So far as butterfies are concerned, largely cool April temperatures have ensured that the start to this season has been nothing like last year, either in terms of emergence dates or numbers. In the first six weeks of this transect season a cumulative total of 64 butterflies of eight species has been recorded, compared to 156 butterflies of 14 species in 2007. It has to be said, however, that the early spring weather last year was the exception rather than the rule. The first week of May has produced just one new species; a Red Admiral on the 7th, but numbers of Orange Tips on the Estate have been good, with at least 6 in the wing on the 7th. The first Small Heath of spring was seen on the golf course on the 8th, Clouded Yellows were seen on the 11th and 13th and the spring's first Wall Brown fluttered along the beach on the 12th. There was little more of interest in cool weather until the first 2 Common Blues were seen on the 19th and the spring's first Painted Lady and Brown Argus appeared on the 20th.

An Azure Damselfly and 2 Hairy Dragonflies were on the wing along the North Stream on the 11th and there were 2 more Hairy Dragonflies on another section of the North Stream on the 12th. Cool weather brought a cessation in activity until 60 Azure Damsels, 10 Blue-tailed Damselflies and one Common Blue Damselfly were found on New Downs on the 19th and a walk along Worth track and the Delft Stream on the 20th produced 2 Red-eyed Damselflies, 9 Hairy Dragonflies, 20 Blue-tailed Damselflies and 3 Azure Damselflies. In a brief window of sunshine on the 30th after three days of heavy rain the first Variable Damselflies and Four-spotted Chaser of the year were found along the North Stream and adjacent ditches.