For 30 years there has been one species firmly at the top of my hit-list: Crimson Speckled. 30 years ago they had an almost mythical status, now more regular of course. So I was beyond elated to find this in one of the traps this morning!!! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Good turn out for our first Brown Hairstreak egg count at Lydlinch Common.Eggs thin in the ground though with just 13 found in 2 hrs by 9 people. But we did find a nice double and a dew covered Drinker moth caterpillar. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Yesterday the wonderful Phil Sterling came to Studland to tell us about some unique moths of Purbeck, and we’ve got some real goodies and some real weirdos. Who’d have thought Bagworms were so devious! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The 2025 season goes on down here in Swanage. A rather tatty Painted Lady today 13 November @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Huge thanks to Nigel Spring who is stepping down as Chair after many years of superb leadership of our Branch. We are grateful that he is staying on the Committee and as Reserves Manager. A true great of conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Caroline Bulman explains action to save priority butterflies in Dorset, especially the Duke of Burgundy which is now found on only 6 small sites. It has died out from several nature reserves and requires careful management. Action is now being taken on the last few sites under a special grant.

Wonderful to see so many butterfly and moth enthusiasts at our AGM and Members Day. Great to hear so much super work being done by our dedicated volunteers

Rather bedraggled helice form of Clouded Yellow at Chapmans Pool in south Dorset just now. This remarkable long season goes on @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social

Crimson Speckled currently settled in the Crown Estate Field

We heard some wonderful stories of amazing recovery of Dukes in Sussex from Neil Hulme and Kent from Dan Tuson, and latest survey methods from Sue Clarke. Very inspiring

It was so good to hear that in other parts of the country, concerted efforts at both site and landscape level have returned Duke of Burgundy to old haunts and newly created habitat. There is hope in Dorset yet!

Fantastic turnout for our Duke of Burgundy workshop for land advisors in Dorset. So much interest in saving this lovely butterfly which is down to 6 small colonies in Dorset. Funded thanks to Farming in Protected Landscapes grant with Hilfield Friary and @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Amazing record of a Deaths-head Hawk-moth in Swanage. Well done Phyl @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A reminder that our AGM is this Saturday in Cerne Abbas. Please join us if you can www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

A meagre 14 moths of 7sp last night in Corfe Castle, but worth it for two Feathered Thorns #Teammoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

I found three Brown Hairstreak eggs today during a casual search at the Dorset patch....still too much leaf on the Blackthorn bushes at present to search for more! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Saving Brown hairstreak eggs from the flail today. Relocating them on the same site where they can hatch next spring and progress as caterpillars. 55 eggs from 105 mins search bodes well for the coming winter survey. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

It may be late October but still have a couple of Speckled Wood in my Poole garden 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Here is some of the work we did today creating bays in the encroaching scrub, partly to create sheltered areas for males to set up territories and partly to encourage cowslips regeneration @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Great to start our first task to save the Duke of Burgundy in Dorset. It’s reduced to 6 small colonies and we will be managing 5 of them under a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant. We are grateful to the private owners for permission and EUCAN and @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social for expertise

📢New paper: Night-flying insects over UK in decline, weather radar study reveals @universityofleeds.bsky.social with Rothamsted Insect Survey🦋🐝🪰🦟 Full story 👇 www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/trillio...

Nice to see some late autumn butterflies enjoying the sunshine in the shelter from the cold NW wind today. South Somerset @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Playing around with heat maps of 12 years of Brown hairstreak egg counts. Lots of cool insights. This screen grab shows how the sunny sections of hedge between large Oaks are favoured. Rainy day fun. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Still penty of Clouded Yellow on the wing at a ☀️ Southbourne today. Also seen lightly marked Small Copper. Sightings reported to @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

What an absolutely gorgeous day for a walk along The Fleet, Weymouth today. Really warm and sunny, lovely views, the bubbling calls of Brent Geese and plenty of Speckled Wood butterflies active along the hedgerows, as well as a couple of Red Admiral. Perfect. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

New event just added: Brown Hairstreak egg count at Lydlinch Common on 15 November with @martinswarren.bsky.social. Beginners welcome, it’s easy when you know what to look for! Also our AGM on 8th Nov and lots of work parties to help key sites www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

Generally dull overcast day at Southbourne today. However, a brief 10 minutes of sun had a few butterflies emerging, including this fresh Small Copper. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Death's-head Hawk from the Obs moth-traps this morning

Very smart autumnal moths from 2 nights ago in Corfe Castle: Green-brindled Crescent and Merveille du Jour @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

The only real oddity in the traps was this 2nd gen Yellow-tail in full tumescent mode! First Merveille du Jour of the year. This will be the first and last photo of them! Otherwise Grey Pine Carpet, Sallow, Chestnut, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Feathered Ranunculus and Acleris sparsana best-of-rest.

Late afternoon sunshine at my Dorset patch after 5 days of total cloud cover & a Clouded Yellow, Migrant Hawker hunting & a Peregrine perched at dusk.....lovely! Also present: 47 Teal, 3 Shoveler, drake Gadwall & Wigeon, 2 Green Sandpiper @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

There are some great #moths around in autumn. This morning's highlights were Merveille du Jour (living up to its name) and Blair's Mocha (probably resident around here). West Dorset, UK. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

Some shocking findings from our European colleagues, we need far more effort to conserve these amazing insects at home and abroad

The new European Butterfly Red List shows that butterflies are under increasing threat across Europe, with the number of species at risk of extinction up from 37 to 65 (73%) in the last 10 years. See our Press Release www.bc-europe.eu/documents/68...

STOP PRESS: Long-tailed Blue see at Southbourne on 9th October. This remarkable season keeps on going www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/10/long...

A rather small helice form of Clouded Yellow at Southbourne today. This individual had a delecate lemon flush on the wings. 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Dont forget our Members Day and AGM on Saturday 8th November. Helpers needed www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/10/annu...

OK not the best picture but definitely an October Clouded Yellow at Durlston in Dorset, along with a couple of Walls, Speckled Woods, and an egg laying Red Admiral. Happy. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

At least two Clouded Yellows seen around the Cordite Way Arne VP this morning. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @lytchettbirder.bsky.social @woodfordliz.bsky.social

My first and likely last Clouded Yellow of the year above Seacombe on the Jurassic Coast this afternoon. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Red Admiral larva crossing the road (slowly), West Dorset UK. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

So happy to have 3 super-smart Black Rustic in the moth trap this morning (Weymouth) - an autumn favourite. 😍 Overall 11 species (23 individuals), included Barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Beaded Chestnut and Feathered Ranunculus. #teammoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

17 sp + 44 moths in my Corfe Castle #mothtrap yesterday. Inc 24 Lunar Underwings. Other lovelies were Centre-barred Sallow, Sallow, Feathered Brindle, and Frosted Orange @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy at Milborne wood in Dorset today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Still a few very fresh Walls on Corfe Common, my first ever October sightings in UK. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Just had a Wall butterfly in my Broadwey garden @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social. did not stay for a pic.

Last year saw 10 amazing young people aged between 16-25 joining our first-ever Youth Panel! Since then, the panel have spoken up for nature and youth empowerment at marches and events, attended residentials and launched their first Zine 👉 https://butterfly-conservation.org/youth-panel

A reminder that our AGM and is on 8th November in Cerne Abbas, featuring a talk from Dr Caroline Bulman on what we are doing to conserve Dorsets rarest butterflies. Also a series of work parties coming up www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

Still quite a few Walls on Corfe Common, the butterfly season goes on! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Plenty of butterflies on the wing around Barleycroft Lane, Portland today too. Including 3 Wall, Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Lady, and lots of Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy flowers. Also a bonus Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and, on the birding front, a fabulous Wryneck. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social