The 2003 sightings
First sightings are in red.

March 23rd: 1st Buterflies seen during that Sunday were the Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Peacock all seen along the bank at the back of the garden. These are most probably butterflies that have come out of hibernation due to the warm weather we have been having during the last couple of weeks of March 2003. Paul also saw a Brimstone whilst driving to work on Saturday March 29th but technically we don't include anything beyond our immediate garden and back bank :-) With the warm weather up to and including the Easter weekend and since, we have now seen the Male Brimstone, Green Veined White, Small White and Holly Blue and what we think is the Female Orange Tip (which isn't orange at all!) and since then we've spotted the Male Orange Tip (which does have orange tips!). Sunday May 4th - nice fine sunny (but warm and windy) day and Paul photographed the Orange Tip at rest - underside only but at last we've got it on film. Lorraine also spotted a small brown (with some orange along the edges) butterfly which we think is either the Brown Argus or the female Common Blue and the Female Large White has returned. May 31st - the Large Skipper returned and a Blue (we think the Holly Blue) also paid another visit. Into June (14th to 16th) we've now had the welcome return of the Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Painted Lady as well as very regular visits by the Large Skipper. June 25th and over the last few days since the weekend the Ringlet Butterfly has now made it's first appearance for the year as well as a return for the Small Tortoiseshell which seemed to vanish for a couple of months. Sunday June 29th and the Small Skipper returns.  Sunday July 6th saw the return of the Essex Skipper and the following Wednesday (9th) we had our first sighting for the year of the Gatekeeper. Up to the end of July we have now had the return of the Common Blue (male and Fenmale), the Brown Argus and the Small Copper and a return again this year of the Male Brimstone. August saw the return of the Wall Butterfly. By September numbers had begun to decline and we didn't have a butterfly from late October.

Of all our Butterflies only the White Admiral and the Speckled Wood did not return for 2003. We strongly suspect that the White Admiral was a chance event with a single passage through our garden. 

Nov 16th 2003 we had a shock when we discovered that the base of the bund at the back had been strimmed and thus now wonder what will become of the wide number of different butterflies for the 2004 season. We'll keep you informed...