Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT)

Small Skipper

A common species over rough grassland throughout the area from late June to mid-August. Exceptionally, emerging from mid-June and, in 1970 as early as 9th May. Latest date 9th September 1981. Some indication of a decrease in recent years.

Essex Skipper

Plentiful over rough grassland from early July to late August, emerging a little later than the Small Skipper, tending to replace it in some areas, and generally more common. Extreme dates 19th June 1996 and 7th September 1985. Both species commonly feed at purple flowers of Knapweed, Vetch, Mint and Bramble in preference to yellow composites.

Large Skipper

Formerly common over areas of rough, scrubby grassland but declined markedly in the 1970s when often there was a complete absence of any records. Some slight recovery since with up to 20 sightings annually, chiefly at Samfer and the Estate, between 8th June and 7th August.

Dingy Skipper

Formerly occurring sparsely on coastal dunes between Sandwich and Deal but not recorded here since 1958.

Grizzled Skipper

Our only recorded occurrence was of one seen along the Ancient Highway on 27th May 1967.

Swallowtail

Specimens of the continental race have been recorded at irregular intervals in the Sandwich area, particularly in the late 1940s. Since then, there were two here in July 1964, one on the KTNC Reserve on 8th May 1971, a very worn example seen in Pegwell on 9th July 1976, and one on Cinque Ports golf course on 2nd August 1995.

Pale Clouded Yellow

A scarce migrant of irregular occurrence, most plentiful in 1946. Recorded in seven of the years since 1967,usually in July/August but, in 1983, singles were noted on 24th and 26th June. There have been no sightings since then.

Berger's Clouded Yellow

Recorded during the great Clouded Yellow year of 1946 when one was caught along Prince's dunes and one-two others were reported in the area in August, and in 1949 when one was caught at Sandwich on 24th June.

Clouded Yellow

An almost annual migrant in varying numbers. Although never so numerous as in 1946, over 80 were counted some days in July 1967 when they remained fairly numerous until mid-September. Only one to five records most other years until 1983 when seen regularly between 15th-28th June, again from 26th July through August and a further series of October records up to the 31st. Only one to six records most subsequent years until 1991 (32), 1994 (25) and 1996 (33). First arrivals can occur in late May or early June and offspring from these from early July onwards when further immigration may occur. In good years, a second local brood appears in September/October which lasts until the first frosts.

Brimstone

A local wanderer here, almost always males. Although occasional in February-April most records are for May or early June and July-September, the maximum in any one year being ten in 1992. In 1987, eleven well-grown larvae were discovered on Alder Buckthorn in Downsbridge on 11th June, the only instance of breeding recorded in the immediate area.

Large White

Fairly common most years but very erratic and sometimes not exceeding single figures on any one day. Immigration is often recorded, occasionally in May but more often during July-August, and may involve very large numbers of insects. Notable migration years occurred in 1967, 1970, several years in the 1980s and again in 1992. Flight periods last from late April to June and again from July to September in two broods. Extreme dates 10th April 1991 and 1993 and 24th October 1991.

Small White

Generally of much more regular occurrence than Large White and fairly common annually. It is less reliant on immigration to sustain numbers, although migrants often noted as in 1970, 1981, 1985 and 1992. Recorded in two or three broods from May through to October with extreme dates 19th March 1998 and 28th October 1991.

Green-veined White

Quite common most years, appearing in two broods from mid-April to June and again from mid-July to end of September, favouring damper areas and dune slacks. Extreme dates 29th March 1991 and 28th October 1992. Some immigration noted on a small scale in high summer and what may be a partial third brood in good years.

Bath White

A Mediterranean species, very rare in Britain. One was Observed in the Whitehouse paddock on 12th August 1983 later seen flying inland, but the same or another individual was reported in the Little Gully on the Estate the following day.

Orange Tip

Scarce but regular in small numbers during the immediate post-War years, frequenting damper scrubland and cuckoo-flowered pastures, becoming virtually absent from the 1950s until one in 1979 and then gradually becoming re-established, albeit in very small numbers of five-twenty individuals annually, from mid-May (exceptionally 11th April 1991) to mid-June (latest 20th in 1987).

Green Hairstreak

Not recorded here since 1948 when a small colony existed in the gorse/bramble area between Mary Bax and Chequers on the Ancient Highway.

Small Copper

Well distributed throughout the rough grassland area but patchy and considerably less common than formerly. First appears in early May and has a succession of broods through to the end of October. Extreme dates 20th April 1991 and 6th November 1986. Specimens of the blue-spotted form Ab.caeruleopunctata were once frequent along the Ancient Highway and have also been recorded in recent years about the Estate.

Brown Argus

Formerly common and widespread throughout all areas of rough grassland but becoming very much scarcer during the 1960s and 1970s, records ceasing altogether between 1972 (two records) and 1978, although it was possibly overlooked at times. Daily sightings rarely reached double-figures but there has been a marked recovery in recent years. In 1996 there were counts of 180 in the Estate area and similar numbers along Princes dunes and on New Downs "set aside" fields. Flight periods of the two broods are from late May to end of June and again from late July through to the end of September, with frequent earlier July records. Extreme dates 17th May 1993 and 26th September 1985.

Common Blue

Normally plentiful over all areas of rough grassland in two broods from May to early July and again from August to late September, but has decreased in numbers over the past decade or so. Extreme dates 9th May 1983 and 20th October 1985.

Chalkhill Blue

A downland species once found about Deal. Our only records are of single wanderers recorded from a Sandwich clover field in late July 1946 and on the Estate on 28th August 1953.

Holly Blue

Small and ephemerally viable colonies on the Estate and towards Sandwich but numbers rarely reach double-figures and fluctuate widely from year to year. 1988 to 1991 inclusive were exceptionally good years but numbers were then very low until a recovery in 1995-1997. First brood insects normally occur from early May to early June, second brood between mid-July and early September, with extreme dates of 1st April 1990 and 12th October 1989.

Red Admiral

A fairly common insect most years. Rarely, assumed hibernators have occurred from February but, most often, the first immigrants appear in May in very small numbers, more commonly in June-July. Locally bred adults then emerge in late July/August and, augmented by further arrivals, may become plentiful throughout the autumn. Both immigration and emigration often noted in September. Extreme dates 13th February 1998 and 5th December 1994.

Painted Lady

An erratic immigrant, annual in varying numbers but periodically numerous as in 1967, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988 and notably in 1996 which saw the largest butterfly immigration of the last century. First arrivals usually appear in June/July, sometimes earlier as in 1985 when there were a number of early records from 3rd April, and there are then successive broods, augmented by further immigrants until the first frosts. Latest date is 2nd November 1968.

Small Tortoiseshell

A generally common insect throughout the area that may be encountered in any month of the year on fine, sunny days. Usually the first, hibernated insects appear in March and larval nests on nettles in April-May. First brood butterflies appear in June with a second brood in August, by which time immigrants may augment the local stock and become abundant through the autumn and into December.

Camberwell Beauty

A large immigration into Britain in 1995 saw our first record of this species at the Bay when one was seen at Backsand Scrape on 22nd August. Four others occurred in Sandwich in July/August of that year. Another was seen in Pegwell Bay on 8th April 1996.

Large Tortoiseshell

A colony once existed in the elms on the Estate but the last insects were recorded in 1949. Since then, single butterflies have been seen in the Whitehouse Paddock in April 1952 and 1961, at Stonar on 19th September 1980, and at Sandwich Bay again on 2nd July 2000, all presumed migrants.

Peacock

Generally well distributed and fairly common. Hibernated insects normally appear from March onwards, exceptionally in January if the weather is mild. Larval nests may be found on nettles in June and the resulting adults emerge in July. They may then be abundant in August feeding at purple composites, buddleia etc. but most seem to enter early hibernation, the insect being less common through September and October. Latest date 15th November 1992. Some immigration has been observed in July-August.

Comma

A scarce insect locally which after a complete absence in 1978/79, has become a little more frequent in recent years. Occasional hibernated insects appear in April but most records are of summer brood insects during the period July to September. Seen ovipositing on wild hop in the Observatory garden in June 1970. Extreme dates 4th March 1992 and 25th October 1989.

Dark Green Fritillary

Formerly occasional on duneland and the Ancient Highway to Deal but not recorded here since 1952 until one was seen on the estate on 30th July 1998.

Speckled Wood

Occasional specimens were recorded on the Estate in the 1960s, suggesting colonization, but records petered out in 1967. Apart from one on the Green Wall in May 1970, no more were recorded until one or two in 1986. Since then it has been annual in small numbers, with up to twelve frequenting the taller stands of trees such as the Whitehouse sallows and the Elms. Flight period from 24th April to 29th June and again 27th July to 18th October. There was an unusually early record of one on 15th February 1998.

Wall

Fairly common in most years, usually from May to September, exceptionally 16th April (1971) and 24th October (1994), favouring the Estate margins, Mary Bax and riverbank localities. A decrease was noted in the late 80's and despite a slight recovery in 1992 the currently low numbers are a cause for concern. An example of the straw-coloured variety bradenfelda was recorded on the Estate on 10th August 1997.

Marbled White

Grayling

Formerly of sporadic occurrence along the Ancient Highway and Cinque Ports Golf Course it has not been recorded here since 1952.

Gatekeeper

First recorded in this area at Sandwich in 1976 since when it has become firmly established and common in the scrubbier areas of rough grassland, notably along the Riverbank to Samfer and about the Estate. Flight period is throughout July and August, exceptionally late June to 13th September. Now probably one of our commonest butterflies.

Meadow Brown

Abundant over rough grassland throughout the area and probably our commonest butterfly. The flight period extends from mid-June to end of August, exceptionally 1st June to 18th September (1986).

Small Heath

Usually common throughout the area over rough grassland, appearing in mid May and producing a succession of broods until October. Has decreased in recent years.

Ringlet

An isolated record of one in the White House paddock on 12th July 1983. In 1997 a small colony was discovered on the Monks Wall Reserve in Sandwich.

The Bay is well known as a moth 'hot-spot', and a trap is run regularly between March and November at the Field Centre. Visitors are welcome to watch the trap being checked, happening most mornings at around 11.00 a.m. During the summer months hundreds may be caught on good nights - those overcast muggy nights with perhaps just a little dampness in the air.

Convolvulus Hawk Moth

Death's Head Hawk Moth

As with the preceding species a number were collected at light in 1942. Pupae were discovered in a potato field at Sandown Farm in 1945/46 from which imagines emerged the following years. Several were reported in the area in October 1959 but otherwise our only record is of one found on the Bay road, apparently having been struck by a car, on 10th October 1982

Privet Hawk Moth

Lime Hawk Moth

Eyed Hawk Moth

Poplar Hawk Moth

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk Moth

Recorded here in 1908, and a Bee Hawk-moth sp. was seen by Astor's Fence on 12th July 1976.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Bedstraw Hawk Moth

Many early records but scarce in recent years. One on 21st July 1971, at least three noted in 1972 (on 2nd, 3rd and 10th August), and singles on 2nd July 1976, 25th July 1989, 17th July 1995, 21st August 1998, and 5th August 2000

Striped Hawk Moth

Elephant Hawk Moth

Small Elephant Hawk Moth

A plentiful species here, also feeding on bedstraw. Small numbers regular at light between 5th May and 6th August. 1995 was the best year on record with 78 specimens, but the highest total in one night was 26 on 17th June 1986