30th
31st
Butterbur appearing in Underlane Launceston
Peacock Butterfly reported Lezant; Scurvy Grass
First Chiffchaff at Egloskerry
Skylarks singing, Treniffle, Lawhitton
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
17th
18th
19th
21st
30th
Barren Strawberry and Dog Violet; Germander Speedwell
Chiffchaffs heard in 3 different places; 3 in Egloskerry
Brimstone, Male; Small Tortoiseshell in Lezant
Shining Cranesbill leaves very prominent
Greater Stichwort first flower Dutson area
Blackcaps appearing and singing in two places
Small White Butterfly Alison, Rezare. Painted Lady (Brian)
Ground Ivy photographed in sheltered hedgerow
Wheatears in some numbers on Beararh, Kilma, Sharp Tor
Bush Vetch, leaves only. Golden Saxifrage by streams
Common Valerian , leaves only; first Red Campion flowers
More Bumblebees around , even on Bodmin Moor
First Willow Warbler singing in Community Woodland NP
Speckled Wood in fresh colours near R Ottery, C.Water
Cuckoo at Bowithick
Sand Martins at Sand heaps Five Lanes
Pair of Redpoll at Middlewood and a Merlin!
Willow Warblers in some numbers now in many places
Looks as though it could be a better year for them
Sanicle is starting to flower in the Woods
Yellow Archangel is at the bud stage
Wild Garlic has just come out
Lots of Orange tip Butterflies in places, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue are to be seen, but little else around Launceston
5th
6th
25th
First seen at Glenkeller on 6th
Sedge Warbler singing at Widemouth in the scrub
Whitethroat - first I have seen and heard
Cuckoos active above Henwood.
Green Woodpeckers in various places
Wall Brown butterfly Alison's Garden Rezare
22nd
Clouded Yellow in Launceston on the 17th. Some Painted Lady's were seen very early in the year - March. On the whole, it has been a very disappointing season so far.
First Meadow Browns appearing, especially in the hedgerows
Ringlet seen by Alison in Rezare
August
September
October
2nd
7th
24th
(Butterflies)
Last week July
Early August
Butterflies
Plants
Winter Migrants
Butterflies
Skippers about at Bolventor and Small heath
Silver Washed Fritillary near Rezare, seen by Alison
Reed Bunting singing in wettish scrub East of Bolventor, along with a Whitethroat
Marble White recorded in Launceston Cemetery by Tessa
Silver 'Y' Moth in some numbers in grass N Petherwin Rising Sun
Gatekeeper (my first of the year)
On the North Cornwall Coast: "lots of butterflies meadow browns, gatekeepers and walls, along with clouded yellows, blues, small coppers and lots of burnets - a slow start but, I think, an excellent butterfly year" - Dave Groves.
On the Laneast/Altarnun boundary "gatekeepers and meadow browns (lots of both), large whites, peacocks, silver washed fritillaries, a few red admirals, ringlets and speckled woods, with occasional commas and yesterday a clouded yellow. Unusually there are lots of silver Y moths" - Dave Groves
North Hill; "as well as the more common species, we are seeing clouded yellow (2, possibly 3) and a marbled white" - Jill Goodman
Swifts still around in Launceston let us know when yours have gone.
A good year for Clouded Yellow. Alison has seen several at Rezare and Brian saw one in The Kensey Valley at Egloskerry on the 28th
Swifts have left us, at least in the Launceston area
There are renewed sightings of Brimstones as the next hatch appears. So if you see a yellow butterfly, make sure it does not have black edges to its wings before recording a Clouded Yellow!
Wall Butterflies are being reported - possibly a third brood. It can spend a lot of time on the ground, basking in the sun. Speckled Woods have noticeably increased in numbers in this week, too.
Golden Rod, Cow-wheat, and Saw-wort are great plants to look out for at this time. I am seeing them in the Werrington area.
end of August Look out for swallows leaving. Beetle Ian had over 60 on his telegraph wire on the morning of the 24th.
10th Sept Jenny has reported a Convolvulus Hawkmoth at Middlewood. Lots of butterfly species still about. I am seeing more Small Coppers at this time.
In the hedgerows, things are definitely dying back with very few flowers. The pink/red flowers of Willow Herbs, Herb Bennet, Mallow and Red Campion stand out.
22nd- I saw a Dog Violet in full flower in Altarnun today.
24th Blackcap singing in my garden in Launceston
20th October. Golden Plover have been seen in several places on the moor already, in flocks of up to 100. A flock of ca 30 Lapwing were seen near Fivelanes on the 17th. Starling numbers are increasing with the first small flocks seen around the 14th Oct.
The shortage of garden birds has been commented on by several people. This could be partly due to poor breeding success during the dry summer after a cold spring, coupled with great berry crops in the countryside, making feeding in gardens less necessary.
Clouded Yellows are still being seen and Red Admirals in some numbers.