Thanks for this tip - really useful.

Hi I've spoken to a few people recently who combined a trip to see Heat Fritillary and Large Blue in Somerset/Devon in recent years. Would I be right in thinking that this is likely to have been the end of the HF and start of the LB flight times? I know the HF's on the east of England are later, but...

I see that Heath Fritillary are on the wing in Devon - picked up from earliest flight dates.

Thanks all for the info. I saw several today at Strumpshaw, including one briefly in the garden outside the reception centre.

Got the day tomorrow and looked at the forecast, so thinking of giving it a go.

Strumpshaw or How Hill?

Thanks.

Also, if How Hill - tips on where/how to work the site much appreciated.

Steve.

Ian, spurred on by your info. I decided to head south today. I set off from Wetherby at 04.30am in pouring rain preying the forecast would be correct. I couldn't decide between Dorset or Gloucestershire. I decided to go to Prestbury for Small Blue and then Strawberry Banks for Marsh Frit., and then ...

Will there be a redress at some point if we hit a cooler cloudier period? I'm just puzzled that if this keeps going, will there be anything flying by late summer or will we have a very early end to the butterfly season? Trust me to pick this year to go for a big push on several species! Take Swallow...

Does anyone know if Marsh Fritillary is still seen at Strawberry Banks, and whether they are on the wing yet this year?

Thanks.

Andy, I'm very much in the same boat as you. If no-one else replies, I think I'd offer the following advice, although this is just an opinion and not based on previous knowledge - I've never seen Swallowtail either, but plan to this year. I wouldn't go next week. I think it will be far too early. I ...

I had an excellent day yesterday and thanks to all at ukbutterflies who have recently provided site information. I was fifty/fifty about driving down from Wetherby, as the forecasts all showed the south to be cloudier, plus I was conscious of the cool breeze. I was glad I did. I started at Bison Hil...

Thanks Dave.

The following is subject to the weather of course. I need your help. I need the following butterflies, which I believe are flying somewhere now:- Wood White Small Blue Adonis Blue Marsh Fritillary Duke of Burgundy How should I spend the weekend allowing for one overnight stay? Options:- 1) Dorset ar...

Whilst searching for Black Hairstreak at Glapthorn in early July last year, I observed a Silver-washed Frit. having been informed some were in the area. I know there has been a range expansion - has anyone else seen them at this site. I just wondered if it was a natural occurrence, or whether they h...

Plenty of Green Hairstreak this morning on Ilkley Moor - I only checked a tiny area of bilberry and there were about five present. The bilberry stretches for miles - there must be loads up there!

Do people think the Dukes in North Yorkshire would be flying yet, or still a bit early - just wondering with Gait Barrows having some in flight?

If we now experience a period of cooler/average weather over the next couple of weeks, what are the butterflies such as Adonis, Small Blue, Wood White likely to do? Would they:- a) Continue to emerge on an ongoing basis regardless, now there are some out? or b) Would the first group that have emerge...

Hi Lawts, It can indeed be very frustrating to visit a venue to see a species and find you are too early/late, but that is the very nature of Nature :wink: Nothing is totally predictable and I for one would not want it to be. If you got everything you wanted to see the first time you went to see it...

David M: Prestbury Hill I used to live near there (Winchcombe) and would be a very convenient stop off on my way back from Haugh Wood Herefordshire where I am going for PB Frts. It would be very nice to revisit Prestbury and see how is is some 30 years since my last visit. Can you give some pointer...

Celery, thanks for the Ketton info. I made hard work of it though, having three sightings in about 1.5 hours. I think it was a bit too hot for them to be flying whilst I was there. Just to clarify, this is Grizzled isn't it - it just looked a bit orangey below with a prominent dark spot compared to ...

Gibster, I feel your pain. I still need 15 lifers - I'm not at the stage of chasing sub-species like you, but trying to plan 2011 is a nightmare. Everyone keeps saying things are earlier, but for example I went to Ketton Quarries for Grizzled Skipper, based on the c. two weeks early rule, and had no...