ground car park.

7th: On the Twywell Whitestones Transect were a male Common Blue, 15 Dingy Skippers, 6 Grizzled Skippers and a Green Hairstreak.

6th: Four Grizzled Skippers were in Fermyn Woods Country Park quarry area. A Holly Blue was seen on a disused railway line at Kettering.

A dead male Silver-Washed Fritillary was found in Wakerley Spinney on 6th May, presumed a release or escapee, as this is well before the usual flight period.

2nd: Two Small Coppers were among species seen at Sywell Country Park. Small Tortoiseshells were "in double figures" near Brafield-on-the Green. On the Twywell Whitestones Transect were 13 Dingy Skippers, 5 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Orange Tips, 2 Green Hairstreaks, a Peacock and a Speckled Wood.

April 2009

26th: 6 Grizzled Skippers and a Dingy Skipper were recorded by one observer at Twywell, while our new transect there yielded 4 Grizzled Skippers, 2 Dingy Skippers and a Green Hairstreak. Orange Tips were out in good numbers at Salcey Forest, many eggs being found and egglaying witnessed on both Lady's Smock and Garlic Mustard.

22nd: Mating Orange Tips were observed at Fineshade Wood, a Green Hairstreak was on the wing at Collyweston Deeps, and a Grizzled Skipper in the quarry area of Fermyn woods Country Park.

21st: Dingy Skipper, 4 Grizzled Skippers and a Small Copper were among species at Twywell Hills and Dales.
 
20th: A male Orange Tip was flying in Northampton town centre, and 4 more At Bradlaugh Fields.
 
19th: 4 Orange Tips, 3 Holly Blues and 3 Speckled Woods were among species seen at Storton's Gravel Pits.
 
18th: Three Grizzled Skippers were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales. The Brimstones  remained still "in cop" where they were found here on 16th. A Holly Blue was seen in a Duston garden along with a Large White .

15th: 3 Holly Blues and 4 Speckled Woods (Abington Park), Speckled Wood, Orange Tip and Holly Blue (Storton's Pit), 5+ Speckled Woods, 5+ Large Whites and Small White (Bradlaugh Fields) were among butterflies seen in Northampton. A pair of Brimstones were found "in cop" at Twywell Hills and Dales.
 
14th: 4 Holly Blues were seen at Storton's Pits and 4 Orange Tips and an egglaying Brimstone at Stanwick Lakes - Video footage.
 
13th: The first Holly Blue, along with Orange Tip, Small White, Brimstone and 3 Peacocks were on the wing at Storton's Pit, Northampton.
8th: On the disused railway line at Brackmills was the first Orange Tip of the season - , along with 6 Green-veined Whites, a Brimstone, 8 Peacocks, 8 Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma .

4th: Two Commas, two Brimstones and a Peacock were seen at Stoke Bruene by the canal. The first Small White of the season was recorded at Easton Wood near Bozeat.

1st: In Yardley Chase, 18 Brimstones, 3 Commas, 2 Peacocks, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral were on the wing. A female Large White, with some wing damage, settled on daffodils in Conifer Rise, Northampton- . Two further Large Whites, 2 Brimstones, a Green-veined White, 4 Small Tortoiseshells, 4 Peacocks and 2 Commas were seen at Southfield Farm Marsh.

March 2009

22nd: A Brimstone, ten Peacocks and three Commas were seen at Twywell Hills and Dales.

21st: Single Green-veined Whites were seen at Sixfields and on the disused railway line at Brackmills in Northampton. A splendid display of blackthorn blossom near the Britannia Inn attracted a number of Commas, Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks. Brimstones, Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells were flying in Kingsthorpe, Northampton and a Red Admiral at Cold Ashby. 9 male Brimstones, 12 Peacocks, 4 Commas and 2 Small Tortoiseshells were counted in part of Fermyn Woods.

21st: Green-veined white on the disused railway line at Brackmills, Northampton.

19th: Ten Commas, two Small Tortoiseshells and a Red Admiral were seen in Harlestone Firs, most feeding on Pussy Willow .
 
18th: In Yardley Chase three Brimstones, ten Commas and a Peacock were on the wing.


16th: Two Commas were seen at Summer Leys, and six Small Tortoiseshells (including a courting pair - ), a Comma and a Peacock on the disused railway line at Brackmills. Brimstone and Comma were flying in a garden in Duston and 2 Brimstones, 2 Commas and a Small Tortoiseshell in Barton Seagrave.

15th: A beautiful, warm Spring day brought out the butterflies in all parts of the county with the following reported:
        Ravensthorpe Reservoir: Comma
        Fermyn Woods Country Park: Brimstone, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Peacock during scrub clearance on our Branch work party
        Brafield-on-the Green: Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell
        Cogenhoe Pocket Park: Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell
        Salcey Forest: 3 Brimstones and 2 Red Admirals
        Piddington: Peacock and 2 Small Tortoiseshells
        Kingsthorpe Shopping Centre, Northampton: 2 Small Tortoiseshells
        Green's Norton village: Brimstone
        Green's Norton Pocket Park: Comma
        Old Sulehay: Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock

7th: A Brimstone was reported from Bozeat.
 
2nd: A Small Tortoiseshell was seen in allotments in the Kingsley area of Northants.

February 2009

27th: A Brimstone was seen at Chelveston.

23rd A Brimstone was flying near the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir.

21st: A Peacock was reported from Kelmarsh.

13th: Small Tortoiseshell on the wing in North Western Avenue (NN2) mid afternoon. This was amazing, since there was deep snow on all the roads, and a lone butterfly fluttering above it all. Then it settled on a house wall on Foxgrove Ave to catch the warmth of the sun.

January 2009

26th: Red Admiral on the wing in Waitrose carpark (Kingsthorpe) mid morning.

2008

If you'd like to read the summary of the 2008 season it can still be accessed HERE