Butterfly First Sightings 2023*
The table below lists the earliest sightings of resident and regular migrant butterfly species that occured in Warwickshire in 2023.
This data is gathered as each year progresses to provide up-to-date information about butterfly emergence. The data is based on information submitted via our online recording form and is not reviewed retrospectively to include sightings information from other sources.
The list below is in order of reported sighting date, with the latest species on the wing at the top of the list.
**First sighting dates are based on records submitted online. Note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. If a species is missing, this is either due to records not being submitted online or because the species was not recorded in our region during that year.
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Annual First Sightings for 2023
| Species | Date | Location | Recorder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Hairstreak | 20-07-2023 | Ryton Wood Meadows | Eleanor Sutton |
| Gatekeeper | 24-06-2023 | Brandon Marsh | Bob Lee |
| Purple Emperor | 24-06-2023 | Weston Wood | John Mallinson |
| Essex Skipper | 22-06-2023 | Brandon Marsh | John Coakley |
| Purple Hairstreak | 21-06-2023 | Ryton Wood | Andrew Middleton |
| Silver Washed Fritillary | 19-06-2023 | Ryton Wood | Steve Wright |
| White Admiral | 18-06-2023 | Ryton Wood | Tara Higgs & Steve Wright |
| Dark Green Fritillary | 14-06-2023 | Harbury Spoilbank North | Steve Nikols, Mike Slater, Lynda Smith |
| Small Skipper | 13-06-2023 | Purley Chase | Eleanor Sutton |
| White Letter Hairstreak | 11-06-2023 | Maxstoke Castle | Eleanor Sutton |
| Marbled White | 09-06-2023 | Little Haven | Mike Slater |
| Ringlet | 08-06-2023 | Kenilworth | Glyn Clarke |
| Meadow Brown | 29-05-2023 | Tachbrook CP | Alex Butler |
| Wood White | 26-05-2023 | Ryton Wood Meadows | Mike Slater & Steve Wright |
| Large Skipper | 26-05-2023 | Ryton Wood Meadows | Mike Slater |
| Small Heath | 20-05-2023 | Brandon Marsh | John Coakley |
| Small Blue | 13-05-2023 | Bishops Hill | Ian Surman |
| Common Blue | 09-05-2023 | Studley | Peter Haseler |
| Brown Argus | 07-05-2023 | Fenny Compton Tunnels | Tara Higgs & Steve Nikols |
| Grizzled Skipper | 07-05-2023 | Fenny Compton Tunnels | Tara Higgs |
| Dingy Skipper | 05-05-2023 | Stockton Spoil Bank | Steve Wright |
| Painted Lady | 05-05-2023 | Marsh Lane NR | John Coakley |
| Small Copper | 04-05-2023 | Fillongley | Eleanor Sutton |
| Green Hairstreak | 28-04-2023 | Ryton Wood Meadows | Mike Slater |
| Holly Blue | 07-04-2023 | Baddesley Ensor | K & HJ Warmington |
| Orange Tip | 07-04-2023 | Marsh Lane NR | John Coakley |
| Green Veined White | 03-04-2023 | Bishops Tachbrook Allotments | Steve Burgoyne |
| Large White | 03-04-2023 | Walmley | Philip White |
| Small White | 18-03-2023 | Nuneaton | Rebecca Bailey |
| Speckled Wood | 20-02-2023 | Ashlawn Cutting | Steve Wright |
| Brimstone | 15-02-2023 | Snitterfield Bushes SSSI | Brian Kilby |
| Comma | 07-02-2023 | Paget's Pool, Ryton | Mike Slater |
| Red Admiral | 31-01-2023 | Coventry Canal, Bedworth | Eleanor Sutton |
| Small Tortoiseshell | 04-01-2023 | Hiller's of Dunnington, Alcester | Jill Orme |
| Peacock | 02-01-2023 | Grove Rd, Knowle | L Brace |