The latest update from Mike Robinson, listing all butterfly species currently known to be resident or occasional in Bexley, with the dates and locations for when the first adult was seen this year, is available for perusal or download below.
June has thrown up Marbled White sightings at two localities so far, with 3 at Hollyhill OS, where Mike found one in 2015, further raising hopes that this species will be able to colonise our Borough.
The only species yet to be seen are Clouded Yellow (a transient visitor in small numbers most years), Gatekeeper (which should be out very soon) and White-letter Hairstreak (normal flight season is July-August).
It’s worth watching out for the Wall Brown butterfly, extinct in Bexley for perhaps 25 years. It is most likely to turn up, if at all, along the Thames path at Erith (Crossness) or Crayford Marshes. Two were seen at Swanscombe Marshes in May 2016.
