Recent sightings

The purpose of this page is to give an indication of what butterflies and moths are currently on the wing within the North East England region. Sightings do not have to be rare or unusual as the purpose is simply to give other website users an indication of what is about and what they can expect to see. If you have sightings to report please send them with the details of what you saw, the date and the location to this link or alternatively by using the contact page of the web-site.

Please note that this is intended only as an informal record of what is on the wing and we strongly encourage you to send your records to the relevant recorder for Northumberland or Durham (see Committee page for contact details and the downloads page for the recording form).

To view sightings from 2009 please click here.

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February 2010

February 16. Bob Mawson found a Speckled Wood caterpillar at Trimdon Pit Heap. See his photograph in the gallery.

February 10.  Sid Storey found an adult Small White Butterfly in his house.  It is suspected it was present in a bunch of flowers purchased in Durham on the same day.  (Reported by Bob Mawson). See photograph in the gallery.

February 4, 5 and 6.  Bob Mawson found a total of three Speckled Wood Pupae on Trimdon Pit Heap.

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January 2010

January 27.  Bob Mawson found a White-letter Hairstreak egg on Raisby Way.  He also recorded a Small Copper caterpillar on Trimdon Pit Heap.

January 4.  2010 has got off to a wintry start with prolonged low temperatures and plenty of snow so perhaps not many people have been thinking much of butterflies and moths.  Undeterred, Bob Mawson has found a number of Drinker Moth caterpillars (16 in all) over the past two weeks, frozen in ice and snow at Trimdon Pitheap, Beck Fir Trees and Charity Land.  The caterpillars were still alive on thawing as shown in his remarkable photograph.  Bob also made what is surely the first butterfly record of the year with a White-letter Hairstreak egg at Double Dyke on 4th January.