A very enjoyable UTB Members Day and a big thank you to the 4 excellent speakers. And a thank you to all UTB members working behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly and of course all who attended!

Trapping around Cothill Fen this week produced some nice moths including Clifden Nonpareil! Evergestis limbata was the rarest to turn up, and it was nice to see Vestal and other migrants #teammoth @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Brown Hairstreak, adult and egg, recorded on the outskirts of Caversham, near Reading, Berks, today.

The annual Barberry Carpet survey yesterday, at the only Upper Thames site. 22 larvae from 23 bushes sampled, so seems to be holding on okay. A couple of Vestal also seen which is always a nice bonus!

Just a sliver of deadwood with some bark on? Fresh from the rearing pot, a Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta. Caterpillar swept from meadowsweet & fed on it. what a docile spectacular #moth Oxon, Hinksey Hts fen. @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

Doing moth trapping in the UK this weekend? Can you help us gather lots of images of moths on egg cartons from your trap? Help us develop a tool making moth recording easier for more people Tks! #mothsmateer #teammoth @richardfoxbc.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

I'm thinking this is the last Gatekeeper sighting of 2025 for me. @upperthames.bsky.social Walking on the water at 50 Acre Piece. 16/08/25

Silver-spotted Skippers, seen yesterday at Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

Adonis and Chalkhill Blues from Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon, and Common Blue from Hazelborough Woods, Northants today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

@upperthames.bsky.social . Thanks to Grahame Hawker for guiding us at 50 Acre Piece today. Despite overcast and cool weather we saw plenty of the target species. My first ever Grayling. And a Potter Wasp "pot". A valuable addition to the mosaic of habitats in transition.

Delighted to spot this pristine Brown Hairstreak butterfly this morning in the Lye Valley, Oxford, the first adult I've ever seen there! #Recorded #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotos #inverts #OX3 @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

The "scrapes" we created and sowed with native plants in the amenity grassland at Rock Edge are proving popular with the last of the summer's butterflies. Here a Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is nectaring on the copious Marjoram still in flower. #UKButterflies @upperthames.bsky.social #Oxford

Added Adonis Blue and Silver Spotted Skipper to species sighted in '25 . Aston Rowant NNR today in better weather than was forecast. @upperthames.bsky.social

OK, so it's a dreadful photo, BUT, it's the first adult Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) butterfly we've *ever* seen at Rock Edge. We routinely count the eggs over winter, but until now, the adults have remained elusive... #UKButterflies #UKWildlife @upperthames.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social

Great to spot this fresh Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly in the Valley this morning. Not seen many here this year. Is anyone else seeing them? 🤔 #UKButterflies #inverts #UKWildlifePhotos #recorded @upperthames.bsky.social

Silver-spotted Skipper beginning to emerge at Aston Rowant NNR. Six counted 25/7/25. @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Stunning male second brood Adonis Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25 @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

My 46th species of UK butterfly yesterday at Grangelands, Bucks; Silver-spotted Skipper. Also, Chalkhill Blues. @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Chalkhill Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25 @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Today's the day ! It's launch day for the #BigButterflyCount . . . Get out between now and 10th August for 15 minutes and count the butterflies you see & help the great citizen science of @savebutterflies.bsky.social ! Get involved at bigbutterflycount.org

With only 1 prev record (‘24) at Watermead, I watched the same small Oak beside the R.Thame for 1/2hr & was rewarded with a single PURPLE HAIRSTREAK… + only the 3rd rec. of BROWN ARGUS here on the bank. @chilternsnature.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social #butterflies #nature #wildlifephotography

In #LyeValley #fen rare Parsley Water Dropwort Oenanche lachenalii is doing exceptionally well & in cooler mizzly rain I managed a closer look at the wings of a Green Veined white butterfly, never noticed spots before.. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

Surveying for Striped Lychnis larvae at Dairy Lane, Henley, today. 823 dark mullein flower spikes produced 113 larvae. 64 were final instar of which 75% had Tachinid eggs attached.

Our Ragwort plants are looking a "little the worse for wear" thanks to the massed ranks of Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) moth caterpillars in the Valley. This plant has been completely stripped of leaves and flowers! 😃 #WildWebsWednesday #inverts @upperthames.bsky.social #MothsMatter

A striped Lychnis near Henley yesterday. Sadly for this one it has a few Tachinid eggs attached.

A Lappet recorded at one of the sites we survey in Berkshire. Such a stunning moth and a good record. Berks records for this species are few and far between.

Trapping last night at one of the rewilding sites we survey in Berks. Pleased to record two Light Crimson Underwing and a Buttoned Snout.

More usually found in flowery grassland, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) butterflies do occasionally visit the fen. This one stopped on some of our abundant Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil just long enough to have its photo taken. @upperthames.bsky.social #inverts #UKWildlife #OxfordshireFens

Aston Clinton Ragpitslooked and smelled good on Saturday. Surprisingly long wait to get a butterfly on an orchid pic. considering how many spikes there were!! Twayblade,hybrid Fragrant/Common Spotted and parents. @ukorchids.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

A White-letter Hairstreak at Bottom Wood, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire

We seem to have lots of Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula) moths in the Valley at the moment. Is anyone else seeing more than usual? #inverts #MothsMatter #UKWildlife #30DaysWild 📷 @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

White-letter Hairstreak very active this morning on this wych elm on the Berks/Oxfordshire border

Waste not, want not! Something I've never seen before, a Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci) larva eating its own shed skin! #inverts #30DaysWild #UKWildlife #TeamMoth #UKButterflies #BackGardenSafari @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

MARBLED WHITE, LARGE SKIPPER, RED ADMIRAL and COMMON BLUE from our day in the Chilterns yesterday. #butterflies @upperthames.bsky.social #wildlife #nature

A few nice bits at Watermead this eve: Best by far - male CUCKOO calling at small lake, 21.10, PAINTED LADY stopped for a couple of secs for a shot before shooting off, Pair of BAR-HEADED GEESE, & lots of NOCTULE BATS hunting… #bucksbirdalert @upperthames.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social

Few bits from this morn’s survey at Watermead… CUCKOO calling again, REED WARBLER singing (scarce here, esp. in June), Increase in MARBLED WHITES, BROAD-BODIED CHASER devouring a Hoverfly - great to see side-by-side with BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER. @upperthames.bsky.social #dragonflies #wildlife #nature

The weird and wonderful Puss moth (Cerura vinula) caterpillar. This one is still tiny (around 1cm or so). They look much more dramatic as they grow bigger! @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social #inverts #UKWildlife #TeamMoth

Just spotted my first Scarlet Tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) of the year, happily flying along a street in East Oxford. It was the flash of red I noticed, that I couldn't quite make into a butterfly... #MothsMatter #UKWildlife 📷 @upperthames.bsky.social #Recorded

A Black Hairstreak, one of many in Salcey Forest, Northants @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

A Drab Looper in West Berks this afternoon. One of our priority Moth species. A dreary name but actually a rather charming and dainty little moth!

Are you heading up to the Lake District fells this summer? You could help us monitor Mountain Ringlet - England's only mountain butterfly. This small, beautiful butterfly flies in June and July and we need help from hillwalkers to locate new colonies. buff.ly/AZYvjvk

Went out for a lunchtime break in the sunshine at BBOWT's Greenham Common where we spotted a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers, although we were looking out for Green Hairstreaks, but alas no luck @bbowt.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Loads of butterflies at Ivinghoe Beacon. So many Marsh Fritillaries & Duke of Burgundy. Also Green Hairstreak, Brimstones, Grizzled & Dingy Skipper, Common Blue & Brown Argus. Great site management by NT. 12 species in all. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk.

Duke of Burgundy enjoying the sunshine today at Prestbury Hill reserve. Thrilled to see so many flying! 😀 Always smaller than what you remember. #butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

Drab Looper are already on the wing in the Upper Thames

A stunning Oak Eggar larva seen in Oxfordshire yesterday

Adonis Blue seen at Lardon Chase this morning. That is rather early!

Several Garden Tiger larvae found on the Lambourn Downs today. Nice to see, not as easy one to find these days in the Upper Thames.

BBOWT/BC ran a 'surveying for Hairstreaks course' yesterday with a practice UV light search for Black Hairstreak larvae in the evening. The surveys will form part of BBOWTs exciting RBOR project. An interesting and informative day, thank you to all who organised.