Friday 3 February 2023

The Butterflies of Northamptonshire in 2022

We had a superb year of recording butterflies in Northamptonshire during 2022, and this is reflected in the number of valuable records we have received. The weather during 2022 was certainly much better than the previous year and allowed for many more opportunities for recording. A cool and unsettled winter gave way to a warm spring followed by a hot summer with prolonged sunny spells. July saw an unprecedented heatwave with temperatures at Northamptonshire's Pitsford Weather Centre topping 40.2c on the 19th of July making it the hottest day ever recorded in Northamptonshire and the second hottest temperature in the UK together with Heathrow airport. Fortunately, it cooled down quite quickly and the rest of the summer was mostly dry with lots of sunshine. Autumn was quite unsettled initially but became unseasonably mild during October and November. So far, at the time of writing, we have received 27,460 records for the county detailing the whereabouts of over 80,000 adult butterflies. Without the many volunteers who give their time to record butterflies none of the accounts below would be possible so I would like to give heartfelt thanks to everyone who has sent in records during the year and it was great to see so many new UKBMS transects being set up. The records consist of records received via the UKBMS  (United Kingdom Butterfly Survey), WCBS (Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey), the Big Butterfly Count, and also casual records sent in via iRecord or direct email. More and more people are taking up iRecord to enter their records each year and we now receive more records from there than anywhere else which is fantastic. Of course, one of the best success stories we have had recently in the county is the reintroduction of the Chequered Skipper and this year saw the location of the release site made public! It was fantastic to chat to with many people who had managed to see them! Plans for this year's guided walks are already well underway and once they're fully organised they will be advertised on the Beds and Northants Local Branch of Butterfly Conservation's website ( click here ). We also have some very active social media channels! So feel free to have a look at our branch Twitter account at @BedsNthantsBC (click here) and also our Facebook group "The Beds and Northants Branch of Butterfly Conservation" (click here ). At the time of writing (03/02/23) Butterfly Conservation has published the State of  UK Butterflies Report 2022, you can read the full report online (click here ). It certainly makes for sobering reading and highlights the plight that some of our butterflies are in. I would urge anyone reading this to go out this year and record butterflies, especially in areas you haven't looked at before, so we can better understand their distributions and populations. Let's hope that 2023 is a great year for butterflies!

 

Dave James - Northamptonshire County Recorder for Butterflies

 

2022 Monad Coverage


Chequered Skipper

The 2022 Chequered Skipper flight period was a very notable one and for a very special reason! Now the population is deemed strong enough the location of the reintroduction site (Fineshade Woods) has now been revealed meaning visitors could come and enjoy them flying around their new home. The guided walks put on by the project rangers provided, without doubt, the best chances of successfully one so if you're planning on visiting in 2023 check out to see if they're being run again. Surveys carried out after the adult butterfly's flight time were also notable as Chequered Skipper larvae were found for only the second time in five years. For more information about the Chequered Skippers Taking Flight project click here - Chequered Skippers Taking Flight.

Chequered Skipper


Chequered Skipper

Chequered Skipper Larva

Chequered Skipper Distribution 

Small, Essex and Large Skipper

All three of the Golden Skippers were seen in higher numbers than the previous year. However, the Essex and Large Skippers were still below the five year average. The Small Skipper was 93% up from the previous year which puts it 21% above the five year average. The Essex Skipper shows a 222% increase in records over the 2021 figures but is still 53% below the five year average and the Large Skipper showed a 27% increase over the previous year which puts it 19% below the five year average. The grassland butterflies could be encountered anywhere where there is suitable habitat but some of the best locations to see them include Bradlaugh Fields, Bucknell Wood, Fermyn Country Park and Woods, Hazelborough Wood, Salcey Forest and Twywell Hills and Dales. The first Small Skipper was seen on the 22nd of May at the Nene Wetlands and the last one was recorded on the 11th of August in Bucknell Wood. The first Essex Skipper was seen on the 19th of June at Stanwick Lakes and the last was seen on the 30th of July west of Hanging Houghton (although a dead one was found in the conservatory of a house in Delepre in Northampton on the 28th of August). The first Large Skippers of the year were seen on the 19th of May at Fineshade Wood and Twywell Hills and Dales and the last of the year was recorded on the 10th of August in Fineshade Wood.

Small Skipper
 

Small Skipper Distribution

Essex Skipper Distribution

Large Skipper Distribution

 

Dingy Skipper

The Dingy Skipper had a good year in the county and showed a 144% increase over the previous year which puts it 93% above the five year average. This is a rather localised butterfly and the best places to see them were Fermyn Country Park, Fineshade Wood, Harrington Airfield, Old Sulehey, Ring Haw and Twywell Hills and Dales. A new location for the species was added with the discovery of a population at Lyveden New Bield on the 14th of May. The first ones of the year were recorded on the 18th of April at Old Sulehey and Twywell Hills and Dales. The last of the year was seen on the 11th of August at Old Sulehey.

Dingy Skipper

Dingy Skipper Distribution

Grizzled Skipper

The Grizzled Skipper showed a 48% increase in records from the previous year and a 17% increase over the five year average. The best places to look for this butterfly were Fermyn Country Park, Fineshade Wood, Old Sulehey, Ring Haw, Twywell Hills and Dales and Quarry Walk near Earls Barton. A new location was added to the map in 2022 when they were discovered near Great Oakley. The first of the year was seen on the 18th of April at Quarry Walk near Earls Barton and the last of the year was recorded on the 15th of June at Twywell Hills and Dales.

Grizzled Skipper

 
Grizzled Skipper Distribution

 Wood White

The Wood White shows a 43% increase in records from the previous year which places it 10% above the five year average for the species. The best places to see this woodland butterfly were Bucknell Wood, Hazelborough Forest, Hazleborough Wood and Salcey Forest. They were also recorded in three private woodlands namely Geddington Chase, Sywell Wood and the Yardley Chase complex. The first of the year was seen on the 4th of May in Yardley Chase and the last of the year was recorded on the 2nd of August in Sywell Wood.

Wood White

Wood White Distribution

 Clouded Yellow

 The Clouded Yellow had a fantastic showing during 2022 with the majority of the year's records coming from two sites. The nectar patches along the lane that runs west of Hanging Houghton provided sightings throughout the summer and I would like to extend a big thank you to local birder Eleanor for her continued updates on the local WhatsApp group. The other location was discovered by Barrie from the Friends of Fineshade and Rockingham Forest vision projects. Barrie discovered a population of Clouded Yellows flying over cultivated fields of Clover south of the village of Lower Benefield on the 1st of October. I visited Lower Benefield to do a full count on the 3rd of October and I was amazed to reach the figure of at least 54 Clouded Yellows which is a new county record! They were also recorded at many other sites in the county throughout the year and show a 260% increase in records over the five year average. The first of the year was seen on the 19th of May in Fineshade Wood and the last ones of the year were recorded on the 28th of October at Harrington Airfield and along the A510 near Sidegate Lane west of Finedon.

Clouded Yellow


Clouded Yellow Distribution

 Brimstone

The Brimstone shows a 31% increase in records over the previous year which puts it 19% above the five year average. This common butterfly can be encountered anywhere where there is suitable habitat. The first of the year was seen on the 5th of January in Norton and the last of the year was seen on the 30th of December at Barnwell Country Park.

Brimstone

 
Brimstone Distribution

Large, Small and Green-veined White

The Large and Small White didn't have a good year in 2022. The Large White shows a 2% decrease in records below the previous year putting it 10% below the five year average. The Small White shows an 11% decrease in records from 2021 which puts it 23% below the five year average. The Green-veined White did fair slightly better and shows a 25% increase over 2021 which puts it 8% above the five year average. These common butterflies could be recorded anywhere where there is suitable habitat. The first Large White of the year was seen on the 15th of March in Ravensthorpe and the last of the year was seen on the 30th of October in Kettering. The first Small Whites of the year were seen on the 14th of March with one seen along the Ise Brook in Kettering and another seen in Northampton. The last Small White of the year flying outside was recorded on the 22nd of October in Bragborough, however, one emerged indoors in a house in Brackley and was found flying around the kitchen on the 9th of November. The first Green-veined White of the year was seen on the 5th of April at Stortons Pits and the last of the year was recorded on the 13th of October near Nethercote.

Green-veined White Mud Puddling

  
Large White Distribution

 

Small White Distribution

Green-veined White Distribution

Orange-tip

The Orange-tip had a great year in the county during 2022 and shows an 80% increase over the previous year's records and a 35% increase over the five year average. This common butterfly could be encountered anywhere where there is suitable habitat. However, the best place to see them without a doubt was the Nene Wetlands where they were recorded in very good numbers. Well over 200 were seen on a single day on the 30th of April. The first Orange-tip of the year was seen on the 14th of March at Polebrook and the last of the year was recorded on the 15th of July at Weldon Woodland Park.

Orange-tip Male

 

Orange-tip Female

 

Orange-tip Distibution

Green Hairstreak

The Green Hairstreak had a good year in the county and shows a 42% increase above the five year average. The best places to see this localised butterfly were Collyweston Deeps, Fermyn Country Park, Fineshade Woods, Harrington Airfield, Old Sulehey, Ring Haw and Twywell Hills and Dales. A notable discovery was made in May when the species was discovered at the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve by local butterfly recorder and wildlife photographer Glyn. The first Green Hairstreak of the year was seen on the 16th of April at Collyweston Deeps and the last of the year was seen on the 4th of July in Fermyn Country Park.

Green Hairstreak

Green Hairstreak Distribution

 

Purple Hairstreak

Despite the 24% increase in records from the previous year the Purple Hairstreak was still 18% below the five year average. For those people who were brave enough to record butterflies during the late July heatwave a rarely witnessed sight awaited them as lots of Purple Hairstreaks descended from the canopy to avoid the sun and look for moisture. The best places to see this woodland butterfly were Bucknell Wood, Hazelborough Forest, Hazelborough Wood, the Fermyn Woods complex and Salcey Forest. The first of the year was seen on the 16th of June in the private Sywell Wood and the last of the year was seen on the 11th of August in Bucknell Wood.

 

Purple Hairstreak

Purple Hairstreak Distribution

White-letter Hairstreak

The White-letter Hairstreak shows a 3% decrease in records from the previous year and a 51% decrease below the five year average. The best sites to see them were Ashton Wold, Brackmills, Duston Quarry, Harlestone, Fineshade Wood and the Old Kettering Road in Corby. In all of these sites they were only seen in low single figures. The first White-letter Hairstreaks of the year were seen on the 20th of June at Brackmills and Duston Quarry and the last of the year was recorded on the 6th of August in Harlestone.

White-letter Hairstreak

 
White-letter Hairstreak Distribution

 Black Hairstreak

The Black Hairstreak had a considerably better season than it did in 2021 and shows a 145% increase in records. Although the records show them to be 40% below the five year average, the fantastic season of 2018 when they were seen in very high numbers should be taken into account when analysing this. As always, the best place to see them was Glapthorn Cow Pastures and Salcey Forest is now rapidly becoming equally good for them too. The large Blackthorn thicket at the northern end of Fermyn Woods Country Park is another good location to see the species. Black Hairstreaks were also recorded at Fineshade Wood, in Lady and Souther Woods at Fermyn, and in the private Yardley Chase complex. On the 4th of July one was seen at Old Sulehey confirming their continued presence at the site. An exciting record was seen on the 5th of July along the Old Kettering Road in Great Oakley which is a new location for the species. The first one was seen on the 2nd of June at Glapthorn Cow Pastures and the last of the year was seen on the 10th of July at Fermyn Woods Country Park.

 

Black Hairstreak

Black Hairstreak Larva

Black Hairstreak Larva

Black Hairstreak Distribution
 

Small Copper

The Small Copper showed a 42% increase in records from 2021 which puts it slightly below the five year average. This butterfly is prone to producing aberrations but the Small Copper find of the year must go to Sacha Chase when he discovered the rare aberration cuprinus on the clover fields south of Lower Benefield (see photo below) on the 8th of October. This grassland species could be seen anywhere where there is suitable habitat but some of the best places to see them were the Nene Wetlands Reserve, Pitsford Nature Reserve, Stanwick Lakes and Twywell Hills and Dales. The first of the year was seen on the 22nd of April at Twywell Hills and Dales and the last of the year was seen on the 23rd of October at Stanford Reservoir.

Small Copper

 
Small Copper ab. cuprinus. Photo taken by Sacha Case

Small Copper Distribution

Brown Argus

The Brown Argus had a considerably better season in Northamptonshire than it did in 2021 and shows a 219% increase in records. This puts it slightly higher than the five year average with a slight 5% increase. This grassland butterfly could be seen anywhere where there was suitable habitat however some of the best places to see them were Harlestone Firs, the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve, Stanwick Lakes, Summer Leys Nature Reserve, Twywell Hills and Dales and Woodford Shrubbery. The first of the year was seen on the 8th of May at Quarry Walk near Earls Barton and the last of the year was seen on the 28th of September at Twywell Hills and Dales.

Brown Argus

Brown Argus Distribution

 Common Blue

The Common Blue did well in the county in 2022. It shows a 294% increase in records over the previous year and a 38% increase above the five year average. The common grassland butterfly could be seen anywhere where there was suitable habitat but the places where they flew in the highest numbers were Duston Quarry, Harrington Airfield, Fermyn Country Park, the fields surrounding Old village, Old Sulehey, the Nene Wetlands, Ring Haw, and Stanwick Lakes. The first of the year was seen on the 5th of May at Quarry Walk near Earls Barton and the last of the year was recorded on the 22nd of October at Upton.

Common Blue

 

Common Blue Distribution

Holly Blue

The Holly Blue did well in 2022 and shows a 150% increase in records over the previous year. This puts it 73% above the five year average. This butterfly was a common sight in gardens and parks but the best places to see them were Abington Park in Northampton, Bradlaugh Fields, Castlefields Park in Wellingborough, Eastfield Park in Northampton, the Nene Wetlands Nature Reserve, Summer Leys Nature Reserve and Weekley Hall Wood Meadow. The first ones of the year were seen on the 22nd of March in Denton, Higham Ferrers and Wootton in Northampton. The last of the year was seen on the 29th of October in Wollaston.

Holly Blue

 

Holly Blue Distribution

Long-tailed Blue

There were a lot of records of Long-tailed Blues along the south coast of Britain in 2022 and in turn a lot of eggs were discovered. The eggs produced a new batch of  adult butterflies in September and October so when the news broke that a single Long-tailed Blue had been found on the flowers outside the Lakeside pub in Northampton it was met with considerable excitement! The date of the record was the 31st of October and I'd like to thank the finder, Mark Williams, for getting the news out so quickly. Unfortunately, it didn't hang around and only a small handful of people got to see it. There will always be a question mark over rare migrants when they are seen this far inland as this species can be imported in larval form in bags of peas. However, the timing of this record makes this the best candidate we have for a genuine wild migrant.

Long-tailed Blue, Lakeside Pub, Northampton 2022. Photo taken by Doug Goddard

 
Long-tailed Blue, Lakeside Pub, Northampton 2022. Photo taken by Mark Williams

Long-tailed Blue Distribution

 Chalkhill Blue

The Chalkhill Blue used to be recorded annually in Northamptonshire but unfortunately an area that was at the time a recently discovered key site for them near Wakerley Wood was destroyed when it was turned into a quarry in 2017. There have been no records of Chalkhill Blues in the county ever since. It was therefore a great surprise when Fiona Barclay and David Howdon discovered a Chalkhill Blue at Twywell Hills and Dales on the 24th of July making it the first to be seen in the county for five years!

Chalkhill Blue, Twywell Hills and Dales 2022. Photo taken by David Howdon

 

Chalkhill Blue Distribution

White Admiral

The White Admiral shows a 105% increase in records from the previous year but it still 44% below the five year average. There has been a lot of forestry recently which has no doubt affected the populations in some key sites. This butterfly also doesn't do well in very hot conditions and while this species normally flies in the county into late July and early August no records were received after temperatures soared prior to the record breaking heatwave. The best places to see this woodland butterfly were Bucknell Wood, the Fermyn Wood complex, Fineshade Wood, Hazelborough Forest, Hazeborough Wood,  and Salcey Forest. The first of the year was seen on the 15th of June in Salcey Forest and the last of the year was recorded on the 16th of July in Lilford Wood.


White Admiral


White Admiral Distribution

Purple Emperor

The Purple Emperor had a slightly better than average year. It shows a 16% increase in records from the previous year and a 9% increase above the five year average. The best places to see this magnificent butterfly were Bucknell Wood, the Fermyn Wood complex, Harry's Park Wood, Hazelborough Forest, Hazelborough Wood and Salcey Forest. They were also recorded in the private Yardley Chase complex. A Purple Emperor was recorded for the first time at Pitsford Nature Reserve when a male Purple Emperor, in keeping with this species' taste in foul smells, was seen flying around the fish gut bin at the fishing lodge! The first of the year was seen on the 21st of June in Bucknell Wood and the last ones of the year were recorded on the 23rd of July in Bucknell Wood and Fermyn's Souther Wood.


Purple Emperor enjoying the new Pay and Display sign in Salcey Forest

Purple Emperor Distribution

 

Red Admiral

The Red Admiral didn't have a good year in 2022. It shows a 27% drop in records from the previous year and a 34% drop in records from the five year average. This is a widely distributed butterfly and could be seen in all habitats where there were suitable nectar sources and larval food plants. The first of the year was seen on the 1st of January in Rushden and the last ones of the year were seen on the 28th of November at Titchmarsh Nature Reserve and in Wollaston.

Red Admiral

Red Admiral Distribution

 

Painted Lady

The Painted Lady shows a 39% increase in records over the previous year but a 35% decrease below the five year average. Annual populations of this migrant butterfly are known to fluctuate quite wildly so these peaks and troughs are quite normal. This is a widely distributed butterfly and can be seen anywhere where there is suitable nectar sources and larval food plants. The first of the year was recorded on the 16th of May at Bragborough and the last of the year was seen on the 14th of October in Warmington.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady Distribution

 

Large Tortoiseshell

On the 6th of May another extremely exciting county record was received when Dennis McQuillan photographed this Large Tortoiseshell in Bucknell Wood. As previously mentioned rare migrants seen this far inland will always raise questions about their origins as a home reared release can't be ruled out. However, with the many records of Large Tortoiseshells being seen around the country prior to this record this is without a doubt the best candidate we have of a genuine wild migrant.


Large Tortoiseshell, Bucknell Wood 2022. Photo taken by Dennis McQuillan

Large Tortoiseshell Distribution

 

Small Tortoiseshell

The Small Tortoiseshell also didn't have a very good year in the county. It shows a 23% drop in records from the previous year which is 14% below the five year average. This widely distributed butterfly could be seen anywhere where suitable nectar sources and larval food plants grow. The first of the year was seen on the 2nd of January in Greatworth and the last of the year was recorded on the 20th of November in Kettering.

Small Tortoiseshell

Small Tortoiseshell Distribution

Peacock

The Peacock didn't have a good year in the county and show a 32% drop in records from the previous year which places it 24% below the five year average. However, 2022 was an interesting season for the species as very late in the year larvae were discovered by Judith Barnard who then took them home to monitor them. On the 6th of November the first adult Peacock emerged and this was followed by further eclosures on the 8th, 12th and 18th of November. These are almost certainly a second brood in which case they are the first second brood Peacocks recorded in the county. This is a widely spread butterfly that can be seen anywhere where nectar sources and larval food plants grow. The first ones of the year were seen on the 16th of January in Northampton and Pitsford Nature Reserve and the last of the year was recorded on the 20th of December in Polebrook.

Peacock

Peacock Distribution

Comma

The Comma did well in 2022 and shows a 56% increase from the previous year and a 17% increase over the five year average. This is another widespread butterfly that can be encountered anywhere where there is suitable habitat. The first of the year was seen on the 1st of January in Fermyn Woods and the last of the year was seen on the 9th of November west of Hanging Houghton.

Comma

Comma egg

Comma Distribution
 

Dark Green Fritillary

The Dark Green Fritillary continues to gain its foothold in the county, and this previously rare sight in Northamptonshire is now becoming a much more regular one. The records show a huge 1099% increase in records over the previous year and a 757% increase above the five year average. The main colonies are still up in the northeast of the county but they are being seen in many more places now and a new colony has been discovered near RAF Croughton too. Without a doubt the best place to see them in the county is the Old Sulehey and Ring Haw complex where in one day 200 were recorded on the 17th of June. They were also seen in Barton Seagrave, Canons Ashby, Easton-on-the-Hill, Fineshade Wood, Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Kinewell Lakes in Ringstead, Twywell Hills and Dales and Wakerley Wood. The first of the year was seen on the 27th of May at Old Sulehey and the last of the year was seen on the 23rd of August also at Old Sulehey.

Dark Green Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary Distribution

 

Silver-washed Fritillary

The Silver-washed Fritillary shows a 94% increase in records above the previous year but this is still 11% below the five year average. The best places to see this woodland butterfly were Ashton Wold, Bucknell Wood, Glapthorn Cow Pastures, the Fermyn Wood complex, Hazelborough Forest, Hazelborough Wood, Old Sulehey Forest and Salcey Forest. The first of the year was seen on the 10th of June at Old Sulehey and the last ones of the year were soon on the 14th of August in Fineshade Wood and Polebrook

Silver-washed Fritillary

Silver-washed Fritillary Distribution

Speckled Wood

The Speckled Wood had an average year in the county and despite numbers showing a 94% increase over the previous year it is just slightly above the five year average at 4%. This is a widespread butterfly that can be encountered anywhere where there is suitable habitat. The first of the year was seen on the 18th of March in New Duston and the last of the year was seen on the 29th of October in Eastfield Park in Northampton.

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood Distribution

Marbled White

The Marbled White had a much better year in 2022. It shows a 110% increase in records over the previous year and a 7% increase over the five year average. This is a fairly widespread grassland butterfly however best places to see them where Bradlaugh Fields, Fermyn Woods, Harrington Airfield, Hollowell Reservoir, New Duston, Old Sulehey, Ring Haw, Twywell Hills and Dales and Weekley Hall Wood. The first of the year was seen on the 9th of June in New Duston and the last of the year was seen on the 7th of August at Bradlaugh Fields.

Marbled White

Marbled White Distribution

Gatekeeper

The Gatekeeper had a good year in the county and shows a 43% increase in records over the previous year which puts it 26% above the five year average. This is an extremely widespread butterfly of grasslands and hedgerows and can be encountered anywhere with there is suitable habitat. The first of the year was recorded on the 15th of June near Flore and the last of the year was recorded on the 4th of September at Fermyn Woods Country Park.

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper Distribution

 

Meadow Brown

Although the Meadow Brown shows a 12% increase in records over the previous year it is still 6% below the five year average. Despite these figures, this extremely common and widespread grassland butterfly could still be seen flying in good numbers all over the county. The first of the year was seen on the 22nd of May at the Nene Wetlands and the last of the year was recorded on the 17th of September at Ring Haw.

Meadow Brown

Meadow Brown Distribution

Ringlet

The Ringlet did quite well in the county in 2022 and shows a 56% increase in records over the previous year which puts it 6% above the five year average. This is a very common butterfly which could be encountered anywhere where there is suitable grassland habitat. The first of the year was seen on the 10th of June in Eydon and the last of the year was seen on the 11th of August in Brackley.

Ringlet

Ringlet Distribution

Small Heath

Although the Small Heath shows a 27% increase in records form the previous year it is still 9% below the five year average. On the bright side though as more people record in the wider countryside more locations for this species are being discovered all the time. The Small Heath is a fairly widespread grassland butterfly but the individual populations can be quite localised. The best places to see them in the county during 2022 were Fineshade Wood, Harrington Airfield, Lyveden New Bield, Pitsford Nature Reserve, Ring Haw, Twywell Hills and Dales and Woodford Shrubbery. The first of the year was seen on the 16th of April at Ring Haw and the last of the year was recorded on the 23rd of September at Stanford Reservoir.

Small Heath

Small Heath Distribution