Come and Join Us! @marcusrhodes.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Come and Join Us!

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation volunteers had a rather sodden time of it on Bodmin Moor today. We were planting Common Dog Violets to increase the breeding habitat along a new corridor connecting two colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. At least they've had a good watering in!

Lots of Small Heaths near Garrow Tor this afternoon. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The brimstone butterfly's leaf-like wing is such a good disguise. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Sunlight and nectar. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Clouded Yellow sipping nectar from Birds-foot trefoil. First I’ve seen this year in Cornwall. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Why so few Small Tortoiseshells? @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Common Blue on Bird’s-foot trefoil. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Brimstone- not seen many this year … @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Large White. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

This is a very strange photo. I took about 5 shots of this Peacock and they all turned out looking like the butterfly had been pasted onto a grass background. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Essex Skipper sipping Lavender nectar near Peddars way. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social

Wall Brown seen near Peddars Way today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social

Essex Skipper seen on Peddars Way today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social

Brimstone @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Luckless quest for early Clouded Yellows at East Coombe near Lansallos - but saw these 3 surprises instead @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Brimstone @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The Ringlet’s white fringe. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

First Ringlet in the garden. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Newly emerged Brimstone. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

High Brown Fritillary, Aish Tor. Managed to find them. Thanks! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tip caterpillar. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Heath Fritillaries Greenscoombe Wood 8th June 2025. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I think it’s a Large Marsh Horsefly.

Heath Fritillaries still going strong at Greenscoombe Wood. About 45 seen today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Green Hairstreaks at Aish Tor today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Rusty Tussock moth larva @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Bunny’s Hill, Bodmin. 142 seen today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tip @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Orange-tip

Small Pearl-bordered fritillary on Bodmin Moor yesterday. Exquisite. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Hooray! I found my first Silver-studded Blue of the year roosting in the company of a Common Blue at St Gothian Sands this evening.

Brimstone caterpillars getting to a good size now. Blue Tits watching. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Large Skipper on Cornwall Coast Path today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The Pearl-bordered fritillaries on the Cornwall Coast Path are almost gone. Only 3 seen today. This one was still laying eggs on Violets. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

WOW! What a day for Cornwall Butterfly Conservation! Our Pendrift, Bodmin Moor field trip yesterday started quietly, then we were SWAMPED by butterflies! Staggering 151 fritillaries counted: ~75 Pearl-bordered & ~75 Small Pearl-bordered! Incredible numbers! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Pearl-bordered fritillaries still going strong on Cornwall coast path after 5 weeks now. Some looking newly emerged. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I love this place. Not bad for Pearl-bordered fritillaries either. 40 seen here today.

Change at De Lank quarry on Bodmin Moor. Small Pearl-bordered fritillaries are now outnumbering Pearl-bordered fritillaries as their flight period ends and the smalls emerge.

A tricky time on Bodmin Moor! We've got both Small Pearl-bordered and Pearl-bordered fritillaries flying right now. That quick flash of orange is suddenly much harder to decipher.

Very pleased to see Pearl-bordered fritillaries still flying on Cornwall coast path. 43 seen. Some beginning to show their age.

In spite of the recent fire at Pendrift Down on Bodmin Moor the Pearl-bordered fritillaries are flying there. 6 seen there yesterday.

First Brimstone caterpillar of the year! Lots of luck!

Bittersweet news from Marsland. No adult pearl-bordered fritillaries seen, but lots of small pearl-bordered fritillaries are already flying! Usually expect them mid-May, so a very early emergence this year.

Pearl-bordered fritillaries emerging now on Fellover Break on Bodmin Moor. Saw 17 there yesterday afternoon.

Pearl-bordered fritillaries starting to emerge on Bodmin Moor at last, 3 weeks later than other sites in Cornwall. Good timing with excellent weather predicted for next couple of weeks.

What is this Goldcrest up to outside my window today?

Different from typical Pearl-bordered fritillary sites, the shale geology of the Cornwall Coast Path creates clitter on the surface - holding solar heat to warm the ground & providing crucial basking spots for butterflies when it clouds over.

Amazing afternoon on the Cornwall Coast Path with Pearl-bordered fritillaries. Abundant violets & a record count (for us) of 83! The unique shale clitter here is key, holding heat for basking when clouds appear. Brilliant to see so many.