Wild Things columnist Eric Brown refuses to get too despondent if the species he sets out to see is absent because something even better often provides ample compensation.

Over many years I have learned that targeting a certain wildlife species on trips can lead to disappointment. Often the target species refuses to show up. However there's no need for despondency when your quarry goes missing because something even better sometimes appears.

This occurred on January 26 when I accompanied pal Jim Butler searching a Kent wood renowned for crossbills. At least 30 frolicked there the previous day but we were out of luck along with seven other searchers. However, as we walked along a woodland ride Jim cantered past me like a Grand National winner while I stopped to re-tie my bootlaces.

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When I rejoined him he explained he was chasing a red admiral butterfly but it disappeared. I cursed my luck and my bootlaces. Less than half an hour later though I had my January butterfly after all. Something light was fluttering around a sunlit grassy bank on the woodland edge and closer inspection revealed it to be a brimstone, the original butter-coloured butterfly.

I couldn't remember my last January butterfly so trawled my records when I got home. Turns out to have been a comma at Northward Hill RSPB reserve on January 8, 2013. Nationally, butterflies are seen every year on January 1.

The Butterfly Conservation website lists brimstone (Hampshire) and red admiral (Northants, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Sussex) sightings for the first day of 2024. Comma (Cornwall) followed on January 6 and speckled wood (Hampshire) three days later.

Last year I saw 24 butterfly species but the first, a small white, wasn't recorded until April 4. This was my latest-ever first of the year butterfly sighting.

Following erratic 2022 figures in drought and excessive heat, butterflies staged a recovery in 2023. Volunteers taking part in the Big Butterfly Count in July and August recorded more than 1.5 million butterflies and day-flying moths, an increase of 33 per cent on the previous year.

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For the first time the red admiral was the most seen species with 248,077 sightings beating the gatekeeper spotted on 222,896 occasions, an increase of 12 per cent. Next came large whites and small whites. Holly blue numbers also increased by 66 per cent on 2022. Contrary to popular belief, warm weather isn't always perfect for butterflies.

According to research at Exeter University the female meadow brown usually emerges at around 11C with six wing-spots But at 15C they emerge with just three smaller spots. As the spots are used to deter predators this leaves meadow browns more vulnerable.

Events:

Saturday, February 24. RSPB Bexley Group Local Walk East Wickham Open Space 10am to 12.30pm. Booking essential, contact Ralph Todd on 07838 352393 or email rbtodd@btinternet.com

Saturday, March 2. RSPB Bexley Spring Fair, Freemantle Hall, High Street, Bexley, 10am to 1pm Admission 50p. Cards, gifts, books, craft stalls, bird feeding supplies, cakes, preserves, tombola, refreshments. To donate items contact Catherine Bradshaw at bradshaw233@btinternet.com