Ashley Whitlock
Hampshire & IOW Butterflies and Moths
2026/2027 Hampshire & IOW Nature Notes Blog by Ashley Whitlock A.R.P.S J.S.A.P
Basing Wood 3rd July 2026
Today I made a recce to Basing Wood having not been there for many years just to get a feel for the place as it is a big wood and with many paths to choose from, I sort of mapped out an area of where to walk on Sunday. It turned out to be one of the best walks I’ve ever undertaken and just hope that turns out that way on Sunday. First, I decided to walk down the wayleaves where there is a lot of Oak and sallow bushes and before long the Silver-Washed Fritillaries were flying in and around the Bramble bushes. Then there were several Purple Hairstreaks coming down and sitting on oak sprigs and keeping remarkably still! But most of all there was several Purple Emperors seen a couple of males were oak edging and flying across the ride, and a mighty female was observed flying up the wayleaves and dashing into a sallow where we lost sight of her. Into the main part of the wood and the sallow content in the rides is very impressive, with large to medium sized Oaks and the odd conifer and Beech trees. There were the usual butterflies seen in the rides, like White Admirals, Ringlets, Meadow Brown, but oddly a Grayling flew in and sat on the ride for quite some time. Where had this come from? obviously there must be a Heathland in and around Basingstoke somewhere. But the main story to tell is a female Empress sitting in a sallow tree for a good 20 minutes just above our heads. This was about 13:20 until 13:40. We watched her as she seemed to settle down on top of a well eaten sallow leaf…Sometimes opening her wings and closing them and then she flew across the ride and then back onto an Oak for a few minutes, then she disappeared no doubt she must have been egg laying.
West Walk Field Trip 1st July 2026
Good weather greeted us today although it did cloud over at times but when the sun shone it brought out a few species which we admired, there were several Silver-Washed Fritillaries to be seen all in good order, although there was Honey suckle to be seen in the rides there was little evidence of White Admirals. Holly Blue gave a good account of itself, along with a few Ringlets, Large Skippers, and Meadow Browns. There was a lovely roosting Elephant Hawk Moth in one of the rides and I suspect it was a female as close-by there was a lot of Rosebay Willowherb to be seen the foodplant of this magnificent Moth. The Purple Emperor wasn’t seen on our rounds flying over the tops of the sallows in the rides or flying over the mighty Oaks, in the morning or the Empress laying eggs on sallow, but in the afternoon, we espied two males giving chase over an Assembly Point along the road close to the entrance of the carpark. Also seen up close were a couple of Purple Hairstreaks on a scrubby Oak in one of the rides, but every time they landed to pose they moved into a covered area of Oak leaf, and they kept on moving frustratingly around the lower branches, but they were too camera shy for any decent photos.
Id like to thank all who came and made this a most enjoyable field trip.
Creech Wood Field Trip 28th June 2026
It all started off rather gloomy, and the butterflies were reluctant to show themselves, but by 11.00 there was a glimmer of hope and finally the sun broke through and the Ringlets Gatekeepers and lots of Small, Essex and Large Skippers could be seen in the rides. I was forever peering upwards ever hopeful of a Purple Emperor, but in the first two hours it wasn’t to be. Most of the wood to the North is all Pine trees, and some of these have been thinned or felled, leaving large gaps along the rides, here the sallow and other trees more natural are getting a hold, and once you have reached the area of the wayleaves then its all natural trees mostly large Oaks and these dominate the landscape along with huge amounts of sallow, especially along the wayleaves. Here at 1130 a lovely female Purple Emperor was seen, and she was in pristine condition, and she was just sitting in a sallow minding her own business, she turned around towards us and then alighted over the ride and into a larger tree another sallow and was seen for a few minutes. When we got into the wayleaves area it didn’t take long to see another Emperor and judging by its size was another female at 1205, and much further along the wayleaves there was another emperor seen but this time it looked like a male as it seemed to be sallow searching. There weren’t many Silver-Washed Fritillaries to be seen neither was there many White Admirals, however we did see a Dark Green Fritillary, in the wayleaves and there were so many Painted Ladies several of them were seen laying eggs on the various Thistles. There were good amounts of Marbled White also seen and we saw 21 species today which isn’t a bad count.
I would like to thank all who came today and made this a most enjoyable field trip
Straits Inclosure 27th June 2026
An early start in this fabulous wood was very cool to begin with, but once the sun had risen and it was over the tallest of the Oak stands the temperature was about 25-28c. There were plenty of Silver-Washed Fritillaries in the rides imbibing on the Bramble, along with many White Admiral, and there were several females which were pristine. Also espied was a semi-obliterae White Admiral which duly stood firm for a photograph although it was some distance away. The biggest counts were the Ringlets, and these were everywhere, all along the rides with Small and Large Skippers, buzzing around the grasses. There were a few Purple Hairstreaks to be seen but the Purple Emperor was not very obliging today, and only one or two males were seen Oak edging and Sallow searching coming down quite low for a pass or three. I went over the road to Abbotts Wood Inclosure, and the sun was really warm here, and again there was very little activity, there was a couple of passes of males, and one sat in a sallow bush for a minute or so, and up at several Assembly Points there were a few males and a female to be seen but not a lot of activity. (13 Purple Emperors were seen today but in 6 hours that is rather poor….)
Jackie and I had been lucky enough to be invited to see a freshly emerged Female Purple Emperor. This all took part in the evening of June 22nd, and the weather had closed in a bit, and the sun had gone, and it had begun to get cooler. Jackie was then honoured to take the female on to her hand which she gladly did, and the female didn’t flinch once. In fact, the beautiful female was very content to stay there on her finger all along the track until we decided to release her.
However, the female decided it didn’t really want to be re-located at a certain spot and then decided to fly over our heads which was a great relief and ended up amongst a large sprig of Oak on an Oak tree, just above our heads. We couldn’t really see her, but she seemed quite content and her very short journey will begin early in the morning when the males come calling and she will have the task of selecting the strongest suitor probably at an Assembly point where she will select one and lead him away and they will mate for several hours and the cycle will begin again.
Southleigh Forest 22nd June 2026
A different part of the Hampshire Purple Empire but doesn’t fail turn up some quite tasty treats occasionally. Today was no exception, although not big numbers, there were Silver Washed Fritillaries, one White Admiral, several Marbled Whites, and Ringlets were on the wing as well. The main act the Purple Emperor was seen on territory flying around his vista in sweltering heat and was only accompanied by his lesser cousins the Purple Hairstreak.
There was a female Purple Emperor seen sculking in the Oak trees on the way back to the first territory we had visited, but she was very shy and had probably been observing the male we had been looking at but had got no judgement on any jousting going on as he was by himself.
Abbotts Wood Inclosure Alice Holt Forest 19th June 2026
Warm sunny days seem to be on the cards now for at least a week which should get the Purple Emperor motivated as today I was in the wood for a good four hours and saw plenty of Silver-Washed Fritillaries, very few White Admirals, but the Purple Emperor was very scarce. He was only seen up at the territory areas, and several males had switched trees and come down into the wood as it was quite windy at times in the crowns of the Oaks and Beech trees or whatever trees they may utilise. Up to four were seen but certainly no Emperors Oak edging or Sallow searching.
Abbotts Wood Inclosure Alice Holt Forest 13th June 2026
A perfect day weather wise and the butterflies weren’t bad either, walking around some of the rides where the bramble is well out in flower there were lots of White Admirals and Silver-Washed Fritillaries, Commas, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Ladies, Large Skippers, and Meadow Browns. The Purple Emperor even showed its face at one of the assembly points I know and there were two having a bit of a scrap in the tall oaks and beech trees, and then around some of the conifer trees. These were seen in the afternoon about 12:45 and I stopped and watched them for about 45 minutes and went to another site but there wasn’t any action.
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The colourful peacock has fluttered to the top spot in a poll to reveal the nation’s favourite butterfly.
Peacock butterflies, with their striking colours and “eye-spots” designed to fend off predators, beat 59 other British species in the vote run by Butterfly Conservation.
More than 20,000 votes were cast across the UK, with a rainbow of colourful species making up the top five, the conservationists said.
The orange-tip butterfly came a close second to the peacock, followed by red admirals in third, holly blues in fourth and the bright yellow brimstone butterfly in fifth.
The charity, which declared a “butterfly emergency” in 2024 as numbers recorded during its annual Big Butterfly Count fell to a record low, is now calling on everyone to take part in this year’s count to help scientists get an updated picture of how Britain’s most common butterflies are faring.
Purple Emperor on the wing this weekend in Hampshire
Undisclosed site 10th June 2026
Another look around for the White Letter Hairstreak while the weather was bright and sunny despite being windy and the threat of rain on the horizon there were a few flying about the tops of the Elm trees, but alas none came down to imbibe on the Bramble or any other flowers along the rides in the meadow. There were a couple of pristine Commas and Red Admiral and a few more Marbled Whites have emerged from the grasses, but numbers are still quite low, as the weather hasn’t been particularly warm. The Orchids do look quite impressive, and the suckering Elm is everywhere, in about a decade you wont be able to move in this meadow for Elm trees, although the majority of them will probably die off, but should be enough to maintain a stable population of White-Letter Hairstreaks.
Can you see what it is yet?
Milton Foreshore and Local Nature Reserve 9th June 2026
A look around my local patch on another blustery and showery day but between the showers the sunshine was quite pleasant which brought out a few species, including my first Marbled White, which are not as common as they once were on the reserve. The Holly Blues are still around and at one time I saw 4 in one vista although up close they do look a bit tatty, which is hardly surprising when they have to battle against the winds and the rain to lay their eggs. Painted Ladies are still on the wing, and these are looking a bit tatty now as well, but there are fresh Red Admirals on the wing with Meadow Browns building up their numbers. I was quite lucky that the storm shown in the photograph stayed on the Sussex side of the border and I only had to contend with a small shower.
Undisclosed site 5th June 2026
After another bout of cool weather and extremely windy weather there was a small window today of bright sunshine to see the elusive White Letter Hairstreak and there was a fair few. Several were seen coming down to the opening buds of Bramble flowers and seem to be imbibing on them for many minutes. There were also fresh Commas on the wing and mating Large Skippers, with several Speckled Woods, Common and Holly Blues. The Elms look quite healthy in places but there are a few of the trees which are now dying off. It was also pleasing to see several Ash trees which have survived the ravages of Ash die back.
Butterflies seen in the past week in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight...
White Letter Hairstreak, Marbled White, White Admiral, and Silver-Studded Blue
Old Winchester Hill 28th May 2026
A perfect day for photographs it was warm but cloudy and very little breeze, however I didn’t find my quarry, which seems to have disappeared from parts of the down over the last couple of years. That doesn’t mean that its not here is that the colonies are very marginal even for a huge site like this. The foodplant is a bit patchy on certain parts of the down, however there is one part of the down, which is covered in Cowslip, so I will concentrate my efforts for 2027 season there. Other butterflies worthy of note was just the one Adonis Blue which was pristine, the Dingy and Grizzled Skipper seem to be still in good condition, and there were many Small Coppers, although the Green Hairstreak seems to have finished, for this season along with the Orange Tip. Mother Shipton, Silver ‘Y’ moths, and Burnet and Cinnabar Moths were seen. I saw some rare Orchids and the wildflowers dotted around parts of the down lo0oked splendid.
In the garden this morning 27th May 2026 plenty of Female Holly Blues flying around my Ivy and other shrubs. This female was laying her eggs on a laurel kind of shrub the name being unknown. In the hanging baskets there was a large yellow underwing which flew off as soon as I started watering the plants.
Field Trip to Isle of Wight 24th May 2026
My annual pilgrimage to the Isle of Wight was very hot and consequently I think the butterflies were conking out by mid-day as well as me! Afton Down had a few Glanville’s, but they were very active in the heat. There were several fresh females to be seen one was still pumping up her wings in the car park area. Fresh Meadow Browns and Large Skippers were seen, and the Skippers were still guarding their territories chasing off anything that came within reach, including Glanville Fritillaries. Afton Down is quite overgrown in places, but where the turf was quite short this is where the Adonis Blues were seen flying frantically around intercepting other blues like Brown Argus and Common Blue.
At Mottistone Down again the weather was relentless, but there is more shade there so in-between looking at the butterflies I rested in the shade. There wasn’t a many Glanville’s to be seen here this year, maybe the weather had a lot to do with it, as they might be shading by mid-afternoon in the heat. There were many Adonis Blues on the wing along with Brown Argus and Dingy Skipper. I saw (19) species in all with many moths including Cream Spot Tiger and Wood Tiger Moths, Mother Shipton, Burnet Companions, with Burnet Moths and Silver ‘Y’ moths of note.
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Field Trip to Martin Down 20th May 2026
Dull damp and overcast can only describe the field trip today, and it was quite hard to find any butterflies of any number as we walked along the footpaths and into some of the grassy areas. We managed to find one of our target species early on, but the sun only came out very briefly which made some species actually fly. The bird song especially the Cuckoo was lovely to hear, and there was a cascade of Skylarks in all the fields and were constantly singing as they rose into the air and then back down again in the flowery meadows. As we made our way along by Bockerley Ditch it was good to see some blues hankered down in the grasses and the Grizzled and Dingy Skippers did make some efforts to fly and feed of off many of the wildflowers. There were several Orchids seen but these were very small probably due to the lack of sunshine and warmth over the past week or so. During lunch we had our best period of weather and there were Small Whites Brimstones, Small Heaths, Small Coppers, Burnet Companions, Common Carpets, Mother Shipton, Yellow Shells, and Speckled Yellows all seen in a very small area on the border with Dorset and Wiltshire. All in all, despite the weather it was a good day, and I thank everyone for making the effort to come.
A bit late to the Pearly Party
Duke of Burgundy caterpiller on Cowslip 1st Instar
Undisclosed site 18th May 2026
When its raining and there no hope of seeing butterflies what’s the next best thing to do…well I will always at the end of May start looking for the Duke of Burgundy eggs and caterpillars along with feeding damage on the Cowslip leaves. Today was that sort of day, and I managed to find several leaves where the cats had been feeding, I only managed to find one caterpillar which was very torpid, and wont start feeding again until it warms up which is done mostly at nighttime. I did see several Roe deer quite far off but in my camouflage jacket and a bit of stealth I managed to get reasonably close to one of them.
15th May 2026 New Forest
A Cold and damp day with minimal sunshine, but with that when the Pearl-bordered Fritillary was located it didn’t fly away at great speed. When found they were very torpid and very photogenic. One of only two species of butterflies seen the other being the Speckled Wood along with several Speckled Yellow Moths. I didn’t hear the Cuckoo which was such a familiar sound in the Forest decades ago. The rides I saw the Pearl-Bordered Fritillary seem to be well managed for the species, but there is very few nectaring plants.
Coulters Dean Field Trip 10th May 2026
To start with we couldn’t get into the carpark, so we about turned and called it off as there was a very cold wind blowing in from the north and as it turned out it was raining for most of the day, not just a shower it was raining hard. We had a look at the site after finding a different car park, closer to the site, and several field trippers had been there but there weren’t any butterflies to be seen the only good coming out of the field trip was how glorious this site looks covered in orchids and cowslips.
Undisclosed site 9th May 2026
A good day on the downs today with warm weather and very little breeze the species are coming out in good numbers. I saw (16) species today without several moth species which were Silver ‘Y’ Moths, Cinnabar Moths, Burnet Companion Moths, and last but not least Treble Bar and Common Carpets. Painted Ladies seem to be quite common, all looking very fresh which I can only assume these are home grown ones as they have been known to overwinter now the winters tend to be rather mild. The dukes were still emerging with lovely females taking centre stage I found eggs as well as females laying eggs on Cowslip. The photos show the comparison of the male Duke and a Female which looks larger with its more rounded wing heavier patterning and large abdomen. Several males were taking their territory disputes up into the trees as the ground is now dominated by Grizzled Dingy and Small Copper butterflies.
Butser Hill NNR 6th May 2026 Field Trip Cloudy cold wind at times warm in the afternoon 16/17c
A much better field trip to Butser Hill with good weather for a change although the wind was rather chilly at times blowing from the north. The duke count was quite impressive especially once we had got down to the bottom of the downland and the scrub line was protecting the butterflies although most of the dukes are now looking a bit care worn, even some of the females which were seen in the excellent numbers on Ramsdean Down hiding in amongst the Hawthorn strewn down. Some had fat abdomens which means they had either been laying eggs or were about to. I suspect the wind put them off as they do not like windy conditions.
The wind didn’t put off the species today flying in pockets of shelter and we easily managed to see our target Species. There were excellent counts of Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers, I stopped counting after a certain number but there were well more than 50 plus. I counted 16 species including Common Blues, Small Heath, Small Coppers, Green Hairstreak, Brown Argus, and Painted Ladies. Moths we saw many Mint Moths, Treble Bars, Cinnabar, and Muslin Moths. We also saw many Skylarks, Whitethroats, Blackcaps Chiffchaffs, and Red Kites around the base of Butser Hill.
Undisclosed Site 4th May 2026
Warm day with intervals of sunshine but mostly cloudy but the duke was still in good numbers with many now females looking to lay eggs on the Cowslips and the picture shows her fat abdomen full of eggs. Many males are now looking tired as the specie has been on the wing now about two weeks. The Brimstone was still laying on the many Buckthorn bushes, and I had a rejection from a female see photo and he was very persistent and was joined by another Male when they eventually got airborne. I didn’t see the Small Copper or Green Hairstreak today, but there were still plenty of Holly Blues particularly females laying on Dogwood mostly.
Portsdown Hill Field Trip 3rd May 2026
Despite the weather looking rather gloomy at the start of this field trip, it really didn’t turn out too bad. In between long stretches of cloudy skies there were small intervals of bright sunshine which really did our field trip count no harm whatsoever. I personally counted (12) species and (4) moth species. These included a lovely Small Blue, several Painted Ladies lots of Holly Blues of which several females were egg laying on Dogwood, Only one Green Hairstreak, which was disappointing, lots of Lackey Moth caterpillars on an Apple Tree. The most common butterfly was the Brimstone and the Speckled Wood and Orange Tips along with freshly emerged Common Blues seen along the footpaths opposite Fort Widley. A lovely fresh Mother Shipton Moth was seen with a Burnet Companion. On the bird front there were Chiffchaffs, Skylarks and Whitethroats all singing as loud as they could as we walked along the footpaths just enjoying being out in the countryside.
I like to thank all those who came today.
Undisclosed Site 1st May 2026
Its pretty obvious where I was but sites quite rightly should not be named for obvious reasons even it is obvious where the site is. However today was a lot better wind wise but the specie count was lacking although the Duke of Burgundy was seen in very good numbers, and I frequented a site that I hadn’t visited for many years, and it wasn’t any easier! Some more work on scrub which is blighting several areas where I used to see the duke, but with the numbers I’ve seen today its doing OK. I saw 10 species today which isn’t bad considering its just the beginning of May.
Park Hill Field Trip 29th April 2026
The wind was going to be a problem today unless we found some good shelter, however in the carpark we did see an Orange Tip and Holly Blue as we just set off which was a good sign. East Meon is a lovely little village, and its centre piece is its church and behind the church is Park Hill not for the feint hearted but once on the down the views are amazing from Old Winchester Hill right through to the Sussex Downs at Harting. If your bored with looking at this vista then there is always the bird life which is wonderful, with the constant chatter of Skylarks and Yellowhammers, there is the constant overflying of Red Kites, of which we saw many tumbling downwards and then up again. The butterflies were just as good though with several Small Heaths having a battle for territory, and several Dingy Skippers being seen in amongst the scrub line, one of these had just hatched out. Once we made it around to a more sheltered area, we saw more Brimstones, and Holly Blues with female Orange Tips laying eggs on the Jack-in the Hedge which is very common on the roadside. We did see an Egg of an Orange Tip which was a treat. Once we got to the meadows around the church the Cowslips and Buttercups and Ox-eye daisies hid our last butterfly species which were two Common Blues which did emerge from the foliage and enjoyed the sunshine and less wind now we in a more sheltered area. Unfortunately, the wind made us avoid the Small Tortoiseshell area at the top of the hill, where it was very uncomfortable to be in the strong gusts of wind. In all we saw (11) specie. and a Silver Y Moth.
I like to thank everyone who came today.
Undisclosed Meon Valley site 27th April 2026
The temperature had risen to 21c which is very warm for April, and consequently the butterfly count was up as well with good amounts of Grizzled Skippers and Small Coppers to be seen flying in and amongst the shrubbery and thickets of Hawthorn and feeding on the Wild Strawberry flowers. The Brimstone was the best count with a count of well into a hundred, many paring up and lots of females laying eggs on the many of the Buckthorn shrubs dotted about the site. The Duke of Burgundy was out but it was very hard work moving around the site trying to spot them. For the first time I saw several females, but these looked as if they hadn’t mated yet. All the Dukes were in excellent condition and there should be many more emerging in the next few weeks. In all I saw (13) species which is quite a good tally for this time of the year.
Undisclosed Meon Valley Site 25th April 2026
Perfect weather has greeted me back in the UK as I have been away travelling over the past week. I visited a Duke of Burgundy site, and it was well out with up to 15 individuals seen, all being male at the moment although I suspect there were females about, but they remain very discreet in their movements. Most of the males were seen on territory having battles with each other and with Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. They were also nectaring on wild Strawberry flowers, you don’t normally see them imbibing on flowers for nectar. Its very dry underfoot despite all the rain we have had in the last few months. I saw 10 species including Small Coppers, Holly Blues, Green Hairstreaks, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers many Brimstones, Orange Tips, Peacocks, and a lovely Emperor Moth came to visit me as I have a lure on my camera bag and it went scatty once it located the female pheromones.
Fort Cumberland and Eastney Beach 16th April 2026
The weather was very windy and showery at times, but I still managed to get to Fort Cumberland without being rained on. It was worth the effort as the Small Copper was out, and I saw two males and a female at Fort Cumberland and along Eastney Beach. There wasn’t a lot else as the wind kept things to a minimum. Plenty of Small Whites when the sun shone, and there were a few shoreline flowers out in bloom. Several Foxes were seen in the grounds of the old Naval Gunnery school. I suspect in this old Naval base which is sealed off from the public there are lots of invertebrates to be seen, if only!
West Walk Forest of Bere 12th April 2026
Perfect weather today although it was breezy at times and the odd shower but the Bluebells in the wood now look splendid, probably the best they will be in any wood in Hampshire so get out there and enjoy them! The butterfly count was down as the wind when it did blow was quite cool, so consequently only Orange Tip, Green-Veined White, Brimstone and Comma were recorded today. Plenty of birds in the tree tops Chiffchaff, Blackcaps, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits, Great Tits and Song Thrush.
Milton Allotments & Milton Lock Nature Reserve LNR 10th April 2026
Another walk around my local patch as its slightly more sheltered than sites like Portsdown Hill and the breeze today was very cool, so it was keeping good numbers of Small Whites down and I didn’t see any Orange Tips today. Several Small Whites have been seen mating in the long grasses. A Speckled Wood was seen with crumpled wings obviously only just hatched out. He or she stayed in a particular spot for a long time as it was pumping blood into its wings. Another Small Tortoiseshell was seen again in excellent condition, more likely to have been another individual and not ones I have seen over the past few weeks as they would look rather tatty now. I didn’t see any Peacocks, but I have been looking for any signs of small caterpillars, but they probably haven’t hatched out just yet, as the weather is far too cool at the moment.
Milton Allotments & Milton Foreshore LNR 9th April 2026
A warmish morning with a misty sun but it was still pleasant at times, and the butterflies were now in good numbers with plenty of Small Whites including mating pairs. A large White was being beaten up by several Green-Vein and Small Whites and along to the Local Nature Reserve and there were several battling Speckled Woods and Peacocks. I was very pleased to see Orange Tips, but there wasn’t any female about to keep one of the males occupied. In my front garden last night, I had a large caterpillar on the front path which looked distinctly like a Elephant Hawk Moth being attacked by many ants, or were they trying to entice it into their nest? Anyway I rescued it and told the Ants where to go.
8th April 2026
Perfect day for getting out and about however my quarry the Green Hairstreak seems to be eluding me at the moment. The Duke of Burgundy is probably close to emerging maybe in the next few days or so. Only saw one Holly Blue, plenty of Peacocks and mega amounts of male and female Brimstones. Plenty of Raptors and a Hare sunning itself in a large grassy field.
The badge of Honour - picture of the Emperor Moth by Claire Hartt-Palmer
West Walk 6th April 2026
A perfect day in West Walk and the butterflies are now becoming more active as the day progresses, and in a sunny spot on one of the rides there were plenty of Brimstones to see, probably the same Orange Tip that I saw yesterday, still feeding on the Bluebells, and several Commas, and Peacocks to be seen. Still no Speckled Woods in the wood so far, but it was good to see so many butterflies flying around all be it only four species. The bird song in the trees is wonderful, with a Blackcap sat over the top of me in a tree singing his heart out along with Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats, Robins, Blackbirds, and the occasional drumming from a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Broxhead Common 6th April 2026
I don’t normally visit three sites in one day, but to make the most the day I had to, and I had my Emperor Moth lure attached to my bag, and I was a bit sceptical about whether it was going to work or not as last season I only managed to find one so I guess they had a rather patchy season Anyway once we got into the site and stood around for what seemed like about five minutes we had several males come calling. They weren’t hanging around though once they found I had fooled them into thinking a female was around! Later on, as we did a circuit I decided on a certain old Silver Birch stump, and in no time at all we had up to 4-5 flying around us and I became the magnet as I obviously had some of the lure pheromones on my Jacket. Thankyou to Claire-Hartt Palmer for the photos of the Emperor Moth
Noar Hill 6th April 2026
The last site visited was at mid-afternoon, and old favourite site of mine, and the butterflies didn’t disappoint either, along the hedgerows there were several Orange Tips, many Brimstones, and I haven’t seen so many Holly Blues as I had at this site must have been into double figures mostly they were seen imbibing on the ground as there is very little moisture around. A Green-Veined White was seen along with Commas, Peacocks as well. I didn’t see the Duke of Burgundy, but if there is just one or two about, they are very difficult to find. However, they should be out by the end of the week if this weather keeps up
West Walk Forest of Bere 5th April 2026
Still a distinct cool wind blowing out and about but when the sun did shine it was quite warm and in the Forest of Bere away from the crowds the Bluebells looked splendid along with patches of Dog-Violets, and the odd patch of Primroses. However, at the main area of Bluebells the Brimstones were flying around and feeding off the flowering heads and up popped a fresh Orange Tip which seemed to be enjoying the sunshine, as at times it remained still for lengthy periods which is highly unusual. It had probably just hatched out within a few hours of seeing it, what a beauty!
In the trees there were Firecrests and Chiffchaffs and other birds singing their hearts out.
Bluebells in Forest of Bere West Walk 1st April 2026
April 1st 2026
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Moths in the Moth trap last night The stunning Oak Beauty (2) which I placed on a tree trunk and where they disappeared with their superb camouflage. Other moths were Large Fruit tree Tortrix , Common Quaker, and Nut tree Tussock. There wasnt a great many moths at all as the temperature at night is still in single figures
Milton foreshore /Allotments and Milton Lock LNR 31st March 2026
A perfect afternoon with nil wind and very warm sunshine, but the counts of butterflies are still very low, with species still absent. I did see several Peacocks which were in a vista at one time and as the photo shows you can see what species they are! There were a lot of insects and invertebrates on all the new growth of Nettles. I heard a chirpy Green Woodpecker in the distance and there were lots of Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Blackbirds, Wrens, and Whitethroat giving it some in the hedgerows and the trees around the Milton Lock LNR.
Milton Allotments Foreshore 30th March 2026
Another cold day out of the sunshine, but even in the small periods of warmth created when the sun shone the species count was low. Just a Specked Wood just recently emerged, and several Small Whites on patrol. Lots of wildflowers are starting to bud up and flower and the bluebells look at their best right now. Bird life there were several Redshanks wading in the incoming tide but not much else.
Portsdown Hill SSSI 28th March 2026
A very cold wind on Portsdown Hill kept down any potential counts of Butterflies which should be flying around now like Holly Blues, Orange Tips and Brimstones. I did not see any of these species, but did manage Speckled Woods, Peacock, Comma, and Small Whites. The area I walked in was my part of my old transect route which I haven’t walked for many a year and I was very surprised at the amount of Blackthorn there was about. Must have a look at this area in the late summer to see if there is any Brown Hairstreaks around but the downland does look good for this species, although on the downside areas I used to note Small Blues and Chalkhill Blues would really struggle now where it has got very scrubby.
Petersfield Heath 23rd March 2026
Petersfield Heath is a very tranquil place with a large lake and lots of wild woods comprising mainly of Large mature Oak stands, and lots of Sallow in the area mainly around the edges of the lake, and there is a small area of Heathland, which just suggests what the area was like hundreds of years ago, which probably joined up with all the heathlands in and around Borden to the North-West. There were a few interesting birds on the lake, but I suspect most of the winter wildfowl have flown back to original countries. Butterflies there was very little, with Peacocks, Brimstones, and the odd Small White flying around. I was really after an Orange Tip but alas not today.
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Milton Common and LNR 19th March 2026
Another warm day and I decided to look around Milton Common which is a large expanse of land which used to be a huge rubbish tip, running almost the full length of the Eastern Road in Portsmouth, there is a lot Bramble which is progressively being removed in places, lots of Blackthorn thickets, Hawthorn and lots of grassy areas. Two large Lakes by the coastal path. On the area close to the main road there is a lot of trees, and surprisingly I saw two (probably a male and female Buzzard) these were flying very close to ground at first until they hit some thermals which is where I got my pictures. Birds you don’t really associate with being close to towns, but there is a lot of mice and rats in the grasses, so they shouldn’t starve. There were plenty of Brimstone butterflies along with the beautiful Peacock, with a few Small Whites and the odd Comma.. On the Milton Lock Nature reserve there were Peacocks Small Whites and Speckled Woods.
Romsey Peregrine Falcon & Milton Lock LNR 18th March 2026
A busy day on the warmest day of the year and I decided to go have a look at the Peregrine Falcons on Romsey Abbey and I wasn’t disappointed, although there wasn’t a lot of action, but there was a couple of adults to be seen. One of them was on the tower which I thought was the female who was paired up with another male a few weeks ago but unfortunately lost her partner as it got hit by a car, but nature doesn’t hang around, and it looks like they have she has paired up again and already mated so there should be some youngsters on the Abbey very soon. In the afternoon I decided to visit my local Nature Reserve, and despite the warmth of the sun there wasn’t a lot of butterflies to be seen. One Small Tortoiseshell which was different to the one I saw a few weeks ago. Peacocks are quite common, and again Commas and Small Whites.
Milton Foreshore and Local Nature Reserve 17th March 2026
A lovely afternoon stroll along my local Nature Reserve and the foreshore at Milton and there wasn’t a great number of butterflies, but the sun had brought a few out, these were Peacocks and Commas and the odd Red Admiral and Small White. There was a lot of bees on flowering shrubs and on the flowering Hawthorn and Blackthorn which are both fading fast. There were plenty of spiders on top of fresh Nettle shoots on all the paths and hedgerows. The Small Tortoiseshell has disappeared which I saw last week, but if this weather keeps up it should bring out more Small Whites and the odd Speckled Wood and even the odd Holly Blue. There was a lovely Dog Fox which I could approach quite close to although there may well have been cubs about, and he didn’t let me get that close although the photos look as if I could touch it. The Brent Geese look as if they have gone home back to Siberia.
West Walk 14th March 2026
Another glorious day for butterflying and in West Walk today there were a few that had probably gone back into hibernation. There wasn’t the number of Brimstones to be seen but two were seen in amongst the Bluebells which were just starting to bud up. Along the rides the Sallow has all been cut back, whether this will be detrimental to the Purple Emperor or not only the summer will tell me, as females of the species seem to lay on the sallow in the depths of the woodland so hopefully there hasn’t been to many fatalities. There were several Commas flying along the rides and battling it out for territories, and a lonesome Red Admiral and Peacock were seen. There were plenty of songbirds heard like Blue Tits and Great Tits, Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens. Also, a family of Grey Squirrels were seen going up and down several of the magnificent Oaks in amongst the tall Douglas Firs in the main ride.
Milton Lock LNR and Foreshore 11th March 2026
The sun was shining but there was a cool wind which probably kept the number of butterflies to be seen down however I did see my first Small White which was a bonus and was surprised to see there were good numbers of female Bumblebees seen on the Blackthorn and other bushes and trees out in flower. The Red Admiral was quite tatty, but the Peacocks were in good shape. Alas I never saw the Small Tortoiseshell again where I saw it a few days ago.
East Meon Park Hill 6th March 2026
A third day in a row where the sun was very warm and brought about a few butterflies. These being Brimstones, the odd Peacock but very little else except on the downland there was a lot of activity in the air especially the Red Kites, where they were using the thermals to get higher and I counted to (10) individuals and there were 4 in a vista at one time. There were also Buzzards and Kestrel on the hunt, the Kestrels just hanging in the air, the mastery of keeping dead still was for all to see, and then diving down at great speed on any prey it had seen in the undergrowth. There were Park cattle keeping the sward down to a minimal level, although I’ve never seen many butterflies on this part of the downland. I’ve normally seen a few Small Tortoiseshells in the area where they grow Corn-on – the cob, but alas today it wasn’t to be.
Milton Allotments /Foreshore 4th March 2026
Beautiful day warm just right for bringing out any Small Tortoiseshells, and low and behold I saw one Pristine next to the Allotments just where many years ago I used to see up to 5-6 walking along this side of the Allotments. All of the Nettles have been cut back and are shooting up rather rapidly now however, just one sighting is good however will there be any more that is the question. Other butterflies were the Peacock but little else even though Small Whites and Speckled Woods have been noted in other parts of Hampshire and Island.
Milton Allotments and Anson Grove/ Portsdown Hill 3rd March 2026
Another glorious day and a walk along to the Milton Allotments before the foreshore brought out a couple of Peacock butterflies and lots of bees on the Blackthorn which is well in flower now. No sign of a Small Tortoiseshell, they really are in desperate trouble. In the afternoon I went up to Anson Grove a small nature reserve on the fringes of Portsdown Hill, and here there were several Brimstone butterflies with several Peacock and Comma butterflies, here I normally see a few Speckled Woods, which have been seen in Kent, but alas not today. Lots of Ladybirds were present on the growing Nettles and there was a few wildflowers dotted about, but I was surprised not to see any Primrose or Violets where I went.
Milton Lock Local Nature Reserve 2nd March 2026
A beautiful day for walking around your local ‘patch ‘and the butterflies were out but the species count at the moment is very limited. Today I chalked up two Commas. One was sunning itself on a patch of vegetation getting in the rays, whilst another was feeding on Hawthorn flowers for which seemed like forever. Also noted was two Peacocks as well as several Brimstones, which really standout when they are flying about. One thing you do notice they are never in any tatty condition, maybe hiding behind lots of Ivy is a good protection from the elements throughout the winter, rather than a log or inside an eve of a house or outbuilding. On the shoreline there were plenty of Gulls and Rooks, also in the shallows there was a good twenty or thirty Redshanks which stayed together when they all took off.
Milton Foreshore 28th February 2026
A short break in the rain again and a walk around my local nature reserve we're the Common Violets were all out and looking rather splendid, and the Hawthorn bushes which were attracting many bees and the odd Peacock butterfly, in fact I saw not one but about three flying in and around the site. Along the shoreline the tide was out quite some distance which kept the waders away from the shoreline and difficult even with a long lens. I did see a few ducks on one of the lakes, but I can’t help feeling that the signs they have taken down will be missed by the Grey Heron and the odd Cormorant for drying their wings and just surveying the immediate area.
I also saw a quick glimpse of a Hummingbird Hawk Moth this morning in the front garden.
Two Gems from the Isle of Wight
Two gems from the Isle of Wight over the past week.
Nikki Kownacki has again photographed the Large Tortoiseshell in her garden, with not just one but two. It would be interesting to see if they are a male and female. Also a lovely Hummingbird Hawk Moth was seen feeding on Snowdrops last week with kind permission of Alex Blades.
Milton Lock Nature Reserve 25th February 2025
The Nature reserve has had a lot of scrub bashing done to it with the clearing of Bramble, which will surely grow back in the summer months, but that gives the ever-increasing spread of Bluebells and Violets over the site and also the Hawthorn is coming out with lots of Honey and Bumble bees feeding. A couple of Red Admirals put in an appearance, and they gave me a dance in the sky whether it was two males or a male chasing a female more the latter, I think. Also two Peacocks were seen, and one was quite tatty obviously not getting the though the winter undisturbed I feel.
Portsdown Hill 25th February 2025
Weather was sublime and so warm today and the butterflies didn’t disappoint, with well over 15+ Brimstones seen with several females waking up as well. There was also several Peacock butterflies seen on patrol. Although the warmth has woken them up there were still a few species that didn’t appear, like the Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. The birds of prey normally seen were a bit disappointing, but it was good to see lots of activity on the south slopes scrub bashing and the ponies are now out and munching away to keep the sward down at the right height.
Milton Lock Nature Reserve Foreshore and River Meon at Droxford 17th February 2026
The weather being very cold but at least the sun was out and on the Milton Foreshore and Milton Lock Nature Reserve the Hawthorn was just coming into flower which is a reminder that warmer weather and Spring is just around the corner, these were being utilized by Bumble bees and Honeybees getting some of their first nectar. There were lots of Common Dog Violets just appearing in flower. It probably wasn’t warm enough for a glimpse of my first butterfly of 2026. In the afternoon I went to have a look at the flooding in and around the Meon Valley and it wasn’t a surprise to see the river at a great height, all over the main roads and the fields, where there were Grey Herons and Small Egrets taking advantage of any amphibian that came their way. In the gardens around Droxford there lots of Snowdrops, and plenty of Primroses in flower. But as I write these notes today the 18th February we are still having gallons of rain!
Portsdown Hill Brown Hairstreak Egg Hunt 14th February 2026
A lovely day although somewhat cold with a northerly breeze blowing over the top of the down today. Several of us embarked on looking at the Blackthorn all around the field which is close to the Churchillian pub, and we looked for a couple of hours without any success. This doesn’t really surprise me as I feel the Brown Hairstreak in 2025 had a pretty poor year, as I didn’t see any up at Portsdown Hill throughout its flying period of late August, September and early October last Year. We did see hibernating Ladybirds and a Green Shield Bug all of which eat the eggs of the Brown Hairstreak. We found two oval eggs of a moth or another insect but identifying it is a bit tricky.
Milton Foreshore 12th February 2026
My favourite patch in amongst the chaos which is Portsmouth at the moment with road works everywhere and it’s a nightmare to get anywhere! Contrary to popular belief I do visit other areas, but as this is so near home and I don’t have to use the car it makes sense for me to just to go around the corner until everything dries up and the sun gets warmer and is out for longer…here hoping. Anyway, yesterday there were plenty of Brent Geese to be seen and when they all take off in their thousands it’s quite a spectacle. Also to be seen a Red Data Species the Curlew put in and appearance several times as a Red Data species it seems to do well along this part of the shoreline. Little Egret, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Shovellers and Pochards were also seen.
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Milton Foreshore 09th February 2025
A break in the rain found me local again today with birds, but insects are starting to wake up. I saw several Honeybees flying about and a couple of Bumblebees as well. On the bird front with the tide out they were hard to identify at times, but there were plenty of Oystercatchers, Cormorants on the Swan Lake drying their wings, Crows of different species Brent Geese, a solitary Little Egret hunting, as well as a hovering Kestrel over the Common, many gulls and Pied Wagtails along the sea walls. On Facebook somebody has seen a Hummingbird Hawk moth flying in and around some Snowdrops on the Isle of Wight at Bonchurch, and on the mainland a Peacock butterfly was seen. It wont be long now when we will be seeing these butterflies and taking them for granted!
West Walk - Forest of Bere in the mist Sunday 8th February 2026
Southwick 5th February 2026
A look around a typical woodland in the middle of winter where it’s been constantly raining for the last few weeks and no end in sight of it stopping either. Very wet underfoot and Rivers and streams are at their fullest with fast flowing water and the water board are letting out large amounts of water from lakes, so they do not flood roads and fields in the surrounding areas, however the fields are already saturated in the surrounding area of the Meon Valley and its been noted that we have just come through the wettest January on record for rainfall.
There wasn’t a great deal of wildlife to see with just a few Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, and Grey Wagtails, with plenty of Robins singing their hearts out in amongst the hedgerows, Magpies Rooks and Crows are busy starting to nest amongst the tall stands of Beech trees. There were several areas of Daffodils out and some Snowdrops in the Beech Woods, but very little else.
Spot the Kingfisher......
Undisclosed location 28th January 2026
I went to an undisclosed location yesterday to see a Kingfisher although it was a long way away it was still a treat to see. There was also lots of bird song plenty of Blackbirds, Blue and Great Tits, and a Firescrest. On the water there were Coots, Moorhens, Mallards and a rather feisty Male Swan, which seemed to follow me every where I went.
2026
27th January 2026 Milton Foreshore
There hasn’t been anything to write about in all honesty over the past few weeks of the New Year, except that I’ve been away for a fortnight in Barbados, which was lovely but very hot and got eaten alive by mosquitos. I attempted to get some butterfly pictures but wading through grasses up to waist height was a big no, no. I did see some butterflies and moths and some lovely birds, but I kept them for longer lenses. Back down to earth it has been so wet and the local patch at Milton is like the lake district with puddles everywhere, and the two lakes are quite high. However yesterday I took a walk in the late afternoon when the weather was sunnier and saw plenty of waders, like Little Ringed Plovers, Sanderlings by the shed load, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Green Shanks, Turnstones all along the banks of shingle that have been created when they built the sea defences. If you didn’t know they were there you certainly wouldn’t have seen them! There were plenty of Gulls, and Brent Geese and Wagtails as well on the football pitches. I still haven’t seen my local Kestrel yet but forever hoping in the spring.
Warning over viral Highland cows trend after three people were rescued while trying to take photos on Butser Hill
We’re seeing a growing number of visitors heading to Butser Hill in Hampshire, after the area’s Highland cows went viral on social media. Three people were rescued from the hill yesterday evening (Saturday 24 January), highlighting the risks of visiting the area at this time of year.
Crews were called to assist three individuals who had become disoriented in the area, amid bad weather conditions and fading daylight. With temperatures dropping and rain setting in, the group quickly found themselves in difficulty. Firefighters from Cosham and Havant worked with colleagues from the South-Central Ambulance Service. Despite challenging conditions, the individuals were swiftly located using the what3words app to narrow down their location.
We’re seeing a growing number of visitors heading to Butser Hill in Hampshire, after the area’s Highland cows went viral on social media. Three people were rescued from the hill yesterday evening (Saturday 24 January), highlighting the risks of visiting the area at this time of year.
Crews were called to assist three individuals who had become disoriented in the area, amid bad weather conditions and fading daylight. With temperatures dropping and rain setting in, the group quickly found themselves in difficulty. Firefighters from Cosham and Havant worked with colleagues from the South-Central Ambulance Service. Despite challenging conditions, the individuals were swiftly located using the what3words app to narrow down their location.
Station Manager Steve Jenkins said:
“Social media posts often show the Highland cows and panoramic views, but rarely reflect the physical effort or preparation required to reach them. The terrain can be challenging, especially during winter when poor weather conditions are more frequent and the daylight hours are limited.
“The area is covered in thick gorse, and the wet weather has made the ground very slippery. Without proper preparation, visitors are at risk of slips, falls and hyperthermia. We’re glad no one was harmed during this incident, but it highlights the risks of visiting an exposed downland environment where conditions can change rapidly.”
Butser Hill is a popular beauty spot, however:
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The terrain can be steep and slippery, and chalk paths can be unstable after rainfall
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Weather can deteriorate quickly, leading to wind exposure and poor visibility
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Mobile signal can be inconsistent, making it harder to call for help
The frozen Milton foreshore and the Wolf Moon
