AND SOUTH EAST LONDON BRANCH ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Introduction 2019 Map of all

This report would not have been possible without all the hard work done by John 2019 butterfly sightings Bangay, who has converted all the sightings recorded on iRecord, Transect Walker and the Garden Butterfly and Big Butterfly Count schemes and put them into a form that I can study and pick out highlights. Records that have been sent directly to me by email or on paper recording forms have also been entered onto the Branch database and sent to the Co-ordinator of the National Recording Scheme. We received an amazing In this distribution map, the size of the dot indicates the number of records from number of records in 2019, almost 62,000. These were submitted by 2,657 different that 2 kilometre square. recorders, so I hope you will understand that I don’t have space to list you all at the end of the report – Butterfly Conservation is very grateful to you for your efforts. The records will be used to update the national distribution maps so that changes in butterfly populations can be monitored. You will notice that I have changed the order of the species in the report. This is to tie in with the latest taxonomic ideas. We are privileged to have a world authority in butterfly , Dick Vane-Wright, as our new president, so I have been fortunate to be able to consult him on this subject. It is pleasing that several species, including Adonis and Small Blues, Marbled White, Wall and Purple Emperor were found at some new sites. Some species emerged earlier than usual, including Small White, Orange-tip, Green Hairstreak, Small and Holly Blues, White Admiral, Speckled Wood and Ringlet. There were very late records of Green Hairstreak and Comma and there were sightings of second generation Heath Fritillary, White Admiral and even a Grizzled Skipper. Species such as Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Chalk Hill Blue, Small Heath and Meadow Brown had a very good year but numbers of others, such as Small Tortoiseshell and Brown Argus, were very low. Of the commoner migrants, there were quite a few Painted Ladies and Red Admirals, but few Clouded Yellows. It was an exciting year for rare migrants though, with a Queen of Spain Fritillary, a Camberwell Beauty, a couple of Swallowtails, several Large Tortoiseshells and egg-laying Long-tailed Blues.

I am very grateful to John Bangay for producing the excellent distribution maps. ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Michael Easterbrook 2019 was the final year of the latest five-year recording period, as used by 26 Orchard Grove Butterfly Conservation nationally for comparing populations of Ditton between different time periods, so that changes can be assessed. Aylesford Kent ME20 6BY Tel: 01732 843456 e-mail: [email protected]

Front cover: Brown Argus (Photo credit: Richard Oram) Back Cover: Small Tortoiseshell (Photo credit: Richard Oram)

2 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 3 The data boxes above the text of the following species reports show a combined were reasonable numbers in the second generation in the area, where 2015-19 figure for the total number of tetrads that each species was recorded Alfie Gay saw 29 on Cheriton Hill on 29 July, Mike Easterbrook counted 5 at in during that period, and also a figure for the 2010-14 period for comparison. on 3 August and Paul Holt recorded 5 at Samphire Hoe on Other figures in bold refer to 2019 data. Figures in brackets refer to 2018 data. 4 August.

HESPERIIDAE

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©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA GRIZZLED SKIPPER Pyrgus malvae 29 (32) Tetrads DINGY SKIPPER Erynnis tages 51 (41) Tetrads 53 Tetrads 2015-19 (62, 2010-14) 70 Tetrads 2015-19 (82, 2010-14) First: Trosley CP (M. Easterbrook/D. Chambers) Apr 18 (Apr 22) First: Trosley CP (K. Ferris) Apr 13 (Apr 23) Last: Trosley CP (J. Waghorn) Aug 31 (June 13) Last: Aug 4 (Aug 24) Numbers of Grizzled Skippers were rather low in 2019 but in the Ashford area There were some high counts of Dingy Skipper in south-east Kent in 2019. Alfie Ade Jupp recorded 18 near Kingsnorth on 24 May and 10 at Woodchurch on Gay counted 54 on the Downs above Folkestone on 29 April and 39 at a nearby 22 May. At Dungeness Bird Observatory David Walker counted 9 on 12 May. In site on 23rd, while Nate Moss estimated 50 at Folkestone Warren on 22 April. mid-Kent, John Waghorn saw 11 at Trosley CP on 13 May and 9 at Queendown In the area Matthew Weiss recorded 28 at Aycliffe on 15 May and Robert Warren on 24 May, and he found an example of a rare second generation Newington counted 17 at Lydden Hill on 7 May. Further inland, Joan Martin individual at Trosley on 31 August, only the second time this butterfly has been and Kelvin Reel found 65 roosting at Brabourne on 15 May and Ade Jupp saw recorded in August since 1990. 12 at , Chilham and 11 at Badlesmere. In mid-Kent John Waghorn counted 19 at Trosley CP on 13 May and in the Darent Valley Keith Perry saw 40 at on 12 May and John Bangay recorded 17 at on 14 May. Ewan Shilland saw 15 near on 13 May. Away from the Downs, Keith Goodman found 2 on the Scotney Castle estate on 14 May. There

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ESSEX SKIPPER Thymelicus lineola 82 (70) Tetrads SMALL SKIPPER Thymelicus sylvestris 157 (130) Tetrads 193 Tetrads 2015-19 (200, 2010-14) 299 Tetrads 2015-19 (294, 2010-14) First: Welling (M. Robinson) June 20 (June 7) First: Crossness (S. Carter) May 30 (June 11) Last: Brabourne (J. Martin); Eastdown (B. Nobbs); (D. Tutt); Last: Shakespeare Cliff (D. Smith) Sept 16 (Aug 14) Luton Banks (H. Furse) Aug 13 (Aug 6) Small Skippers greatly outnumbered Essex Skippers at some places, e.g. at Where a recorder had the expertise and time to separate the two species of Dungeness Bird Observatory David Walker counted 400 Small on 29 June, with smaller skippers, there were some reasonable counts. Heather Furse recorded 25 only a few individuals of Essex. John Woodhead reported 27 Small to 1 Essex at Essex Skippers at Great Lines, Chatham on 14 July and 18 at Luton Banks on 16 South Darenth on 28 June. Derek Tutt recorded 200 Small Skippers at Chetney July. Not far away, Robert Pennington counted 19 at on 21 July. John Marshes on 7 July, Keiran Claidenyardley saw 63 at Chartwell and Alan Stubbs Waghorn saw 24 at Northfleet nature reserve on 23 June. counted 57 at Packing Wood, both on 5 July. Mike Robinson reported 105 Small + Essex at Bostall Heath on 2 July and 370 at East Wickham open space on 8 July, of which he examined 20 and identified equal numbers of the two species.

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SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER Hesperia comma 11 (9) Tetrads LARGE SKIPPER Ochlodes sylvanus 160 (152) Tetrads 16 Tetrads 2015-19 (17, 2010-14) 335 Tetrads 2015-19 (326, 2010-14) First: Lydden Down (K. Weeks) July 29 (July 21) First: Samphire Hoe (C. Brotherwood) May 23 (May 26) Last: Lydden Down (K. Weeks) Sept 2 (Sept 7) Last: (A. Boyle) Aug 31 (Aug 12)

As usual, the highest counts of Silver-spotted Skipper were in the Lydden area. While numbers of Large Skipper were still lower than a few years ago, there were Karen Weeks recorded 69 at Lydden Down on 2 September and 45 at nearby some signs of a recovery. Matthew Weiss recorded 38 at Aycliffe on 28 June and Lydden Temple Ewell on 8 August, while John Websper and Mike Sykes had Alfie Gay counted 36 on on 4 July. Further inland Alan Stubbs counts of 21, 8 and 7 at three sites on private land in that area on 29 August. saw 33 at Packing Wood, near Hamstreet, on 28 June and Bill Martin counted 31 Also in south-east Kent, there were sightings of individuals at Folkestone Warren in Denge Wood on 3 July. and Cheriton Hill by Alfie Gay, at South Foreland by Ian Hodgson, and at Langdon Cliffs by Emily Neighbour. Elsewhere in the county there were counts of 20 at KWT reserve in early August from both Colin Brotherwood and Derek Tutt, and Emily Neighbour saw 1 at Wye Downs.

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©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA BRIMSTONE Gonepteryx rhamni 427 (240) Tetrads 564 Tetrads 2015-19 (370, 2010-14) CLOUDED YELLOW Colias croceus 55 (70) Tetrads First: Denge Wood (N. Moss) Jan 13 (Jan 18) 174 Tetrads 2015-19 (170, 2010-14) Last: Doddington (A. Brookman); Otford (P. Conway) Nov 3 (Dec 1) First: Samphire Hoe (M. Collins) Mar 18 (Apr 17) Last: Farnborough (L. Mills) Nov 3 (Nov 15) There were some high counts of Brimstone in the spring of 2019, which was a relief after the very low numbers in the summer of 2018, which was probably As seems to happen every year now, there were early sightings of Clouded Yellow due to them responding to the hot weather by going into shelter earlier than at Samphire Hoe in 2019. Martin Collins saw the first on 18 March, the second usual. Derek Tutt counted 30 at Bonsai Bank on 16 May and David Harper earliest record on our database, and Paul Holt saw 2 on 1 April, while Nathan saw 27 at Wye Downs on 20 April. Further north Kevin Tolhurst recorded 27 at Jones and Paolo Farini counted 12 there on 20 April. More unusually, there was on 22 April, Fred O’Hare saw over 25 at on 30 April an early sighting further inland along the Downs, when David Harper spotted and Janet Wilson counted 24 at Bank on 23 May. There were also high 3 at Wye Downs on 24 March, offering the intriguing possibility that they had numbers in summer, with 37 at RSPB Blean Woods (Michael Walter) and also at overwintered at these sites. Numbers were low for the rest of the year, with two (Alan Cooper), both on 29 July. This species has been absent or of the largest counts in mid-September, when Tessa Anning saw 7 at Sandwich very rare in Thanet for many years but there have been a few sightings there in Bay on the 12th and John Waghorn counted 6 at RSPB Cliffe Pools on 14th. recent years and Stephen Blaskett saw individuals at Broadstairs and other parts Tony Millard saw an example of var. helici at Oare on 26 August. There was a late of Thanet in 2019. sighting on 3 November.

10 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 11 ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA ORANGE-TIP cardamines 301 (249) Tetrads LARGE WHITE Pieris brassicae 700 (328) Tetrads 510 Tetrads 2015-19 (500, 2010-14) 805 Tetrads 2015-19 (585, 2010-14) First: New Barn (P. & P. Heathcote) Mar 23 (Apr 5) First: Dungeness BO (D. Walker) Mar 26 (Apr 5) Last: Biddenden (G. Hollamby) July 12 (June 15) Last: Wye Downs (D. Harper); Ramsgate (M. Turvey) Oct 22 (Oct 23)

Orange-tip got off to an early start in 2019, with several sightings in late Numbers of Large White were low in the early part of the year but there were March. Numbers peaked in mid-April, with some double-figure counts. Nate some high counts from late June onwards. Stephen Blaskett saw 30 at Sandwich Moss saw 30 at Queendown Warren on 21 April and Doug Stannard counted 10 Bay on 30 June and in early July Matthew Weiss saw 39 at Aycliffe on 3rd and at on the same day. On 19 April Paul Zimmer recorded 12 at Erith Heather Furse counted 43 at Darland Banks on 8th. Later in the month Derek Marshes and at nearby Crossness Mike Robinson saw 10, while in the extreme Smith reported 30 on the cliffs west of Dover and Arran de Moubray 34 at west of our area David Eade counted 10 at Edenbridge. On the 20th David Chilham, both on 16th, David Eade recorded 30 at Edenbridge on 17th and Alan Harper reported 11 at Wye Downs and Stephen Blaskett saw 10 at Seaton gravel Sessions saw 30 at Riverside CP, Gillingham on 20th. On the 21st John Waghorn pits. There were 11 on the Sandwich Bay Estate on 7 May, recorded by Steffan saw 69 at Cliffe Pools, Robert Pennington 42 at Bredhurst and Giles Illsley 30 at Walton. Monkton. Peter Cosier counted 38 in Manor Park, West Malling on 22 July, Dave Clarke saw 35 at Whitstable on 24th and G. Skinner reported 50 at Kennington on 29th. In August Sarah Perkins reported 38 at Canterbury on the 2nd, David Walker saw 40 at Dungeness Bird Observatory on 21st and Lindsey Johnson saw 36 at Port Lympne on 29th. There were still some high counts on the coast around Dover in September, with 52 seen at Samphire Hoe on the 10th (Paul Holt), 46 at St Margaret’s Bay on 12th and 37 at Langdon Cliffs on 15th (both Emily Neighbour) and 39 at on 17th (Karen Weeks).

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SMALL WHITE Pieris rapae 738 (338) Tetrads GREEN-VEINED WHITE Pieris napi 445 (231) Tetrads 853 Tetrads 2015-19 (607, 2010-14) 603 Tetrads 2015-19 (470, 2010-14) First: Seabrook (P. Howe) Feb 23 (Mar 6) First: Seabrook (P. Howe) Mar 24 (Apr 6) Last: Dungeness BO (D. Walker) Oct 27 (Nov 24) Last: Lower Halstow (D. Tutt) Sept 26 (Oct 24)

Small Whites seemed fairly scarce in the early part of 2019, though Paul Zimmer Most of the highest counts of Green-veined White in 2019 were in the summer counted 29 at on 19 April. By July and August, however, there were generation but in the spring Steve Carter saw 21 at Crossness on 19 April. In some high counts, particularly at the coast. In July there were counts of 100 at July Martin & Cathy Guha and Steve Meakins recorded 59 at Stodmarsh on the Swalecliffe on the 1st (Arnie van Orsouw), 75 at Chetney Marshes on 7th (Derek 23rd and Joanna Bridgestock saw 12 at Smeeth. In August Roger Newton saw Tutt), 56 at Dumpton on 11th (Sue Smith), 81 at Langdon Cliffs on 12th (Emily 12 at St Margaret’s Bay on the 1st, Julie Hancock counted 15 at Folkestone on Neighbour), 64 at Allhallows Marshes on 16th (Karen Hall), 72 at Torry Hill on 4th, Karen Hall recorded 21 at Allhallows Marshes on 13th and Malcolm Bridge 23rd (Martin Newcombe) and 100 at High Elms CP on 24th (Peter & Pauline reported 22 at South Norwood CP on 15th. Heathcote). The high counts continued throughout August, with an estimate of 1000 at on the 21st from Malcolm Jennings, 225 at Halling on 11th (Helen Walker), 157 at Downs on 2nd (Sue Trueman), 97 at Lydd Ranges on 26th (Patrick Bonham) and 65 at Bockhill on 19th (Jay Jarman- Chantler). The first sighting by Paul Howe is the earliest ever on the database, and the first time this species has been seen in February.

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©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA WHITE-LETTER HAIRSTREAK Satyrium w-album 12 (18) Tetrads ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 38 Tetrads 2015-19 (31, 2010-14) GREEN HAIRSTREAK rubi 90 (62) Tetrads First: Seabrook (P. Howe) June 25 (June 22) 136 Tetrads 2015-19 (128, 2010-14) Last: High Elms CP (F. O’Hare) Aug 19 (Aug 4) First: Queendown Warren (J. Fegen/J. Waghorn) Mar 24 (Apr 18) Last: Darland Banks (K. Tolhurst) July 16 (June 20) Alan Stubbs found larvae at a new site for White-letter Hairstreak on the Woodland Trust’s Estate. Adults were also discovered at new sites:- There were several high counts of Green Hairstreak in 2019. Nate Moss saw 30 by Andrea and Colin Gibbs at Tunbridge Wells (3 seen), by Adrian Morris at at Queendown Warren on 21 April, Gary Linney reported 15 at Wye Downs on 25 Wye Downs (1 seen), by both Robert Knight and Francesca Partridge at Rede March and Keith Perry counted 12 at Fackenden Down on 12 May. This species Common, Strood (1 seen by both), by Paul Howe at Seabrook (1 seen), by David is increasing its range in the London area and Howard Walmsley found it for the Edwards at Ladywell, near Lewisham (1 seen) and by Tony Witts at Coxett Wood, first time at , while Joe Beale saw it in and Mike Robinson (1 seen) and Sandbank Wood, (4 seen). At known sites saw it in several places in the Bexley area, including 2 in his own garden. The counts included a high one of 23 at RSPB by John Waghorn, first sightings on 24 March are the earliest on our database by 5 days, while the with 3 seen at High Elms CP, near Farnborough by Peter Heathcote and David last sighting is the latest ever, by a massive 13 days. Johnson, 2 at the Royal Military Canal, near Warehorne by both Geoff Vine and Francesca Partridge, 2 at Woodlands Farm, Welling by John Denton and 1 near Cudham by Ewan Shilland.

16 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 17 ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA BROWN HAIRSTREAK Thecla betulae 6 (5) Tetrads PURPLE HAIRSTREAK Favonius (Neozephyrus) quercus 26 (48) Tetrads 9 Tetrads 2015-19 (0, 2010-14) 83 Tetrads 2015-19 (96, 2010-14) First: (C. Brotherwood) Aug 8 (July 20) First: Packing Wood (A. Stubbs) June 28 (June 18) Last: Edenbridge (D. Eade) Sept 14 (Oct 5) Last: Bethersden (T.&S. Dove) Aug 2 (Aug 8)

Having come over the border from Surrey recently, Brown Hairstreak is now Ewan Shilland recorded 31 Purple Hairstreaks near Cudham on 23 July and doing well at , where Fred O’Hare saw 6 adults, including 4 egg-laying David Chambers and Mike Easterbrook saw over 15 at Dene Park on 16 July. females, on 22 August and 4 there on 13 September. Colin Brotherwood saw 1 In north Kent Murray Orchard saw over 8 at Great Chattenden Wood and John at Down House on 8 August and Eric Barlow reported 1 at Nash on 29 August. Waghorn reported 8 at Northward Hill, both in early July. Further east Stephen At Edenbridge, the other ‘invasion area’, Mike Reed found an egg on 17 April and Blaskett saw 11 at East Blean Wood on 20 July and, near Hamstreet, 7 were seen David Eade saw an adult on 14 September. in Packing Wood by Alan Stubbs on 28 June and 9 at Burnt Oak Wood by Alan Cooper on 11 July.

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SMALL COPPER Lycaena phlaeas 278 (155) Tetrads SMALL BLUE Cupido minimus 31 (21) Tetrads 425 Tetrads 2015-19 (280, 2010-14) 39 Tetrads 2015-19 (31, 2010-14) First: Dungeness BO (D. Walker) Mar 24 (Apr 11) First: Langdon Cliffs (P. Smith) Apr 14 (May 10) Last: (C. Lampard) Nov 3 (Nov 23) Last: Fackenden Down (J. Carter) Sept 2 (Aug 30)

The highest counts of Small Copper were at Dungeness Bird Observatory, Belying its reputation as a sedentary species, Small Blue continues to expand where David Walker recorded 211 on 2 May, with 50 on 12 July and again on 13 its range. Bex Cartwright found several adults in the grounds of Thanet Earth September. In May Bill Welch counted 20 at Marden Meadow on the 14th and glasshouse complex, near Monkton, on 6 June. Nearer to London, Steven Cathy Myles recorded 10 at Wraik Hill on 21st. In the second generation in July Lofting, Bob Harrop and Ian Johnson found it at Hangrove on 30 May and Janet Hannah Simmons counted 21 at Old Park Hill on the 14th, Hugh Bohling saw Wilson saw it at nearby on 9 August, while Simon Savile reported 15 at Kidbrooke on 24th, Sally White saw 12 at Swingfield on 29th and Tom its discovery at Greenwich Ecology Park on 2 June. There were increases in the Mort reported 10 at Wye Downs on 5th. In August there were counts of 12 from numbers recorded at some known sites too. Joan Martin and Kelvin Reel counted Christine Needham at Cranbrook and David Eade at Edenbridge. Mike Robinson 166 roosting at Brabourne on 23 May, Mike Easterbrook and David Chambers could still find 6 at Holly Hill open space on 2 October. saw 41 at Fackenden Down and David Watson reported 20 at KWT’s reserve at Nashenden, both on 22 May. Fred O’Hare had counts of 42 and 6 at two sites at Biggin Hill on 6 June and there were counts of 22 and 15 at Darland Banks in mid-May from Robert Pennington and Kevin Tolhurst. In south-east Kent Colin Brotherwood saw 12 at Samphire Hoe, Stephen Blaskett recorded 12 at Port Regis, Kingsgate, Matthew Weiss counted 10 at Aycliffe and Emily Neighbour observed 6 at St Margaret’s Bay. The first sighting on 14 April is the earliest on the database by 7 days.

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BROWN ARGUS Aricia (Plebeius) agestis 156 (124) Tetrads COMMON BLUE Polyommatus icarus 463 (285) Tetrads 247 Tetrads 2015-19 (191, 2010-14) 643 Tetrads 2015-19 (448, 2010-14) First: Darland Banks (K. Tolhurst) May 1 (May 8) First: Catford (E. Thomason) Apr 10 (Apr 19) Last: Brabourne (J. Martin/K. Reel) Oct 10 (Oct 25) Last: Brabourne (J. Martin/K.Reel) Oct 10 (Nov 18)

Numbers of Brown Argus were very low in 2019. In the south of the county There was some recovery in numbers of Common Blue in 2019, particularly David Walker reported a peak of 30 at Dungeness BO on 18 May and David in the second generation. In early June Paul Holt saw 75 at Samphire Hoe on Harper counted 20 at Wye Downs on 1 June. In south-east London Mike Robinson the 2nd, Cathy Myles recorded 65 at Wraik Hill on 6th and Robert Pennington saw 14 at Welling on 29 May and 16 at Crossness on 2 June. In the second counted 31 at Bredhurst on 1st. High counts in the second generation included generation John Waghorn saw 25 at Queendown Warren on 3 August, Cathy 200 at Dungeness Bird Observatory on 26 July (David Walker), 50 at Lydden Hill Myles recorded 28 at Wraik Hill on 8 August and Amanda Brookman counted 21 on 2 August (Robert Newington) and 105 at Luton Banks on 15 August (Heather at Oakenpole Wood, north-east of . Furse).

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CHALK HILL BLUE Polyommatus coridon 54 (34) Tetrads ADONIS BLUE Polyommatus bellargus 41 (30) Tetrads 69 Tetrads 2015-19 (71, 2010-14) 61 Tetrads 2015-19 (59, 2010-14) First: Conningbrook (J. Cristina) June 22 (June 27) First: Round Hill (A. Gay) May 1 (May 8) Last: St Margaret’s Bay (E. Neighbour) Sept 23 (Sept 16) Last: Wye Downs (E. Neighbour) Oct 2 (Sept 27)

Karen Weeks recorded large numbers of Chalk Hill Blue at Lydden Temple Peak numbers of Adonis Blue were lower than for the previous two years but it Ewell, with 1000 on the transect there on 29 July. Also in south-east Kent, Emily still did quite well. In the first generation Joan Martin and Kelvin Reel saw 133 Neighbour saw 162 at Langdon Cliffs on 2 August and Ian Hodgson counted 84 at Brabourne on 26 May, with 33 feeding at one damp patch. The other high at South Foreland on 8 August. In mid-Kent Freya Prince reported 104 at Trosley counts were all in the second generation. On 27 August Alfie Gay reported 137 CP on 8 August and Derek Tutt counted 50 at Queendown Warren on 22 August. at Cheriton Hill and 96 on the Folkestone Escarpment transect, and Jay Jarman- In the Darent Valley Derek Goodban counted 280 at Fackenden Down and Sarah Chantler saw 21 at Bockhill Farm, near St Margaret’s Bay. Also in the south- Ingle saw 100 at adjacent White Hill, both on 4 August. Peter Conway also east of the county, Karen Weeks saw 77 at Lydden Temple Ewell on 29 August, reported over 100 at two sites in the Otford/Shoreham area on 7 August. Fred Stephen Blaskett counted 14 at Kingsdown Leas on 24 August and Paul Darler O’Hare saw 176 at Biggin Hill on 4 August. reported 15 at Old Park Hill on 15 August. Further north, Derek Tutt saw 20 at Queendown Warren on 22 August.

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HOLLY BLUE Celastrina argiolus 358 (306) Tetrads ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 563 Tetrads 2015-19 (414, 2010-14) First: (A. Whitehouse); Edenbridge (D. Eade); (C. DUKE OF BURGUNDY Hamearis lucina 10 (8) Tetrads Brotherwood) Mar 24 (Apr 5) 10 Tetrads 2015-19 (9, 2010-14) Last: Sandwich (I. Hodgson) Nov 3 (Nov 2) First: Denge Wood (S. Wheatley) Apr 16 (May 2) Last: Waltham (S. Coates) June 1 (June 8) The flight season of Holly Blue started early in 2019, with the first sightings on 24 March. Doug Stannard saw 10 at Tenterden on 21 April and in May there were Numbers of Duke of Burgundy in 2019 were slightly down from 2018 but higher counts of 9 by Alfie Gay at Folkestone Escarpment on the 12th and Matthew than in the four previous years. Eleven colonies were recorded by a group of Weiss at Aycliffe on 15th. On 1 June Derek Tutt counted 10 at Lower Halstow volunteers (thanks to Clare Ward for leading the volunteers and to Dan Tuson and Mike Robinson recorded 10 at Belvedere, on the 2nd Simon Savile saw for a summary report) and these consisted of seven small colonies (peak of 11 at Greenwich Ecology Park and Jonathan Dodds saw 10 at Margate, on the 2-8 individuals) and four medium to large colonies (13-35). No sightings were 11th Sue Smith recorded 17 at Dumpton and on 16th Arnie van Orsouw saw 10 made at Crown Field at Wye but new sites were found at Winchcombe Down at Swalecliffe. In the summer generation Steve Carter reported 8 at Crayford and at a site about 2km east of the Crundale area. Bill Martin recorded 35 at Marshes on 21 August and there was a small third generation, with sightings at Bonsai Bank on 15 May, Clare Ward saw 18 at The Warren on 22 May, and Dan Margate on 6 October and at Broadstairs on 17 October by Stephen Blaskett, Tuson counted 24 at one of the sites on private land on 21 May. This butterfly is and at Sandwich on 3 November by Ian Hodgson. In her garden at Rainham, continuing to take advantage of the increasing amount of suitable habitat across Phyllis Davis had an annual total of 108 in her garden, down from 179 in 2018 the landscape that has been the focus of Natural ’s grassland habitat and 119 in 2017. creation work over the last 10-15 years.

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©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA SPECKLED WOOD Pararge aegeria 462 (312) Tetrads SMALL HEATH Coenonympha pamphilus 216 (190) Tetrads 648 Tetrads 2015-19 (516, 2010-14) 340 Tetrads 2015-19 (239, 2010-14) First: Bostall Heath (M. Robinson) Feb 26 (Apr 16) First: Trosley CP (K. Ferris) Apr 13 (May 4) Last: East Malling (D. Chambers) Oct 30 (Nov 25) Last: Wye Downs (E. Neighbour); Dungeness BO (D. Walker) Oct 2 (Nov 5) Mike Robinson saw a very early Speckled Wood on 26 February, with the next Small Heath had a record-breaking year at Edenbridge, where David Eade saw sighting not until 19 March. Numbers weren’t very high in 2019, and though 109 on 24 May. There were good counts at other sites too:- Robert Insall saw 100 there were quite a few double-figure counts, none was over 20. Alfie Gay recorded at Broadham Down on 5 June, Karen Weeks recorded 102 at Lydden Down on 29 20 at Folkestone Escarpment on 27 August, having seen 14 there on 1 June, June, Fred O’Hare recorded 55 at Biggin Hill on 25 June, Stephen Blaskett saw and Peter Lagrue saw 10 at Folkestone on 19 July. Roger Newton saw 11 at 60 at Sandwich Bay on 30 June and Emily Neighbour counted 62 at Wye Downs St Margaret’s Bay on 19 June, Lindsey Johnson counted 14 at Kingsnorth on on 1 July. In August Ryan Philpott recorded 83 at on the 1st and 23 July, and on 21 July there were counts of 15 from Catherine Henderson at Mike Easterbrook and David Chambers counted 70 near St Mary Hoo on 28th, Bedgebury and D. Stoyanova at Wye Downs. In mid-Kent John Bangay recorded while in September Derek Tutt saw 50 on Chetney Marshes on 15th. 12 at Kemsing Down on 6 August and Jenny Price saw 11 at Hadlow College on 1 May. Closer to London Janet Wilson saw 15 at Downe Bank on 9 July, Angela Wood counted 11 in Jubilee CP on 8 July and Steve Carter saw 14 at Crossness on 16 July, while in Greenwich Park there were counts of 13 on 20 August from Sandy Pepperell and 20 on 14 September from Ruth Bradshaw. The first sighting on 26 February is the second earliest on the database.

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WALL Lasiommata megera 74 (64) Tetrads MARBLED WHITE Melanargia galathea 293 (141) Tetrads 122 Tetrads 2015-19 (101, 2010-14) 378 Tetrads 2015-19 (239, 2010-14) First: Langdon Cliffs (P. Smith) Apr 14 (May 1) First: Lydden Hill (G. Tysoe); Last: Cliffe Pools (S. Healey) Oct 9 (Oct 25) Darland Banks (K. Tolhurst); (T. Corbishley) June 11 (June 11) Last: Kemsing (T. Loughton) Aug 26 (Aug 6) There are good numbers of Walls on the Hoo Peninsula and Robert Knight saw 10 at Hoo St Werbergh on 3 August, then Mike Easterbrook and David Chambers Marbled White continued to do well in 2019, both in numbers and extension of counted 31 between there and Kingsnorth power station on 18 September. David range. It continues to move into more areas of south London: John Denton saw also saw 17 at Cliffe Pools on 17 September and John Waghorn had counted 14 38 at on 6 July and 1 at Falconwood on 8 July and there were there on 21 July. Further east Carole Tyrrell saw 1 at Rochester on 22 September, sightings in Greenwich Park by both Joe Beale and Pennie Hedge and at West Derek Tutt had two singles at Lower Halstow and Colin Brotherwood had several Wickham Common by Wendy Francis. On the fringes of London Fred O’Hare saw sightings at , while Tony Witts and Amy Poole saw 1 at Uplees. Slightly 129 at Down House, 131 at Biggin Hill and 173 at High Elms, all in early July, inland, there were sightings by Graham Fillingham at , John Pell at while Janet Wilson recorded 243 at Downe Bank. It is also being found in some Hempstead Valley and Robert Pennington at Wouldham. Emily Neighbour parts of the Weald and Alan Ford reported 3 at Bough Beech on 12 July. There counted 8 at Wye Downs and David Feast found one at Stodmarsh. In south-east were counts of 120 and 126 at Fackenden Down from Derek Goodban and Alex Kent, Alfie Gay recorded 19 at Cheriton Hill and 12 at Folkestone Escarpment, Colesmith. Further south Emily Neighbour counted 165 at Wye NNR and Joan while Joanne Turpin saw 12 at Dover Castle and Derek Smith reported 5 on the Martin and Kelvin Reel saw 182 at Brabourne. cliffs above Samphire Hoe.

30 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 31 GRAYLING Hipparchia semele 0 (0) Tetrads 0 Tetrads 2015-19 (1, 2010-14) First: Last:

There were no sightings of Grayling at Folkestone Warren, for the sixth year in succession.

©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

MEADOW BROWN Maniola jurtina 651 (328) Tetrads 796 Tetrads 2015-19 (625, 2010-14) First: Biggin Hill (M. Coppin) May 24 (May 26) Last: Queendown Warren (R. Pennington) Oct 15 (Oct 24)

©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA There were some very high counts of Meadow Brown in 2019. Derek Tutt estimated 3000 at Chetney Marshes on 7 July and Adrian Morris saw around GATEKEEPER Pyronia tithonus 718 (275) Tetrads 1000 at Hastingleigh on 29 June. Martin Newcombe recorded 857 at Wrinsted 809 Tetrads 2015-19 (547, 2010-14) on 21 July, and in the west of the county David Eade saw 821 at Edenbridge on 2 July. Keith Goodman recorded 587 at the Scotney Castle estate, Hayley Hartley First: Trosley CP (M. Gracey) June 6 (June 5) counted 570 near Woodchurch and further north Fred O’Hare saw 418 at Down Last: Downe Bank (J. Wilson); Luddesdown (M. Jennings) Sept 28 (Sept 24) House and 506 at High Elms, Janet Wilson recorded 514 at Downe Bank, Will Tofts counted 552 at Northward Hill and Brian Nobbs saw 541 near Romney There was an early record of Gatekeeper on 6 June, then the next sighting wasn’t Street. until 14 June. There were some high counts in the Blean Woods area, where Michael Walter recorded a peak of 217 in the RSPB section and Lesley Brown 266 in the Natural England section, while Cathy Myles recorded 386 at nearby Wraik Hill. Hayley Hartley saw 269 near Woodchurch, Andrew Lipcznski saw 213 on the Sandwich Bay Estate and Martin and Cathy Guha counted 204 at Stodmarsh. In the northern part of our area Karen Hall saw 175 at Allhallows Marshes, Sarah Ashby reported 257 at Preston Hill and Karen Clayton saw 300 at Eltham Palace Gardens.

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RINGLET Aphantopus hyperantus 328 (166) Tetrads WHITE ADMIRAL Limenitis (Ladoga) camilla 57 (65) Tetrads 423 Tetrads 2015-19 (256, 2010-14) 124 Tetrads 2015-19 (139, 2010-14) First: South Street (L. Baker) May 31 (June 6) First: (M. Tuson) June 1 (June 11) Last: Chiddingstone (M. Twinn) Sept 1 (Aug 14) Last: Covert Wood (B. Martin) Sept 20 (July 26)

Ringlet had quite a good year in 2019. Mike Robinson saw 280 at a site in The Hamstreet area has been a stronghold for the White Admiral for a long time Welling on 8 July and Janet Wilson recorded 173 at Downe Bank on 2 July. In and there were some high counts there in 2019. David Harper counted 29 at the Blean area there were counts of 362 in the RSPB section (Michael Walter) Faggs Wood on 27 June, Francesca Partridge saw 12 at Bourne Wood on 30 June and 328 in the Natural England section (Lesley Brown), while Peggy Goodhew and Alan Cooper saw 13 at Burnt Oak Wood and 17 at Longrope on 11 July. saw 252 at West Blean. Hayley Hartley counted 233 near Woodchurch and Bill There are now higher counts in the Blean area and there were counts of 15 and Martin recorded 205 at Covert Wood, Barham. The first sighting on 31 May is the 10 in Blean Woods by Michael Walter and Lesley Brown, and 15 in East Blean earliest on the database by a day. Wood by Stephen Blaskett. In mid-Kent Peter Buckley recorded 19 at Dering Wood, near Pluckley on 17 July, Jeremy Spon saw 10 at the Hucking Estate on 11 July and Colin Brotherwood counted 8 at Dene Park on 3 July. There was a very early sighting on 1 June, equalling the earliest on the database, with the next record not until the 18th. Bill Martin spotted a second generation individual at Covert Wood on 20 September.

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DARK GREEN FRITILLARY Argynnis aglaja 18 (16) Tetrads SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY Argynnis paphia 77 (74) Tetrads 31 Tetrads 2015-19 (31, 2010-14) 148 Tetrads 2015-19 (108, 2010-14) First: Lullingstone CP (F. O’Hare); First: Hamstreet Woods (K. Pidduck) June 22 (June 5) Snodland (S. Weeks/R. Pennington) June 14 (June 15) Last: Thornden Wood (F. Partridge) Aug 31 (Sept 3) Last: Otford (P. Conway) Aug 7 (Aug 7) , near Farnborough, had the highest counts of Silver- The highest counts of Dark Green Fritillary in 2019 were in the Darent Valley washed Fritillary once again, with 41 seen by Peter Heathcote and David Johnson area. Sarah Ashby saw 38 at Preston Hill, David Chambers and Mike Easterbrook on 24 July and 42 counted by Fred O’Hare on 1 August. There were also large reported 20 at Lullingstone Country Park and Alex Colesmith counted 18 at numbers in parts of the RSPB reserve at Tudeley Woods, where 31 were seen Fackenden Down. Nearby there were counts of 75 from David Burbridge and by Barry Richardson on 17 July. Janet Wilson recorded 23 at Downe Bank on 22 from John Bangay at Kemsing Down. In mid-Kent Heather Furse saw 2 at 16 July and David Milnes saw 14 at Mill Bank Wood, near Sevenoaks on 17 July. Darland Banks and in the south-east Karen Weeks saw 1 at Lydden Down and Jay Mike Easterbrook and David Chambers saw 10 at Dene Park on 16 July, Peter Jarman-Chantler saw 1 at Bockhill Farm. Perhaps these occasional sightings on Buckley recorded 8 at Dering Wood on 11 July and Keith Goodman counted 8 in the south-east coast originate from continental Europe. Broadham Woods at Scotney Castle on 16 July. Numbers continued to increase in southern and eastern parts of Kent, with 13 recorded at RSPB Blean Woods by Michael Walter, and 10 seen at Orlestone Forest by Andrea Clark.

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PURPLE EMPEROR Apatura iris 13 (20) Tetrads HEATH FRITILLARY Melitaea (Mellicta) athalia 10 (9) Tetrads 41 Tetrads 2015-19 (18, 2010-14) 14 Tetrads 2015-19 (12, 2010-14) First: Dene Park (D. Goodban/C. Brotherwood) July 3 (June 20) First: Blean Woods (M. Walter/L. Brown) May 30 (May 22) Last: Bedgebury Pinetum (W. Stirling) Aug 1 (July 26) Last: West Blean Wood (S. Harris) Sept 17 (Sept 17)

Numbers of Purple Emperor seemed slightly lower in 2019, though David Heath Fritillary had a good year in the Blean Woods area in 2019. In the part Chambers and Mike Easterbrook saw 6 at Dene Park, between Tonbridge and managed by Natural England Lesley Brown recorded 456 on 1 July, while in Shipbourne, on 16 July and Murray Orchard reported 3 at Great Chattenden the RSPB section Michael Walter counted 73 on 25 June. There were counts of Wood on 5 July. Otherwise single butterflies were spotted: Alan Hoffman had one around 100 at East Blean Wood from Stephen Blaskett and Fred O’Hare and in his garden at Knockholt and Peter & Margaret Riley had one flying at their around 30 in Clowes Wood from John Elson and Calista Tardivel. Mark Tuson window in Southborough. Alan Ford reported that one had landed on a birder’s recorded 35 in West Blean Wood, Andrew Neame saw 25 in Cole Wood and hand at Bough Beech and there were sightings at Cinderhill Wood, Matfield Tony Witts found 5 in Grimshill Wood. Once again there was a small second by Andrea Giggs, at Shorne Woods by Michael Osborne, and at Bedgebury generation, with 2 seen by Peggy Goodhew at West Blean on 30 August and 4 Pinetum by Warren Stirling. John Waghorn saw singles at Trosley CP and RSPB observed there by Francesca Partridge on 8 September, 5 by Mike Enfield on Northward Hill. The gradual eastwards expansion in range of this species was 13th and 1 by S. Harris on 17th. illustrated by its discovery on the Hucking Estate by Christine Thompson.

38 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 39 ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA RED ADMIRAL Vanessa atalanta 684 (301) Tetrads PAINTED LADY Vanessa (Cynthia) cardui 609 (156) Tetrads 818 Tetrads 2015-19 (595, 2010-14) 695 Tetrads 2015-19 (256, 2010-14) First: Botolph’s Bridge (I. Roberts); First: (J. Hucks) Mar 11 (Apr 16) Cranbrook (S. Harrington-James) Jan 1 (Jan 5) Last: St Margaret’s Bay (F. Pire) Nov 10 (Nov 4) Last: Lympne (I. Roberts) Dec 31 (Dec 27) There were some early sightings of Painted Ladies in 2019, with 1 seen on 11 Two Red Admirals were seen on 1 January, one by Sarah Harrington-James March at by Joan Hucks and 1 on 26 March at Dungeness BO by David and one by Ian Roberts, who also ended the year in style by spotting one on 31 Walker. David also had the highest count of the year there, with 150 seen on 26 December. A few more were seen in January, then there were lots of sightings in June. In the 23-28 June period there were counts of 41 at Langdon Cliffs (Emily February. Higher counts started in mid-June, with 21 seen at by Trevor Neighbour), 39 at Clowes Wood (John Elson), 37 at Darland Banks (Heather Manship on the 20th and 37 at Stodmarsh by David Feast on 21st. In July Fred Furse), 30 at Birchington (Rainna Erbas), 29 at Stodmarsh (Steve Meakins) O’Hare saw 25 at Westbere on the 4th and Emily Morse reported 28 at Ickham and 25 at Seasalter (Jeremy Spon). The next period with high counts was in on 21st. The highest counts of the year were in early August, when Francesca early August, when 51 were seen at Old Park Hill on the 3rd (Joanne Turpin), Partridge counted 47 at Sandwich Bay on the 8th and Christopher McGowan saw 84 at Samphire Hoe (Paul Holt) and 44 at Dungeness (Mike Allen) on 4th, 35 at 81 at on 11th. Later in the month Bill Martin recorded 24 at Covert Eggringe Wood on 9th (Shelagh Varley) and 56 at South Foreland on 13th (Ian Wood on the 21st and David Harris saw 20 at on 31st. In September Hodgson). There were still sightings in November, with 2 seen on the 9th and 1 there were counts of 22 at Blean Woods by Michael Walter on the 8th and 25 at on 10th. Dungeness Bird Observatory by David Walker on 10th.

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SMALL TORTOISESHELL Aglais urticae 398 (177) Tetrads PEACOCK Aglais (Inachis) io 693 (267) Tetrads 635 Tetrads 2015-19 (561, 2010-14) 812 Tetrads 2015-19 (581, 2010-14) First : Bickley (H. Walmsley) Feb 15 (Feb 16) First: Dungeness (G. Vine) Jan 1 (Jan 10) Last: (L. Clemons) Dec 7 (Nov 14) Last: (D. Mills); Faversham (L. Lees); Gravesend (J. Waghorn) Dec 30 (Dec 17)

Numbers of Small Tortoiseshell were very low in 2019. The highest counts in In contrast to Small Tortoiseshell, there were some high counts of Peacock in spring were 9 at Northfleet nature reserve on 28 March by John Waghorn and 2019. In spring there were high numbers alongside the Thames, with 26 seen 11 at Jubilee CP on 30 April by Andrew Harby. In the next generation Shirley by Paul Zimmer at Erith Marshes on 31 March and at nearby Crossness counts Reeves saw 10 at Woodchurch on 16 July but otherwise very few were seen in the of 28 on 30 March by Mike Robinson and 29 on 19 April from Steve Carter. summer. There were a few late sightings, with 2 seen in October, 1 in November A little way to the east John Waghorn saw 37 at Cliffe on 20 April. Elsewhere, and 1 in December. Jeremy Spon saw 27 at Chetney Marshes on 19 April, Alan Stubbs recorded 25 at Packing Wood on 18 April and David Walker counted 25 at Dungeness BO on 20 April. Geoff Vine had seen one at Dungeness on 1 January. The highest counts of the year were in July, with 137 seen at Stodmarsh on 23rd (Martin & Cathy Guha and Steve Meakins), 131 at Orlestone Forest on 22nd (Alan Cooper) and 100 at Shadoxhurst on 23rd (John Forbes). Hayley Hartley recorded 76 near Woodchurch on 21 July and there were counts of 50 by Carolyn Allen at Cranbrook on 31 July and Keith Heaven at Adisham Woods on 17 July. Also in July Pauline Weiss saw 43 at Ashley on 21st, Conrad Skillen had 40 at Green on 22nd, John Brenchley reported 32 at Bedmonton on 23rd, and there were counts of 30 from Nina Grain at Sittingbourne on 21st and Angela White & Tony King at Lympne on 22nd. Several Peacocks were seen in late November and December, including three on the 30th.

42 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 43 OTHER, NON-RESIDENT, SPECIES SWALLOWTAIL A Swallowtail was seen at Shoreham by Andy Vidler on 30 June and Alan Cooper spotted one at Orlestone Forest on 29 July.. LONG-TAILED BLUE A female Long-tailed Blue was seen at Dungeness Bird Observatory by Jacquie Turner-Moss on 12 August and David Walker reported that it laid at least 5 eggs on a Bladder Senna plant. Alfie Gay found 2 adults on 15 August at Folkestone Warren and when he returned on 29 August he found 21 eggs that had hatched. Kingsdown Leas seems a favoured spot for this species and Stephen Blaskett saw 2 there on 24 August, then Konrad Pidduck had sightings of a female on 30 August, a male on 15 September and 3 adults on 21 September. LARGE TORTOISESHELL There were several sightings of Large Tortoiseshell in the spring of 2019. James Dee saw 1 at Dungeness on 24 March and Tom Moulton, Tom Anderson and Conrad Ellam reported 1 at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve on 26 March. In April Chris Randell saw 1 at Pegwell Bay on 22nd and Paolo Farina found 1 at Lower Sydenham station on 23rd, then Derek Tutt reported 1 at Bonsai Bank on 16 ©OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA May. David Harper saw 1 at Faggs Wood on 22 August. COMMA Polygonia c-album 559 (272) Tetrads CAMBERWELL BEAUTY 697 Tetrads 2015-19 (521, 2010-14) S. Westcott found a Camberwell Beauty on National Trust’s Hawkwood Estate, First: Alkham (P. Holt); Newington (S. Tomlinson) Feb 14 (Jan 19) on 15 April. Last: Gravesend (J. Waghorn) Dec 30 (Nov 17) QUEEN OF SPAIN FRITILLARY Ian Hodgson discovered a Queen of Spain Fritillary at South Foreland on 29 July. This butterfly stayed around for a few weeks and was seen by several other There was a recovery in numbers of Comma in 2019. Mike Robinson saw 8 at observers, including Stephen Blaskett on 24 August. Crossness on 25 February, Paul Zimmer counted 15 at Erith Marshes on 31 March and Alan Ford saw 11 at Bough Beech on 17 April. In July John Waghorn reported 15 at Trosley CP on 20th, Susan Carr saw 11 at Chatham on 22nd, Keith Heaven counted 10 at Adisham Woods on 23rd and David Feast saw 11 at Stodmarsh on 26th. During August there were counts of 13 at on 7th from Julie O’Hara and 11 at Beltinge on 27th from Carol Hercock. There were still high counts in September, with 11 seen at Orlestone Forest by Ali Short on 14th and 32 recorded by Bill Martin at Covert Wood on 20th. There was a very late sighting by John Waghorn on 30 December at Gravesend, a long time after the second latest record from Cosi Ryde on 2 November. John’s record is the latest on the database, and the first time this species has been recorded in December.

44 | Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 Kent and South East London Branch Annual Butterfly Report 2019 | 45 THANKS TO: THANKS ALSO TO: British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Ben Kirby for help with computers. Dungeness Bird Observatory John Bangay for help with data East Kent Wildlife Group handling Kent Biological Records Centre Paul Tinsley-Marshall for organising transects and Paolo Farina for Kent Field Club organising the Wider Countryside Kent Ornithological Society Project (KWT) Mike Robinson for compiling butterfly Royal Society for the Protection of records for the Bexley area Birds (RSPB) Ian Roberts for collating records from Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory the Folkestone/Hythe area White Cliffs Countryside Project (WCCP) Kent Branch Website: Woodland Trust www.kentbutterflies.org Butterfly Conservation Kent Branch Committee

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