2022 Summary

Common Blue - Tucking Mill, September 2022

The summer of 2022 will be remembered for the intense heatwave which much of the country experienced in mid July. Indeed, there was much fine weather to enjoy through most of the Spring, Summer and Autumn. 

Butterflies had a good year and my species list for this location in 2022 was twenty-eight (See list at the foot of this post) Since 2018 I have recorded a total of thirty-one species on or near the cycle route between the Combe Down tunnel and Wellow.

Below is an account of the more memorable moments of 2022

Green Hairstreak - Tucking Mill, April 2022

Green Hairstreak - This is a butterfly I first recorded in 2018. I saw just one perched on Bramble in Horsecombe Vale, a largely wooded valley to the west of the cycle-path. During April, May and June I recorded and total of six in two new locations in the valley. Possibly a good year for Green Hairstreak, or maybe I am getting better at spotting them!

Five-spot Burnet moth - Tucking Mill, May 2022

Also in May I saw quite a few Five-spot Burnet moths in two locations in the valley. These are the more local of the two 'Five-spot' Burnet species and tend to be more common in the south-west of England.

Small Heath - Tucking Mill, June 2022

A big surprise in 2022 was the appearance of two Small Heath butterflies. This was the first time I have seen this species in this location and I couldn't remember the last time I had seen it in the Bath area. Once common and widespread across the UK, it has become much less common in recent years. The dry grassland in the valley should suit this species, so I will be on the look-out for it in 2023. 

White-letter Hairstreak - Tucking Mill, July 2022

I have seen a number of White-letter Hairstreak butterflies in the valley over the years, the last time being in 2019, so it was really re-assuring to see two more in 2022.

The species is usually to be seen on one of the mature Wych Elm trees that grow close the cycle path between Tucking Mill viaduct and Midford.

Mother Shipton moth - Tucking Mill, June 2022

In May in June two relatively common day-flying moths could be seen on the grassy slopes at Tucking Mill. They are Mother Shipton and Burnet Companion. These moths can be confused with Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper respectively. Fortunately, this year they appeared later than both these butterfly species, reducing the effort needed in distinguishing between them.

Gizzled Skipper - Tucking Mill, August 2022

On Sunday 21st August I was surprised to stumble upon a Grizzled Skipper. This species normally appears in April and May each year, although in southern Europe it is frequently double brooded. Given the intense heatwave through most of July, and the warm sheltered location, maybe this sighting shouldn't be a great surprise. Despite searching during my following two visits, I failed to see any other individuals.

During the winter of 2021-22, Horsecombe Vale underwent a radical transformation. Most of the Ash trees in the valley were felled. Ash Die-back disease is sweeping through the area killing most of the magnificent Ash trees that dominate the landscape. It will be interesting to see how this changes the flora and fauna. Below are two photographs taken in February and September 2022 respectively. This shows a rapid regrowth of vegetation. The path through the woods is now lined with a mix of scrubby and diverse re-growth and was a favoured nectaring site for Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies.


Horsecombe Vale - February 2022

Horsecombe Vale - September 2022

Species list for 2022:

Species Common name
Gonepteryx rhamni Brimstone
Aricia agestis Brown Argus
Colias croceus Clouded Yellow
Polygonia c-album Comma
Polyommatus icarus Common Blue
Erynnis tages Dingy Skipper
Pyronia tithonus Gatekeeper
Callophrys rubi Green Hairstreak
Pieris napi Green-veined White
Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper
Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue
Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper
Pieris brassicae Large White
Melanargia galathea Marbled White
Maniola jurtina Meadow Brown
Anthocharis cardamines Orange-tip
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady
Aglais io Peacock
Vanessa atalanta Red Admiral
Aphantopus hyperantus Ringlet
Argynnis paphia Silver-washed Fritillary
Lycaena phlaeas Small Copper
Coenonympha pamphilus Small Heath
Thymelicus sylvestris Small Skipper
Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell
Pieris rapae Small White
Pararge aegeria Speckled Wood
Satyrium w-album White-letter Hairstreak

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