Weekly butterfly monitoring formally starts on 1 April each year. This is carried out by repeat walking the same route (or transect) over 26 weeks and recording all butterflies seen within a set distance of the recorder.

It is a national scheme, organised by butterfly conservation and has been running for about 30 years on some sites. I have walked my transect since 1998 and hope to see about 23 species during the season.

Since we all cover such a wide area I thought it would be good to see how many of the 63ish UK native and migrant species we come across during 2008.

I know a few things have been seen already so they can be counted too but I will start the ball rolling with a Brimstone (1/63)that I saw last Thursday. Photos would be good but I didn't take one, so have to use an old one.
   

See http://www.butterflyconservation.org/tex..._2008.html

Happy spotting.

I had a Peacock (2/63) about 10 days ago up here on Mull, thats been it up to now though.

Great idea this thread, I may need help on ID when I see them but I´ll let you know when I do.

On my transect last Thursday and despite cooler conditions, I saw:
Comma (3/63) , Holly Blue (4/63) , Speckled Wood (5/63) . All looked in pretty pristine condition. Today I then saw my first Large White (6/63) of the year. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me either day.

We had a Comma (west yorks) almost 2 weeks ago now looking very lively and full of the joys of spring.

    In my garden today was another large white and a male small white (7/63) (nectaring on dandelions in my lawn).

This post was last modified: 22-04-2008 09:31 PM by South Coast Ranger.

Does this: (7/63) mean the 7th sighting out of 63, or something like that?

Had a 3 or 4 Small Tortoiseshell (8/63) on Mull today. A few more peacocks flying around in the glorious sunshine, but thats the only 2 species so far this year.

It do be that. Well, to be precise the 7th species out of the 63ish UK resident and migrant species.

Male orange tip (9/63) today as I got out of my car at work this morning. Only the male has the orange tip.

Had a Green-veined White yesterday (10/63) and another one today. And a possible Orange-tip but didn't get a good enough view to confirm.

    My first small copper (11/63) today - I don't see them that often so always a pleasant surprise

Very fresh red admiral (12/63) last Sunday - possibly a recent migrant

Just had my first Small Heath (13/63) flying around today at work.
I think that we may have Marsh Fritillary on the site too, just got round to identifying some photos of caterpillars, guess i will just have to wait and see.

This post was last modified: 18-05-2008 05:21 PM by AndyK.

    male common blue (14/63) seen today - orange spots on underside give it away as holly blue is much paler with black spots