2020
This page, edited by Ken Owen, is for first/notable sightings. Please email Surrey Branch with date, species, number, site, grid ref, your name and any comment.
For general records, please use iRecord, via computer or APP
More details are on our Recording Page
Facebook & Twitter have more photos:
see links on our Social Media page
Also see: National 1st sightings & Archive 2015+
| Nov 13 | Red Admiral | 1 | Redhill | TQ284496 | Raymond Dill |
| Nov 12 | Peacock | 1 | Lloyd Park | TQ344650 | Martyn Mance |
| Nov 10 | Peacock | 1 | Thursley NNR | SU905413 | Bryony Chapman |
| Nov 10 | Peacock | 1 | Clandon Wood | TQ048512 | Matt Phelps |
| Nov 10 | Brimstone | 1 | Ashtead park | TQ193583 | Keith Lelliott |
| Nov 9 | Peacock | 1 | Langley Vale | TQ206564 | Keith Lelliott |
| Nov 9 | Humming-bird Hawk-moth | 1 | Raynes Park | TQ228693 | Paula Redmond |
| Nov 8 | Brimstone | 1 | Epsom | TQ205614 | Katherine Kreuter |
The warmth and sunshine of our first virtual AGM day, Saturday 7 November, brought an unprecedented number of sightings:
| Nov 7 | Brimstone | 1 | Ashtead | TQ184587 | David Allcock |
| Nov 7 | Brimstone | 1 | Sheepleas | TQ090515 | John Andrews |
| Nov 7 | Brimstone | 1 | Nutfield | TQ309523 | Michael Jones |
| Nov 7 | Peacock | 1 | Westborough Woods | SU978507 | John Clarke |
| Nov 7 | Peacock | 1 | Farthing Downs | TQ303574 | Peter Conway |
| Nov 7 | Red Admiral | 1 | West Horsley | TQ087527 | Anita Bathurst |
| Nov 7 | Red Admiral | 1 | Unstead | SU994456 | Steve Chastell |
| Nov 7 | Peacock | 1 | South Croydon | TQ355368 | Martyn Mance |
| Nov 7 | Peacock | 1 | Brambledown | TQ180580 | Keith Lelliott |
| Nov 6 | Red Admiral | 1 | Godalming | SU962446 | Peter Osborn |
| Nov 5 | Peacock | 1 | Chobham Common | SU980646 | Sue Michelmore |
November dawned wet, yet again, and then, finally on the 4th, we were treated to wall to wall sunshine
| Nov 4 | Comma | 1 | Winkworth Arboretum | SU994416 | Nigel Jackman |
| Nov 4 | Brimstone | 1 | Thursley Common | SU900413 | Anne Norton |
| Nov 4 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Lloyd Park, Croydon | TQ341649 | Martyn Mance |
| Nov 4 | Red Admiral | 1 | Thursley | SU914419 | Tom Forster |
| Nov 4 | Red Admiral | 1 | Guildford | SU985526 | Stephen Williams |
| Nov 2 | Red Admiral | 1 | Surbiton | TQ170660 | Marian Thomas |
| Nov 2 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Box Hill | TQ173513 | Graham Revill |
During the third full week of October, (18th - 24th), despite frequent rain, temperatures remained relatively mild and periods of sunshine brought evidence of nine species still flying - details below
| Oct 28 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Hackbridge | TQ280658 | Andy Merritt |
| Oct 26 | Peacock | 1 | Shalford | TQ002464 | Clive Couzens |
| Oct 25 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Epsom Common | TQ188601 | Robb Reeves |
| Oct 25 | Red Admiral | 1 | Lingfield Nature Reserve | TQ386439 | Richard Stephens |
| Oct 22 | Small Copper | 1 | Denbies Coach Road | TQ150014 | Graham Revill |
| Oct 22 | Clouded Yellow | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ143018 | Graham Revill |
| Oct 22 | Red Admiral | 1 | East Sheen | TQ210754 | Debbie Williams |
| Oct 22 | Peacock | 1 | Blatchford Down | TQ101407 | Jo Hurren |
| Oct 19 | Meadow Brown | 1 | Dorking | TQ151501 | Helen Middlemas |
| Oct 19 | Peacock | 1 | South Croydon | TQ340639 | Martyn Mance |
| Oct 19 | Brimstone (m) | 1 | South Croydon, Bramley Bank | TQ353633 | Martyn Mance |
| Oct 19 | Speckled Wood | 2 | South Croydon, Bramley Bank | TQ353633 | Martyn Mance |
| Oct 19 | Small White | 1 | Surbiton | TQ170660 | Marian Thomas |
| Oct 18 | Brown Hairstreak (f) | 1 | Watercolour, Merstham | TQ302523 | Gordon Hay |
| Oct 17 | Small White | 1 | Godalming | SU975447 | Cath Maddison |
| Oct 16 | Red Admiral | 1 | Brookwood | SU946571 | David Calcutt |
| Oct 16 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Brookwood | SU946571 | David Calcutt |
| Oct 15 | Common Blue | 1 | Brockham Quarry | TQ197511 | Helen Middlemas |
| Oct 15 | Holly Blue | 1 | Godstone | TQ349516 | Ken Owen |
| Oct 15 | Speckled Wood | 1 | South Godstone | TQ354468 | Richard Stephens |
| Oct 15 | Small White | 1 | Reigate | TQ243487 | Jo Hurren |
Though temperatures dropped considerably by the second weekend of October, Oct 9 saw Small Copper (Homethorpe and Albury), Red Admiral (Copthorne), Speckled Wood (Mitcham), Peacock (Holmethorpe) Oct 10 Speckled Wood (Wimbledon Common), Oct 11 Small White (Walworth and West Ewell).
October began with heavy rain. Oct 3 Small White; Oct 5 Small Heath, Small Copper, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Peacock; Oct 6 Brown Hairstreak, Red Admiral; Oct 7 Small White, Red Admiral, several Speckled Wood, Peacock, Common Blue, Brimstone, Comma, Clouded Yellow, making 11 species (see iRecord).
Although the weather has turned autumnal, September 28/29 produced periods of sunshine and warmer temperatures. 15 species were noted on iRecord: Small White, Green-veined White, Large White, Brimstone, Small Heath, Small Copper, Common Blue, Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow, Brown Hairstreak, Comma, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown
| Sep 22 | Clouded Yellow helice | 2/5 | Headley | TQ207538 | Richard Stephens Gary Margetts |
With continued good weather, 18 species were seen over the weekend of Sep 19/20: Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, Clouded Yellow, Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Holly Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Small Copper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Brown Hairstreak.
| Sep 20 | Brown Hairstreak | 7 | Tolworth Court Farm Fields | TQ200651 | Marian Thomas Stephen Reisbach |
| Sep 20 | Silver-spotted Skipper | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ134500 | Gordon Hay |
As we move into the latter part of September latest sightings of butterflies become notable
| Sep 17 | Small Tortoiseshell | 1 | South Godstone | TQ354468 | Richard Stephens |
| Sep 16 | Clouded Yellow | 2 | Headley | TQ203542 | Richard Stephens |
The weekend of 12/13 September with continuing warm weather saw 20 species still on the wing : Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Comma, Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Blue, Common Blue, Adonis Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Brown Argus, Small Heath, Small Copper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Brown Hairstreak. Brown Hairstreaks were noted, for example, across the county at Farnham, Denbies Hillside, Merrow, Purley, Redhill, Oxted, Carshalton, Ottershaw and Horton Country Park (Nigel Jackman's photo).
| Sep 13 | Small Blue | 1 | Ewell | TQ233631 | Marian Thomas Stephen Reisbach |
| Sep 12 | Small Blue | 1 | Walworth | TQ326776 | Simon Saville |
Nigel Jackman caught this Asda promotion (Sep 11) - a free Small White along with its larval food plant
Though one might believe that the season is rapidly drawing to a close, 25 species were recorded in the first four days of September (see iRecord). On the 7th, 15 species were noted at Hutchinson's Bank, including two Small Blues.
| Aug 18 | Short-tailed Blue | fem | Rotherhithe | TQ363803 | Craig Knox |
Lavender Pond Nature Reserve: photos on Surrey Butterflies Facebook group. Only 17 British records since 1885, mostly in Dorset/Hants. This is a presumed escape/release.
| Aug 16 | Adonis Blue | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ617538 | Martin Wills |
| Jul 28 | Clouded Yellow fem helice | 1 | Headley | TQ191539 | Gary Margetts |
| Jul 28 | Wall Brown | 1 | Colley Hill, Reigate | TQ246520 | Paul Huckle branch field trip |
| Jul 23 | Adonis Blue (2nd brood) | 5 | Box Hill Dukes | TQ184511 | David Hasell |
| Jul 22: Further Clouded Yellows at Banstead and Headley. |
| Jul 21 | Dingy Skipper 2nd brood | 1 | Quarry Hangers | TQ319536 | Gordon Hay |
With the sighting of two Clouded Yellows, all Surrey and SW London's previously accepted 42 species of butterfly have now been seen (5 days earlier than 2019). This year there has also been the discovery of the Black Hairstreak colony on Epsom Common. In addition, there have been sightings of a Camberwell Beauty, Marsh Fritillaries and Duke of Burgundy, the latter two presumed to be unofficial releases.
| Jul 17 | Clouded Yellow | 2 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ381617 | Martin Wills |
| Jul 17 Unusual sighting of a Jersey Tiger during the morning rush hour at East Croydon Station. Three more were noted in the street outside the station, 7 days later, Jul 24 (István Rádi) |
| Jul 17: Brown Hairstreak (m), Tice's Wood Nature Reserve on the same day (site 1st). Dina Burford |
| Jul 17 First clear photo this season of a Brown Hairstreak, Bookham Commons. Colin Kemp |
| Jul 13 | Silver-spotted Skipper | 1 | Dorking | TQ165504 | Jenny Desoutter |
| Jul 12 | Brown Hairstreak | 1 | Tolworth Court Farm |
TQ198648 | Marian Thomas |
| Jul 11 | Silver-washed Fritillary ab nigricans |
1 | Bookham | TQ127563 | David Hasell |
| Jul 6 | Comma ab. suffusa | 1 | Bookham | TQ125563 | David Hasell |
| Jul 3 | Grayling | 10 | Dawney Heath | SU946566 | Steve Simnett |
Following Peter Cureton's exceptionally early sighting of a Gatekeeper a month ago, one of three notified to Butterfly Conservation from around the country around the same date, we have now reached the time when we would hope to see the butterfly flying
| Jul 1 | Gatekeeper | 3 | Thames Ditton | TQ148660 | David Hasell |
| Jul 1 | Chalkhill Blue | 1 | Pewley Down | TQ008489 | Steve Simnett |
| Jun 26 | Purple Emperor | 1 | Putney Heath | TQ2272 | Les Evans-Hill |
| Jun 24 | Ringlet ab. caeca | 1 | Headley Warren | TQ192540 | Gary Margetts |
| Jun 23 | White Admiral ab obliterae |
1 | Bookham Common | TQ127564 | Gordon Hay |
| Jun 21 | Purple Emperor | 1 | Horton CP | TQ193628 | Pamela Harwood |
Black Hairstreak. A specimen was first noted on 28 May on Epsom Common. During the following five days of very warm sunny weather, there were several more sightings, peaking at approximately 25. Three were still to be found, 9 June. As this butterfly has a very short flight period and spends most of its time high up in dense thickets of blackthorn, it may simply have been overlooked in the past. It is impossible to say how long it has been flying on the Common, though it is assumed that it was introduced at some point.
Jun 13 Unusual coupling: Small Tortoiseshell & Meadow Brown, South Godstone. Trevor Sears
| Jun 13 | Silver-washed Fritillary (f) | 1 | Bookham Common | TQ129567 | Mick Rock |
| Jun 12 | Essex Skipper | 1 | Burgess Park | TQ328777 | Simon Saville |
| Jun 12 | Purple Hairstreak | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ198739 | Sarah Elliott |
| Jun 9 | Ringlet | 1 | Forestdale | TQ368624 | David O'Brien |
| Jun 2 | Silver-washed Fritillary | 1 | Bookham | TQ130563 | David Hasell |
| Jun 2 | Silver-washed Fritillary | 1 | Chiddingfold | SU984338 | James Field |
| Jun 2 | White-letter Hairstreak | 10 | Tooting Common | TQ288715 | Alan Wilkinson |
| May 31 | Gatekeeper | 1 | Brookwood Cemetery | SU954563 | Peter Cureton |
| May 30 | White Admiral | 1 | Epsom Common | TQ188602 | Stephen Nevard |
| May 29 | Small Skipper | 1 | Riddlesdown | TQ337593 | Michael Rowland |
| May 27 | Dark Green Fritillary | 1 | Chapel Bank | TQ387602 | Martin Wills |
| May 27 | Dark Green Fritillary | 2 | Newlands Corner | TQ039490 | Eloise Stradling |
| May 27 | Marbled White | 1 | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ381615 | Martin Wills |
| May 26 | Silver-studded Blue | 2 | Fairmile Common | TQ119617 | David Hasell |
| May 25 | Meadow Brown | 1 | Riddlesdown Quarry | TQ337593 | Michael Rowland |
| May 25 | Meadow Brown | 1 | Hurst Meadows | TQ143688 | Mick Rock |
| May 22 | Pearl-bordered Fritillary | 1 | Oaken Wood | SU987337 | Paul Huckle |
| May 19 | Large Skipper | 2 | Denbies Hillside | TQ137500 | Marian Thomas |
| May 17 | Small Heath, pale form | 1 | Denbies Hillside | TQ140503 | Gordon Hay |
Five Green Hairstreaks in the Lodge garden was quite remarkable
| May 9 | Green Hairstreak | 5 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
| May 6 | Painted Lady | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
| Apr 22 | Small Copper | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
| Apr 22 | Cinnabar Moth | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
| Apr 20 | Dingy Skipper | 1 | New Addington | TQ385607 | Martin Wills |
| Apr 14 | Green Hairstreak | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
| Apr 9 | Green-veined White | 1 | Godalming | SU972434 | Neil Willis |
| Apr 5 | Large White | 1 | Richmond Park | TQ194714 | Steve Read |
May 13: movement restrictions lifted. During lockdown we accepted only garden sightings. iRecord sightings included:
May 12 Marsh Fritillary, Guildford University. Interestingly, this is 10 miles east of a reintroduction site in NE Hampshire.
There was another Marsh Fritillary at Denbies, plus others in the south-east. These, along with several examples of Duke of Burgundy in Surrey, are presumed unofficial releases.
May 8 Adonis Blue, Box Hill, 8 May
May 7 Common Blue, Hutchinson's Bank
May 7 Brown Argus, Bookham
May 4 Small Heath, Dollypers Hill
May 2 Glanville Fritillary & Small Blue, Hutchinson's Bank
Apr 22 Grizzled Skipper, Headley
Apr 22 Painted Lady, Sutton
Apr 19 Wood White, Fisherlane
| Mar 25 | Camberwell Beauty | 1 | Ash | SU893514 | Mike Clifford |
| Mar 22 | Small White | 1 | Burgess Park | TQ338778 | Simon Saville |
| Mar 22 | Orange-tip (m) | 1 | South Godstone | TQ363536 | Trevor Sears |
| Mar 18 | Speckled Wood | 1 | Cheam | TQ251626 | Sean Hilton |
Mar 16: Our prime site, Hutchinson's Bank, had 10 Brimstone, 5 Peacock, 4 Comma and 2 Small Tortoiseshell
Mar 11: The arrival of spring with several species (including the Holly Blue below) noted on the same day for the first time this year: Peacock (Oxted Downs, Hutchinson's Bank), Brimstone (East Sheen, Horsley, 4 on Oxted Downs), Comma (Shalford, Hutchinson's Bank), and Red Admiral (Polesden Lacey)
| Mar 11 | Holly Blue | 1 | Thames Ditton | TQ155675 | David Hasell |
| Mar 10 | Humming-bird Hawk-moth |
1 | Ashtead | TQ181586 | Hilary Billmore |
Mar 6: Unusual first photo of a Small Tortoiseshell reading the papers at Oxted Station. Trevor Sears
Despite an extremely wet February, our first Peacock was followed by more, in Balham (11th), Clandon Wood (14th) and Sunbury (23rd). Red Admirals continued to make sporadic appearances and were noted in Farncombe (2nd), Morden (6th), Putney (7th), and New Addington (18th). A second Brimstone appeared on Bagmoor Common (17th).
| Feb 8 | Peacock | 1 | Crowhurst | TQ385456 | John Madden |
| Feb 6 | Small Tortoiseshell | 1 | Dorking | TQ167495 | Les Mitchell |
Jan 29 Glanville Fritillary larvae feeding at Hutchinson's Bank. Martin Wills
| Jan 29 | Comma | 1 (f) | Hutchinson's Bank | TQ375623 | Martin Wills |
The mild weather in the first part of January combined with occasional sunny periods has produced an early start to the season with a Red Admiral seen again on the 18th in Betchworth, and in Chobham on the 29th
| Jan 19 | Comma | 1 | White Down | TQ128496 | Jo Hurren |
| Jan 9 | Brimstone | 1 | Epsom Common | TQ188600 | Keith Lelliott |
| Jan 7 | Red Admiral | 1 | Brixton | TQ312766 | Simon Saville |