Hopefully and at the end of it all, we have produced a reliable county species list from the resources and information we have available.

The NBN Atlas has occasionally been referred to, to check for any additional county (VC56) records of the rarer species, but it had very little to offer as an online resource for tracing previous Nottinghamshire records. Yet again, there proved to be a huge gap in the county's available online records, after Carr produced the follow up supplement to his original work in 1935, up to the early 1990's.

Nottinghamshire's historical records

Nottinghamshire's historical records were certainly in need of some form of review. Even to Carr himself, it was clear that there were some extremely contentious and dubious records produced in his historical species accounts of just over a century ago. Carr relied heavily on two species lists when researching records for his book 'The Invertebrate Fauna of Nottinghamshire. Nottingham: J.& H. Bell Ltd (1916)' and was reluctant to use most of the records attributed to W.J. Sterland's list 'Lepidoptera taken in Sherwood Forest by the late John Trueman' and even had doubts over some of Sterland's own records.

The other list produced by R.E. Brameld, was felt by Carr to be considerably more reliable and we feel that he was indeed correct in his preference for Brameld's more reliable list and his recording. If you have access to Carr's book, you will find it is littered with the most improbable and unlikely records of both butterflies and a whole host of moths that were only recorded or listed by Sterland.

Carr states his reasons for his lack of trust in Sterland's records by stating that 'Sterland's list, although it professes to include only those species which Trueman himself collected within the limits of the Forest [Sherwood Forest] contains so many improbable records, that one is forced to the conclusion that numerous species are included, which were collected by Trueman in other parts of the kingdom, or recieved by him from correspondents'. Carr then states that he felt 'compelled to ignore many of Sterland's records, unless confirmed by Brameld or later observers'.

Have all our butterflies declined greatly in the way that we assume from the continuing adverse press and publicity reports? The answer would seem to be no, certainly not for all of them anyway, and the history of quite a number of species actually end up with some degree of success.

A century of gains and losses

Nottinghamshire's resident species have of course suffered some losses (five species) and we seem to be on the verge of losing the Wall Brown through a natural decline, which (although not good) should perhaps be expected over such a number of years and changes within our climate.

But we have naturally gained both the Essex Skipper and Holly Blue - two new species that were not reliably recorded or verified a century ago and possibly even Brown Argus - if the old records were unreliable.

Of those butterflies we have lost, their demise as breeding species cannot be wholly attributable to climate change, modern farming practices, or habitat loss within the last 50 years or more, as they were already in serious decline, or had already died out, when Carr was researching and sourcing records for his book. The following bulleted list, provides a brief summary of the county's gains and losses. First and last recorded dates are bracketed if known.

• Gained: Essex Skipper (1995) Purple Emperor and Holly Blue
• Lost: Chequered Skipper (1934), Grayling (1963), Pearl-bordered Fritillary (1981), Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (1894), High Brown Fritillary (1920), Large Tortoiseshell (1894) and Silver-studded Blue (1885)
• Increased naturally: Dingy Skipper, Grizzled Skipper, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Comma, Green Hairstreak and Brown Argus
• Decreased naturally: Wall Brown
• No notable change (still common/uncommon): Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Orange Tip, Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Small Heath, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Copper, Purple Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak and Common Blue
• Released populations (self-sustaining): Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Dark Green Fritillary and Purple Emperor
• Released populations (non-sustaining): White Admiral and Brown Hairstreak

The Marbled White is mentioned twice in the above bulleted list, as it was known to have been released in the 1990's, but there has also been a natural range increase and colonisation of this butterfly, which has helped it increase to a level doubtfully ever seen in Nottinghamshire before. Other released populations gradually dwindle if the released stock doesn't have enough genetic variation and this seems the likely cause for the loss of the originally released White Admirals in woodland near Retford.

Known captive bred releases in Nottinghamshire

The subject of people releasing captive bred butterflies into the wild, has long been a contentious issue among naturalists. Opinions on unofficial releases of native butterflies vary and the person responsible for some releases in the county, is well known in butterfly circles and has often been vilified for his actions in the past. However, there are other people who have released captive-bred butterflies in Nottinghamshire.

Whether you agree with releases is a matter of personal choice and in cases where a species is not native to the UK, it is clearly wrong and we would not agree with such actions. However, we are not of the opinion that all releases are to be condemned outright and those who have deliberately travelled to, and enjoyed seeing butterflies such as Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral in Nottinghamshire, are effectively condoning such releases and certainly enjoying them.

The following species and sites are only the releases we know of, but there are undoubtedly both more species and sites involved.

• Wood White from several sites in the county
• Marbled White at Portland Park at Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Hills and Holes SSSI at Market Warsop, plus others
• Silver-washed Fritillary at Eaton and Gamston Woods near Retford and Dyscarr Wood
• Dark Green Fritillary at Cotgrave Forest near Cotgrave and possibly Dyscarr Wood
• White Admiral from Eaton and Gamston Woods near Retford
• Purple Emperor at Cotgrave Forest near Cotgrave and Wellow Park
• Brown Hairstreak at Dukes Wood/Dilliner Wood and Mansey Common near Eakring and near Southwell

Any potentially new species for Nottinghamshire, or the sudden reappearance of a formerly occurring species over the next few years, should always be treated with caution. As far as we are aware, there are no species naturally expanding either their European or UK ranges, making them expected in Nottinghamshire over the next decade or so.

These species and their corresponding records have been rejected from the proposed Nottinghamshire species list, although some were included in the lists of previous authors. Quite a number of records date back to the 1800's and early 1900's and were rejected, or disbelieved by Carr at the time.

56.003/1539 Papilio machaon Swallowtail (Linnaeus, 1758) ... There are two extremely vague claimed Nottinghamshire records. Both date back to sometime in the 1800's and were included in Carr's book, with Carr writing ' William Howitt, in 'The Book of the Seasons' states that the Swallowtail was 'once taken at Newark-on-Trent and at Welbeck'. Carr adds that 'assuming the statement to be correct, the specimens were presumably imported'. The records should be rejected on the basis on their vagueness alone.

Livestock of the continental form 'gorganus' is readily available through a number of entomological suppliers and any Nottinghamshire Swallow-tail records  are due to captive escapes and releases. There was certainly a known release of a number of second brood adults in Blidworth in 2019 and also a single seen and photographed in a Shelford garden on 29/07/19 (per John Benyon).

58.001/1541 Leptidea sinapis Wood White (Linnaeus, 1758) ... Sterland claimed the Wood White was 'occasional in Sherwood Forest', but Carr described it as being 'long extinct in Nottinghamshire, if ever really indigenous' but went on to list a record of a 'single specimen taken at Newark many years ago (G. Gascoyne in Newman's British Butterflies). However, such records cannot be deemed acceptable on the basis of no precise date or location and Carr should have disregarded both claims. Any Wood White seen in Nottinghamshire, has certainly been captive bred.

58.005/1548 Aporia crataegi Black-veined White (Linnaeus, 1758) ... A single claimed record from Nottinghamshire. Carr completely (and quite correctly) disbelieved the record, stating that 'the claim of this beautiful insect to rank as a Notts species, rests solely upon Sterland's statement, that a single specimen of the Black-veined White (P. crataegi) was taken by J. Trueman, but he does not give in his memoranda the precise locality, though I gather it was in Thoresby Park'. Carr goes on to argue his case for doubting the record, stating that 'in view of the southern range of this species, its occurrence in Notts, can hardly be accepted and the record is probably due to some misconception'.

Referring to what we stated earlier, then this record would perhaps illustrate more than most, Carr's lack of trust in Sterland's records, forcing him to the conclusion that some species were probably collected by Trueman from other parts of the country, or sent to him by a number of friends and acquaintances.

59.001/1630 Danaus plexippus Monarch (Linnaeus, 1758) ... There is a single record of a specimen found roosting at Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs on 13/09/17 (Hill, M.), but it is doubtful that any Nottinghamshire record would ever be considered as being of a genuine vagrant. Had this record been from the south-west of the UK, then it would probably have been considered very differently.

There were no other Monarch records from elsewhere in the UK at the time, but the preceding couple of weeks had seen westerly winds associated with a string of Atlantic weather systems. Perhaps in view of the Pine forest habitat the specimen was found in, there could well be a case for it being of genuinely wild origin, but the record would never be accepted.

59.004/1628 Coenonympha tullia Large Heath (Müller, 1764) ... The NBN Atlas lists a single Nottinghamshire record. Further investigation soon revealed that there was no observer associated with the record, it was only dated as 1985 and the grid reference (which seems inaccurate when the location is viewed) places it firmly in South Yorkshire.

59.033/1610 Euphydryas aurinia Marsh Fritillary (Rottemburg, 1775) ... Carr lists it as 'very rare' in his book, but we doubt the validity of both records, or that this species even occurred naturally in the county at the time. Carr states that 'according to Sterland, it was taken several times in Sherwood Forest by J. Trueman' (1899) and then lists another record by Miss Alderson (later to become Lady Robinson) who captured a specimen at Worksop in 1883.

61.003/1556 Thecla betulae Brown Hairstreak (Linnaeus, 1758) ... There are no historically documented records of this species ever having occurred in the wild state in Nottinghamshire. There are however, four post-1980 records which we have been able to trace and all four relate to the release of captive bred stock into suitable habitat.

One is a claimed record listed in the Database of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Entomological Society (DANES), from Sherwood Forest Country Park in 1982 (Elliot, B.). We came across the record a number of years ago, when researching records for a number of publications on Sherwood Forest invertebrates. There is little Blackthorn on site and the actual location of the record (if the ID was indeed correct) may have been bordering the Country Park and opens fields north of Edwinstowe.

The other three remaining records are probably more interesting and two are certainly unusual in their dates, leading us to be absolutely certain about there being an attempted introduction at this site. The more interesting records are from Duke's Wood and/or Dilliner Wood on 26/01/2005 and 11/04/2005. Both records would refer to eggs, which no local naturalist would ever be likely to consider looking for in Nottinghamshire. The third record would refer to at least one adult Brown Hairstreak, with the record coming from the same general area of Dukes Wood and/or Mansey Common on 31/08/2005.

There are no other reported records, although we are aware of a potential release of captive stock at woodland in the Southwell area a few years ago, but have no further details.

61.010/1569 Cupido minimus Small Blue (Fuessly, 1775) ... It is doubtful that this species ever occurred naturally in Nottinghamshire. Carr quotes from William Howitt's 'Book of the Seasons' in which he claimed it 'was infrequent in Nottinghamshire', yet Carr states that 'no entomologist has noticed it in the county'.

There have been few county species lists published over the years. The last was 'A checklist of the Lepidoptera of Nottinghamshire' compiled by Ken Cooper and Sheila Wright in 1993, which was the first since Carr's 1916 book 'The Invertebrate Fauna of Nottinghamshire' published by J.& H. Bell Ltd, Nottingham. Producing a reliable species list can easily come down to personal belief, so we have had to give careful consideration to potentially suspect records, rather than just trusting a particular recorder's identification skills. J.W. Carr certainly had his preferences for whom he believed in and we feel he was justified to do so.

So many of the county's historical lepidoptera records (including moths), lack basic details such as date, location, an accompanying specimen, or supporting notes and it is unlikely that they would be accepted today. There were (and still are) obvious mistakes in identification, but hopefully we have filtered out the dubious records to produce what we think is an accurate and reliable species list of those butterflies which have occurred in a wild state in Nottinghamshire.

Species shown with a red asterisk* are known from historical records only, having produced no post-1960 county records.

The Dingy Skipper first showed a pronounced population increase in 2010, when there were rises in both the number of reported records and sites across the western-half of Nottinghamshire. Two less productive years followed, before a huge increase in records occurred in 2012 and another more recently in 2017 following two less productive (but still historically notable) years.

At the former Gedling Colliery (now a country park) Dingy Skipper can be found in small, clearly separated colonies at the base of the former colliery's south-facing spoil heaps. In a 2016 survey, we found the greatest concentrations of Dingy Skippers to be where Bird's-foot Trefoil was growing in areas where the grass and other vegetation was short, or still sparse and where some scrub provided shelter and they particularly favoured available hollows, banks or dry ditches. The survey produced a minimum total of 32 Dingy Skippers on 19/05/16, with the strongest populations being found along the bank and drainage ditch, directly above two shallow lagoons. Another good population was found on disturbed ground close to the site's Methane Plant. Just one Dingy Skipper was recorded from the same survey area in 2014, which provides an indication at how quickly the butterfly can establish itself at a site.

Flight period: Although there are several April records with April 18th 2017 being the earliest county record, the Dingy Skipper's main flight period is during May and continuing into June with numbers becoming less. The latest date for Dingy Skipper in Nottinghamshire is July 7th 2013.

1996 also saw the first of a number of records reported from along another former railway line at Kilvington and Cotham. So by 1997, Grizzled Skippers were now appearing to rapidly colonise Nottinghamshire via three former railway lines. Remembering that at the time (and with Grizzled Skipper still being a rare and relatively new butterfly to Nottinghamshire) the rate of spread along the three former railway lines, may have been slightly distorted by the suddenly increased number of recorders trying to see Grizzled Skipper in the county for the first time.

This butterfly does seem prone to misidentification and a cluster of records from Newstead and Annesley Country Park in the west of the county, had been thought dubious by some observers, but have been confirmed and also seen by someone visiting the site from Butterfly Conservation. At the time of writing (early April 2018) this remains the only former colliery site on which Grizzled Skippers have been reported, but all records have apparently been reported by the same observer and have to be regarded as suspect. They were first noted in 2005, but then not seen again until several reports in 2013, but apparently not since. This could indicate two possible attempts at captive-bred releases.

Relatively near to Newstead and Annesley Country Park, there has been a claim of Grizzled Skipper from the Kingsway Park area of Kirkby-in-Ashfield. However, the record is dated as July, which is really too late for Grizzled Skipper and has to be questionable, as perhaps do two other records from the north of the county which are not showed on the distribution map. These refer to single records from Parish Park Reserve (part of the Idle Valley NR complex) in 2014 and Shireoaks Woodlands (the former Shireoaks Colliery) in 2015. Both are isolated occurrences, occurring well away from any of the county's other Grizzled Skipper sites. Grizzled Skippers arising from released stock is a likely possibility for the Shireoaks record. Misidentification with the day-flying moth Latticed Heath (Semiothisa clathrata) is unlikely and certainly the recorders of the Parish Park record were certain of their original identification.

Flight period: The earliness of the flight season is totally dependant on the Spring weather, but the first Grizzled Skippers usually begin to appear from the last week of April. May is the main flight period and the season is largely over by mid-June.

Current distribution and status: The Chequered Skipper does not occur in Nottinghamshire and has long been extinct. The 1934 Wigsley Wood record is believed to be the last known, or published Nottinghamshire record.

The butterfly's range expansion into Nottinghamshire from the south-east continued and by 1998, it had reached as far north as Girton, Langford Lowfields and Spalford Warren north of Newark. Such an expansion of range is hardly likely to have occurred within a single year and it is probable that it had been previously overlooked by recorders.

Becoming progressively commoner since its first appearance in Nottinghamshire, the Essex Skipper now has a population of around 50% that of the Small Skipper at many sites. With identification between the two species largely relying on the underside of the antennal tip being back (as if dipped in black ink) the butterfly is probably still under-recorded to a degree.

Flight period: Not usually found much before the last week of June, with a pronounced peak reached during July and continuing until around the middle of August. There is an unusually late date of September 15th 2012, from the site of the former Calverton Colliery, which is considerably later (about a month) than any other date for Essex Skipper in Nottinghamshire.

The fall in the numbers of Small Skipper at Eakring occurred after it had still been noted as being abundant in areas of long grass the previous year, when all suitable sites in the area typically held good numbers. The same sites were checked frequently during 1999, but only a single adult was found. It eventually took a few years before there was any real return to its former numbers or status.

Flight period: The Small Skipper's main flight period is during July and continuing through much of August. The first butterflies are usually noted from the end of June and there are occasionally very late records in September, but such instances are rare and the flight season is usually well over by the end of August.

Flight period: The first butterflies are often recorded during the last week of May, but emergence from the first week of June is slightly more usual. Very early first dates occurred on May 14th 2001 and May 19th 2013, when there were no further reports until June 12th.

A clear peak in numbers occurs throughout June until mid-July, after which there is a decline in numbers. There are a good number of August records, but one from Newark on September 16th 2003 is extremely late.

Clouded Yellow and Pale Clouded Yellow are purely migratory visitors to Nottinghamshire, although Clouded Yellow is the only regularly recorded one of the two and just about annual. There appear to be no recent, or acceptable records of Pale Clouded Yellow.

Sterland's record of a Black-veined White taken by J. Trueman, was felt to be unacceptable by Carr back in 1916 and on the basis that there was no actual site or date attributed to the record, it is best ignored as a Nottinghamshire butterfly.

The patchiness of its distribution across the county, is likely to be the result of restrictions in recorder coverage, rather than being a natural feature of the Orange Tip's distribution. A slight thinning in the number of records from north-eastern parts of Nottinghamshire (including parts of the Trent Valley), is probably due to the lower levels of human habitation and lower levels of recording.

Depending on the lateness of the Spring, peak numbers occur from late April and throughout May and June, with butterflies continuing to be found until the middle of June after prolonged, cool Springs.

Nottinghamshire's resident Large White population had good years in 1998, 2005, 2011 and 2015, but suffered an especially poor year in 2007 when there were just 76 reports. The overall population trend is stable, despite a drop in numbers after 1998. Once again, the greater number of Large White records originate from the more densely populated areas of the county, especially from south of Nottingham, up through Bestwood, Ravenshead and through the Mansfield and Ashfield areas to Worksop.

There appears to be no information regarding the migration of butterflies (especially Large White) through Nottinghamshire and so we have had to resort to our own data from 2003 and 2009. Both years saw large-scale Painted Lady movements through the county and Large Whites were recorded moving through Eakring in August 2003, during a period of very hot weather. The largest recorded movement was of 179 Large Whites south-west on August 3rd, followed over the next few days by 36 south-west on August 4th and then eight south-west on August 6th. Movements coincided with large numbers of Painted Ladies moving through at the same time, but a surprising range of other species were involved.

Flight period: There are certainly two broods each year and occasionally a third. Butterflies are recorded from early April, or late March onwards. The Spring brood is on the wing throughout April, May and well into June and it is often difficult to determine the limits of each brood. The Summer brood produces a much larger peak in numbers during June and July, with probable third brood (or migrant) Large Whites being found commonly in September and often well into October.

Between 1995 and 2017, the earliest and latest dates were March 22nd 1998 and November 2nd 2010 respectively. This means virtually no difference between the Large White's earliest emergence a century later, but would indicate a significant difference in the butterfly's latest date. It seems (on the face of it) that the Large White is flying much later now, than it did when Carr, Brameld and the rest, were doing their recording in the late 1800's. It is likely that there are now regularly three broods, when there used to be only two. Out of the past 23 years (to 2017) the Large White has been recorded flying well into October on an almost annual basis, but only October 28th 2009 and October 29th 2006, come close to the latest ever recorded date of November 2nd 2010.

The Small White seems susceptible to wide-ranging fluctuations in population levels and since 1995, drops in the number of reports have followed good years.

Aside from climatic conditions, the most likely causes for reductions in numbers would be larval parasitisation and pesticidal use. Currently, Nottinghamshire's Small White population remains stable.

Flight period: Once again, Carr published the county's earliest and latest dates for Small White, although he omitted the respective years. Up to and including 1916, the earliest recorded date was March 20th and the latest was October 1st.

The first Small Whites appear around mid-April, but late March is not uncommon and there is considerable variation between first dates. There are certainly three broods in favourable years and determining the start and end flight periods for each brood is difficult as there will be overlap. The Spring brood generally peaks around the middle of May and continues to fly well into June, with the second (larger) Summer brood peaking in July and August. Small Whites remain reasonably common well into September (likely third brood) and there are numerous October records.

Flight period: There are typically two broods, but often a third in warm years. The Spring brood peaks in May and continues into June, with the second (Summer) brood peaking from mid-July to mid-August.

Butterflies continue to be found throughout September (third brood adults) and there are a good number of October records.

Only occasionally does the Clouded Yellow experience good years in which it is easier to find with a bit of effort, but the large influxes such as those of 1996 and 2000, appear to have become a thing of the past. Clouded Yellows occur almost anywhere and recent records are certainly spread across the length and breadth of the county.

In over a decade recording the butterflies of the Eakring area between 1998 and 2010, Clouded Yellows were only recorded during the large influx of 2000 (four records) followed by a single record in 2004. All but one of these were adults observed on genuine return migration, involving butterflies actively migrating south.

Current distribution and status: We have been unable to trace any recent (confirmed) Nottinghamshire records. One was reported from Bleasby in 1996, but the record was never confirmed, but several Pale Clouded Yellows were reported from other parts of the UK at the time (Michael Walker "The Butterfly Year - a summary of 1996" The Nottinghamshire Naturalist, Issue One 1996.)

Both species had good years in the late 1990's, before an obvious ten year slump in the number of reported records between 2000 and 2009. Since 2010, the Brimstone has undergone what looks to be a steady recovery in the county, attaining somewhere near the numbers recorded during the latter part of the 1990's.

Flight period: Regarded as being one of the longest-lived of all UK butterflies, adults can occur in every month of the year, but they are rarely recorded from October to February.

Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, High Brown Fritillary, Large Tortoiseshell and Grayling, are all long since extinct in Nottinghamshire and Wall is seriously on the point of becoming lost as a breeding species and should be considered the county's most endangered butterfly.

Red Admiral and Painted Lady are long distance migrants reaching Nottinghamshire in varying numbers each year, but there have been at least four Camberwell Beauty records in Nottinghamshire since the late 1990's.

There have been a number of unofficial releases at several Nottinghamshire sites and whilst there is a currently successful Purple Emperor introduction at Cotgrave Forest, the White Admiral now seems to have died out in woodland near Retford. Some records of Silver-washed Fritillary and Dark Green Fritillary are also the result of released stock, but the scattered nature of a number of records of both these species in recent years, suggests some natural recolonisation or occurrence.

Marsh Fritillary is listed in Carr's book, but we feel these records are either improbable, misidentifications, or both. We feel it is best ignored as a Nottinghamshire butterfly and should be left out of any county species list.

In Carr's 1935 Supplement, he lists some additional records, opening his short summary of the species with 'a few in the rectory garden at Fledborough' (Kershaw), before quoting E.L. Crossley, who said 'occurs every year on the Fosse Road near Cotgrave and Widmerpool'. Leivers then relates how 'a male of the Spring brood was seen in my garden several years ago and another in 1933, a strange place for this species'. Where his garden was we don't know and Carr does not refer to it, but instead ends with records from Wigsley and Thorney in June 1934 and Misson later the same year.

To be honest at that time, the Wall Brown population of suburban Nottingham never needed augmenting by releasing captive stock, and it was impossible to see how the fortunes of the two species would go on to change so dramatically within the space of 20 or 30 years. You were hard pressed to find a Speckled Wood in Nottinghamshire in the early 1980's, yet it expanded its range beyond belief while the fortunes of the Wall Brown went in the opposing direction - and relatively quickly too. As its UK range diminishes, the butterfly's overall decline has been variously estimated to be somewhere in the region of 65%, but virtually all of the 1km grid squares in our distribution maps (and in which Wall Brown has occurred since 1995) show declines of 100%.

To the statistician, the Wall Brown's decline in Nottinghamshire makes interesting reading, as the number of sites and records each year since 1995 show that the butterfly's decline consists of three clear stages of troughs and peaks, with peaks interestingly occurring every six years in 1999, 2005 and 2011 and each peak being smaller than the preceding one. In what order the declines and troughs commenced we cannot tell, as the data only goes back to 1995, but it is probably safe to assume that these population swings have been going on for decades.

In 1999, Wall Brown numbers were at their highest over the last 20 or so years in Nottinghamshire, with 159 records reported from a total of 80 sites. This in itself had represented a huge increase on the 37 sites providing 101 records four years earlier in 1995. The number of records then dropped again to just 33 from 18 sites four years later in 2001, which is half of what it had been in 1995. That's certainly some fluctuation within the numbers of any population.

The increased regularity of extremely wet months with over 100mm of rain during the breeding season may not have helped. These are shown in the graph on the right as black vertical lines. The Wall Brown's three post-1995 peaks in 1999, 2005 and 2011, all came after drier Summers.

Flight period: There are two broods each year, with an occasional partial third brood recorded in the Autumn. The first adults are on the wing from around the second week of May and continue into June. First dates have ranged from May 2nd 1997 to June 1st 1996, but most have come in the first half of May. However, Wall Browns from the Spring brood have virtually died out and there has been just one Spring record since 2012 - at Cropwell Bishop in May 2016.

The Summer brood is (or was) much larger than the Spring brood and virtually double the size flying from July and peaking during early August. Few second brood Wall Bowns have been reported in September, but there are a number of third brood from late September and early October from Nottinghamshire, most especially in 2003.

The distribution map shows how the greatest number of records have come from the Nottingham, Mansfield and Worksop areas, yet it seems to have failed to colonise the towns of Newark and Retford to anywhere near the same degree as those further west. The map also shows how the northern stretches of the Trent Valley are almost devoid of records, but we believe this likely to be due to this part of Nottinghamshire being more thinly populated and therefore less recorded.

Flight period: The Speckled Wood overwinters in either the larval or pupal stage (uniquely among UK butterflies), which leads to overlaps in the various broods occuring between April and October. Spring emergence is from late March or early April, and butterflies are on the wing almost continuously until well into the Autumn as a succession of broods. Numbers generally remain high from June to September with a definite peak occurring in August. Late Speckled Woods are often encountered in sunny situations on the last warm days of Autumn, sometimes remaining into November if the weather is suitable.

In modern Nottinghamshire, it is rarely a butterfly of agricultural land and has probably declined greatly from such habitat since the late 1800's and early 1900's. The Small Heath is one butterfly unlikely to benefit from small areas of habitat left in the corner of a field.

It prefers more open and larger sites, so former colliery spoil heaps, restored gravel workings and railway embankments, have all played an important role in helping make this butterfly much better distributed in Nottinghamshire, than it is likely to have been in over a hundred years.

Flight period: The Small Heath can be found on the wing anytime between early or mid-May until mid-September and sometimes almost till October. Occasional, very early butterflies are often reported a good two weeks before the main emergence, with the earliest recorded Small Heath of recent years, being reported on April 12th 2014. This record is very early indeed and is the only Nottinghamshire record for April we are aware of. There are two broods per year and there appears to be some overlap of both to produce an extended season. A clear peak in numbers occurs in June, but numbers remain high throughout July, before decreasing during August and September. The latest county record appears to be October 1st 2015.

The Ringlet's increase means it has now surpassed the Meadow Brown at many sites, to become the commoner of the two species. Both butterflies had a similar period of population stability throughout the early 2000's, but the Ringlet has since increased at a far greater rate than the Meadow Brown.

Flight period: The first butterflies are generally on the wing from the middle of June, but earlier records occur in years when the Spring is notably warmer. There are a few records for the end of May, but records from earlier in May must be regarded as spurious. The main flight period is late June to early August, with a clear and pronounced peak coming in July when the number of records is over three times the totals for June and August. Late butterflies can be found into early September.

We've described the Gatekeeper's population trend since 1995 as 'stable' despite the constant peaks and troughs produced during that time. Indeed, it seems that Gatekeeper numbers habitually fluctuate over three or four years; roughly taking three years for numbers to build to a peak following a drop in numbers.

It seems that reductions can also take place over the course of three years, but there was a large drop in numbers in 2012 after a pronounced high the year before.

The Marbled White's restriction to just a single site at Kirkby-in-Ashfield, for many years meant that there was little change to its county status. Not really until 2014, was there any sign of increase in the butterfly's numbers, apart from a small increase after 2009.

The increase has been dramatic and the number of reports now reaches around 50 per year, showing the greatest post-1995 increase of any of our native butterflies.

Flight period: Since 1995, there has been considerable variation in the Marbled White's reported first date, which may be the result of people waiting to hear of it actually being on the wing before visiting the Portland Park site. It's main flight period is from around the third week of June, peaking in July with numbers declining until late July or early August, but there are odd dates well into August.

Current distribution and status: Now long extinct in Nottinghamshire. The last Nottinghamshire record appears to be from Rushcliffe Golf Course dated around 1963. The record is rather vague and there is little information other than a grid reference. Even the year isn't certain.

Flight period: No details of any flight dates directly linked to Nottinghamshire. Flies from late July to September and with a peak in August, at most UK sites where it occurs.

Carr's summary gives it as 'very common in Sherwood Forest (Brameld). Formerly common near Lime Tree Avenue in Clumber Park, but not seen there for some years (E. G. Alderson, 1901). He lists it as 'fairly common in Wellow Park (Becher) and common at Thorney in a small wood not far from Drinsey Nook in June 1891 (Henderson). Several in Markbush Wood, Thorney in 1900; Wigsley Wood, fairly plentiful in 1896; Langford Moor near Newark (Carr). Common at Newstead in 1883 (Wright) and taken commonly in Theives and Harlow Woods, though not so common of later years (since about 1890 (Daws) and at Owthorpe in 1912 (Saunt)'.

There were two later records listed in Carr's Supplement, relating to two records from a 'wood near Cotgrave (presumably Cotgrave Forest) in June 1923 (Crosslet) and fairly common at Owthorpe in 1934' (E.A. Leivers).

Current distribution and status: The Pearl-bordered Fritillary has been extinct in Nottinghamshire since the early 1980's, when it was recorded for the last time at Cotgrave Forest in 1981. There is another Cotgrave Forest record from 1978 (Radford, J.T.), but as there appears to be no other county records listed anywhere between 1934 and 1978, it is impossible to say whether it was present at Cotgrave Forest during those intervening years, or they were the result of an attempted introduction of captive-bred stock.

Flight period: Traditionally on the wing from late April till early June, with a peak in May.

Current distribution and status: The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary has long since been extinct in Nottinghamshire. There are no modern records and the ones listed by Carr remain the county's last known records.

Flight period: Adults are on the wing from mid-May, through to the end of June.

In several of Carr's species accounts, it is evident that Brameld and Sterland had opposing views on the status of some of the county's butterflies, as Carr goes on to state that 'the Silver-washed Fritillary used to be not at all uncommon in Sherwood Forest according to Sterland, but Brameld speaks of it as rare. It was 'taken there in recent years by J. R. Hardy, in the Birklands by A.R. Leivers and in Wellow Park by Rev. W. Becher'. There is an additional record in Carr's 1935 Supplement to his original book, 'from Widmerpool in 1917' (Sir T.S. Birkin, Bt.).

The number of isolated records from across the county, suggests that the butterfly is making some natural attempt to recolonise Nottinghamshire. In July 2014, we found a dead Silver-washed Fritillary at the side of the A60 near Mansfield Woodhouse. Completely distanced from any suitable breeding habitat (or possible release site) the location suggests likely migration and so do other recent records from Newstead and Annesley CP, Annesley Pit Top, Staunton Quarry, Bestwood Lodge, Idle Valley NR, Rainworth and from gardens in Calverton, Cotgrave, Woodthorpe and Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Any long term success as a breeding species in the county, may yet be dependant on the continued release of captive stock.

Flight period: The first adults appear in the last week of June or early July, with peak numbers occurring in the second half of July and early August. Late Silver-washed Fritillaries can be found well into August, but the season is usually over by the middle of the month. There is an extremely late record from 15/09/16, which must be regarded as suspect in view of Nottinghamshire's other records.

Current distribution and status: Sometime after the publication of Carr's 1935 Supplement to his original book, the Dark-green Fritillary died out as a breeding species in Nottinghamshire. Unfortunately, there is no literature to give us any idea of actually how long ago this was and in their publication 'A Checklist of the Lepidoptera of Nottinghamshire; 1993', Cooper & Wright list no post-1980 records.

Since a record from Edwinstowe in 1999, there have been a number of sporadic occurrences. Although there is a case for a number of these records to be accepted as genuinely wild - the records from some sites are certainly the result of captive-bred releases. The most regular site where it was possible to see Dark-green Fritillary in recent years was Cotgrave Forest, where it occurred each year between 2011 and 2015. There have been no records since, which we are aware of and the population there now seems to have died out.

Certainly, the distribution map for Dark-green Fritillary is very similar to that of the Silver-washed Fritillary, but other than Cotgrave Forest and Dyscarr Wood, no two records are from the same site.

Flight period: There is a pronounced July peak to Nottinghamshire's records. The first butterflies are typically recorded from early July, continuing until around the second week of August, but emergence was from the middle of June at Cotgrave Forest in 2011.

He continues with 'about a dozen specimens were taken in Sherwood Forest by R. and W. Tyrer and it was plentful in Clumber Park (Brameld)'. Lady Robinson also found it to be 'common in Clumber Park and also took it at Carburton and in Welbeck Park'. Clumber is mentioned again, with it being 'very common some years at Clumber Park (Rev. E. G. Alderson), occasionally near Ollerton (Becher) and in the Birklands (Leivers) and I (J. W. Carr) have taken it from Ragwort flowers in Budby Carr'.

High Brown Fritillary was another species who's decline was noted from Theives and Harlow Woods, with Daws recalling that it had not been so common since 1890. Carr ends his summary with a record from Gotham Hills in August 1906 (F. Wakerley). The last Nottinghamshire record is believed to be from Widmerpool in 1920 (E.L. Crossley).

Current distribution and status: Has declined considerably nationally. Now long since extinct as a Nottinghamshire butterfly, there appear to be no county records other than those listed above.

Flight period: Flies from early July and into August.

The NBN Atlas lists four White Admiral records for Nottinghamshire (two are probably duplicates) from SK65 and SK77 which are best ignored, both having 'start' and 'end' dates for the records some 28 years apart, between 01/01/1980 and 01/01/2008. Neither of these records are showed on the distribution map above.

Flight period: All but just two of the county's White Admiral records are from July, with the first butterflies usually appearing from the second week of July and flying in a single brood until the end of the month, occasionally just into August. Of the county's two August records, one reported from Blidworth on 27/08/10 is extremely late.

Based on the number of records, the Purple Emperor's Nottinghamshire stronghold was the Sherwood Forest area, but probably not always referring to the area which is now Sherwood Forest Country Park. Bear in mind that the Forest was once considerably larger than it is today and that a given record with a site of 'Sherwood Forest', may well have been generalised by entomologists in their accounts and by J.W. Carr in his later writing.

Two males and a female were taken at Cossus (Goat Moth) borings in old Oaks in the Forest close to Edwinstowe in 1874 and a female was captured and two others seen in the same place in 1875 (Hardy), but the location is unfortunately rather vague and not of a great deal of use.

The few other records that Carr lists in his original book, refer to 'the Winkburn Woods (Becher) and a few specimens have been seen over the tops of the Oaks in Theives Wood near Mansfield, one as lately as 1895 (Daws) and it was 'occasional near Newark' (which may refer to Langford Moor) where it was 'taken repeatedly' (Tomlinson) and belatedly adds a record of a 'female taken in the 1880's from Cocking Hill, Boughton near Ollerton' (G.B. Berkinshaw).

Genuinely wild Nottinghamshire Purple Emperors were last known from Wellow Park many years ago, but we had word from one observer who says that 'they occurred in a part of the wood till a good number of years ago' but who can remember seeing them. There has been an attempt to reinstate them at Wellow Park again in the last few years, and two were indeed seen there on 14/07/16 (Broomhead, J.) although we know of no other records.

Flight period: In favourable years, Purple Emperors emerge in June, but early July is usually more typical at most UK sites. A peak occurs in the second or third week of July, before numbers quickly seem to decline. We have little information with regard to Nottinghamshire Purple Emperors, but the Cotgrave Forest butterflies have been recorded between inclusive dates of July 15th to July 25th 2015, July 13th to August 12th 2016 and June 25th to July 17th 2017.

Although still very much a common migrant to Nottinghamshire, there was a general decline in the number of records after the turn of the new century. Following good years in 1996, 1998 and a small peak in numbers in 2003, the Red Admiral showed a slump in reported numbers after 2000. 2008 represented the poorest year for the butterfly in recent years, but there has been signs of a gradual increase since 2005. Typical of all migrant species, there has been a great deal of annual variation and there were pronounced influxes into the county during 2011 and 2014.

Migration: Occurs regularly as a migrant butterfly, actively moving through many open sites in Nottinghamshire. There is a definite southerly return movement in the Autumn, but this was still largely dismissed as fanciful speculation, with the 'authorities' claiming there was little evidence to confirm it as an actual event.

2002 was notable for its migration, producing 135 Red Admirals moving through the Eakring area between August 20th and September 30th. This peaked at 82 recorded moving south on September 30th, over a period of three hours. Movement occurred in the early afternoon, following what had been an overcast and misty morning. Much of the total consisted of loose groups of up to seven butterflies at a time with regular frequency. All were found to be flying at a steady height of a few feet, which was noticed to be maintained, despite differences in ground contour and altitude at various points along the hill. Most butterflies flew into the wind, but migration was most often recorded when winds were light.

Another good movement took place a few years later on August 3rd 2003, coinciding with an exceptional movement of seven other species. A total of 1,281 butterflies of eight species moved low south-west in five hours. Among the total were 134 Red Admiral, 716 Painted Lady and 179 Large White, but surprisingly 106 Peacock and 47 Small Tortoiseshell.

Flight period: With a total of seven December, eight January and 18 February records up to 2017, the Red Admiral now occurs throughout the year in Nottinghamshire, probably as a direct result of climatic changes since the 1970's and 1980's. Most records occur after the first arrivals from the continent in April and May. It is often common any time after June, with peak numbers occurring from July until September. Butterflies generally remain common well into October most years and November records are no longer unusual.

Apart from four, obviously good years in 1996, 2003 2009 and 2015 (every six or seven years), there has been little change to the numbers of Painted Ladies reaching Nottinghamshire and although we describe it as being annually variable, the larger European population seems to be relatively stable.

Migration: Recorded in varying numbers with occasional Spring influxes of enormous proportions and involving millions of individual Painted Ladies. There have been two such invasions in the past few years, with many remembering the first of these back in 1996. It was of a larger scale than a similar event in 2009 and was an astounding experience for those lucky enough to witness it. Although we have no actual totals from the time (despite some counts being made) the largest movement occurred on June 8th 1996, when thousands of Painted Ladies were recorded moving north across open fields. At Gringley Carr, hundreds were present along the road running down to the River Idle late evening, and at least one would be flushed at almost every step. It was an event almost repeated 13 years later.

The event had been predicted earlier in the year, after enormous counts of Painted Lady pupae were noted in fields around the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Alerts of the potential for a large scale Painted Lady migration, were made on an Internet Discussion Group at the time and in early April, large numbers of Painted Ladies started to move through southern Spain.

Movement over the next few days was limited through a period of unsettled and windy weather, but began again when warm, sunny weather returned. We were once more in Sherwood Forest when a constant stream of Painted Ladies were noted moving north on May 28th, following every contour of the trees and ground. Purposely moving to the open farmland of Red Hill at Eakring, we began to systematically count Painted Ladies as they moved over a 100m section of arable farmland. Counts were made during the afternoons of three consecutive days and brief written accounts were published on this website at the time.

Movement in the south of the UK was also still strong on May 28th, but decreased dramatically the day after and there were no large counts reported from southern areas after May 28th. It was interesting to see that the main wave of Painted Ladies was obviously continuing to move north through the country and observers in Yorkshire and Lancashire were to see their highest numbers on May 29th and 30th. A total of 1,414 Painted Ladies moved north through Eakring on the afternoon of May 28th and there were three five minute periods when three figure counts occurred, with a maximum of 140 Painted Ladies moving through between 15:50h and 15:55h. There was some evidence that movement was higher when it was sunny. Given the Cumulus nature of the cloud on this afternoon, periods of cloudiness were brief, but movement significantly lowered and several Painted Ladies were noted being tempted to halt their movement by dropping into the crops to rest.

Painted Lady butterflies continued to move through Eakring on the afternoon of May 29th, although in much reduced numbers than the previous afternoon. Movements on this day were generally straight WNW, but there appeared to be a definite south-easterly movement into the wind, something that was not noted on May 28th. A total of 728 Painted Ladies were recorded. We again made counts of five minute periods from 14:25h-15:50h. There was also a distinct decline in movement throughout the watch. Numbers peaked between 60-70 per five minute periods, between 14:35h and 15:05h, dropping to between 38-45 from 14:55h and 15:30h. The last four five minute counts produced counts between 12 and 21, so there was a clear drop in movement.

Painted Ladies were still moving through on May 30th. A one hour sample count, again divided into five minute periods, produced a maximum of 24 through between 16:05h and 16:10h. The majority of butterflies were heading more or less into the wind today and going north-east, but there were smaller numbers that continued to fly west. 191 through in an hour, would still represent an amazing Spring count for the whole of any Spring away from 2009.

Autumn migration is easily missed, as it is usually earlier than that of the Red Admiral, and never of the scale seen occasionally in Spring. The largest movement we recorded between 1995 and 2017 was of 93 moving south in two hours on August 9th 2009, and was earlier than had been expected following the huge invasion of that Spring.

Flight period: The first Painted Ladies arrive towards the end of May, often in the third week and these adults go in to produce a succession of broods. Numbers generally remain high from June to September, but with a definite peak in the number of records during August, but variations in the dates are dependent on good Painted Lady years and arrival dates. There are fewer records for October and single reports for November 1st 2003 and an extraordinarily late date of December 15th 1996.

In the late 1990's, the Peacock was extremely common for three consecutive years from 1996 to 1999, before a fall in numbers saw the population remain steady until another increase took place from 2009 to 2011.

A short-lived fall in numbers occurred in 2012, before rising over the next two years, although since 2016, numbers appear to be on the decline again, although this looks set to be temporary. A count of 692 Peacocks on Buddleias at Langwith Quarry on July 26th 2014, was our most notable count.

The resulting second brood of Peacock appear during July and remain common throughout the first half of August. By September, they are much less frequently reported and are certainly unusual after early October. There are a number of records for November and December.

Sturmia bella is a parasitic species first recorded Hampshire in 1998, but it has not been recorded from Nottinghamshire; or at least there are no published records for the county. We consider it very likely to be present as there are records across southern counties of the UK, extending north past Nottinghamshire (per NBN Atlas).

But a decline, either across the UK or restricted to Nottinghamshire, cannot be blamed on just one species.

In Nottinghamshire, there has been a decline but this may have been over-emphasised by the Small Tortoiseshell having a number of very good years in the latter part of the 1990's. The decline started after a bumper year in 1997 and Small Tortoiseshell numbers ultimately reached a low between 2006 and 2008. But we found an identical low point in the populations of most other species occurring in Nottinghamshire, and feel the dominant cause was more likely to have been climatic, rather than parasitic.

Since 2008 however, there has been something of a recovery. This proved to be extremely similar to the recovery showed by the Peacock after 2009, with comparitively poor years in 2012 affecting both species.

Flight period: Overwinters as an adult, usually in outbuildings, garages and sheds etc. The first butterflies are often reported as early as January, when they may be tempted out of their dormancy by mild weather. The number of January and February records has proved to be very similar (under 30 records), but it is after the middle of March when sightings increase. There are two, sometimes three broods a year, and after a peak during April, May and June are generally slightly quieter, though each producing many records.

There is a clear second peak in records during July and butterflies remain common until September, with fewer records in October. Late butterflies will often be encountered in November, but December records are rare, with just four recorded in Nottinghamshire since 1995.

Carr ends his summary with 'Brameld reports several specimens taken in Nottinghamshire in 1872'; and relates that 'the Nottingham papers, in or about 1890, reportedthat a Camberwell Beauty had been seen flying in a road in the city'.

Current distribution and status: A rare migrant to the UK, but not annual and largely occurring in years when obvous influxes take place. In Nottinghamshire, the Camberwell Beauty is especially rare and there are few recent records.

Of those we can trace, there were at least three individuals recorded in the latter part of the 1990's, coming from Calverton and Chilwell in Spring 1996, with another at Chilwell in August of the same year. There was one recorded at Carlton (Cox, K.) in Spring 1997, but the most recent (and twitchable) Camberwell Beauty, was one found at Annesley Pit Top (Naylor, P. et al) in September 2011. Our thanks go to Nigel Davis, who has kindly allowed us to use his photograph below of the Annesley Pit Top Camberwell Beauty.

Current distribution and status: The Large Tortoiseshell is long extinct in Nottinghamshire and now only occurs as a very rare/occasional migrant to south-eastern coasts, or (potentially) as captive-bred releases or escapes. There are two recent 'claims' of this butterfly from Nottinghamshire.

The first was reported from Attenborough NR on September 20th 2003 and the second more recently, from Potwell Dyke Grasslands at Southwell on July 29th 2017. Both records appear to be unsubstantiated and without any supporting photographs or descriptions etc.

Although the date of the Attenborough record would support the case for a genuine migrant Large Tortioseshell, the record is unacceptable as the lack of any photograph cannot rule out the possibility of Scarce Tortioseshell Nymphalis xanthomelas ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) formerly known as the Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell - a species that turned up in south-east counties of the UK in 2014, following an influx into the Netherlands.

The Southwell record is earlier in the year than the Attenborough NR one, although within the butterfly's expected flight period and not too early to be a genuine migrant. If the original identification was indeed correct, the sighting was sent via iRecord and not reported directly to the county recorder at the time. This record has to be regarded as being unacceptable, without some supporting evidence.

Flight period: Adults over-winter, breeding in the Spring and the resulting butterflies are on the wing from the middle of July onwards. Migrants (latterly proved to be the Scarce Tortioseshell) arrive from mid-July onwards and have been recorded in the Spring, after successfully overwintering.

Carr ends his summary with 'the most recent capture of which I have a note, is of a worn specimen taken in Park House gardens, at Worksop in 1893 by Miss E.M. Alderson (now Lady Robinson)', but in the later supplement to his original book, he mentions that 'a specimen was captured by the late Mr D.H. Pearson in his garden at Chilwell in September 1920.

The Comma has always been much less frequently reported than both the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, but all three butterflies have fared similarly since 1995. Despite suffering a decline in numbers after doing well in the late 1990's, the Comma appears to be on the increase once again. In fact, the number of records in 2017, ultimately proved to be the highest since 1997. This is another butterfly which suffered a run of poor years between 2006 and 2008. But it's recovery has seen numbers increase to more than four times what they were in 2007, despite not doing as well in 2012 and 2016.

There are two broods in the year, the first producing a Spring peak made up entirely of post-hibernating adults in April. A proportion of the butterflies of this brood, are of the lighter form Polygonia c-album f. hutchinsoni, and it is these which breed to produce a further brood of butterflies later in the Summer.

The second peak in Comma numbers occurs in July, with subsequent numbers declining as August and September progress. By October, most have entered hibernation, but there are a number of records well into November. Interestingly, there have been no December records in the years since 1995.

Both Small Copper and Common Blue remain the most regularly recorded of Nottinghamshire's nine Lycaenidae and are still widespread and common butterflies. The Green Hairstreak has substantially increased its range across southern parts of the county since 1995, and both Purple Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak are widespread, although their arboreal habits make them under-recorded in the county.

Nottinghamshire few Brown Hairstreak records, are all of captive-bred origin.

Flight period: Carr listed it as occurring from 'the beginning of May until well into October' which remains the same today.

There are usually three broods a year, often with great variation in the timing of the first, and there can occasionally be an overlap of subsequent broods. Adults can be found anytime from May to October.

Numbers fall through September, but some adults will still be found on the wing on the last fine, sunny days of the Autumn. There are a number of November records, with the latest being November 9th 2006 - the same year which provided the latest ever Spring first date.