Butterfly News

2 Holly Blue Butterflies were seen in Lisburn this morning.
A Speckled Wood was also seen on Sunday.
There has also been an influx of Painted Ladys into Southern Spain the past few days.

http://www.butterflyireland.com/butterfly_records_2010.htm shows the 1st records of Small Copper and Common Blue in 2010 in Ireland, and also the first record for the Large White in 2010 in the Republic of Ireland, although the latter was recorded as early as 16th March (a record early date) in Northern Ireland, with several subsequent records.

David Nash: Holly Blue, nr Gorey, Wexford, 23/4; Holly Blue, Drogheda, Louth (per T Boyd), 24/4;
Holly Blue, University College, Belfield, Dublin, 25/4; Holly Blue, Nutley Park, Donnybrook, Dublin, 25/4

Freddie Walsh: Holly Blue(2), Small Copper(2), Peacock(1), Small Tortoiseshell(1), Speckled Wood(1), Common Blue(20m +7f), Green-veined White(7), Raven, Wexford (H12), 23/4;Common Blue(5 male), Small Copper(1), Green-veined White(3), Peacock(1), Raven, Wexford (H12), 20/4[First Common Blue in 2009 on 19/4; Small Copper on 18/4]

Caroline Mhic Daeid: Orange-tip(9m), Carnacally,  Crossroads, Meath (H22), 23/4; Orange-tip(1m), Moynalty, Meath (H22), 14/4

John Fogarty: Speckled Wood(1), Green-veined White(3), Orange-tip(2), Aughnagomaun, Horse & Jockey Thurles, Tipperary S (H7), 23/4

Frank Smyth: Holly Blue(1f), Ceannchor Road, Howth, Dublin, 23/4;Large White(1), Sutton, Dublin, 22/4: Wall Brown(1), Lions Head, Howth, 22/4
[First Large White in 2009 on 25/3]

Frank Smyth:  Speckled Wood(23), Small Tortoiseshell(5), Green-veined White(2), Peacock(2), Comma(1), Howth, Dublin, 22/4
[Comma near "The Needles"; probably a female]

The following 16 species have been reported so far in Ireland in 2010:

Brimstone*; Large White; Small White; Green-veined White; Orange-tip; Small Copper*; Green Hairstreak; Holly Blue; Common Blue*; Red Admiral*; Painted Lady*; Small Tortoiseshell; Peacock; Comma*; Speckled Wood, and Wall Brown*. 

Species with an asterisk have so far not been recorded in 2010 in Northern Ireland (but see below).

Miss Lindsey Greeves report a Small Copper on 24th April at Eden Villa, Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland 

Ian McNeill of Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, reports Orange-tips reaching double figures in the area recently. I also saw a male yesterday (25th April) at Carne near Portadown.

Many thanks to Ian Rippey for this update.

For up-to-date sightings and information on butterflies in Northern Ireland visit the Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland website:

www.bcni.org.uk