Butterfly Survey Information

Montefiore Woodland Butterfly SurveysMany insects can be seen including a day-active moth also known as the fairy longhorn/Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella). The males have very long antennas. Their flight time ranges from April to June. It is also possible to see several species of butterfly: Speckled Wood, Comma, Red Admiral, Holly and Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled White, Small Skipper, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Large and Small White and the Green-veined White.

Butterflies and moths are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals (Blue Tits eat an estimated 50 billion moth caterpillars each year).

Butterflies and moths have been recognised as indicators of biodiversity. Their fragility makes them quick to react to change so their struggle to survive is a serious warning about our environment.

Sue has been walking the area weekly from April – September as a Transect Recorder for Butterfly Conservation since 2012.

Sightings of Butterflies 2024:

Month Butterfly Sightings

Total number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
Comments

Comments
February
March
AprilPeacock 1 +1 (WP)
Speckled Wood 1 +1 (WP)
Small White 2

At last some warmer spring weather!
MaySpeckled Wood 2 (WP)
Red Admiral 2 (WP)
Orange-tip 2 (male + female) (WP)
Holly Blue 2 (WP)
During May work party a number of sightings within the woodland.
JuneSpeckled Wood 5
Red Admiral 3
Holly Blue 22
Common Blue 1
Small White 3
Finally, one glorious week has summer arrived…?
Our first Common Blue of the year!
JulyMeadow Brown 38 +5 (WP)
Gatekeeper 2
Holly Blue 4 +2 (WP)
Speckled Wood 8+2 (WP)
Red Admiral 1 + 1 (WP)
Small White 2 + 1 (WP)
Large White 1
Comma 3 + 1 (WP)
Work Party – sun & cloud, several butterflies including Meadow Brown , Dave saw the first for the year on 3rd. Today more Meadow Browns and our first Comma!
AugustGatekeeper 12+ *2
Meadow Brown 19 +*3
Speckled Wood 13 +*1
Common Blue 4 +*2
Holly Blue 2
Green veined White 1
Small White 5
Large White 5
After the recent hot sunny weather it was disappointing that our August work party was overcast, especially as today was the day we did our *Big Butterfly Count! At least it was warm and typically the sun came out just as we were finishing! Thankfully we did see a few butterflies!
SeptemberSpeckled Wood 12
Red Admiral 3
Small White 4
Large White 5
Holly Blue 1
Thankfully the warm weather at the beginning of the month helped to improve sightings in the local area. I was hoping we may be in for an Indian summer but sadly the latter days resulted in autumnal winds and heavy rain across much of the country (although we missed much of it). Sadly, butterfly numbers for this year are not looking good!
OctoberSpeckled Wood 6
Holly Blue 2
Red Admiral 3
Thankfully some warm sunny days allowing some butterfly sightings in this overall disappointing year for butterflies.
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2023:

Month Butterfly Sightings

Total number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
Comments

Comments
February
March
AprilHolly Blue 1This winter seems to go on and on….A lot of rain, some very heavy and cold NE winds thus temperatures below average. As a result no sightings until TODAY, 29th April when I spotted a Holly Blue butterfly from the path in the lower end near the synagogue boundary wall.
MayRed Admiral 9
Speckled Wood 4
Holly Blue 9
Small White 1
Chilly weather, but after frequent showers the end of the month finished dry and little rain forecast…!
JuneWork Party*
Speckled Wood 2* +4
Holly Blue 6* +16
Large White 1*+2
Red Admiral 8
Meadow Brown 18
Marbled White 1
Small Skipper 1
And still the cold NE wind continues to blow, despite some sunshine. (Scotland and Wales a lot warmer than our south-east coast, which is definitely impacting on sightings so far this year!!

Then on 10th June the wind changed direction and a warmer air flow brought much needed warmer weather! (NB Very suddenly again as it did with last winter’s sudden cold.)
Reflected in the increase number of sightings – at last!!
Meadow growing well after wet spring!

JulyWork Party*
Speckled Wood + 6
Holly Blue 2*+11
Large White 4
Small White 18
Red Admiral 1*+5
Meadow Brown 19*+102
Marbled White 2*+6
Gatekeeper 60
Comma 5
Numbers of butterflies really increased this month, which was very pleasing to see!
9 different species within the area.
AugustWork Party / Big Butterfly Count*

Speckled Wood 2* + 9
Common Blue 3* (2 female + 1 male) + 5
Small White 2* + 9
Large White + 3
Red Admiral 1* + 2
Meadow Brown 6*+ 14
Gatekeeper 16* + 29
Comma 1* +1
Holly Blue + 5

Lots of 6-spotted Ladybird

Once again, pleasing numbers of butterflies within the woodland particularly in the wildflower meadow!

9 species seen.

September
October
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2022:

Month Butterfly Sightings

Total number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).Comments

Comments
February
March
AprilPeacock 1
Red Admiral 2
Speckled Wood 3 +2 Work Party
Holly Blue 3 + 1Work Party
Small White 1
The month continues to be bright and sunny but numbers are still quite low possibly due to the cold NE wind.
MayHolly Blue 8 +1 (Work Party)
Small White 3
Common Blue 4
Speckled Wood 6
Red Admiral 2
Painted Lady 1
The weather continues to be dry with little rain but cool breeze continues.
JuneHolly Blue 1 + 2 (Work Party)
Small White 1 (Work Party)
Red Admiral 1 (Work Party)
Common Blue 1

Marbled White 3 (sighting)
Meadow Brown 4 (sighting)

The temperature is increasing but we continue to have little rain.
JulyMarbled White 4 (Work Party) + 8
Meadow Brown 6 (Work Party) +31
Red Admiral 1 (Work Party) +2
Holly Blue 1 (Work Party)
Large White 2
Small White 9
Common Blue 2
Speckled Wood 5
Gatekeeper 43
We have experienced our hottest temperatures recorded in the UK!!
Coningsby in Lincolnshire recorded a temperature of 40.3°C on 19th July, an event that would be extremely unlikely without climate change, and scientists warn that heatwaves will only get worse!
Augustbig butterfly* count – 6th. August, 2022
• Large White – 4*+ 1
• Small White – 2*+ 7
• Gatekeeper – 4*+ 7
• Meadow Brown – 1*+ 2
• Speckled Wood – 3*+ 5
• Red Admiral – 2*+ 1
• Common Blue – 5* (3m+2f)+ 11
• Holly Blue – 1*+ 1
Comma 1
Total of bbc* 22/8 species.
big butterfly count – 6th. August, 2022
Beautiful, warm and sunny day for this year’s big butterfly count!
12 friends came along to the Work Party + count – many thanks to all present!
September• Small White – 2 (work party)
• Speckled Wood – 3 (work party)
• Red Admiral – 1 (work party)
• Common Blue – 3 (m work party)
• Large White – 2

The month started quite warm, but then came a sudden cold spell.
Some rain but not as much as other parts of the country!
October• Speckled Wood – 4 (work party)
• Red Admiral – 2 (work party)
• Holly Blue – 1
• Small White – 1
October began with a breeze following a wet night, but the cold spell in September was followed by some warm weather, pleasingly – 20C at the work party!
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2021:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
February
March
AprilPeacock 1
MayLarge White 1 (Work Party) + 1
Speckled Wood 1 (Work Party) + 1
Small White 2
Orange Tip 1
Red Admiral 2
JunePainted Lady 1
peacock 1
Speckled Wood 2 (Work Party)
Red Admiral 5
Holly Blue 9
Small White 1
JulyRed Admiral 3
Small White 15
Large White 2
Meadow Brown 70
Marbled White 23
Comma 2
Small Skipper 1
Speckled Wood 1
Gatekeeper 22
AugustSmall White 6
Large White 1 (*1)
Meadow Brown 8 (*7)
Marbled White 3
Speckled Wood 15
Gatekeeper 24 (*10)
Holly Blue 2 (*1)
Red Admiral 1(*1)
Common Blue 1

(*Big Butterfly Count – Work Party)
(*2 Mating 6-spot Burnet Moths)
(*1 Common Blue Damselfly)

SeptemberSpeckled Wood 4
Holly Blue 3
Red Admiral 1
Peacock 1
Small White 2
Large White 1
OctoberRed Admiral 1
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2020:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
February
March
AprilPeacock Butterfly
Small White
Speckled Wood
1 (casual sighting)
3 (casual sighting)
2 (casual sighting)
MayHolly Blue,
Speckled Wood,
Common Blue (female)
5,
1,
2
JuneHolly Blue,
Common Blue,
Red Admiral,
Speckled Wood,
Small White,
Meadow Brown
14 + 5+ (Work Party sighting)
3 + 1 (Work Party sighting)
6 + 1 (Work Party sighting)
2
3
8
JulyRed Admiral,
Small White,
Meadow Brown,
Marbled White
Gatekeeper
Green-veined White
Comma
Large White
Common Blue
Speckled Wood
Holly Blue

6-spot Burnet Moth
Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Possible sightings:
Chequered Skipper
Small Copper

3,
4 (Work Party) + 15
3 (Work Party) + 45,
2 (Work Party) + 8
1 (Work Party – first sighting of the year) + 18
1 (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)
6
7
4
1

4 + 1 (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)

Possible sightings:
1 (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)

AugustLarge White * big butterfly count
Small White *
Common Blue *
Meadow Brown *
Gatekeeper *
Speckled Wood *
Red Admiral *
Comma

6-spot Burnet Moth

1* + 1
+8
2* + 4
5 * + 3
6* + 9
4* + 9
1* + 3
1

1* + 2

SeptemberSpeckled Wood
Common Blue
Small White
Meadow Brown
Large White
Holly Blue
Red Admiral

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly

3 + 2 (Work Party)
1
3 + 3 (Work Party)
1
1
2 (Work Party)
1 (Work Party)

5 (Work Party)

OctoberRed Admiral1
NovemberSpeckled Wood
Red Admiral
Blue (Possibly Holly/Common)
2
2
1

Sightings of Butterflies 2019:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
FebruaryRed Admiral seen during warm spell.1 (casual sighting)
March
AprilRed Admiral
Comma
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
2 Transect
1 (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)
MayRed Admiral
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Small White
3 Transect
6
5
2
JuneHolly Blue
Common Blue
Small White
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Meadow Brown
6 (casual sighting) + 8 Transect
2 (casual sighting) + 1
1 (casual sighting) + 1
1 (casual sighting) + 5
+ 8
+3

JulySmall White
Marbled White
Painted Lady
Meadow Brown
Comma
6+ (casual sighting)
6+ (casual sighting)
1 (casual sighting)
6+ (casual sighting)
1+ (casual sighting)
AugustSmall White
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Common Blue
Holly Blue
* 1 + 14
* 2 + 6
* 1 + 2
* 3 + 0
* 4 + 3
* 1 + 1
*0 +3

*Big Butterfly Count – 3.8.19 (Thanks to the observers in Sue’s absence)

SeptemberSmall White
large White
Speckled Wood
Comma
Small Copper NEW SIGHTING in the woodland!
Red Admiral
8
2
2
1
1
1
OctoberSpeckled Wood1 (casual sighting)
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2018:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
March
AprilHolly Blue 1 (First sighting – 22nd April, 2018))During weekly transect
MaySpeckled Wood 4
Holly Blue 2
Small White 1 (first sighting 27th May)
During Work Party, weekly transect + casual sighting
JuneHolly Blue 14
Speckled Wood 8
Common Blue 3 (first sighting during work party 2nd June)
Meadow Brown 3 (first sighting 27th June)
Marbled White 3 (first sighting 27th June)
Red Admiral 2

Plus Moths:
6 Spotted Burnet
Small Tortoiseshell 1 (first sighting 15th June)

During Work Party + weekly transect
JulySpeckled Wood 1
Small White 14
Large White 2
Meadow Wood 20
Gatekeeper 10 (first sighting 7th July during Work Party)
Holly Blue 1
Comma 1 (first sighting 7th July during Work Party)
Red Admiral 1
Small Skipper 3 (first sighting 7th July during Work Party)

Plus Moths:
Silver Y
Latticed Heath

During Work Party + weekly transect

AugustLarge White 4* + 1
Small White 1* + 5
Gatekeeper 4* + 4
Meadow Brown 3* + 7
Speckled Wood 3* + 11
Common Blue 2* + 7
*Big Butterfly Count – 4.8.18
SeptemberHolly Blue 1
Common Blue 4
Small White 4
Large White 3
Speckled Wood 10
During Work Party + weekly transect
October
November

Sightings of Butterflies 2017:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
March Comma 1Casual sighting
AprilSpeckled Wood 4
Red Admiral 1
Holly Blue 2
Large White 1
During weekly transect
MaySpeckled Wood 5
Red Admiral 2
Holly Blue 2
Painted Lady 1
During weekly transect + casual sighting
JuneSpeckled Wood 7
Red Admiral 4
Holly Blue 9
Common Blue 1
Painted Lady 2
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Comma 1
Small White 8
During Work Party + weekly transect
JulySpeckled Wood 6
Marbled White 8
Large White 1
Small White 3
Meadow Brown 13
Gatekeeper 7
Small Skipper 2
Comma 2
Common Blue 4

New Species for Woodland – Brown Argus
(19th July, 2017)

During Work Party + weekly transect

AugustSpeckled Wood 7 + 6*
Large White 2 + 2*
Small White 9 + 2*
Meadow Brown1 + 2*
Gatekeeper 6 + 7*
Common Blue 5+ 5*
Red Admiral 4 + 2*
Holly Blue 4
*Big Butterfly Count – 5.8.17
SeptemberSpeckled Wood 7
Holly Blue 1
Small White 3
Large White 3
During Work Party + weekly transect
OctoberSmall White 1
Red Admiral 1
During Work Party
NovemberRed Admiral 3
Latest – 17th November, 2017
During Work Party

Sightings of Butterflies 2016:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
MaySmall White
Holly Blue
Red Admiral
2
2
2
JuneSmall White
Holly Blue
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
1
6
2
1
JulySmall White
Holly Blue
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Green-veined White
Large White
Gate Keeper
Marbled White
Comma
Small Skipper
Common Blue

18
2
2
2
1
9
7
6
1
1
1
AugustSmall White
Holly Blue
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Large White
Gate Keeper
Common Blue

10
1
1
7
4
10
3
SeptemberSmall White
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Large White
3
3
9
3

Sightings of Butterflies 2015:

MonthButterfly SightingsTotal number seen for month
(during weekly transect walk).
FebruaryRed Admiral
1
April
Top 5 Butterflies seen across the country:
1. Peacock (14254)
2. Brimstone (7705)
3. Small Tortoiseshell (5238)
4. Orange Tip (2781)
5. Speckled Wood (1498)
Small Tortoiseshell,
Small White
Peacock,
Comma,
1
1
1
1
May
Top 5 Butterflies seen across the country:
1. Brimstone (7276)
2. Orange Tip (4792)
3. Peacock (4430)
4. Green-veined White (4404)
5. Common Blue (3668)
Speckled Wood,
Red Admiral,
Large White,
Small White,
Holly Blue,
Orange Tip
4
1
2
3
6
1
June
Top 5 Butterflies seen across the country:
1. Meadow Brown (32965)
2. Common Blue (9198)
3. Marbled White (7955)
4. Small Heath (7881)
5. Silver-studded Blue (6251)
Small White,
Large White,
Holly Blue,
Speckled Wood,
Red Admiral,
1
2
15
7
1
July
Top 5 Butterflies seen across the country:
1. Meadow Brown (115195)
2. Ringlet (60581)
3. Marbled White (32578)
4. Gatekeeper (31076)
5. Small Skipper (14072)
Small White,
Large White,
Speckled Wood,
Marbled White
Meadow Brown
Small Tortoiseshell
Gatekeeper – first sighting 19th July
Small Skipper- first sighting 19th July
Common Blue – first sighting 22nd July
17
3
3
4
17
1
5
1
1
big butterfly count – 19th July, 2015Large White,
Small White,
Marbled White,
Small Skipper,
Gatekeeper,
Meadow Brown,
Speckled Wood,
Red Admiral,
Peacock,
Silver Y Moth
2
7
2
1
3
7
5
1
1
1
AugustSmall White,
Large White,
Holly Blue,
Common Blue,
Gatekeeper,
Meadow Brown,
Speckled Wood,

Silver Y Moth
Burnet Moth

10
3
9
9
12
9
11

2
1

SeptemberSmall White,
Large White,
Speckled Wood
4
2
8

Sightings of Butterflies 2014:

MonthButterfly Sightings
FebruaryRed Admiral
Small Tortoiseshell
AprilSpeckled Wood
Green-Vein White
MaySpeckled Wood
Holly Blue
Orange Tip (Male) a first sighting for the woodland!
Small White
JuneLarge White
Small White
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Marbled White
July *Big Butterfly Count – 27th July, 2014Large White *
Small White *
Holly Blue
Common Blue *
Marbled White
Speckled Wood *
Small Skipper
Meadow Brown *
Gatekeeper *
Red Admiral *
Comma *
AugustLarge White
Small White
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
SeptemberSmall White
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Common Blue
OctoberRed Admiral
Speckled Wood

Sightings of Butterflies 2013:

MonthButterfly Sightings
AprilComma
Holly Blue
MaySmall White
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Large White
Green-Vein White
JuneSmall White
Holly Blue
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Large White
Green-Vein White
July *Big Butterfly Count 21st July, 2013
Large White *
Small White *
Holly Blue
Comma *
Small Tortoiseshell
Meadow Brown *
Small Skipper
Marbled White
Speckled Wood *
Red Admiral *
Gatekeeper *
AugustLarge White
Small White
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Comma
Speckled Wood
Large White
Small White
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Peacock (on Buddleia adjacent to Chemist)
Painted Lady (on Buddleia adjacent to Chemist)
SeptemberSpeckled Wood
Small White
Large White
Comma
OctoberRed Admiral

Sightings of Butterflies 2012:

MonthButterfly Sightings
AprilComma (Polygonia c-album)
Green-Vein White (Pieris na)
MaySmall White (Pieris rapae)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)

The Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella) day flying moth

JuneHolly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
July *Big Butterfly Count 21st July, 2013
Comma * (Polygonia c-album)
Small White * (Pieris rapae)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Speckled Wood * (Pararge aegeria)
Large White * (Pieris brassicae)
Meadow Brown * (Maniola jurtina)
Gatekeeper * (Pyronia tithonus) sometimes called Hedge Brown
Marbled White *
Holly Blue *
Silver Y Moth * (Autographa gamma) day flying moth
AugustComma (Polygonia c-album)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) sometimes called Hedge Brown
Marbled White (Melanargia galathea)
Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
SeptemberComma (Polygonia c-album)
Small White (Pieris rapae)
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
OctoberRed Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Sightings of Butterflies 2011:

MonthButterfly Sightings
JuneMeadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
July
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria)
Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina)
Comma (Polygonia c-album)
AugustCommon Blue (Polyommatus icarus)
September Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
October Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)