I have put in a bit of effort to see more butterfly species over the last couple of years. Not travelling much farther than local nature reserves but homing in on ancient woodlands and sites where a few target species are known to thrive. So here are my lifers, six this year, six last year, several others in the year or two before that I’ve not listed.
- Adonis Blue (Devil’s Dyke 2022)
- Black Hairstreak (Monks Wood 2022)
- Chalkhill Blue (Devil’s Dyke 2021)
- Dark Green Fritillary (Devil’s Dyke 2021)
- Green Hairstreak (Les King Wood 2021)
- Grizzled Skipper (Woodwalton Marsh 2022)
- Purple Emperor (Woodwalton Fen NNR 2021)
- Purple Hairstreak (2021)
- Small Blue (Trumpington Meadows 2022)
- Wall (Seahouses 2022)
- White Admiral (Brampton Wood 2022)
- White-letter Hairstreak (Overhall Grove 2021)
I should perhaps add that I was first to log two new butterfly colonies – White-letter Hairstreak in Manor Farm Wood, Rampton and not far from there a colony of Purple Hairstreak on an ash tree close to the Cottenham Lode. I was also first to log a large number of Clouded Yellow (perhaps as many as two dozen) on a wildflower meadow along the Earith Bridleway just as you step off RSPB Ouse Fen close to the River Great Ouse.
My butterfly photo gallery is available on my Imaging Storm website where you can see my photos of all of the species mentioned above and more. Follow me on Instagram for more Lepidoptera as they emerge.
