Folkestone & Hythe Birds

Butterfly first dates:

11th Aug - Clouded Yellow 

5th Aug - Adonis Blue 

2nd Aug - Brown Argus 

18th Jul - Essex Skipper 

4th Jul - Gatekeeper

28th Jun - Ringlet

18th Jun - Marbled White

18th Jun - Large Skipper 

13th Jun - Meadow Brown 

7th Jun - Small Skipper 

16th May - Green-veined White 

14th May - Painted Lady 

10th May - Common Blue 

4th May - Small Copper 

2nd May - Dingy Skipper 

26th Apr - Wall 

26th Apr - Small White 

22nd Apr - Green Hairstreak 

21st Apr - Small Heath 

13th Apr - Orange Tip 

12th Apr - Holly Blue 

11th Apr - Comma 

6th Apr - Speckled Wood 

6th Apr - Large White 

15th Mar - Brimstone 

15th Mar - Small Tortoiseshell

17th Jan - Red Admiral 

Non-avian records are now included on the main page 

August

11th - The first Clouded Yellow of the year at Folkestone Warren. Still reasonable numbers of Painted Ladies at numerous sites. 

 Clouded Yellow at Folkestone Warren (Brian Harper)

5th - The first Adonis Blue at Round Hill, Folkestone. 

July 

21st - Painted Ladies seem to be increasing again - there were 20 at Pond Hill Road, Cheriton. 

18th - A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was at Saltwood Castle. 

June

13th - A Dewick's Plusia was trapped at Hythe - the first site record. Still a few Painted Ladies around.

 Dewick's Plusia at Hythe (Ian Roberts)

7th - The first Small Skippers were at Pond Hill Road, Cheriton. Still 1 or 2 Painted Ladies scattered about.

4th - There were 3 Hares in the Willop Outfall area. 

2nd - Still small numbers of Painted Ladies scattered around and at least 50 Small Red-eyed Damselflies were along the canal between Hythe and Seabrook. 

May

31st - Still Painted Ladies around but numbers have dropped off. 

26th - Yet more Painted Ladies - about 120 were in a small area near Hythe after the rain had ceased today.

 Painted Lady at Cheriton (Brian Harper; website)

25th - Painted Ladies seemed to be everywhere. An exceptional 280 were counted at Capel-le-Ferne this morning and many more were arriving in off the sea there this afternoon, when 30 were seen in Folkestone Warren. 70 flew in off the sea at Hythe this evening ahead of a thunderstorm. There were several at many other sites and a minimum of 450 were logged in the area today. 

24th - The first dragonfly of the year was a Four-spotted Chaser at West Hythe and small numbers of Painted Ladies at several localities. 

Green Hairstreak at Peene Quarry (Brian Harper; website) 

23rd - Painted Ladies continue to arrive: 7 flew in off the sea at Hythe Redoubt this afternoon and smaller numbers were at other sites. 

21st - The influx of Painted Ladies gathered pace with at least 26 in the Abbotscliffe area, where a Silver Y and 2 Dew Moths were also noted. 

19th - Another Painted Lady at Capel-le-Ferne.

16th - The first Green-veined White to be reported this year was at Saltwood Castle. 

14th - A Painted Lady at Capel-le-Ferne. 

10th - At least 6 Dew Moths were at Abbotscliffe this morning. The first Common Blue at Peene Quarry, as well a Brimstone, 2 Small Heath and good numbers of Wall and Dingy Skipper.

4th - The first Small Copper was at Pond Hill Road, Cheriton. 

2nd - The first Dingy Skipper and a Green Carpet were at Folkestone Warren and an Eyed Hawk-moth was at Saltwood.

  Eyed Hawk-moth at Saltwood (Brian Harper; website)

April

26th - The first Wall butterflies were at Abbotscliffe and Capel-le-Ferne and a Red Admiral, 5 Speckled Woods and a Dew Moth were at the former site.

22nd - Green Hairstreak at Samphire Hoe and Small Heath yesterday. 

18th - Several Orange Tips were at Saltwood Castle with another at Castle Hill.

 Orange Tip at Saltwood Castle (Brian Harper; website)

14th - A Brimstone was at Saltwood Castle. 

13th - An Orange Tip was at Brockhill CP. 

12th - 2 Holly Blues at Hythe were new for the year.

11th - The first Comma was at Holywell / Sugarloaf Hill as were 6 Speckled Woods. 

10th - A Peacock at Botolph's Bridge was new for the year. 3 Hares were at Botolph's Bridge.

 Brown Hare at Botolph's Bridge (Brian Harper; website)

6th - The first Speckled Wood was at Folkestone (Radnor Park) and the first Large White was at Hythe. A Harbour Porpoise was off Copt Point.

March 

31st - Bee Flies have been noted at Saltwood Castle and Hythe lately.

Bee-fly at Saltwood Castle (Brian Harper; website) 

20th - 4 Hares were at Botolph's Bridge.

15th - A Small Tortoiseshell at Capel-le-Ferne and a Brimstone at Samphire Hoe were both new for the year. 

6th - 2 Common Seals were off Folkestone Warren. 

 Common Seals at Folkestone Warren (Brian Harper; website)

January 

18th - A Mink was at West Hythe and there have been a few sightings of Hare in fields adjacent to Botolph's Bridge Road recently.

17th - A Red Admiral was near Blackhouse Hill. 

For a review of records from 2008 click here.