www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I was the visitor who reported the one at Minsmere on the 8th. Flew around for a while and then settled in front of me, was just focussing the camera when a rabbit went for it and it flew off over the reeds into the distance

My sincere commiserations. I'm not sure if that's worse than not seeing one at all!

Or is it a case of "Better to have seen and not photographed, than never to have seen at all ..."?

I wonder what the chances of them reaching Berkshire are

Cheers,

- Pete

Just to let you guys know, a Camberwell Beauty was spotted on cleomes in Great Bardfield, North West Essex. Unfortunately, not by me, I'm still waiting to see the elusive creatures!

They are moving north, yesterday 2 in N Yorkshire at Aislaby near Whitby and in Cleveland 1 at Guisborough, us northern folks might get to see them yet!!!!

More news from the UK-leps forum.

Cheers,

- Pete

August 24th: Report of a Camberwell Beauty seen well in a Charminster garden this morning (just north of Dorchester).

- Paul Harris

And more news from the UK-leps forum.

Cheers,

- Pete

They have reached North Yorks and Cleveland so far, with records all
on the 23rd August from Harrogate,Aislaby(near Whitby)and Guisborough.

Damian

An update on the Norfolk Camberwell Beauty sightings from Patrick Bonham.

Cheers,

- Pete

22 so far. A few on buddleia but none twitchable AFAIK (though watch this space!). All dates August. Keep looking - especially on over-ripe fruit etc.
Pat
(B.C. Norfolk county recorder)

6th - Hickling
8th or earlier - Horning
16th - Hickling again, by Weavers Way
16th - Cley
16th - Winterton
16th - Burnham Thorpe (2)
16th - Horsey Gap
16th-19th - Costessey
17th-18th - Repps-with-Bastwick
18th - Titchwell
.

18th - Thorpe St Andrew
18th - Stiffkey
19th - Strumpshaw Fen
19th - Sprowston?
19th - Snettisham
19th - West Norfolk (locality being checked)
20th - Felbrigg Hall
22nd - Burnham Norton
22nd - Holt Lowes
23rd - Ingoldisthorpe
24th - Sculthorpe

Posted in the last 5 minutes by Pat Bonham on the UK-leps forum.

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi all

The Costessey (Norwich) Camberwell is still there - re-found at 12.45 today in same place as before. Present since 16th.

TG 180117

Corner of Folgate Lane and the residential road called Highlands.
Feeds on rotting fruit in dark purple-foliaged plum tree in garden of no. 2 Highlands. Please watch from the wide grass verge on Folgate Lane. The tree overhangs the verge. Please don't disturb the residents, and park sensibly. The observer (who knows the residents) has put the news on Rare Bird Alert.

Your only chance?

Pat

The pulborough Brooks individual has also returned - must be the improving weather.

Mark

Pete - I've tried to find reference to the Harrogate butterfly on the UK-leps forum, but without success. Have you any more information about the precise location? If so, I'll go searching.

Hmmm. I can't seem to find it either. Perhaps I reference the wrong forum. A similar sightings in on Surfbirds at:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=65943

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi All. Only registered with this forum 10 mins ago, so hope this works.

Another Camberwell Beauty seen in Great Baddow, Essex.
My mother saw this one on Friday 25th, in the garden on a fence above a bird box.
She tried to photograph it at arms length above her head, hence two blank shots of a garden fence and then this:



Just enough to identify it. I've never seen one so I'm really jealous.

Stover

I am pretty certain I spotted a Camberwell Beauty at Bedfont Lakes Country Park near Heathrow today. I took some photos and was wondering if you were interested in them. It looks like one that has hibernated and was feeding on Buddleia in the park. Apologies for the slightly ropey picture quality, light was not good and only had my spare camera with me, not the expensive Nikon one!

Yes - definitely a Camberwell Beauty. Well done!

This will have migrated from Europe (probably the Netherlands or Scandinavia) and any wear and tear will be due to the life it's led so far - although I don't believe that it will have hibernated - that's yet to come for this critter!

Cheers,

- Pete

Grid reference for the sighting was TQ081729.

Another report shown on the Upper Thames branch BC page from Newbury (2 miles from my house!). See

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wendycampbel ... rflies.htm

for a photo.

Cheers,

- Pete

29th August - Following the exciting news that a Camberwell Beauty had been seen in the UTB area last week a second sighting has just been received from Paul and Kate Olive in Newbury: “I thought you may like to know that we have seen a Camberwell Beauty in our garden in Newbury on Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Monday 28th August. I managed to get a photo. We have quite a large garden with several plum trees, all of which are laden this year, so I guess we have these to thank for attracting the Camberwell Beauty.”

Paul Olive has managed to get an upperwing shot of the Camberwell Beauty in his Newbury garden. It's posted on the Upper Thames branch website at:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wendycampbel ... rflies.htm

The specific photo being at:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wendycampbel ... POlive.JPG

I'm sooooo envious!

Cheers,

- Pete

can someone please send a camberwell beauty or two down to the west country please

Pat Bonham has just posted the following on the UK-Leps forum, possibly a new influx of Camberwell Beauty over the weekend.

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi all
Total now 40 reports in Norfolk. Extras are:
Aug 17th Sprowston
Aug 30th Holkham
Sept 3rd Foxley Wood
Sept 4th Stiffkey Fen
Sept 4th Cringleford
Sept 9th Catfield
Sept 10th Aylsham

The latest two were described as being in pristine condition. Both in gardens, seen well but didn't stay long.
Today I also heard that a Swallowtail was seen on the coast at Winterton, I think yesterday, away from a Swallowtail area and long after the end of this year's (poor) second brood.
Cannot help thinking this suggests new arrivals on these easterly winds and warm weather.
Keep looking!
Cheers
Pat