Butterfly Conservation - saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Butterfly Conservation
saving butterflies, moths and our environment
   Suffolk Branch
 » Homepage
 » Contact us
 » Sightings
 » Committee
 » Events
 » Conservation Work
 » Recording
 » Suffolk Butterflies
 » Distribution Maps
 » Links
 » Black Hole Map
Links to the national Butterfly Conservation website External Links
 » National website
 » BC Membership
 » WCBS
 

Sightings of Butterflies in Suffolk - 2024

Join Butterfly Conservation - click here to go to the National Butterfly Conservation website to join.

Send Us Your Sightings

The Branch is always grateful for butterfly records and a recording form can be downloaded from the Recording page. 
We are always interested in sightings of any butterflies in any location in Suffolk but we are particularly grateful for records away from the coast and information on the following species:
BAP species; Dingy Skipper, White Letter Hairstreak, Silver-studded Blue, White Admiral, Grayling, Small Heath, Wall Brown
Others; Green Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple Emperor, Chalkhill Blue (not Devil's Dyke)

Send Sightings by email to (please make sure you enter a subject) and they will appear below within a few days.
Clicking on the link should launch your usual email program.  If this does not seem to work just use the email address.

Please include the date, how many of each butterfly species seen, location with an ordnance survey grid reference if possible, and your name (if you want to).
If you would like to contribute to the annual survey please read the notes on the Recording page.

If you report a Brimstone this record will also be passsed to the Brimstone and Buckthorn project


 Regular recorders are urged to use this sightings page to inform others of interesting sightings, but please do continue to send all your records to the county recorder, James Corton, at the end of the season.  This can be done using a simple Excel spreadsheet amd an example is on the Recording page (click here)

Date 
2024		 Butterflies seen (and other relevant information).  First Sighting of Year in Bold or Bold for rarer species
 For a summary of First Sightings see the Suffolk Butterflies Page - click here		 Location Grid Reference Name
         
July SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 26       (📷 photo click here) 
         
         
15 Jul I saw the following butterflies in the sunshine this morning: LACKFORD LAKES:  Large Skipper 2, Brimstone, Large White 12, Small White 6+, Green-veined White 7+, Small Copper, Red Admiral 7, Comma 2, Speckled Wood 3, Gatekeeper 9, Meadow Brown 8, Ringlet 9. Lackford Lakes   Martin Peers
15 Jul CULFORD LAKE (West Stow end): Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White 4, Small White 6+, Green-veined White 7+, Holly Blue, Red Admiral 3, Gatekeeper 10, Meadow Brown 30+, Small Heath, Ringlet 20+. Culford Lakes   Martin Peers
14 Jul Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked by Peter Norfolk. Meadow Brown 45, Gatekeeper 23, Essex Skipper 13, Red Admiral 13, Large White 10, Small Tortoiseshell 4, Comma 2, Holly Blue 1,Small White 1, Ringlet 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
14 Jul Theberton Woods at lunchtime. Weather Sunny, 21C 1x Purple Emperor (📷 photos click here), 3x Comma, 3x White Admiral,10+ Silver-washed Fritillary, Lots of Meadow Browns and Ringlets. Theberton Woods   Phil Watkinson
13 Jul Sightings from Kyson Point car park, Broomheath. An afternoon walk at Broomheath produced Large White, Small Copper, and 3 Purple Hairstreaks (📷 photo click here)  Broomheath   Rob and Kerry Reeve, Debbie Broom
13 Jul In brief sunny spells Minsmere's woodland walk and nearby heath yielded low numbers of: Small Copper, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Large White, Brimstone (new generation), Red Admiral and Purple Hairstreak. (📷 photos click here) RSPB Minsmere   James Corton
10 Jul  Butterfly Transects walked.Meadow Brown 80, Ringlet 25, Essex Skipper 16, Small Skipper 8, Gatekeeper 7, Red Admiral 5, Large White 4, Green-veined White 4, Small White 1, Speckled Wood 1, Comma 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
10 Jul Despite the largely overcast conditions, I saw the following butterflies on a walk round TL8174 in King's Forest this morning: Small Skipper 18, Essex Skipper 13, Large Skipper 12, Large White, Green-veined White 2, Red Admiral 2, Gatekeeper 5, Meadow Brown c100, Small Heath 3, Ringlet 80+. There were many butterflies elsewhere in the forest but I concentrated my count on this one area. King's Forest TL8174 Martin Peers
8 Jul Minsmere butterfly transect. Skippers: Small 5, Essex 15, Sml/Esx 7, Large 9; Whites: Large 9, Small 12, Green-veined White 1; Purple Hairstreak 8, Small Copper 46, Brown Argus 12, White Admiral 9, Red Admiral 16, Comma 15, Silver-washed Fritillary 10, Speckled Wood 8, Gatekeeper 20, Grayling 4, Meadow Brown 114, Ringlet 300, Small Heath 125 RSPB Minsmere   Derek Eaton
8 Jul Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked.Ringlet 57, Meadow Brown 43, Red Admiral 9, Gatekeeper 7, Green-veined White 5, Small Tortoiseshell 4, Large Skipper 3, Comma 2, Essex Skipper 2, Large White 1,  Also Purple Hairstreak SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
8 Jul This afternoon at Ride 22, off the B1078 Orford Road near Sudbourne, TM399 527 in warm sunshine we saw the following: White Admiral x 2, Red Admiral x 2, Comma x 3, plus good numbers of Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper. Also Large Whites, Small Skippers, Large Skippers, and Essex Skipper. Sudbourne TM399 527 Rob and Kerry Reeve 
8 Jul Most butterflies seen on thistles along the main ride. Silver-washed Fritillary - 6, White Admiral - 2, Comma - 1, Speckled Wood - 1, Green-veined White - 1, Small Skipper - 2, Ringlet - 50, Large White - 2, Meadow Brown - 10, Gatekeeper - 5 Norton Wood TL972645 Mary & Peter Feeney
8 Jul We did finally catch up with the Purple Emperor this morning at Bradfield Woods. At least three were flying high in an oak to the right of the ride that leads from the butterfly glade to the pole barn. They did not come down, but they did settle on high branches in the tree. I attach my best image. (📷 photo click here)  Bradfield Woods   Nick Amor
8 Jul The warm sunshine tempted out the following butterflies in Bury cemetery this morning: Small Skipper 9, Essex Skipper 4, Small White, Comma, Marbled White 2, Ringlet 12, Meadow Brown 28. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
7 Jul Most butterflies seen on thistles along the main ride. Silver-washed Fritillary - 6, White Admiral - 2, Comma - 1, Speckled Wood - 1, Green-veined White - 1, Small Skipper - 2, Ringlet - 50, Large White - 2, Meadow Brown - 10, Gatekeeper - 5  Norton Wood TL972645 Mary & Peter Feeney
7 Jul The very first two Gatekeeper butterflies encountered so far this summer at rest amongst brambles and luckily both with their wings open. (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
7 Jul 4 White Admirals and half a dozen Silver-washed Fritillary during the sunny spells in the Woodland Walk, accompanied by 20+ Ringlet, 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Large White and a Large Skipper.   (📷 photos click here)  RSPB Minsmere TM463677 James Corton
5 Jul I'm sure you’re already aware of this but there are good colonies of marbled whites, meadow browns and ringlets at Haverhill reservoir opposite Sainsbury’s. Haverhill   Valerie Austin
5 Jul One White-letter Hairstreak seen this afternoon at 15:30 on the elm tree by the footbridge in the Abbey Gardens. Bury St Edmunds TL85816422 David Bird
4 Jul Single Grayling found after a 90 min search. Good numbers of Ringlet  Only Small Skipper found on site (Recorded on IRecord) Rendlesham Forest TM 349 498 Julian Sidney
4 Jul Butterfly Transect walked on 4/7/24, Meadow Brown 21, Ringlet 6, Red Admiral 5, Small White 1, Green-veined White 1. Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
4 Jul Large Skipper 1, Large White (f)1, Green-veined White 1, Small Heath 30+, Ringlet 8, Meadow Brown 10, Red Admiral 1, Small Copper 4, Purple Hairstreak 10 (in oak tress at TM46096925), Silver-studded Blue 8 (5 in quarry at TM45726922 & 3 along path at TM46186943) Westleton Heath TM4569, TM4669, TM4670, TM4570 Richard Perryman
4 Jul At least six Purple Emperors in Theberton Woods this morning , (📷 photo click here)  Theberton Woods   Margie & David Carter
4 Jul Two White-letter Hairstreaks on Elm in Dunwich Forest along the usual path this afternoon,  (📷 photo click here)  Dunwich Forest   Margie & David Carter
4 Jul I saw the following butterflies in Bradfield Wood this morning: Small Skipper, Large Skipper 3, Large White, Green-veined White 2, Purple Hairstreak 3, White Admiral 6, Comma 5, Silver-washed Fritillary 8, Meadow Brown 16, Ringlet 14. Bradfield Wood    Martin Peers.
4 Jul Two pristine probably recently emerged Small Copper butterflies from a new generation found active amongst the long grass of a local meadow.  (📷 photo click here) Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
4 Jul Transects 10 to 13 walked by Peter Norfolk. Meadow Brown 73, Essex Skipper 14, Red Admiral 11, Small Tortoiseshell 7, Gatekeeper 4, Large White 3, Ringlet 3, Small Skipper 2, Large Skipper 1, Comma 1, Green-veined White 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
4 Jul Butterfly Transects walked - Meadow Brown 77, Ringlet 30, Red Admiral 11, Comma 10, Large Skipper 8, Small White 2, Green-veined White 2, Essex Skipper 2, Gatekeeper 1, Speckled wood 1, Small Copper 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
4 Jul Sequence of photos showing Brimstone caterpillar pupating on purging buckthorn from 29 Jun to 4 Jul (📷 photos click here)  Plants originally donated in 2022 by Suffolk Butterfly Conservation's Brimstones and Buckthorn project. Beccles TM430901 Graham Jackson
4 Jul Butterflies in the garden on a blustery and sunny day included Meadow Brown, Comma, Red Admiral and our first White-letter Hairstreak of the year (📷 photo click here) . It was a welcome sight as we have lost some of the elms along Border Cott Lane (B1078).     Rob and Kerry Reeve
1 Jul The heathlands and rewilded farmlands of Minsmere produced several Silver-studded Blue despite the overcast and, at times, cool weather (📷 photo click here)  RSPB Minsmere TM451691 James Corton
1 Jul Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked. Meadow Brown 59, Ringlet 56, Red Admiral 24, Large Skipper 14, Green-veined White 5, Comma 3, Small Skipper 1, Holly Blue 1 (m), Small Tortoiseshell 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
1 Jul Minsmere butterfly transect. Some gen2 and later emergers: - Skippers: 2 Small, 14 Essex, 7 Large, 3 Small/Essex; Whites: 6 Large, 10 Small; Small Copper 10, White Admiral, 7 Red Admiral, 10 Comma 8, Silver-washed Fritillary 7, Speckled wood 7, Grayling 1 (+ 1 off tx), Gatekeeper 5, Meadow Brown 154, Ringlet 296, Small Heath 88 RSPB Minsmere   Derek Eaton
1 Jul An active colony of Purple hairstreaks this morning on the edge of Hall Heath woods, Bentley. What 3 words – gurgling.worth.smart.(📷 photo click here)  Bentley   Michael Bamford
         
         
June SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 31       (📷 photo click here) 
         
30 Jun At Minsmere, 2 White Admiral flying high up with lots of Ringlet and several Meadow Brown on bramble and bracken, joined by a very fresh looking Red Admiral.    (📷 photos click here)  RSPB Minsmere TM463678 James Corton
30 Jun My first June sighting of a Grayling at Walberswick today at TM 485751 "Tinkers walks" on the OS map 156 Walberswick TM 485751 Patrick Frew
30 Jun Whole site not surveyed but meadow brown, gatekeeper, small heath, small skipper, essex skipper (📷 photo click here), red admiral noted and uploaded to iRecord. Thurston Park lagoon TL926654 Trevor Goodfellow
29 Jun Hello again, more excitement at Theberton Woods on the 29th, unfortunately a little delayed sending due to travel at end of our holiday  (📷 photos click here): Another excellent day at Theberton Woods, arriving at 9am with lots of sunshine. Sam the ranger arrived a little later and together with some eager butterfly watchers we formed two groups and confirmed a minimum total of 6 male Purple Emperors flying at the same time in two different places (4 + 2), so we are certain at least 6 males were present up until I left at 12.30 (I have confirmed 5 male individuals on film this week). Plus, we had two independent sightings of a female (possibly two individuals).  We were all entertained by lengthy groundings of a minimum of three individual males feasting on dog poo (their ventral forewing black cell markings were very distinctive).   So, all in all a great day, and the colony is looking strong, especially given this is only the first week of emergence.  It was also fascinating to see a distinct and welcome change in butterfly abundance and the number of species - significantly better than a few days ago, with a lot of fresh individuals, including skippers, whites, and several Silver-washed Fritillary which were beautifully fresh and eager, in addition to the species mentioned in my previous report. Theberton Woods   Andrew Neild
29 Jun The Large skipper butterflies continue to show well and several Essek skippers were active on local meadows which were the first specimens I have encountered this year. (📷 photos click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
29 Jun Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked. Meadow Brown 53, Holly Blue 4 (m), Red Admiral 4, Small Tortoiseshell 4, Ringlet 2, Large Skipper 2, Gatekeeper 1. SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
29 Jun Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, 1`Green-veined White, White Admiral, Comma, Silver-washed Fritillary, Speckled Wood 3, Meadow Brown 10, Ringlet 16. Wolves Wood   Martin Peers
29 Jun Small White, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown c20, Ringlet 6 Kersey area   Martin Peers
29 Jun I visited Bradfield Woods this morning and took this photo. Initially, owing to the orange markings, I took it for a female Purple Emperor, but having studied the photo at home, I am now not so sure. Its wings may be too rounded. Is it an Emperor or a White Admiral?  Definitely White Admiral. Some do have these pronouncedorange markings (the PE is an orange eye mark) and the white markings are broader.(📷 photo click here) SWT Bradfield Wood   Nick Amor
27 Jun A walk along Fenbridge lane this afternoon. Weather Sunny, 25C Large numbers of Meadow Browns, 3x Red Admiral, 1x Speckled Wood, 1x Comma, 2x Ringlet (📷 photo click here)  Fenbridge Lane, Flatford   Phil Watkinson
27 Jun Several White Admiral, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and plenty of Ringlet today in Dunwich Forest along with single Comma and Large Skipper.  (📷 photos click here)  Dunwich Forest   James Corton - Suffolk Butterfly Recorder
27 Jun The following butterflies were seen in the cemetery this morning: Essex Skipper, Large White 2, Small White 3, Meadow Brown 36, Ringlet 8. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
26 Jun Minimum 6 White Admirals and a ranger said 1 Silver-Washed Fritillary seen earlier. SWT Bradfield wood   Trevor Goodfellow
26 Jun 11:00 one male marbled white (indifferent 📷 photo click here), one small skipper plus meadow browns alongside the footpath on Mount Road opposite Priory School. Bury St Edmunds   David Bird
26 Jun I returned to Theberton Woods (NW of Leiston) this morning arriving shortly before 10:00. After spotting Purple Emperor yesterday, I was hoping to firm up my sighting with some photos. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the observation tower to find a fresh male sitting on the bait I'd left there the night before! (Dog poo, relocated from the middle of the path and re-purposed!).  Over the course of the next 2 hours, 3 different males savoured the bait, with a total of 8 visits lasting from 5-10 minutes each, allowing for excellent photo opportunities in the brilliant sunshine, and many sightings of the same individuals around the nearby trees, with regular clashings between rival males. Visits to the bait after 11.30 were less frequent, and a little after midday it went very quiet, with the final visit ending around 12.30. Also seen today was a solitary fresh male of Silver-Washed Fritillary (my First-of-the-Year, on the north-south track 100m west of the tower), a single Holly Blue, a very battered Large Skipper, a fresh Red Admiral, and lower numbers of Meadow Browns, Ringlets and White Admirals compared to yesterday.   (📷 photos click here)  Theberton Woods   Andrew Neild
26 Jun Whilst doing my transect at Melford Country Park I saw my first Marbled Whites (3 in all and all males). This is the first time I have seen them here. This is surely proof they are moving north. Melford Country Park   Keith Winch
25 Jun IWent to Bradfield Woods and in addition to the White Admirals  saw my first Silver-Washed Fritillary of the season SWT Bradfield wood   Keith Winch
25 Jun Silver-Studded Blues, 194m, 46f Purdis Heath   Julian Dowding
25 Jun Silver-Studded Blues, 180m, 64f.  This suggests we are roughly at peak at Piper’s and perhaps a few days short of peak population at Purdis. (2.4:1 is the usual ratio). Piper’s Vale   Dave Dowding
25 Jun Butterfly Transects walked, Meadow Brown 88, Small Skipper 7, Large Skipper 5, Comma 2, Holly Blue 2 (m), Large White 2, Red Admiral 2, Peacock 1, Speckled Wood 1, Essex Skipper 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
25 Jun I saw the following butterflies in Bradfield Woods this morning: Large Skipper 3, Small Skipper, Small White, White Admiral 2, Ringlet 2, Meadow Brown 10+. Bradfield Woods   Martin Peers
24 Jun A walk round the perimeter (permissive path) of the Skylark Field (aka Wildflower Field) at East End, early afternoon: 44 Meadow Browns, 45 Small Heaths, 2 Holly Blues, 6 Common Blues, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Small Skipper. The adjacent field where QoS Fritillaries were last year has been topped, but still masses of flowers - clovers, trefoils, etc East Bergholt   Liz Cutting
24 Jun Minsmere butterfly transect today. Ringlets out and, at last, some Skippers!  Skippers; Small 1, Essex 4, Large 1; Whites; Large 2, Small 4, Green-veined 1; Small copper – 12, White admiral – 1, Red admiral – 3, Comma – 2, Speckled wood 10, Meadow Brown 168, Ringlet 83, Small heath 153 RSPB Minsmere   Derek Eaton
24 Jun Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked, Meadow Brown 85, Large Skipper 10, Ringlet 4, Red Admiral 3, Peacock 2, Speckled Wood 2, Holly Blue 1 (m), Small Tortoiseshell 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
24 Jun On a very warm morning at All Saints Church in the churchyard at South Elmham today we had 6+ Meadow Browns, 10+ Ringlets, and a Large Skipper.    South Elmham   Rob and Kerry Reeve
24 Jun I saw the following butterflies today at Fornham St Martin (towards Hall Farm): Small White, Small Tortoiseshell (fresh), Comma (f. hutchinsoni), Meadow Brown 7. Fornham St Martin TL 8567 Martin Peers
24 Jun In Bury cemetery later: Ringlet 2, Small Heath, Meadow Browns, Cinnabar moth. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
24 Jun Early morning, 1 x purple hairstreak, 1 x white admiral, a few meadow brown and speckled wood.  (📷 photo click here) SWT Bradfield Wood   Trevor Goodfellow
23 Jun The Marbled white butterflies continue to show well with ten counted on a walk today around the same flower rich grassland meadow. (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
23 Jun First 3 White Admirals of the year in Brimlin Wood, Chattisham on and a couple of Large Skippers otherwise generally pretty quiet. Brimlin Wood, Chattisham   Peter Woolley
23 Jun Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked by Peter Norfolk, Meadow Brown 86, Holly Blue 6, Small Tortoiseshell 3, Large Skipper 2, Red Admiral 1.  Also Small Skipper SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
23 Jun Just returned from Westleton Common (June 23rd) where we found a Purple Hairstreak - it landed by chance on the little road by the parking area. It seemed freshly emerged as one of its wings was still rather crumpled. We also saw good numbers of Silver-Studded Blues and quite a few Small Heaths amongst the heather.    Westleton Common   Caroline Price
23 Jun Silver Studded Blues seem very thin on the ground this year. A few on the higher patch: almost none on lower. Over cropping and deracination of heather last year?  Seems different to what people saw on 17 Jun - see below Purdis Heath   A Tuckey
21 Jun First definite sighting of a White Admiral in Northfield Wood for 2024. Poss. sighting on Tues, and Mrs B caught another very fleeting glimpse of one yesterday. Today, however, she got a good view of an individual just off the main boardwalk Northfield Wood   b Mark Brewster
21 Jun Walk round Wolves wood this morning. 4 Speckled wood, 1 Ringlet, 1 Meadow brown and 1 Holly blue only.   RSPB Wolves wood   Michael Bamford
21 Jun Pipers Vale this afternoon. Weather Sunny, 23C 5x Marbled Whites (📷 photo click here), 10+ Silver-studded Blues, 10+ Holly Blue, 5x Brimstone, 1x Speckled Wood, 20+ Meadow Brown and 3x Comma (📷 photo click here) Pipers Vale   Phil Watkinson
21 Jun This morning there were 5 male Silver Studded Blues, 6 Meadow Browns and 1 Large Skipper on Blaxhall Common. Blaxhall Common   Bob Turner
21 Jun White Admiral - Old Hall wood is a regular good site, although getting more overgrown, and threatened by the planned gravel pit in the adjacent fields. What 3 words – proudest.sailing.organisms   Old Hall wood   Michael Bamford
20 Jun 2 x speckled wood, 2 meadow brown, 1 x large skipper, 1 x ringlet. They felled sallows are enough to make you weep. Remains to be seen if Purple Emperor survive. SWT Bradfield wood   Trevor Goodfellow
20 Jun Encountered my very first Ringlet butterfly of this year flying and resting amongst grass.  (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
20 Jun Butterfly Transects walked, Meadow Brown 30, Red Admiral 3, Holly Blue 2, Large Skipper 1. Temp 16c, Sunny, 4hrs of walking around the reserve and just 4 species recorded. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
19 Jun I checked a group of Elms (neighboured by a mature Oak) for White-letter Hairstreaks a about 15:00 today and found approximately 5 Hairstreaks (at least 3) battling above them. Out of the 8 or so times I saw one land, two were Purple Hairstreaks and the rest White-letter Hairstreaks, but of course the there were probably different proportions of each due to me only identifying one at a time.  I have attached some of my record shots of PH (📷 photos click here) of them to confirm ID. The spot on question is the section of ancient hedgerow between Ellenbrook Road and the western most point of Springtail Road in Ipswich.  The grid reference is TM141417, and What3Words is garlic.twitches.offstage.  I hope this is of some value; I know it is early for Purples so I wasn't sure if there have been many records in Suffolk (or indeed the rest of the country) yet. S Ipswich TM141417 James Porter
19 Jun My first White Admiral this year. Bentley Old Hall wood. No other butterflies seen.   Bentley Old Hall wood    
19 Jun Today in Pound Woods Speckled Wood 2, Meadow Brown 1, Ringlet 2. colony of Peacock larvae. Pound Woods   Bob Turner
19 Jun Butterfly Species Update With a report of a Gatekeeper on the 18th and another one reported today we now have 17 Species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
19 Jun Butterfly Transect for Somerleyton Estate walked - 3 Meadow Brown and 1 Red Admiral ,only butterflies seen after a 1 hour walk round. No butterflies seen flying in the flower fields again.Temp 16c and  sunny Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
19 Jun One out of two male Marbled white butterflies spotted at rest and nectaring on various wildflowers.  (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
18 Jun Marham Park - Several hundred metres of beautiful wild flower covered verges, and a large field of wild flowers in full bloom with full sun and 20 deg yet only 5 meadow brown and 6 small heath in total. One unidentified moth. Bury St Edmunds   Trevor Goodfellow
18 Jun Butterfly Species Update With a report of Ringlet seen this morning we now have 16 species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
18 Jun I saw the following butterflies at Ickworth this morning: 2 Common Blues (male + female), 4 Small Heaths, 30 Meadow Browns. Ickworth   Martin Peers
18 Jun This afternoon, in Bury cemetery, I saw: Large White, 2 Holly Blues (mm), Common Blue (fem), 10+ Meadow Browns. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
18 Jun Pipers Vale this afternoon. Weather Sunny, 22C; 3x Marbled Whites (2 male / 1 female), 10+ Silver-studded Blues (📷 photos click here), 1x Red Admiral, 1x Brown Argus.    Pipers Vale   Phil Watkinson
18 Jun  Landseer Park this afternoon. Weather Sunny / overcast, 22C,  1x Small Blue female. (📷 photo click here)  Landseer Park   Phil Watkinson
17 Jun I had two White Admirals in Hintlesham Wood on Monday Hintlesham Wood   Shirley Sampson
17 Jun Fine weather at last. The last Minsmere survey was 2 weeks ago and the June dip deepens!  1 each of Small white, Small Copper, Brown argus, Common blue, Red admiral, Comma 17, Speckled wood 113, Meadow brown 104, Small heath + first Gatekeeper of the year (not on the tx) RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
17 Jun Silver studded Blue butterflies continue to fly at Purdis Heath around the the shorter heather. Around 40 seen today, including 4 females, 1 pm, 23 degrees, sunny conditions.  (📷 photo click here)  Purdis Heath   Lawrence Garside
17 Jun 4 x meadow brown, 1 x holly blue, 1 x large skipper, 1 x Ringlet SWT Blackbourn valley (formerly Grove Farm)   Trevor Goodfellow
17 Jun 1 x small copper, 1 x red admiral    SWT Lackford lakes   Trevor Goodfellow
17 Jun Purdis Heath this afternoon. Weather Sunny, 20C, blustery wind. 1x Speckled Wood and 20+ Silver-studded Blues (good showing of females).  (📷 photo click here)  Purdis Heath   Phil Watkinson
17 Jun I saw my first Small Skipper of the summer at Bury cemetery today. Also noted were: Small White, Common Blue (2mm), Brown Argus, Small Heath (pair), Meadow Brown (14). Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
17 Jun Encountered my very first Large skipper butterflies of the year both nectaring from bramble flowers.  (📷 photos click here) Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
16 Jun First 2 x large skippers at home today (📷 photo click here) . 4 x meadow browns and 2 x small heaths (iRecorded) Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
16 Jun Encountered a male Brimstone butterfly basking upon brambles which then proceeded to fly up and land upon my hand before flying off again. (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
15 Jun Butterfly Transects walked and finished before the rain started. Meadow Brown 8, Holly Blue 5 (m), Red Admiral 1, Speckled Wood 1, Large Skipper 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
13 Jun Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 - Meadow Brown 21, Large Skipper 7, Holly Blue 3, Red Admiral 2, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
12 Jun
Observed these Small Egger caterpillars on my walk in Risby. (📷 photo click here) 
 Risby   Roger Troughton
11 Jun 2 Common Blue, 1 Brown argus, 1 Peacock 20+, Small Heath in ‘Butterfly Field East Bergholt   Michael Bamford
9 Jun Our first Silver-studded Blues, (3), of the year at Upper Hollesley Common,  (📷 photos click here)  Upper Hollesley Common   Margie & David Carter
9 Jun Four male Silver studded blue butterflies encountered basking in the sunshine and nectaring from various wildflowers.  (📷 photo click here)  Piper's vale Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
9 Jun SBBC Field Event at Brampton Wood for Black Hairstreak  -  8 of us attended, with the early birds seeing a couple of BH in flight above blackthorn before the clouds rolled in.  Later, however, everyone had excellent views of a very fresh BH which posed for photographers on a bramble leaf, 1 metre above the ground.  The only other species seen was Speckled Wood. (📷 photo click here)  Brampton Wood near Huntingdon   Peter Maddison
9 Jun Small Heath - blustery overcast morning - 11:30am 9th June 24 - Rushmere Common - what3words location - rocky.hats.turns - (📷 photo click here)  Rushmere Common   Bryan Wright
9 Jun During a walk at Mildenhall Fen this morning, I saw two Small Tortoiseshells near Forty Farm Mildenhall Fen TL6579 Martin Peers
7 Jun Today at Purdis Heath. Weather Sunny, 22C.   Purdis Heath; 20+ Silver-studded Blues. As per yesterdays visit, mostly males, only 3 females spotted and another mating pair. Also, 1x Small Heath. Haven't seen one of those on Purdis for quite a few years. (📷 photos click here)  Purdis Heath   Phil Watkinson
7 Jun Encountered the first two Meadow Brown butterflies of the year at rest amongst long grass  (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
7 Jun Butterfly Transect for Somerleyton Estate walked.Only 3 butterflies recorded, 2 Peacock and 1 Meadow Brown. Noted a lack of Insects and Bees over the fields with wild flowers, plus lack of Butterfflies Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
6 Jun This afternoon I visited Landseer Park and Purdis Heath. Weather Sunny, 20C. Landseer Park; 2x Small Blue, both appeared to be female and one looked to be ovipositing. Also 2x Brimstones (mating pair) and 2x Holly Blues (📷 photo click here)  Landseer Park   Phil Watkinson
6 Jun Purdis Heath; 10+ Silver-studded Blues, mostly males but one mating pair spotted.  (📷 photo click here)  Purdis Heath   Phil Watkinson
6 Jun Today at Sizewell we had the following: Painted Lady, Large Skipper x 2, Common Blue x 3, Meadow Brown x 2, and Small Heath. Sizewell   Rob and Kerry Reeve
5 Jun One Painted Lady in our garden this morning Flowton TM085470 Rob Clements
5 Jun Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 Walked. Only Butterflies recorded 2 Meadow Brown. Temp 15c sunny intervals,moderate breeze from the west, bit of a chill in the wind SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
3 Jun Found our first (and only) Silver-studded Blue of the year!  (📷 photo click here)  Westleton Common   David and Lilian Pitt
2 Jun Minsmere butterflt transect week 9. The June dip well and truly here!  Small copper – 3, Brown argus – 2, Common blue – 1, Holly blue – 2, Red admiral – 3, Peacock – 1, Comma – 1, Speckled wood – 19, Meadow brown – 2, Small heath – 17 RSPB Minsmere   Derek Eaton
2 Jun King’s Forest ride 204 1 x peacock, 2 x brimstone, 2 x small copper, 4 x dingy skipper, 4 x common blue males, 2 x speckled wood, dismal count considering 20+ degC and sunny. 4 x clouded buff, 2 cinnabar. King’s Forest   Trevor Goodfellow
2 Jun Butterfly Transects, Holly Blue 6, Green-veined White 2, Common Blue 2, Small White 1, Speckled Wood 1, Red Admiral 1, Small Copper 1, Meadow Brown 1.  Butterfly Species update,with Meadow Brown recorded on the Norfolk Side of the reserve we now have 19 species seen on the reserve to date SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
2 Jun Butterfly Species update, with Large Skipper seen by Dave Borderick we now have 15 species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
2 Jun I saw my first Meadow Brown of the year in Bury cemetery this afternoon. The following species were also observed there: Large Skipper x2, Small White x2, Small Copper, Brown Argus, Common Blue m., Holly Blue, Small Heath fem. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
1 Jun Garden Survey . A chilly and blustery dull day apart from a few brief shows of sunshine later in the afternoon. Mostly N winds Beaufort 4 to 5. Unexpectedly spotted a male Common Blue resting on grass stalks before it visited various flowers. Photo shows diagnostic features plus kink in left forewing (📷 photo click here)  Beccles TM4390 Graham Jackson
1 Jun Butterfly Transects 1 to 9. Tep 13c fresh breeze from the north with light cloud. Did not expect to record anything but was suprised to get 1 Green-veined White in a shelted spot SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
         
May SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 22       (📷 photo click here) 
         
29 May Encountered a female Common Blue butterfly with a slightly tatty hindwing and variable amounts of both blue and brown on her outer wings (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
29 May On a visit to Market Weston Fen on the 29th I was very surprised to see a Marsh Fritillary. This is probably an introduction about which you already know but I thought I should inform you anyway.  (📷 photo click here)  Market Weston Fen   Adrian Riley
29 May Despite heavy showers at times , at Sudbourne between the churchyard and Sudbourne marsh footpath we had the following:  Painted Lady x 3, Small Heath, Red Admiral x 4, Holly Blue, good numbers of Whites, numerous Silver Y, and although not seeing any Wall butterflies at the churchyard on this occasion, we did see this individual Wall Brown  (📷 photo click here)  on the marsh footpath. Sudbourne   Rob and Kerry Reeve, Debbie Broom
29 May Suffolk Butterfly Conservation Event - Walk around Captain's Wood and Sudbourne today with Peter Maddison  Recorded on IRecord.  Of interest 14 species seen.  First Larger Skipper 1, and Meadow Brown 2, Peacock 1, Red admiral 2, Large White 3, Small White 2, Orange Tip 1, Green Hairstreak 1, Small Heath 4, Common Blue 4, Speckled Wood 4, Brown Argus 5.  Thank you Peter Maddison  (📷 photos click here)  Captain's Wood and Sudbourne   Julian and Sarah Sidney
27 May Just seen our first Meadow Brown Butterfly at 10.10am SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
27 May Butterflies noted along the first section of Chalk Lane, Ride 202, Kings Forest, Bank Holiday Morning 27/05/2024 1 Dingy Skipper (📷 photo click here), 1 Painted Lady, 5 Orange-tip. 4 Large White , 10 Small White, 1 Small Heath, 1 Red Admiral, 15 Common Blue, 12 Small Copper. also Clouded Buff and Yellow Shell moths. Kings Forest   Margie & David Carter
26 May TRANSECT Week 8 at Ilketshall St Andrews TM3888:  Noted two Holly Blues laying eggs. One on Dogwood (📷 photo click here), the other on a dock (species to be confirmed but possibly either the Clustered or the Wood Dock). Eggs also photographed on both plants (📷 photo click here of an egg on the dock). Other species: 1x Speckled Wood (📷 photo click here), 1x Green-veined White, 1x Large White. Ilketshall St Andrews TM3888 Graham Jackson
26 May Back in 2007 we spoke to Terry Peake regarding butterflyrecords.  Terry and other volunteers planted and improved hedging in the Wickham Market area.  He was particularly interested in improving Brimstone butterfly numbers.  We've lived in the village for 47 years and this is the most sightings of Brimstone we've had in the garden with 11 sightings so far this year.  The latest was on the 26th May (📷 photo click here).  Credit should go to Terry, who is sadly no longer with us, and all the other volunteers. Wickham Market   Rob and Kerry Reeve
26 May Unexpectedly found a single solitary Small Heath butterfly amongst the long grass in my Ipswich back garden.  (📷 photo click here) Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
26 May Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked by Peter Norfolk, Large White 4, Holly Blue 3, Small White 2, Green-veined White 1, Peacock 1. Off Transect lines 1 Wall Brown (m) seen at the Sluice SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
24 May BC Garden Survey:  First sighting this year of Large Skipper on site: a male  (📷 photo click here). Last year the first sighted was on 12 June 2023 in virtually the same spot. Other sightings x1 Red Admiral and x4 Holly Blues. Has anyone else noted HBs laying eggs on Ceanothus? Latest egg count on my one plant now 59 with several observed being laid. Flower buds recently opened making it difficult to monitor. However, several first instar larvae noted with egg laying observed from 1 to 22 May so far. Beccles TM4390 Graham Jackson.
24 May Butterfly Transects . Holly Blue 4 (m), Red Admiral 2, Common Blue 2 (m), Small Copper 2, Large White 2, Brown Argus 2, Green-veined White 1, Speckled Wood 1, Large Skipper 1,P eacock 1, Wall Brown 1 (m SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
24 May With Large Skipper seen and recorded on the Suffolk side of the reserve today we now 18 species of butterflies seen on the reserve to date. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
24 May Wall Brown Survey produced only 1  Wall Brown (m) near the railway crossing on  the Gravel Dam path SWT Oulton Marshes    b Robert Quadling
23 May Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked the only Butterflies recorded  7 Wall Brown (m) no other butterflies seen on the reserve while surveying. Temp 16c  moderate breeze from the West South West SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
22 May Despite the risk of showers we decided to visit Martin's Meadow this afternoon. Amongst a sea of buttercups we were lucky to spot this Green Hairstreak (📷 photo click here). We have been fortunate to see Green Hairstreak at this location in 2020, 2021, and now 2024. Also seen this afternoon 2 x Small Heath, Speckled Wood (📷 photo click here), Small Copper and a Latticed Heath.  Martin's Meadow TM226 572 Rob and Kerry Reeve 
21 May Butterfly Species update, with Common Blue (Suffolk Side) and Painted Lady (Norfolk Side) seen by Warden Andrew we now have 17 species seen to date SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
21 May Butterfly Transect walked for Somerleyton Estate, Holly Blue 5 (4m+1f), Large White 4, Small White 4, Peacock 2, Comma 2, Orange Tip 1 (m), Wall Brown 1 (m). Nice warm day and 18c butterflies seen moving over the fields in flower you could count on one hand only Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
21 May Suffolk Butterfly Conservation Event - Scheduled Dingy Skipper count in King’s Forest. After two attempts at getting favourable weather sadly only 1 x Dingy Skipper seen. Despite 15-16 degC, cool breeze and lack of sun defeated a proper count. 2 x male Common Blues disturbed, 3 x Small Heath, 3 x Small Copper but all were happily resting. Mother Shipton, Latticed Heath, and Cream-spot Tiger (📷 photo click here) also noted. King's Forest   Trevor Goodfellow
20 May We had two painted ladies on the dunes by the sluice area Minsmere   Les Cater
20 May There were several male Common Blue butterflies on the wildflower area at Valley Road, Ipswich at lunchtime.  Good to see decent numbers of this butterfly.(📷 photo click here)  Valley Road, Ipswich TM158459 Paul Gilson
20 May Minsmere Butterfly Transect today wk 8. An early June gap as 1st broods decline?  Brimstone – 1, Large white – 8, Small white – 1, Green-veined White – 1, Orange tip – 4, Small copper – 11, Brown argus – 9, Common blue – 3, Holly blue – 7, Red admiral – 4, Peacock – 9, Speckled wood – 18, Small heath – 12 RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
20 May The sunshine enabled me to see the following butterflies in Bury cemetery this afternoon: Small White, Small Copper x2, Brown Argus, Common Blue x2 mm., Holly Blue x2, Speckled Wood, Small Heath (+ Cinnabar). Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
19 May At Nowton Park the  best were: Brimstone 5, Holly Blue 4, Red Admiral and Peacock 4. Nowton Park   Martin Peers
19 May Male and female Wall Brown butterfies from Carlton marshes this weekend (📷 photos click here)  SWT Carlton Marshes   x Gavin Durrant
19 May 2 Dingy Skippers King’s Forest   David Walsh
19 May Butterfly Transects, Holly Blue 12 (11m +1f), Small White 7, Red Admiral 5, Large White 3, Green-veined White 3. Brown Argus 1, Small Copper 1, Orange Tip 1(m), Speckled Wood 1, Peacock 1, Wall Brown 1(m) SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
19 May Painted lady on guelder rose flowers in garden Halesworth   John Baker
19 May 1 Wall Brown Herringfleet Marsh TM4697  Paul Douch
18 May First Wall Brown (female) I've seen in Beccles other than by the river was just south of cemetery Beccles TM4289 Paul Douch
18 May A Painted Lady butterfly on Gunton warren was the only sign of any migration, along with a supporting cast of Silver Y moth.  A green hairstreak was welcome Gunton warren   x James Wright
18 May Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 Wall Brown 13 (10m +3f), Red Admiral 6, Peacock 5, Small White 5, Holly Blue 4, Green Hairstreak 2, Large White 1. Also 1 Wall Brown (m) off transect lines recorded.      
18 May Found my very first Small Heath butterfly of the year active on a local grassland meadow where I have been coming across them for the last few years.   (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
18 May In Bury cemetery today, I saw 2 Small Coppers and 3 Holly Blues. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
17 May Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 . Holly Blue 4 (m), Red Admiral 3, Speckled Wood 1, Orange Tip 1 (f), Green-veined White 1, Peacock 1, Wall Brown 1 (m). Off transects recorded another Wall Brown 1 (m). SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
17 May This afternoon at Sudbourne Church we had the following butterflies: Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Small Copper, Green veined White, Red Admiral, Large White and 2+ Wall Brown including this abberation, ab. bipupillata  (📷 photo click here)   Sudbourne   Rob and Kerry Reeve
17 May At Orford Church we had Red Admiral x 3, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, and a Wall Brown Orford   Rob and Kerry Reeve
17 May Butterfly Species Update, with Green Hairstreak seen by Assistant Warden Gavin today, we now have 13 species seen on the reserve to date. SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
17 May Butterflies at Boyton Hall this morning were - Small White 25 over rape field, Green-veined White 9, Large White 2, Orange Tip 2, Small Heath 5, Holly Blue 2, Speckled Wood 1. Day flying moths - Silver Y 25, Latticed Heath 2, Mother Shipton 1 Boyton Hall   b John Walshe
14 May Butterfly Species Update, Warden Andrew spotted Brown Argos today on Norfolk Side of reserve. We now have 15 species seen on the reserve to date. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
13 May Minsmere Butterfly Transect today wk 7; Brimstone – 1, Large white – 4, Small white – 7, Green-veined white – 16, Orange tip – 4, Small copper – 22, Brown argus – 19 (foty), Common blue – 1 (foty), Holly blue – 5, Red admiral – 4, Peacock – 12 Comma – 2, Speckled wood – 15, Small heath – 11 RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
13 May A return to ride 204 and adjacent areas in Kings Forest this morning was more productive: Dingy Skipper 7+, Brimstone 20+, Small & Green-veined Whites, Orange Tip 50+, Green Hairstreak,  Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell (probable- flew past me), Peacock 4, Comma, Small Heath. Kings Forest   Martin Peers.
13 May 3rd attempt finally payed off today looking for Wall Brown,found 2 (m) along Gravel Dam Path SWT Oulton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
13 May This afternoon at a very warm and sunny Newbourne Springs we had the following: Small Heath, Peacock, Comma, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Green Hairstreak (photo by Rob Reeve), and good numbers of Whites. Also, of interest, a number of Silver Y (photo by Rob Reeve)  (📷 photos click here)  Newbourne Springs   Rob and Kerry Reeve 
13 May Butterfly Species Update, with Small Copper seen by Warden Andrew today we now have 14 Species seen on the reserve to date SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
12 May 4 Wall Brown butterflies at North Cove this afternoon (📷 photo click here)  North Cove   x Jane Ferguson
12 May We saw a good selection of butterflies and moths along Ride 202 in the Kings Forest this morning. including Small Heath, Small Copper, Mother Shipton. Cinnabar, Green Hairstreak, Small Yellow Underwing and many Orange-tips.  (📷 photo of Mother Shipton click here. Dingy Skipper can be confused with this)  Kings Forest   b David Carter
12 May 20+ Marsh Fritillary at Market Weston today, along with 3 Small Heath, 3 Brimstone, a Small Copper and several Whites, including at least two female Orange-tip.   Market Weston Fen TL979785 James corton
12 May I saw the following butterflies along ride 204 in Kings Forest this morning: Dingy Skipper (2), Common Blue, Small Heath (all males). Kings Forest   Martin Peers
11 May Wall Brown Butterfly (📷 photos click here)  Sudbourne   x John Richardson
11 May Butterfly Transects ,only butterfly recorded was 1 Wall Brown (f) .On return to car park did see 2 Wall Brown (m) in Fen Barn garden, all Walls seen on Norfolk side of reserve SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
11 May Three first sightings this year on site: Brown Argus ab snellini x1, Common Blue x2, Green Hairstreak x2. Also Orange Tip x3, Green-veined White x2, Peacock x1, Holly Blue x4. Holly Blues seem to be doing very well this year: Latest count of their eggs on one Ceanothus shrub now 35. The first two noted on the 1 May hatched on 12 May.  (Photos of Brown Argus, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue 📷 photo click here) Beccles TM 4390 Graham Jackson
10 May Transects 10 to 13. Holly Blue 7, Peacock 5, Green-veined White 3, Red Admiral 2, Small White 1, Large White 1, Orange Tip 1 (m). SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
10 May My first Brown Argus of the year at RSPB Minsmere this morning at the bottom of Whin Hill  (📷 photo click here)  and a dozen Small Heath RSPB Minsmere   b David Borderick
10 May Chalk lane King’s forest Area mostly closed off by Forest England, but plenty of butterflies including Small Heath, Cinnabar and Mother Shipton moths. Chalk lane King’s forest   Trevor Goodfellow
10 May An area of heath in barnham threw up 10 species including Small Heath, Common Blue, holly blue and Brown Argus (iRecord) (📷 photos click here) Barnham   Trevor Goodfellow
9 May Butterfly Transects Walked, Peacock 15, Wall Brown 9 (7m+2f), Holly Blue 7, Orange Tip 4 (3m+1f), Red Admiral 4, Small White 3, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Brimstone 1 (m), Green-veined White 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
9 May One of three Wall Brown at SWT Carlton Marshes Sluice, Lowestoft this morning (📷 photo click here) SWT Carlton Marshes   b David Borderick
9 May Lunchtime at Rushmere Heath (17C, sunny) 1x Small Heath (📷 photo click here) Rushmere Heath   Phil Watkinson
8 May Thrilled to find 7 Dingy SKippers in Kings Forest this afternoon. Hot sun and I had missed lunch so I didn’t go to chalk lane just ride 204. 2 found in between two previous regular spots where I haven’t seen them before so as males, I guess they are wandering in search of a mate. Trevor will be carrying out a survey on Thu 16th May. For details of how you can help click here Kings Forest   Trevor Goodfellow
8 May Lunchtime at Pipers Vale, (17C and sunny) 1x Peacock, 1x Brimstone (male), 3x Green-veined White, 1x Large White, 2x Small Copper and 1x Brown Argus   (📷 photos click here)  Pipers Vale   Phil Watkinson
7 May Minsmere butterflt transect week  6. Our first Small Heaths of the year. Large white -11, Small white – 11, Green-veined white – 15, Orange tip – 7, Small copper – 20, Holly blue – 1, Red admiral – 10, Peacock – 17, Comma -2, Speckled wood – 18, Small heath – 2, Green hairstreak - 1     b Derek Eaton
7 May Walked a butterfly transect for Somerleyton Estate.  Recorded Small White 9, Holly Blue 7, Peacock 6, Large White 6, Orange Tip 4 (m), Red Admiral 4, Brimstone 1 (m), Wall Brown 1 (m) . Recorded Numbers starting to increase at last Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
6 May first 2 Wall Brown Butterflies recorded on the Norfolk side of reserve just now. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
6 May Two Holly Blue butterflies encountered both at rest upon brambles on a local meadow. (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
5 May We have our first 2 Wall Brown Butterflies  reported today, one  at the Sluice and one at  Turnpike Hide (I had a wall brown between Turnpike Hide and the main bund this morning) SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
5 May Quite a pleasant day at Landguard although quiet for migrant birds front but at last some odonata were out with 2 Large red Damsels and a single male Hairy Hawker also new for year Green Hairstreak x1 and Small Copper x3 and unusually a Bloxworth Snout was resting on an obs door Landguard Observatory   x Will Brame
4 May Encountered the very first Small Copper butterfly of the year nectaring and basking in the sunshine on a meadow where I frequently spot them each year.  (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
4 May This afternoon at Minsmere near the East Hide entrance we saw this Green Hairstreak on gorse (📷 photo click here). Also around the North Wall area up to the beach we had Peacock x 4, Red Admiral x 2, Small Copper x 2. RSPB Minsmere   Rob and Kerry Reeve, and Debbie Broom 
4 May 60 observations with 6 species : green veined white, comma, peacock, orange tip, small tortoiseshell, small white NT Sutton Hoo   b David Gill
4 May Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked by Peter Norfolk. Peacock 10, Large White 6, Red Admiral 4, Green-veined White 3, Holly Blue 3 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
2 May Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked; Peacock 25, Green-veined White 12, Red Admiral 8, Orange Tip 5 (m). Small White 4, Holly Blue 2, Brimstone 2 (m), Comma 1. SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
2 May A transect walk round Melford Country Park today enabled me to see my first and only Small Heath  (📷 photo click here) along with the following Brimstone 10, Peacock 4, Large White 7, Small White 7, Green-veined White 1, and Orange Tip 3. Melford Country Park   Keith Winch
2 May Garden Survey: A sunny warm day slightly cooler and breezier than yesterday. Able to confirm with better photographs the suspected Holly Blue egg laid yesterday on Ceanothus  (📷 photo click here). In addition, another two HB eggs found on flower buds of same plant. Other sightings: Green-veined White x1, Orange Tip x3 (2m, 1f), Small White x1 (m), Peacock x1, Large white x1, Holly Blue x5 (3f, 2m). The female GVW visited several flowering Hedge Garlic plants but not observed egg laying. Also noted half a dozen or so single male OTs and HBs flying through but not added as separate individuals to those recorded. During the afternoon observed a single male HB and a pair of HBs on separate holly hedges elsewhere in Beccles (iRecord). Beccles TM4390 Graham Jackson
1 May Garden Survey: A sunny warm day in contrast to recent weather. Green-veined White x1, Brimstone x2, Orange Tip x 3, Small White x1, Peacock x1, Red Admiral x1, Small Tortoiseshell x2, Holly Blue x4.  Notable was the presence at the same time of x3 female Holly Blues on a Ceanothus plant with two adopting egg-laying positions. (📷 photo click here). If the presence of an egg is confirmed (one poor quality photo so far) this would be much earlier than the first seen last year on 20 May on the same plant. Beccles TM4390 Graham Jackson
1 May Sun at last! Minsmere Butterfly Transect: Brimstone – 3, Large white – 16, Small white – 8, Green-veined white – 25, Orange tip – 22, Small copper – 12, Holly blue – 2, Red admiral – 4, Peacock -21, Comma – 4, Speckled wood – 15 RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
1 May Butterfly Transects walked. Temperature 16c and sunny. Peacock 9, Green-veined White 6, Orange Tip 4(m), Holly Blue 2, Comma 1 ,Large White 1, Small White 1, Red Admiral 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
1 May One of a dozen+ Red Admiral between Covehithe Church and the clifftop this morning  (📷 photo click here)  Covehithe   b David Borderick
April SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 14      
         
30 Apr Hollesley Marsh to Boyton Marsh along river footpath. Small White 100+ Hollesley Marsh to Boyton Marsh   Steve fryett
30 Apr Butterfly Species update, with Lound Lakes Warden Andrew seeing Green Hairstreak and Large White today on Norfolk side of reserve ,we now have 12 species seen to date. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
30 Apr It was very warm in the sunshine in sheltered parts of Kings Forest, near North Stow, this morning and the butterflies obliged as follows: Brimstone 10 (2 females), Small White 3, Green-veined White 4+, Orange Tip 15 (mainly males), Green Hairstreak, probable but not  confirmed], Red Admiral, Peacock 8, Speckled Wood 4. Kings Forest   Martin Peers
29 Apr Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked. Orange Tip 2 (m), Peacock 2, Large White 1, Small White 1, Speckled Wood 1. we now have 11 species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
28 Apr Orange-tip found roosting during a blustery and cool day at Minsmere.  (📷 photo click here)  RSPB Minsmere TM470670 James Corton
26 Apr Walked a butterfly transect for Somerleyton Estate recorded, 2 Green Veined Whites, 1 Small White, 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Did see 1 Peacock and 1 Large White off transect lines. No butterflies seen moving in the fields at all. Temp 9c, light wind from East North East Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
24 Apr Butterfly Transects walked no butterflies recorded, temp around 5c in the fresh breeze, some sunny intervals but they could not take that cold edge off the wind. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
22 Apr Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked,P eacock 16, Green veined White 8, Small Tortoiseshell 5, Orange Tip 2 (f), Large White 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
22 Apr Small Copper ab. caeruleopunctata at Westleton Heath this morning (📷 photo click here)  Westleton Heath   b David Borderick
22 Apr Today at North Warren RSPB reserve. 1 Peacock, 6+ Green veined Whites, 2 Speckled Woods and 1 very fresh Small Copper. North Warren RSPB   Bob Turner
21 Apr Cold blustery wind this morning, but in the sheltered spots were Green Veined Whites (📷 photo click here) and Orange-tip butterflies RSPB Lakenheath   David Carter
20 Apr ButterflyTransects walked and as expected none recorded , cold breeze blowing and in the wind temp approx 5c, even when sun did show no warmth felt from it. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
18 Apr Butterfly Transects 1 to 9 walked, Peacock 22, Green-veined white 8, Small Tortoiseshell 4, Orange Tip 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
17 Apr Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked , Peacock 1, Green-veined white 1. Not many, but they all count for the records SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
14 Apr Five individual Green Hairstreak butterflies all encountered basking in the sunshine upon various exposed foliage. (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
14 Apr Small Copper (📷 photo click here)  Piper's Vale   x David Dowding
14 Apr Late morning at Pipers Vale, (14C and sunny) 10+ Peacock, 2x Brimstone (both male), 2x Speckled Wood, 1x Orange Tip (male) and 3x Green-veined White (all appeared to be female)  (📷 photo click here) Pipers Vale   Phil Watkinson
14 Apr Our first Green Hairstreaks X 3 of the year at Ride 202 Kings Forest this morning,  (📷 photo click here)  Kings Forest   Margie & David Carter
14 Apr the sunshine brought out the following butterflies at Bury St Edmunds: Risbygate Nature Reserve, TL8465:  Green-veined White 2, Orange Tip 6 (4 males), Brimstone 2, Holly Blue 3, Peacock 3, Speckled Wood. TL8464: Comma, Orange Tip, Holly Blue. Bury St Edmunds   Martin Peers
14 Apr Green hairstreak,roebuck drive Lakenheath  (📷 photo click here)  Lakenheath   Mark
14 Apr 6 red admiral, 5 peacock, 6 orange tip, 3 comma NT Sutton Hoo   b David Gill
14 Apr Pleased and somewhat surprised to find what was most certainly my earliest ever Green Hairstreak on Gunton warren this morning. 2 orange tips along Hubbard's Loke were my first for year Gunton Warren   x James Wright
  Red Admiral seen on 12th April and Holly Blue seen on the 13th April we now have 10 species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
14 Apr Green Hairstreak this morning in Stradbroke  By the allotments pond Stradbroke    
14 Apr Painted Lady (📷 photo click here)  Landguard Observatory   Will Brame
13 Apr Single Brimstone, pre-match, inside Ipswich Town stadium. Ipswich   John Hanley
13 Apr Green Hairstreak this morning in the dunes between East and Public hides RSPB Minsmere   b David Borderick
13 Apr The very first Green Hairstreak butterfly encountered so far this year that was basking in the sunshine and fiercely guarding its territory.     (📷 photo click here) Ravenswood Ipswich   Daniel Cable-Davey
13 Apr 8 species of butterfly seen around town this morning - Peacock 10, Brimstone 4, Green-veined white 3, Orange Tip 2, Holly Blue 2, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Speckled Wood 2, Small White 1 Stowmarket   x John Walshe
13 Apr Nice surprise to see a Painted Lady in the garden (iRecord).    (📷 photo click here)  Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
12 Apr Today we had our first recorded Holly Blue of the year, three days earlier than last year, in our Wickham Market garden  (📷 photo click here)  Wickham Market TM302 563) Rob and Kerry Reeve 
12 Apr Walked Butterfly Transect for Somerleyton Estate today and recorded 6 Peacock , 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Small White. This time last year only 1 Peacock was recorded. Somerleyton Estate   b Robert Quadling
12 Apr Lovely sunny afternoon, had a walk round a very muddy wolves wood Hadleigh . Counted 10 male Orange tips.  3 female Orange tips.  3 Commas, 7 Peacocks.  3 Male Brimstones.  2 Holly blues.  2 Speckled Woods. 1 Green veined White. RSPB Wolves Wood   Steve & Anne Green 
11 Apr BURY ST EDMUNDS cemetery,  Small White BURY ST EDMUNDS   Martin Peers
11 Apr GT LIVERMERE CHURCH,  Holly Blue, Brimstone GT LIVERMERE CHURCH   Martin Peers
11 Apr Minsmere butterfly transect; Brimstone – 1, Large white – 1, Small white – 5, Green-veined white – 7, Orange tip – 13, Peacock – 23, Comma – 1, Speckled wood – 16 RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
11 Apr Lound Lakes Warden Andrew reported a Orange Tip seen this afternoon. We now have 10 Species of Butterflies seen on the reserve to date SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
11 Apr Butterfly Transects 10 to 13 walked today by Peter Norfok, Peacock 3, Small Tortoiseshell 1 SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
10 Apr Two handsome male Orange tip butterflies encountered basking in the sunshine and nectaring from Daisies.   (📷 photo click here)  Ravenswood Ipswich    Daniel Cable-Davey
10 Apr TEMPLE BRIDGE, Peacock x 2 TEMPLE BRIDGE   Martin Peers
10 Apr CAVENHAM HEATH,   Speckled Wood CAVENHAM HEATH   Martin Peers
10 Apr Butterfly Species update,with Speckled Wood seen by Jane Ferguson  we now have 8 species seen on the reserve to date. SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
10 Apr Butterfly Transects walked today and when the sun was out so were the Butterflies.     Peacock 9, Small Tortoiseshell 4, Speckled Wood 2, Comma 2, Green-veined Whites 1, Small White 1 SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
10 Apr Cavenham Heath and woodland, 2 Peacocks; Speckled Wood Cavenham Heath TL7572 Martin Peers
8 Apr KINGS FOREST, Green-veined White x4; Brimstone KINGS FOREST   Martin Peers
8 Apr Traveller's Hill, King's Forest: 4 Green-veined Whites (fresh); Brimstone; Peacock. King's Forest TL8474 Martin Peers
8 Apr Butterflies seen at Cavenham Heath, Green-veined White, Red Admiral , Small White, Peacock, Brimstone, Holly Blue and Orange-tip Cavenham Heath   b David Carter
8 Apr At North Warren today 3 Peacocks, 2 Orange Tips, 3 Small Whites. In garden in Saxmundham 2 male Holly Blues, 1 orange tip, 1 Female Brimstone. North Warren, Saxmundham   Bob Turner.
8 Apr At home, this afternoon the first red admiral seen and a Least black arches moth. Chilly when the sun went in.   Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
8 Apr Brimstone x 3, Green-veined White x 2, peacock x 5, speckled wood x 6, holly blue x 3, green hairstreak x 2  (📷 photo click here)  (iRecord) Market Weston fen TL983787 Trevor goodfellow
8 Apr Butterfly Species update ,with Green-veined White and  Large White seen today we now have 7 species seen on the reserve to date.  Butterfly transects 1 to 9 walked on the 8/4/24, Peacock 18, Small Tortoiseshell 1, Green-veined White 1, Brimstone 1 (m). SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
8 Apr Early afternoon at Mill Stream, (16C and sunny) 5+ Peacock, 5+ Brimstone (all male), 1x Comma 2x Holly Blue, 1x Large White (male), and 1x Speckled Wood. (📷 photos of last two click here) Mill Stream   Phil Watkinson
7 Apr 42 butterflies spotted in our LNR this afternoon : 21 peacock, 9 brimstone, 7 comma, 2 small tortoiseshell, 2 orange tip, 1 holly blue Newbourne Springs    bDavid Gill
7 Apr A blustery 5 mile stroll around Gunton saw very little in the way of birds but plenty of blackcap now in. First holly blues and speckled wood in Foxburrow wood, along the route totals elsewhere; 2 brimstone, 4 comma, stacks of peacock Gunton, Foxburrow Wood   x James Wright
7 Apr Sunny but windy walk to the river this morning…..4 Peacock, several male Orange-tip, 1 male Brimstone, 1 male Holly blue, 1 Speckled wood and 1 Small tortoiseshell. North Cove   Peter Norfolk
6 Apr And we're off! First Minsmere butterfly transect of the year.  Brimstone – 1, Orange tip – 4, Peacock – 17, Comma – 3, Speckled wood – 5, Could've been so much better if the Met Office forecast of sun had materialised! RSPB Minsmere   b Derek Eaton
6 Apr Windy but mild. At home Brimstone x 1, peacock x 3, comma x 1, green veined white x 1 (📷 photo click here), speckled wood x 1. First GVW and SW this year. (sightings on iRecord)  Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
6 Apr A great day for early butterflies today at the lakes.  Brimstone, peacock, comma, orange-tip and green-veined white all been seen today  first transect:   Brimstone x 5, Green-veined White x 5, Comma x 2, Peacock x 2 and one Holly Blue. SWT Lackford Lakes   x David Bird
5 Apr A single large white butterfly by Gunton Wood and 4 peacocks were at Gunton Warren. Gunton   x James Wright
5 Apr This afternoon at Sutton Hoo we had 23 butterflies comprising Orange Tip x 2, Peacock x 11, Comma x 4, Red Admiral x 5, and 1 Small Tortoiseshell. Sutton Hoo   Rob and Kerry Reeve  Debbie Broom
5 Apr An afternoon walk around the reserve today produced several male Brimstone, a male Orange-tip, a Comma and a mating pair of Green-veined White. Thank goodness for the sunny intervals! North Cove   Peter Norfolk
4 Apr The first Orange-tip today in our Stowmarket garden,  (📷 photo click here)  Stowmarket   Margie & David Carter
4 Apr Brimstone butterfly  seen in garden of 17 Rosebery Road Felixstowe on Thursday Felixstowe   Penny Thomas
3 Apr Butterfly transects 10 to 13 walked,no butterflies recorded. Off today's transect lines 2 Peacock butterflies seen flying thro reeds SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
2 Apr Two more Large Whites (1m 1f) emerged from chrysalises overwintered in the carport. The caterpillars were rescued in November when they seemed too cold to climb a wall to pupate.  The chrysalises were very dark and the resulting butterflies have very dark yellow on the underside of the hindwings. SW Ipswich   Richard Perryman
2 Apr Butterfly Transects walked today. Peacock 5,Comma 2,Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1. SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
2 Apr Butterfly Species update ,with Broads Assistant Warden Gavin reporting Orange Tip seen at the Workshop today, we now have 5 butterfly species seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
1 Apr Brimstone butterfly seen on cliff top amongst ivy etc in Hamilton Gardens Felixstowe  on Monday April 1st 2024    Felixstowe   Penny Thomas
1 Apr Butterflies we saw in the Kings Forest today, Brimstone, Speckled Wood (📷 photo click here) , Peacock and Comma Kings Forest   b David Carter
1 Apr Brimstone m x 2, orange tip f x 1 Pakenham Water mill   Trevor Goodfellow
1 Apr Windsor road Newmarket Brimstone m x 2, peacock x 3, comma x 1, holly blue x 1 Newmarket   Trevor Goodfellow
1 Apr Butterfly transects 1 to 9 walked, only recorded 2 peacock butterflies. Temp 13c feels like 11c,moderate breeze from South West and sunny intervals. SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
1 Apr Lovely out there. A burst of sun drew a Brimstone and Peacock out. Felt warm enough for a Green Hairstreak. Alton Water   x Mark Nowers
         
March SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 10      
         
30 Mar First 2 x brimstone males searching hedgerows repetitively at home.   (📷 photo click here)  Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
30 Mar 15 butterflies this afternoon Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock NT Sutton Hoo   b David Gill
30 Mar First of the year for me on 30th March in undley road Lakenheath. Regards, .  (📷 photo click here)      Mark Brown
30 Mar Our Barnby garden finally had some action today…a female Holly blue was feeding on forget-me-not in the sunny intervals at midday. Barnby   Peter Norfolk
30 Mar 3 Large Whites (2m 1f) emerged from overwintering chrysalises today SW Ipswich   Richard Perryman
30 Mar Just had 2  Small White Butterflies in my back garden Lowestoft   b Robert Quadling
29 Mar Butterfly Species Update.  I just received  a sighting of a Comma on the 29th March ,we now have 4 species of butterflies seen on the reserve to date SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
29 Mar Peacock making the most of a short window this morning, just beyond Northfield Wood, Onehouse, Suffolk (📷 photo click here Courtesy of Mrs B) Onehouse   x Mark Brewster
29 Mar Small White SW Ipswich   Richard Perryman
29 Mar Green-veined White, West Row  Feeding on plum blossom.  (📷 photo click here)  West Row   Arthur Rivett
27 Mar My first Orange-tip of the year was this recently emerged specimen at the crossroads this morning  (📷 photo click here)  RSPB Minsmere   b David Borderick
26 Mar North Cove, river bank yesterday. Nice fresh small tortoiseshell. Love the blues. (📷 photo click here)  North Cove   x John Knowles
26 Mar Lovely  sunshine in our shafto rd garden this afternoon had a lovely Small Tortoiseshell and 2 small whites and a comma W Ipswich   Steve &  Anne Green
25 Mar At last found 2 Comma Butterflies on the reserve today in a shelted area around some cut back gorse shrub . These were on the Norfolk side of the reserve SWT Lound Lakes (Norfolk side)   b Robert Quadling
25 Mar 6 Peacock Butterflies seen this morning on a stroll round the reserve SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
21 Mar 4 Peacocks in Pound woods Great Glemham   Bob Turner.
20 Mar One Small White in garden Saxmundham   Bob Turner.
20 Mar Large White in Laxfield this afternoon.   (📷 photo click here)  Laxfield   Mike Turton
20 Mar Early afternoon in bright sunshine (15C) at Mill Stream, 2x Peacock, 4x Comma and 1x Brimstone (male). (Comma and Peacock 📷 photos click here) Mill Stream   Phil Watkinson
20 Mar Brimstone, comma and small white recorded in my Charsfield garden at lunchtime today. Charsfield   Steve Aylward
19 Mar Peacock (📷 photo click here)  Martlesham Wilds   Craig Messenger
18 Mar Male Brimstone on the wing and Small Tortoiseshell feeding on Blackthorn? East Bergholt TM101346 John Hanley
18 Mar Butterfly Species update .Warden Andrew spotted a Holly Blue on the 18th of March in the  Fen Barn Garden.This is early, as in 2023, the first sighting was for the 29th of April. 4 Species seen on reserve to date SWT Lound Lakes   b Robert Quadling
18 Mar  A good day for butterflies with four species seen in Kelsale, Suffolk: Brimstones, Commas, Peacocks and a single Small White. Many bees and Bee-flies too, suddenly it really feels like spring at last! Kelsale   b Charles Cuthbert
18 Mar Male Orange-tip, (📷 photo click here);  Male Brimstome, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell at Brunswick Park, Ipswich. Ipswich   Matt Garnham
18 Mar Butterflies were much in evidence today, along with mining and bumblebees. A cracking male Brimstone and 2 Commas were first records for the year. Landguard    
18 Mar On a walk around Alton reservoir today I spotted 3 male brimstone butterflies, at sufficiently long intervals to believe they were not the same one. Sadly none settled for a closer look or photo, however this peacock did, and there was another later on too. (📷 photo click here)  Alton reservoir   Ines Pender
18 Mar 2 x brimstone males at SWT micklemere SWT micklemere   Trevor Goodfellow
18 Mar 2 brimstone males at SWT blackbourn valley SWT blackbourn valley   Trevor Goodfellow
18 Mar 1 x comma showed in the sun today at Thurston. (📷 photo click here)  Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
18 Mar 1 Peacock and 1 Comma in my garden in Saxmundham today. Comma feeding on Grape Hyacinths. Temp 16 degrees in shade. Saxmundham   Bob Turner
18 Mar Butterflies seen in South Lowestoft at  TM 537 922 this morning ,1 Peacock and 6 Small Tortoiseshell South Lowestoft TM 537 922 b Robert Quadling
18 Mar one beautiful brimstone in nightingale Rd Ipswich this morning  Ipswich   Peter Compton
16 Mar We had a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell (our first of the year) nectaring on a wallflower in the front garden.    Wickham Market   Rob and Kerry Reeve
16 Mar A female Holly Blue flew through my garden in Saxmundham this morning. Must be the earliest I have ever seen. Saxmundham   Bob Turner.
15 Mar Brimstone Farnham   Bob Turner
15 Mar One or possibly two cracking male Brimstones along the Mill Stream near Foxhall Stadium this morning. Ipswich   Jenny & Gary Plank
15 Mar A very fresh looking Brimstone in our garden this morning Flowton TM085470 Rob Clements
15 Mar Brimstone - first butterfly of the year in garden SW Ipswich   Richard Perryman
14 Mar A Comma flying in the sun today (14 March) at Flowton.  .  Very welcome! Flowton TM085470 Rob Clements
9 Mar Saturday's volunteer session of the Friends of Belstead Brook Park at Stoke Park Wood LNR - a trailer load of litter! Depressing, but it felt like spring with brimstones & commas to cheer us up!  (📷 photo click here)  Stoke Park Wood LNR   Greenways Project
9 Mar In the very welcome sunshine, we had a Brimstone in our Wickham Market garden. Wickham Market TM302 563 Rob and Kerry Reeve
9 Mar Lots of sunshine today and we were joined by a male Brimstone and a Red Admiral at home here in Sudbury Sudbury   Keith Winch
9 Mar Beyton rd, Thurston.   My first brimstone (m) Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
9 Mar Male brimstone seen in Charsfield around noon today (Sat 9th). First butterfly of the year for me. Charsfield   Steve Aylward
9 Mar Two Brimstones flashing around East Bergholt this morning (Records uploaded to @iRecordWildlife) East Bergholt   x Mark Nowers
9 Mar 1 Brimstone this morning in Laxfield churchyard TM29637249.  1 Brimstone this afternoon in my garden (the Orchards, Laxfield) TM29307243 Laxfield   Mike Turton
9 Mar We saw a Comma at Dunwich on the field path parallel to the deadend lane leading to coast guards. Also a male brimstone in Homersfield just before noon today.   Dunwich & Homersfield   Sarah Day
9 Mar A single Comma at Mill Stream early this afternoon. (📷 photo click here)  Mill Stream   Phil Watkinson
9 Mar Comma x 2 (one tatty and one fresh)    Along footpath by River Lark near The Crankles, Bury St Edmunds at 11:56 Bury St Edmunds TL 859640 David Bird
8 Mar We had this fresh Peacock butterfly, (📷 photo click here), in Woodbridge Old Cemetery, basking in the sunshine despite a brisk easterly breeze.   Woodbridge   Rob and Kerry Reeve  Steve and Anne Green
8 Mar Two Small tortoiseshell butterflies flying around on the reserve.  Lovely Spring weather here today (8/3) RSPB Lakenheath Fen    
6 Mar Just seen or 3rd Butterfly species for this year a Small Tortoiseshell SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
6 Mar Comma seen today in my garden at 12.45. Ipswich TM1644 Stella Wolfe
4 Mar Green-veined White seen flying 12pm Northgate High School area of Ipswich.  Photo taken later 3pm  (📷 photo click here)  A week earlier than the previous earliest sighting N Ipswich   David Clark
4 Mar Just seen our first Brimstone Butterfly a Male near the visitor centre at 10.38am SWT Carlton Marshes   b Robert Quadling
         
February SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 4      
         
24 Feb 5 deg C and still the sun lured a Peacock out to bask. Thurston   Trevor Goodfellow
15 Feb Spring arrived on the reserve with a bang  when we spotted a Peacock butterfly in Brandon Fen, then a female Brimstone around the Visitor Centre. RSPB Lakenheath Fen   x RSPB Lakenheath Fen
15 Feb Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone Lound Lakes   x SWT
15 Feb We had a male Brimstone butterfly in our garden this morning Wickham Market TM302 563 Rob and Kerry Reeve 
15 Feb Have just seen a male Brimstone emerge from a thick ivy bush, 11.45am Little Bealings, Nr Woodbridge   Peter Woolley
12 Feb Red Admiral flew through the garden mid-morning.   Waldringfield   Peter Maddison
11 Feb My first sighting of this year; a red admiral in my garden Nightingale Rd at 11,33 am today Ipswich   Peter Compton
10 Feb We had a Red Admiral visit us today. Sudbury   Keith Winch
6 Feb We had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth visit our Stowmarket garden Mahonia   (📷 photo click here)  Stowmarket   Margie & David Carter
5 Feb Today a Red admiral was flying along old railway at North Warren. North Warren   Bob Turner
3 Feb  Red Admiral free flying., feeding on Viburnam Trimley St Martin  TM275379 Sue Biddle
2 Feb  A Peacock butterfly became the first butterfly of the year in our garden today.  Wickham Market  TM302 563 Rob and Kerry Reeve
1 Feb  We have our first reported sighting this year of a Peacock Butterfly on the 1/2/24 by the octagon along Share Marsh path   SWT Carlton Marshes   Robert Quadling
1 Feb Early Peacock  (📷 photo click here)  Lake Lothing   Carl Buttle
         
January SwT DS ES SS LS OT LW SW GvW CY B WB SpW SH R MB GK MW Gr SwF DgF MF GF HBF SPbF QoSF WA PE RA PL P ST C LT CmB SC PH GH WlH BH HB SsB BA CB ChB SB LtB - Total species seen 4       (📷 photo click here) 
         
28 Jan Our walk today at Henstead. Highlights: Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Henstead   Jane ferguson
19 Jan Was very surprised to see my first butterfly of the year this morning. It was a Red Admiral on the wing at approximately 10.30am in the car park of the Coach House Hotel Carlton Coalville NR33 8BL Craig Fulcher
16 Jan Very surprised to see a Peacock butterfly at North Warren, Aldeburgh this lunchtime flying about in the vegetation. North Warren   Sarah Chamberlain
16 Jan My first butterfly of the year this morning a single Brimstone in minus one degree temperature but bright sunshine - Sandlings Local Nature Reserve Rushmere St.Andrew   Bryan Wright
4 Jan Just seen my first Butterfly of 2024 a Red Admiral in the Suffolk Sands holiday park Felixstowe IP11 2TS Felixstowe   William Brame
3 Jan 1pm today, a Peacock landed on my window sill. I wonder if last nights storm interrupted it's hibernation ? Rushmere St Andrew   Phil Watkinson
         

Sightings from previous years  2012    2013    2014    2015    2016    2017    2018    2019    2020    2021    2022    2023

Photographs from 2024 Sightings  (all pictures are the copyright of their owners)

 
Peacock - photo © Carl Buttle


 Hummingbird Hawkmoth - photo © David Carter


Green-veined White - 📷 © David Clark


Peacock - photo © Rob Reeve


 Comma - photo © Phil Watkinson


 Comma - photo © Greenways Project
Comma - photo © Trevor Goodfellow


Peacock - photo © Ines Pender


Orange-tip - photo © Matt Garnham
Peacock - photo © Craig Messenger


 Comma - photo © Phil Watkinson


 Peacock - photo © Phil Watkinson
Large White - photo © Mike Turton


 Small Tortoiseshell - photo © Zenny Knowles


 Orange-tip - photo © David Borderick
Green-veined White - 📷 © Arthur Rivett


Peacock - photo © Mrs Brewster


 Holly Blue - photo © Mark Brown
Brimstone - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Speckled Wood - 📷 © David Carter


 Orange-tip - photo © David Carter


Green-veined White - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Large White - photo © Phil Watkinson


 Speckled Wood - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Trevor goodfellow


Holly Blue - photo © Rob Reeve 


Painted Lady - photo © Trevor Goodfellow
Orange-tip - photo © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Painted Lady - photo © Will Brame
Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Mark


 Green Hairstreak - 📷 © David Carter


Green-veined White - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Small Copper - 📷 © David Dowding


 Green-veined White - 📷 © David Carter
Small Copper ab. caeruleopunctata - 📷 © David Borderick


 Red Admiral - 📷 © David Borderick


 Orange-tip - 📷 © James Corton
Holly Blue egg-laying on Ceanothus - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Holly Blue egg-on Ceanothus - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Small Heath - 📷 © Keith Winch


Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Rob Reeve,


 Small Copper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Holly Blue - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Small Copper - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Brown Argus - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Small Heath - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Wall Brown - 📷 © David Borderick


 Small Heath - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Common Blue - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Brown Argus - 📷 © David Borderick


 Wall Brown - 📷 © John Richardson


 Wall Brown - 📷 © John Richardson
Mother Shipton - 📷 © David Carter
(Can be confused with Dingy Skipper)

 Wall Brown - 📷 © Jane Ferguson


  
Brown Argus ab snellini 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Green Hairstreak📷 © Graham Jackson

 Common Blue📷 © Graham Jackson
Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Silver-Y - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Wall Brown ab. bipupillata - 📷 © Rob Reeve
Small Heath - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Wall Brown - 📷 © Gavin Durrant


 Wall Brown - 📷 © Gavin Durrant
Common Blue - 📷 © Paul Gilson


 Cream-spot Tiger Moth - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Green Hairstreak - 📷 © Rob Reeve
Speckled Wood - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Large Skipper - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Small Heath - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Common Blue - 📷 © Julian Sidney


 Common Blue - 📷 © Julian Sidney


 Common Blue - 📷 © Julian Sidney
Meadow Brown - 📷 © Julian Sidney

 Large Skipper - 📷 © Julian Sidney
Brown Argus - 📷 © Julian Sidney
Wall Brown - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Brimstone - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Marsh Fritillary - 📷 © Adrian Riley
Holly Blue egg-laying on dogwood - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Holly Blue egg on dock - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Speckled Wood - 📷 © Graham Jackson
Dingy Skipper - 📷 © David Carter


Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © David Pitt


Common Blue - 📷 © Graham Jackson
Common Blue - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Meadow Brown - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Small Heath - 📷 © Bryan Wright


Black Hairstreak - 📷 © Peter Maddison


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Small Heath - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Small Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Small Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Brimstone - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Small Egger caterpillars - 📷 © Roger Troughton


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © David Carter


Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © David Carter


Brimstone - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Large Skipper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Large Skipper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Lawrence Garside


Small Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Marbled White - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Marbled White - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Purple Hairstreak - 📷 © James Porter


 Purple Hairstreak - 📷 © James Porter
Large Skipper - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


Ringlet - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Marbled White - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Comma - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 White Admiral - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow


 Marbled White - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild


 Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild


 Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild
Meadow Brown - 📷 © James Corton


 Large Skipper - 📷 © James Corton


 Ringlet - 📷 © James Corton
Speckled Wood - 📷 © James Corton


 White Admiral - 📷 © James Corton


 Ringlet - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Marbled White - 📷 © David Bird


White Admiral - 📷 © Nick Amor


Essex Skipper - 📷 © Trevor Goodfellow
Large Skipper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Essex Skipper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey


 Purple Hairstreak - 📷 © Michael Bamford


White-letter Hairstreak - 📷 © Rob Reeve


 Brimstone caterpillar 26 Jun - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Caterpillar preparing to pupate 29 Jun - 📷 © Graham Jackson
Just pupated 1 Jul - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Pupa after 3 days 4 Jul - 📷 © Graham Jackson


 Small Copper - 📷 © Daniel Cable-Davey
Purple Emperor - David Carter


White-letter Hairstreak - David Carter


 
Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild


 Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild


 Purple Emperor - 📷 © Andrew Neild
Ringlet - 📷 © James Corton


 Ringlet - 📷 © James Corton


 Red Admiral - 📷 © James Corton
Silver-studded Blue - 📷 © James Corton


 Silver-washed Fritillary - 📷 © James Corton


 Large White - 📷 © James Corton
Ringlet - 📷 © James Corton


 Meadow Brown - 📷 © James Corton


 Gatekeeper - 📷 © JDaniel Cable-Davey
Purple Emperor - 📷 © Nick Amor


Essex Skipper - 📷 © James Corton


 Silver-washed Fritillary - 📷 © James Corton
Meadow Brown - 📷 © James Corton


 Meadow Brown - 📷 © James Corton


 Small Skipper - 📷 © James Corton
Purple Emperor - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 Ringlet - 📷 © Phil Watkinson


 White Admiral - 📷 © Phil Watkinson
Purple Hairstreak - 📷 © Rob Reeve


    
     
Back to Top
   
Copyright Butterfly Conservation © 2023 Suffolk Branch
Privacy and Copyright Statement
Butterfly Conservation Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)
Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP
Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)