May 2020

[David M]

I did report my DGFs locally, but it seems they had been recorded elsewhere in the county a few days earlier, Phil. I certainly reported my SPBF sighting at Crymlyn Burrows, as to my knowledge that's a first for the site.

[PhilBJohnson]

Thanks David,
Taking Wind Out of One's Sails
The very first sightings could have been influenced by captive breeders, or rearing in warmer temperatures. I thought that it was best not to get caught up in an adrenalin rush to be the first to see something, just to find another record was backdated by someone else in a different authority, or someone released a butterfly, just before another got there, for their own entertainment show.
I thought that an honest, properly recorded, possible climate change reference (like yours), a sighting just after first emergence from pupa, was helpful.

Kind regards

[adrian riley]

Amongst the 13 species in total were 4 Dark Green Fritillaries, which I don't think I've ever seen before June:

Hello David,
It was once thought that it was a good idea to record & submit early seasonal sightings to Butterfly Conservation, as they might hold the biggest database of butterfly sightings that helped give one a bigger picture with regard to Climate Change.
Woodland Butterflies
Good Climate Change indicator species might also include the White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary (SWF, a bit bigger than the Dark green Fritillary) which will be first seen in numbers in the first half of June this year.
As you might know, both WA and SWF emerged at about the same seasonal time, generally before the larger Purple Emperor.

Kind Regards

I record all my butterfly and dragonfly sightings and, at the end of each year, send them routinely to Butterfly Conservation and British Dragonfly Society respectively. I would encourage everyone else to do the same. Otherwise, our important data may be lost.
Cheers, Adrian.

[Chris L]

Look at that,squeezed some Silver-studded Blues into May, todays count at Iping Common,Sussex.15 males 1 female,next weekend should be good,go for
Thanks
Dave

Lovely photos Dave. A very photogenic butterfly. Well, they all are really but these are particularly so.

[Max Anderson]

Apologies for the lateness of this.

Dark green fritillary
Chantry Hill, Sussex 30/5/2020