First Sightings 2023 - Somerset & Bristol
This page shows the first confirmed sighting of butterflies in Somerset and Bristol sent to the Branch Butterfly Records Coordinator.
If you think you have seen a butterfly which could be a first sighting of that species for the current year (outside & active), please send your record with the species name, date seen & site name/location to the Branch Butterfly Records Coordinator. Click here to send email
Click here to view last year's (2022) first sightings page.
Click here to view 2021 first sightings page.
| Species | 1st Sighting date | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skippers | |||
| Dingy Skipper | 1st May | Mendip Hills | |
| Essex Skipper | 12th June | Wall Common | |
| Grizzled Skipper | 29th April | Mendip Hills | |
| Large Skipper |
27th May |
Mendip Hills | |
| Small Skipper | 14th June | Multiple Locations | |
| Whites & Yellows | |||
| Brimstone | 14th Feb | Netherclay LNR, Taunton, Hallatrow & Stockland Bristol. | |
| Clouded Yellow | 2nd July | Black Rock, Cheddar | |
| Green-veined White | 21st March | Bridgwater | |
| Large White | 22nd March | Shute Shelve | |
| Orange-Tip | 3rd April | Multi locations | |
| Small White | 19th March | Compton Dundon & Collard Hill | |
| Hairstreaks | |||
| Brown Hairstreak | 3rd August | Netherclay | |
| Green Hairstreak | 25th April | Shute Shelve | |
| Purple Hairstreak |
22nd June |
Lords Wood | |
| White-letter Hairstreak | 17th June | Bath | |
| Blues & Coppers | |||
| Adonis Blue | 24th May | Draycott Sleights | |
| Brown Argus | 7th May | Mendip Hills | |
| Chalk Hill Blue | 19th July | Hatch Hill | |
| Common Blue | 7th May | Sand Point | |
| Holly Blue | 3rd April | Claverham & Taunton area | |
| Large Blue | 28th May | Green Down | |
| Small Blue | 21st May | Draycott Sleights | |
| Small Copper | 9th April | Ham Wall | |
| Vanessids | |||
| Comma | 14th March | Wellington | |
| Painted Lady | 8th April | Barrow Tanks | |
| Peacock | 2nd January | Curry Mallet | |
| Red Admiral | 2nd January | Dunster Beach, Shapwick Heath, Catcott Heath & Abbots Leigh | |
| Small Tortoiseshell | 13th February | Crewkerne | |
| White Admiral | 21st June | Shapwick Heath | |
| Fritillaries | |||
| Dark Green Fritillary | 11th June | Bossington | |
| Heath Fritillary | 27th May | Haddon Hill | |
| Marsh Fritillary | 20th May | Hatch Hill & Milborne Port | |
| Silver-washed Fritillary | 20th June | Walton-in-Gordano | |
| Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary | 19th May | Mendip Hills | |
| Browns | |||
| Gatekeeper | 13th June | Crook Peak | |
| Grayling | 16th June | Brean Down | |
| Marbled White | 5th June | Collard Hill | |
| Meadow Brown |
26th May |
Fairview Transect (Nr Cheddar) | |
| Ringlet | 4th June | Coleford | |
| Small Heath | 10th May | Bleadon Hill | |
| Speckled Wood | 5th Feb | Somerset | |
| Wall | 15th April | Brean Down | |
| Others |