www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Given the amount of interest in last year's Large Tortoiseshell thread (https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/v ... =8&t=10967), I thought it would be good to replicate this exercise in 2022! As mentioned last year, we often get asked by 'the great and the good' to let them know what's been posted on UKB before the formal records are collated at the end of the year, but there's also a lot going on in the broader ecosystem (Twitter, Facebook etc.). I intend to keep this list up to date so, if you have any additional sightings, do let me know (or post a reply to this thread). Thanks!

Cheers,

- Pete

Mar 10th
Marlpost, near Southwater, E.Sussex
Source: Butterflies of the Biosphere Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3937403 ... 531869741/

Mar 12th
Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight
Source: https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?o ... d=24416806

Mar 15th
Near Bacton, Suffolk
Source: https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?o ... d=24417492

Mar 19th
Friston Forest, Sussex
Source: https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/

Mar 19th
2 seen at Church Ope Cove, Isle of Portland, Dorset
Source: https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2022/ ... -portland/

Mar 21st
Parkhurst Forest, Isle of Wight
Source: Isle of Wight Butterflies and Moths Facebook group

Mar 22nd
Devon
Source: https://twitter.com/Dobby512/status/150 ... wE4ZQ&s=19

Mar 22nd
BC Rowland Wood reserve, Sussex
Source: https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/v ... 16#p168816

Mar 24th
Wanstead Park, London
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 734084863/
Source: https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?o ... d=24535189

Mar 24th
Near St Martin, Jersey, Channel isles
Source: https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?o ... d=24535117

Mar 26th
Gwarnick Wood, Cornwall
Source: https://irecord.org.uk/record-details?o ... d=24591130

Apr 17th
Ulwell, near Swanage
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 744328228/

Apr 17th
RSPB Tudeley Woods, West Kent
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 517630484/

Apr 18th
Kingley Vale, Sussex
Source: this thread (post by Neil Hulme)

Apr 20th
RSPB Tudeley Woods, West Kent - the same individual as seen on 17th
Source: this thread (post by Will Malpas)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 090159260/

Apr 23rd
Peacehaven, Sussex
Source: this thread (post by Neil Hulme)

Apr 24th
Nailard's Wood near Bolney, Sussex
Source: this thread (post by Neil Hulme)

Apr 30th
Headly Warren, North Downs, Surrey
Source: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-y ... tings-2022

May 2nd
Little Ponton Quarry (disused), Whalebone Lane, Little Ponton, Grantham, Lincolnshire. SK931325.
Source: This thread

May 6th
Bucknell Wood, Northamptonshire
Source: https://twitter.com/dave_b_james/status ... 3050764289

May 10th
Near Heathrow
Source: This thread

May 14th
Stockbridge Down, Hampshire
Source: http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/news.php

July 5th and 6th
Knepp Estate, Sussex
Source: https://twitter.com/MatthewOates76/stat ... 3577411586

July 18th
Church Ope Cover, Isle of Portland
Source: https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/sight ... htings.php

Dec 20th
Littlehampton (an overwintering adult disturbed while house being decorated!)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inverti ... 478514711/

Mar 10th
Malpost, near Southwater, E.Sussex
Source: Butterflies of the Biosphere Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3937403 ... 531869741/

Thanks Pete!

Thanks Max - I remember coming across that sighting too! Doh!

Cheers,

- Pete

Another reported on Twitter today (22/03), assumed to be in Devon
https://twitter.com/Dobby512/status/150 ... wE4ZQ&s=19

BC Rowland Wood reserve, yesterday (22.3.22) https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/v ... 16#p168816
BWs, Neil

Thanks PM and Neil - added!

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi everyone, there were two sightings yesterday. One in Swanage as can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 744328228/

And one I made myself in the RSPB Tudeley Woods area, can see my post here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 517630484/

Was very pleased!

Thanks for posting, Will - I need to update the list we're collating, and will add these sightings.

I hope you recently purchased a lottery ticket

Cheers,

- Pete

Large Tortoiseshell at Kingley Vale on April 18th by D. Townsend (via County Recorder, Colin Pratt).
I recall our Trevor sending me a Facebook link to a 2022 sighting earlier this spring, which I don't think has reached this thread. Unfortunately, I no longer have the details. Can you oblige, Trevor?
BWs, Neil

Thanks Neil - added.

Cheers,

- Pete

BC Sussex website, 23 April: "Large Tortoiseshell found in the garden this afternoon about 400 yards from where Dave Harris found the web last year (Dave Palmer, Peacehaven - TQ417028)"

Nailard's Wood near Bolney on April 24th by Bob Foreman (via County Recorder, Colin Pratt)

24 March, Wanstead Park, London by Neil Coleman/Nick Haswell (UK BUTTERFLIES Facebook)

I saw another sighting somewhere (Facebook?) referencing one or more sightings in west Kent, but no time to track down at the moment.

BWs, Neil

Thanks Neil - the Wanstead Park and West Kent (April 17th) sightings were already listed.

Cheers,

- Pete

Not sure if it counts but did make another sighting, possibly two, on the 20th April again at RSPB Tudeley Woods. The individual I managed to photograph was probably the same spotted a few days previously, but did think I might have seen a different one earlier on. Link to my post here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113218 ... 090159260/

Thanks Will - added.

Cheers,

- Pete

I have just received a report of a male Large Tortoiseshell seen and photographed at Church Ope Cove, Portland on 4.3.22. Just the one observer who is familiar with this species.

Regards
Mike

Finally had the fortune to discover a Large Tortoiseshell in the wild in the UK. A very faded individual seen yesterday (02.05.2022) in Little Ponton Quarry (disused), Whalebone Lane, Little Ponton, Grantham, Lincolnshire. SK931325.

False Apollo wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 7:16 pm I have just received a report of a male Large Tortoiseshell seen and photographed at Church Ope Cove, Portland on 4.3.22. Just the one observer who is familiar with this species.

Regards
Mike

Hi Mike - is this recorded anywhere on the web (other than here) so that I can point to the photo? Thanks!

Cheers,

- Pete

Toby Ludlow wrote: ↑Tue May 03, 2022 8:50 am Finally had the fortune to discover a Large Tortoiseshell in the wild in the UK. A very faded individual seen yesterday (02.05.2022) in Little Ponton Quarry (disused), Whalebone Lane, Little Ponton, Grantham, Lincolnshire. SK931325.

Thanks Toby - do you have a photo?

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi Pete,

I do, but it is probably the worst photo that I've taken so far this year! It is on the sightings page for the Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation.

See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-y ... -sightings

Regards

Toby

Hi Pete,

One was spotted in Bucknell Wood, Northamptonshire on 6 May - reported on twitter:

https://twitter.com/dave_b_james/status ... 89/photo/1

ATB

Peter