Painted Lady feeding on garden thyme, New Milton. What is going on? It's still April, and there's a painted lady on the thyme outside my front door!
It looks fresh (newly-emerged) and slightly smaller than usual. Have they started to breed here? How exceptional is this?
Photo will follow if I see it again.
I am the Vicar and wildlife recorder for our church grounds across the Sway Road in Tiptoe near New Milton. [Posted by Simon Hones]
Chalton Down, Old Idsworth. Today I paid a visit to Chalton Down where the temperature reaching 19 degrees had brought a total of 7 different species to appear on the East facing downland turf. Here I recorded my first Dingy Skippers and Grizzled Skippers this season. Totals: Large White 1, Small White 2, Brimstone 2M, Orange-tip 1M, Speckled Wood 1, Dingy Skipper 2, Grizzled Skipper 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Glanvilles on the Landslip. A beautiful day and on the landslip at Compton Chine this lunchtime four Glanville Fritillaries seen,together with Small Copper,Dingy Skipper,Grizzled Skipper,Common Blue,a Small Blue,and several Green Hairstreak. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Duke of Burgundy (Noar Hill) 26th April 2026. Duke of Burgundy (Noar Hill) 26th April 2026 [Posted by Robert Bryant]
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| Duke of Burgundy (Noar Hill) 26th April 2026 Photo © Robert Bryant |
Dukes on the wing at Noar Hill. Today, we cycled from Fleet to Sherborne (which Apple's predictive text insists on rendering as "Melbourne"!), and made our annual spring pilgrimage to the famous Noar Hill scrapes. As expected, given the warm and sunny conditions and gentle breezes, the Duke of Burgundy was showing in very good numbers at this famous Hampshire location. The species seemed noticeably more plentiful here this spring than in either 2024 or 2025. Also seen were Brimstones, Orange-tips, Holly Blue, Dingy Skipper, Small White and Green-veined White, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, and Red Admiral. Another visitor had observed Green Hairstreaks too, but we were unable to spot any on this occasion. A splendid day out, not to mention an excellent restorative lunch, too, at the Sherborne Arms! [Posted by Michael Jameson]
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| Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill (1) Photo © Michael Jameson | Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill (2) Photo © Michael Jameson | Duke of Burgundy - Noar Hill (3) Photo © Michael Jameson |
Monks Walk, Gosport. Nine species recorded on a walk from 1035-1210 under sunny skies but with a cool SE breeze off the harbour. Second successive year without a Spring sighting of Small Tortoiseshell. Total: Green-veined White (5); Peacock (5); Holly Blue (4); Brimstone (F)(1); Orange-tip (M)(3)(F)(2); Comma (2); Speckled Wood (5); Small White (6); Red Admiral (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Peacock Photo © Francis Plowman | Male Orange-tip Photo © Francis Plowman | Male Speckled Wood Photo © Francis Plowman |
Stockbridge Down. As the forecast for today was slightly less windy than in recent days, I decided to risk a morning trip to Stockbridge down and it paid off handsomely, In the sheltered spots I found 3 species new for me in 2026, Dingy Skipper (at least 3), Green Hairstreak (11+) and Duke of Burgundy (2), along with a possible flyover male Common Blue (although I couldn't relocate it to confirm the id.) Also seen: 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 3 Orange-tip, 7 Small Copper, 10 Grizzled Skipper, 12 Holly Blues and many Brimstones, along with a Brimstone Moth (flying with a Brimstone butterfly!) and a single Cinnabar Moth [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Dingy Skipper Photo © Kevin Haggar | Green Hairstreak Photo © Kevin Haggar | Duke of Burgundy Photo © Kevin Haggar |
Common Blue at Freshwater Bay. A very handsome male Common Blue seen this morning close to Freshwater Bay,together with several Green Hairstreak,a Small Blue,and a Small Copper. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Wall Brown at Yarmouth. A sunny but windy day at Bouldnor Forest,Yarmouth and a brief sight of this Wall Brown along with 3 Holly Blue, Brimstone and Speckled Wood. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Paulsgrove Chalk Pits. Today I walked around Paulsgrove Chalk Pits looking for Spring butterflies. The temperature reached 15 degrees, and I was pleased to record my first Green Hairstreak this year. Totals: Large White 1, Small White 1, Brimstone 1M, Orange-tip 1M, Green Hairstreak 1, Holly Blue 1, Speckled Wood 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Small Blue at Freshwater Bay. A Small Blue observed this morning in bright sunshine at the National Trust Carpark, at the foot of Afton Down close to Freshwater Bay. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt | Photo © Peter Hunt |
Hummingbird Hawkmoth. A surprise visitor to our (Lee on Solent) garden this morning - a stunning Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Too quick for the camera sadly but no doubt at all regarding id [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
Portsdown Hill (East). Today the temperature was 15 degrees where I walked paths on the East end of Portsdown Hill directly below Fort Widley. Totals: Large White 1, Green-veined White 1, Brimstone 3M, Orange-tip 1M. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill. Today I visited Fort Purbrook where the temperature reached 20 degrees. Totals: Brimstone 3M 1F, Speckled Wood 1 and Peacock 1. [Posted by Roy Symonds]
Green Hairstreak at Freshwater. A first sighting of this Green Hairstreak today close to Freshwater Bay.A warm sunny day with a fresh breeze. [Posted by Peter Hunt]
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| Photo © Peter Hunt |
Stockbridge Down - Grizzled Skipper. My first visit to Stockbridge Down this year resulted in sightings of a Male Orange-tip, several Peacock and Brimstones (including an egg laying female) and an early Grizzled Skipper. (My 11th butterfly sp of 2026) [Posted by Kevin Haggar]
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| Grizzled Skipper Photo © Kevin Haggar | Ovipositing Brimstone Photo © Kevin Haggar |