Late Butterflies

I have always been very interested in late sightings of butterflies but get the impression that this aspect of recording tends to get overlooked.Recently, I have been able to look through some of the more recent correspondence and recording sheets relating to the Suffolk Butterfly Survey, courtesy of Steve Piotrowski, and my thoughts were confirmed. Many observers added, with their sightings, a 'first seen this year'date, but hardly any gave a 'last seen' record. In fact, some of the excellent recording sheets finished around the end of September.

One exception was at North Warren where Rob Macklin recorded precise flight dates, and in 1992, these included September 16th, (Green-veined White), September 26th (Small White), October 13th (Small Copper) and October 23rd (Large White). Such 'latest' sightings are reasonably straightforward in those species where the adult doesn't hibernate. Two other recordings from North Warren in the same year (Comma on October 10th and Peacock on November 8th) also seem reasonably straightforward but what about the one at Chippenham Fen, witnessed by Malcolm Wright and the Head Warden (Red Admiral on January 22nd1990) ? Early or late? A Red Admiral reported from F alkenham on December 5th, 1990 ('White Admiral' magazine: Summer 1991 p19) is of equal interest. I don't know the answer but,in the hope that it will be of help, here are my own records of late sightings for some Suffolk species ;

Brimstone Speckled Wood

Large White Holly Blue

Small Copper Small Tortoiseshell

Comma

Peacock

Red Admiral

September 28th 1992 on Ivy in my garden. October 4th 1993 a faded specimen on literally the last bloom of Buddleia outside the toilets at Minsmere; another, in much better condition, was at the start of the path opposite the toilets, which has a canopy of trees. I am sure that this second one would have been seen on later days. October 13th 1990 on Buddleia in my garden. October 20th 1990 flying near the Ivy in my garden.This is a late date but it was of course.during the 'Holly Blue Year'. October 27th 1984 landed on ·an orange peg bag in my garden. November 8th 1992 on purple erigeron in my garden but not observed feeding. November 11th 1988 on the lawn.windfall apples and willow in my garden. November 12th 1993 seen in the King's Forest.just past Culford, fluttering around trunks of very tall conifers and seen going inside a gap in the bark, then flying out again:disturbed from hibernation - or still seeking a suitable place? Bearing in mind that this is many weeks later than any other Peacock I have ever seen, I would assume the former. November 19th 1988 on my garden lawn.

To show how others can survive late in the year, here finally are two from' across the border': Swallowtail at Strumpshaw Fen on September 15th 1991-feeding on Buddleia and two Wall Browns at Cley on October 24th 1989 with a Small Copper nearby, all on a sunny roadside bank. I hope some even 'later' records will now come out of the files! Richard Stewart