Welcome to the new season for #pollinator FIT Counts! Our latest e-news was sent out this morning - read it here mailchi.mp/7e658beeba40... and subscribe at ukpoms.org.uk/subscribe As soon as the weather is warm enough we hope that you will enjoy watching and counting insects on flowers with us.

Want to get involved in monitoring butterflies and contribute to a 50yr dataset tracking populations of butterflies in the UK? We have opporunities to join teams surveying transects in some great locations in Lancashire. Find out more here: buff.ly/3cnIupq @BC_Lancs

WEEK ONE! The UKBMS surveys officially kick off today 🎺 🥳 🦋 If you're taking part, check the weather and choose a good day for your survey this week - temps above 13degrees, sun and light winds are best. Weeks run from each Wednesday to the following Tuesday this year. Good luck!

We're enjoying the UK Butterfly Recorders meeting today! Fascinating talk on using UV torches to monitor Black Hairstreak larvae. More great talks to come... If you couldn't make it today the recording will be up on YouTube in a week or two. 📷: Iain H Leach

(3/) The third video covers the additional recording that you can do as part of surveying a BBS square. This includes how to record mammals, plus how to record butterflies as part of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey: youtu.be/htnTm7YMOwE @ukbms.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tips are nearly upon us and, surprisingly, Green Hairstreaks were seen today in Cheshire! www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB/viewto...

Its 2 weeks today until the start of the official Butterfly Monitoring season But for any keen beans you can do early transect walks before April 1st if the weather is warm, above 13oC, dry, bright and still. Early counts can be entered on our website as weeks -3, -2, -1, 0 etc.

Live in Herts or NW London + love spotting butterflies? We need volunteers to survey butterfly transects in the area. You'll need to be able to ID butterflies, walk a 1km transect once each week, or in a rota with others. See comments for more details on the sites... @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

The UKBMS Spring Newsltter is out now! Bringing you seasonal updates about the UKBMS. In this edition we have reminders to get you ready for the start of the season, a dayflying moth ID resource and opportunities to help monitor priority species. ukbms.org/sites/defaul...

If you've enjoyed spotting some early butterflies this spring, why not get involved further and join our surveys. We have three standardised survey methods which provide invaluable data to monitor butterfly populations. See comments below for more info..... 📷 Brimstone: Iain H Leach

Butterfly enthusiasts needed in Wiltshire! Help us survey 1km squares for butterflies as part of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. Visits take place twice a year in July and August. Find out more: volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie...

The annual get together of Butterfly recorders in the UK is fast approaching and the programme is out. Follow the link to see all the talks, we can't wait to hear them! Reserve your free space here - buff.ly/64eUFQf #UKBRM

Next recorders meeting covering North Dorset is this Saturday 14th March in Gillingham. Several great speakers www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

Large Tortoiseshell has been recorded at six counties in the south of England in the last few weeks. Its been recorded on a handful of UKBMS transects in the south east in the last few years. Will we see it expand and consolidate its foothold this year..? butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...

Get ready for survey season! Its just less than a month to go until the start of UKBMS Transect surveys. Brush up on the survey method with our resources here - buff.ly/Qo4kgNX

Spring is springing! 🙌 More butterflies are beginning to make an appearance, with the first Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) and Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) of 2026 spotted on 25 February. 📷 Photos from archive: Nigel Ball, Anna Wheeler

If you fancy listening to me talking about butterflies, moths and how to help them in your garden, there’s a new podcast from the fabulous folk at Garden Organic www.gardenorganic.org.uk/our-views/th...

There's less than a month until the start of the 2026 FIT Count season on 1 April! The Flower-Insect Timed Count survey asks you to spend 10 minutes counting all insects that land on a patch of flowers, to help monitor abundance of #pollinators. 🪰🦋🌻🪲🐝 More info at ukpoms.org.uk/fit-counts

Wow, this is an important paper. We had some evidence early on from @ukbms.bsky.social sites but rarely had good data in grazing regimes. But @tombrereton.bsky.social always said that extensive cattle was the best for butterflies and this add yet more evidence

Join us for the UK Butterfly Recorders Meeting! This free event is perfect for butterfly enthusiasts, taking place online on Sat 28th March. Discover the 2025 UKBMS findings and enjoy insights from leading butterfly experts. Reserve your free spot now! butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...

Butterfly Transect trianing in Derbyshire! Join one of these free sessions to find out more about monitoring butterflies and getting involved in the UKBMS. Led by the local County Recorder, this day will provide you with the skills needed to carry out a butterfly transect as part of the UKBMS.

Save the date! Join us on Sat 28th March 2026 for the UK Butterfly Recorders meeting. This free event is open to anyone intersted in butterfly monitoring. We'll present the 2025 UKBMS results, update on other monitoring schemes and talks about butterfly ecology.

Thinking of monitoring butterflies in your local area or setting up a monitoring project? We have new guidance to help navigate the various monitoring methods and choose the best option for your project. buff.ly/fvThSQq

The winter edition of the UKBMS eNewsletter is out now. Although we may not be seeing any butterflies this weekend, there's still lots to read about and get involved with. link.butterfly-conservation.org/m/1/71172733...

UKBMS data feeds into UK government statistics to measure biodiversity. Each year, @jncc publish Biodiversity Indicators - giving a snapshot of how our biodiveristy is faring buff.ly/Cw71ZAY You can view the latest Biodiversity Indicators here - buff.ly/cyuIo2G

What does 50 yrs of butterfly monitoring tell you? In this case its a puzzle. The dramatic rise of the Silver-studded Blue, Plebejus argus, over 50 yrs at Studland Heath, UK. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social www.dispar.org/reference.ph...

We're thrilled to share this film featuring some of the dedicated volunteers who monitor butterflies for the UKBMS A huge thank you to them, and everyone who's supported the scheme over the last 50 years. #UKBMS50 youtu.be/OrF5AgseX1U?...

🎉 Just 2 days to go until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary Conference! 🦋✨ There's a great programme lined up - ukbms.org/sites/defaul... and we can't wait to welcome the volunteers, researchers and butterfly‑enthusiasts from across the UK. Last chance to book www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf...

With less than 2 weeks until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary conference we're sharing details of the talks and speakers. Our very own Ian Middlebrook, Programme Lead for the UKBMS, will run an optional workshop on the UKBMS website. Book your free place here ⬇️ buff.ly/Kg7X3tA

With less than 2 weeks until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary conference we're sharing details of the talks and speakers. Joe Cooper from the BTO will join us to talk about how UKBMS data has been used to improve the design of housing developments. Book your free place here ⬇️ buff.ly/Kg7X3tA

....and thats a wrap! Today is the last day to carry out a survey for the 'core' UKBMS survey weeks. 🤞 the weather has been good enough to fit in your final survey. Don't forget to get all your data entered by the END OF OCT, otherwise it may not be included in the analysis 📋 📊 Thank you!

With 2 weeks until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary conference we're sharing details of the talks and speakers. Dr Richard Fox from Butterfly Conservation will discuss the use of the UKBMS data on research - it'll be fascinating! Book your free place here ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf...

With 2 weeks until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary conference we're sharing details of the talks and speakers. We're pleased to welcome Cristina Gonzalez Sevilleja from the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Book your free place here ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf...

With 2 weeks until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary conference we're sharing details of the talks and speakers. Fist up, Prof. David Roy from @ukceh will be giving the keynote talk looking back at the last 50 years of the UKBMS Book your free place here ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf...

Its week 26, the final week of our 50th survey season! 🎺 🎉 🦋 🥳 A HUGE thank you to all the fantastic volunteers for walking transects, recording butterflies and entering data this year. Your efforts greatly contribute to our understanding of butterfly populations and helps us conserve them ❤️

@ukbms.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social

Today marks the start of week 25! It's penultimate week of the UKBMS with just two more survey weeks remaining (though you can carry on longer if desired!) Its a good time to review your data, check everything has been entered correctly and congratulate yourself for your efforts!

One month to go until the UKBMS 50th Anniversary Conference! Are you joining us? www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf... #UKBMS50

Week 24 starts today! Do you need any help entering your data? We have great videos and resources that walk you through it how to do it. You'll find them all on the UKBMS website here: ukbms.org/guidance-rec...

Eight fresh Walls on Corfe Common transect yesterday. In a normal year I would say second brood, but this year I would say Third brood as the second appeared in July. Hopefully they will have time to develop and overwinter as young larvae @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Discover how a chance encounter for our Norfolk Chairman ignited a passion to preserve butterflies. www.klmagazine.co.uk/articles/but...

Its week 23 of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme! September is here and we're into the last month of the survey. Some summer species may no longer be on the wing, but as we're having a bumper year, keep an eye out for second (or even third) broods of some species.

We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who contributed to the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey this year!!! 🎉 👏 🦋 The survey window closed today, so be sure to enter all of your data to the UKBMS website by the end of October. @bbs-birds.bsky.social

If you're participating in this years Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey, you have THREE DAYS to complete your final survey if you've not already done it. The window for this survey closes at the end of August. Thanks all! Full details here: ukbms.org/sites/defaul... @bbs-birds.bsky.social

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey participants – there are just 5 days remaining before the survey period ends. The WCBS wraps up at the end of August, be sure to complete your final survey if you haven't done so already. Full survey details here: ukbms.org/sites/defaul... @bbs-birds.bsky.social

Not that long ago in August Buddleia's could be covered with Small Tortoiseshells (A urticae, kleine vos). On eBMS transects and 15min counts (www.butterfly-monitoring.net) this butterfly is now restricted to higher elevations or latitudes. Open squares=counted in that period.

Its week 22! Did you know that the sightings you enter via UKBMS also connect to iRecord? This allows county recorders, species experts, and researchers to access them. If you have an iRecord account, you can view all your UKBMS records alongside your other records. irecord.org.uk?check_logged...

A new study from @ukceh.bsky.social using UKBMS data explores the impact of Agri-Environmental Schemes on butterfly abundance, species richness and diversity in England. Some positive relationships uncovered 👍 Learn more here - buff.ly/a0AKpBf buff.ly/yjNJdeE

Join us at the UKBMS 50th Anniversary Conference! We can't wait to celebrate this milestone yr 🎂 Join us for a day of butterfly science, celebrations and chatting with other butterfly enthusiasts. Book your free place - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-butterf... Places are limited, book soon! #UKBMS50

UKBMS data is crucial for research. A new paper uses 45 yrs of UKBMS data to examine how extreme climate events affect butterfly populations in England. Heatwaves during hibernation or early life stages and heavy rain during later stages have -ve effects. Its worth a read - buff.ly/nOU2Zod