lets start the New Year with some good news. Many thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who have helped manage this crucial site with help of the fabulous private owner www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Reposting in case you missed it

Unless the weather forecast changes, that was probably my last trap of the year. It ended on a high though with this stunning Bloxworth Snout, which really should be hibernating at this time of year. Dark Chestnut the only other Moth.

The odd Moth still on the wing, the trap had this dark-form of Acleris hastiana, Angle Shades and an RDP. Little to report from Rodden Hive, but quite taken by these tiny fungi I saw nearby. A Mycena sp according to the app.

Yikes, a Boxing Day Speckled Wood in Boscombe. The 2025 season will certainly break some records with flight periods! www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/12/spec...

A very Happy Xmas and New Year to all our followers. Here are some butterflies that make Dorset special: Adonis Blue, Silver-studded Blue, Grayling and Marsh Fritillary

Painted Lady on the wing in the Obs garden just now

A few Painted Ladies are still being seen around Dorset, could they be migrants this late? Or stragglers trying to return home?? www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/12/pain...

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...

A fascinating paper from one of the oldest nature reserves in Dorset. Worrying to see the big decline on Portland but BC Dorset is taking action with @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Lucky you, trebles all round tonight then!

Many thanks to @bcpcouncil.bsky.social for completing the pre Christmas planned transect land management. Nice suprise of 3 Painted Lady (Library pic) on the Undercliff lunchtime. Maybe migrants after recent warm southerly winds. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Pristine Painted Lady Old Castle Rd on brambles entrance to the sailing club 12:30 @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

I just supported this appeal for the NT to buy this vital butterfly site. The surrounding arable land will be converted to flower-rich grassland, greatly expanding the butterfly and wildlife habitat in the centre of the Dorset Downs. Please help if you can www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/a...

The sun is out, and I am most glad. Brown hairstreak egg searching today. Looks like a big year! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Brown Hairstreak egg count at Alners Gorse this Saturday with @martinswarren.bsky.social if you have sharp eyes. Booking essential www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

The appeal to buy Giant Hill for conservation is underway but still far from the target. Please support if you can, to help the National Trust buy this vital site for butterflies www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/a...

Great news that the National Trust hopes to buy Giant Hill, one of the most important butterfly sites in Dorset. Please support the appeal if you can. Our Branch have been monitoring the site for decades and helping to maintain species like the Duke of Burgundy www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Another day another work party to save the Duke of Burgundy in Dorset. This time at Giant Hill to clear encroaching scrub and open up cowslip rich downland @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Four new species for Dorset (and a belated one for Britain) are among the highlights of the Dorset Moths Annual Report 2024. Free PDF downland from dorsetmoths.co.uk #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Great stuff, well done all. This is part of our Farming in Protected Landscapes project with Hilfield Friary. AIM is to save our last 6 Duke sites

Really positive landowner workshop yesterday to discuss how to save the Duke of Burgundy in Dorset. Heart-warming that so many farmers want to help this lovely little butterfly and restore biodiversity. Gives me great hope we can do it @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade. Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see. 4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking. Southbourne Dorset.

Well it's 21st November and I saw 2 male Clouded Yellows today at Southbourne, Bournemouth. There were probably more looking at other photos. Beautiful sunny day on the coast.

4 Clouded Yellow on the wing along the seafront at lunchtime. Looks promising for adults flying locally into December. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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