We are entering what is usually the central part of the flight season for the grizzled skipper. We usually get most of our sightings from around this time of the season and also it is a good time to search for both the butterfly and its eggs (as the females have been on the wing for a few weeks now).

On the 9th may we had reports of a grizzled skipper on the wing at Orston Plaster Pits. This is the first report at this site since 2015. 3 days later we received reports of the first grizzled skipper at Bingham Linear Park and on Saturday we received news of the first sighting of grizzled skipper at Saxondale. Also this week we had confirmation of the continued presence of grizzled skipper at Colston Gate. If you remember, last year grizzled skipper were discovered at this site for the very first time.

In the south west of the county, we received news yesterday of grizzled skipper still being present near Rushcliffe Halt along the Great Central Railway. Again having not been seen at this site for a few years, eggs were observed one of the butterflies food plants. (the previous sighting was in 2019). This is great news and illustrates the value of egg searches (see picture attached – thanks Brian).

In the east of the county, we have received our first records of the years from Cotham Station site and the adjacent Cotham disused railway line (including the sustran’s section running from Newark to Cotham). Records continue to come in from Staunton Quarry and Flawborough too.

Sadly, it sounds as though a large part of the suitable habitat on the eastern side of Langar airfield has been grubbed up or ploughed under. This was a very reliable series of sites so this is obviously very bad news. However, we are still seeing the butterfly in the general area as we received records from the disused railway south of Barnstone (near Langar) earlier this week.

We still haven’t had reports of Grizzled skipper from the Old Coal Stocking Yard at Newstead however I would welcome any records from across Nottinghamshire.

We still have space for our ‘Open your eyes’ event on Friday at Staunton Quarry. If you would like to come along please contact myself or Emma Gilbert

(Emma.Gilbert@nottscc.gov.ukand) we will book you’re a place. The forecast isn’t great but we may be lucky and even in not ideal conditions we can show you how to search for (and find) grizzled skipper eggs.

Chris Jackson