Hello and welcome to alert number 12. Newly reported are Purple and White-letter Hairstreak and Essex Skipper - while Silver-washed Fritillary are now flying in good numbers, as are White Admiral. Holt Country Park also has Broad-bordered Bee Hawk flying now.
A Camberwell Beauty was seen yesterday near Bungay - source unknown
Common Blue seem to have crashed badly this year: I'm getting very few reports. Also Brown Argus seem thin on the ground. Let's hope next brood does better.
Silver-studded Blue's however seem unaffected with numbers building nicely.
Although Gatekeeper has been reported I'm getting very few reports, and I've yet to see one. It's unclear if this reflects low numbers or just a staggered emergence with the bulk yet to come.
Species not yet definitely reported in Norfolk are Dark Green Fritillary, Grayling and Chalk-hill Blue, but since Dark-green are now flying in Suffolk and Cambs I'm sure they are out here.
Similarly the other two will be out with the next few days I think (if the weather brightens up at least)
Grayling are flying in Yorkshire today.
New brood tortoiseshells and Comma are doing well, still waiting for Peacock
and Wall. We're about due for next brood Painted Ladies to start arriving
Purple Emperor are flying in Cambs and Essex but not yet reported from Suffolk
Marbled Whites are flying at Devils Dyke Newmarket, along with Dark-green Frits
European Swallowtails reported from Berkshire, Essex and Kent so far this year
The next BC events are
Holme Dunes on June 27th
Cley Moth trap opening 9.30 29th June
Buxton Heath 1st June
Other events of interest
NWT Weeting Heath Butterfly Walk Saturday 24 June 2017 10am to 12 noon
£3.00
RSPB Butterfly & Dragonfly Walk Strumpshaw Fen Sunday 25 June 1pm - 4pm
£5.00
Hickling NWT Butterfly Walk Wednesday 28 June, 10:45am - 12:45pm £3.50
Norfolk Moth Survey -Holt Country Park 1st June (evening)
Farm & Wildlife Day at Abbey Farm, Flitcham, 2nd July
In other news: there is a Lesser Butterfly Orchid at Beeston Common, and Black-winged Stilts have successfully bred in the county for the first time.
Currently reported for Norfolk are: Swallowtail, Large, Small, Essex, Dingy and
Grizzled Skipper, Large, Small and Green-veined Whites, Brimstone, Clouded Yellow,Orangetip, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Green, Purple and White-letter Hairstreak, Common Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Brown Argus, Silver-washed Fritillary, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral. White Admiral, Peacock, Comma , Speckled Wood, Wall, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Small Heath
Dragonflies reported in Norfolk: Large Red, Red-eyed, Variable, Azure, Blue-tailed, Common and Scarce Emerald and Common Blue damselflies along with Hairy Dragonfly, Downy Emerald, Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Brown, Southern and Norfolk Hawker, Scarce, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chaser, Keeled and Black-tailed Skimmers, Common, Ruddy and Red-veined Darter andBanded Demoiselle. (There are large numbers of Red-veined darters all over the place - currently Kelling Water Meadows seems to have the highest count with c20 seen)
Remember you can find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyConservationNorfolk/ and Twitter @BC_Norfolk
As usual all reports gratefully received.
Andy B