Latest Sightings 2012 - Butterflies reported in Devon during 2012
The following 22 species have been reported so far:-
January: Peacock, Red Admiral February: Comma, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell March: Speckled Wood, Large Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Clouded Yellow, Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Small White, Large White, Wall Brown April: Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Small Copper May: Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Dingy Skipper, Wood White, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath
8th January
A Red Admiral seen by Pete Hurst at Dartington Hall Gardens (SX797626).
A worn individual nectaring on heather.
11th January
A Red Admiral reported by Roy Hexter at St Budeaux, Plymouth (SX445584).
A Peacock seen by Mike Braid at Rosemoor Garden, Torrington (SS499177).
Four Red Admirals seen by Robert Powell at The Dewerstone (SX538639) He commented at 1.15 p.m. two were hilltopping at the rock and interacted several times. About 1.30 p.m. one was seen with a territory at the top of the crags below the Dewerstone, alighting on the trunk of an oak and on rocks. A fourth was seen flying in the wood lower down the slope, between the crags and Shaugh Bridge. It was a sunny day, mild and still.
A Red Admiral seen at Tesco Honiton (SY154997) by Debi Turp.
12th January
Chris & Margaret Frame reported a Red Admiral on a South facing
windowsill in the sun at Colaton Raleigh (SY077876)
Seen again on 18th at exactly the same spot.
13th January
A Red Admiral reported by
John & Jenny Truscott at Plympton Plymouth (SX543573).
23 February
A Comma seen by Liz Hamling in her garden at SY012814.
A Brimstone seen at Bovey Straight (SX825759) by Neil Harris, flying along road ditch on Heathfield side of road.
26 February
A Brimstone seen by Andrew Hickson in West Hill, Ottery St. Mary (No GR
given).
A Humming-Bird Hawk moth seen flying in Liverton in warm sun by Jon & Lorna Martin. They also saw a Brimstone flying in Lustleigh Cleave Woods.
A Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and a Comma reported by Paul Butter at Hazelwood Farm, Sampford Courtenay (SX 641996)
A Red Admiral seen by David Selby at Weston near Sidmouth (SY168889).
29 February
A Peacock seen at West Stowford, Chittlehampton (SS625265) by Mike Braid.
Two Peacocks and a Small Tortoiseshell seen feeding on Heather flowers at Zeal Monochorum by Jon & Lorna Martin.
Three Brimstones seen by Liz Hamling in Yarner Wood NNR (SX782790) A beautiful warm sunny day 13C.
A Red Admiral (decidely faded & worn) and Small Tortoiseshell seen by Jenny Evans at Bratton Clovelly (SX475918)
1 March
A very tatty Small Tortoiseshell and a Peacock seen in warm sun at
Stowford (SS625265) by Mike Braid
A Small Tortoiseshell seen by Neil Harris at Churchills Local Nature Reserve, Highweek, Newton Abbot(SX852720).
Some Peacocks reported by Paul Butter at Hazelwood Farm, Sampford Courtenay (SX 641996)
2 March
A Red Admiral seen by Paul Butter at
Hazelwood Farm, Sampford Courtenay (SX
641996)
9 March
A Speckled Wood seen by Sarah Butcher in her garden in Byron Way, Exmouth.
11 March
A Comma seen by Debi Turp in
Honiton (SY162994).
14 March
A Large Tortoiseshell seen by Richard Howard in Central Park,
Plymouth (See photo).
23 March
A Holly Blue seen by Peter Liddle
on the coast path a few hundred yards
East of Baggy Point, near Croyde, North Devon.
24 March
A Peacock and a Brimstone seen by Debi Turp in Honiton (SY162994).
A Wall Brown seen at Dartmouth by R Davenport.
A Holly Blue seen by Clare & Rick Carter at Bridge Inn, Topsham (SX971883)
25 March
A Clouded Yellow and five Peacocks seen by David Selby at
Weston, near Sidmouth (SY168889)
An Orange Tip seen by Debi Turp in Honiton (SY162994).
A Comma seen at Bystock Pools nature reserve, DWT, Exmouth (near North entrance) by Sarah Butcher.
26 March
Tony Butters reported seeing 7 different species in the Heddon Valley
(SS642478), they were Speckled Wood 1, Orange Tips 2, Holly Blues 4, Commas
3, Red Admirals 3 and Small Tortoiseshells 3. Roger
Bristow asks if this is a record for one day in March, can anyone beat it.
A Holly Blue seen by Liz Hamling at Bridge Inn, Topsham (SX971882) ( Is
this the same one as reported on 24th March, maybe it likes the Beer?).
27 March
A Holly Blue and two Peacocks seen on Sidmouth Coast path
(SY140875) and four Peacocks and two Commas seen at Muttersmoor
(SY108875) by John Keele.
28 March
Jenny Evans reported 2 Holly Blues , 3 Orange Tips,5 Speckled
Woods, 2 Red Admirals, 7 Peacocks, 1 Small Tortoiseshell at Bratton
Clovelly (SX475918)
Two Wall Browns seen at Torrington Common by J Bradbeer.
29 March
Phil Edmonds saw eleven different species at Cann Wood Tamerton Foliot,
they were 2 Holly Blues, 2 Brimstone, 3 Orange Tips, Green-veined White, 3
Small White, a Large White, a Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, a Speckled Wood, a
Red Admiral and Peacock.
1 April
A Pearl-bordered Fritillary seen by Barry Byrne at Marsland
(SS221172). Also Peacocks, Brimstones, Orange Tips, Holly Blue,
Speckled Woods, Small Whites.
A Green Hairstreak seen by David Allen in Under Hooken, Beer/Branscombe. Also Several Speckled Woods and Holly Blues.
11 April
A Small Copper seen by Steve Nash at Slapton Sands (SX835457).
13 April
Two Wall Browns seen sunning themselves in sheltered spots at Sharkham
Point, Brixham (SX937545) by Colin Bath
2 May
Three Dingy Skippers, a Wall Brown, three Orange Tips, two
Large Whites and two Small Whites seen by Phil Edmonds at
Billacombe Plymouth. (See Photos)
May 5
Barry Bryne saw four Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries and two
Pearl-bordered Fritillaries at Marsland (SS228173).
7 May
A Grizzled Skipper seen by Pete Hurst at Chudleigh Knighton (SX837778)
also an Orange Tip, three Brimstones and a Peacock.
11 May
Tom Dunbar reported a Wood White as well as a Dingy Skipper, five
Orange Tips, a Wall Brown and a Speckled Wood at
Branscombe(SY204882)
16 May
A Small Heath (Photo) and Small
Pearl-bordered Fritillary (photo) seen at
Ramshorn Down (SX793740) by John Keele