Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch)

Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity

@savebutterflies.bsky.social now considers Large Tortoiseshell a resident species once again.
It is yet to recoloniese our region. But with a continent-facing coastline and abundant elm surely soon.

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Early Thorn

Dotted Border

Oak Beauty

Pale Pinion

67 of 13 sp in #mothtrap at Corfe Castle. Some beauties were Early Thorn, Dotted Border, Oak Beauty and Pale Pinion. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #teammoth

Here in the UK numbers have been going up but 2023 and 2024 were disastrous. I think it will have picked up in 2025 (not shown). But the UK has a big variety of habitats and Dark Green does well in cooler climates in the north

Garden Organic | The Organic Gardening Podcast Garden Organic's popular podcast - The Organic Gardening Podcast - gives you monthly tips, inspiration and advice on how to grow, the organic way.

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...

Yorkshire Dales sheep and cattle swap boosts biodiversity - studies Natural England began switching to cattle grazing at its Ingleborough site in the Dales in 2004.

"There's five times as many butterflies on cattle grazing sites compared with sheep grazed sites,"

@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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

Large Tortoiseshell, Hengistbury Head Two photos from Mike sent in telling us: I finally got to see the Large Tortoiseshell at Hengistbury Head today,  05/03/2026. It didn’t hang around for too long and was very active – a …

Another Dorset Large Tortoiseshell, this time at Hengistbury Head www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2026/03/larg...

Photo of the Large Tortoiseshell seen yesterday at Ballard Down by Shona Refoy. An exciting spot after one seen at Baiter in Poole a few days ago. Please report any other sightings on our website or here

Reliable report of Large Tortoiseshell at Ballard Down near Swanage yesterday, keep your eyes peeled out there. Pics to follow

Forsters not seen at Baiter Park this lunchtime, but a surprise Large Tortoiseshell! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

First Dorset record of Large Tortoiseshell this year. Watch this space for other new sightings

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden today.
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Red Admiral in our garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage yesterday - that brings our garden butterfly species total for 2026 to 2 - lots more sightings hoped for soon. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Comma butterfly on gravel

Peacock

Gorse Shieldbug on gorse!

Seven-spot Ladybird

A warm, sunny day at the Dorset patch brought out plenty of insects: 2 Comma, 3 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Brimstone, Gorse Shieldbug & Seven-spot Ladybird. #inverts @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Marsh fritillary larvae out and busy in the morning sun. North Dorset. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

I had a Hummingbird Hawk moth in my garden this morning, Poole, Dorset.
That is the earliest I’ve seen one and it was cold and breezy.
I guess it overwintered here. lyndalambert.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
#Hummingbirdhawkmoth

Having walked Didlington for 40 odd years counting butterflies for @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social for at least 20 yrs it was lovely to see 4 Brimstones a Comma and this Peacock today. Lots of changes over the years😊and ☹️
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@rspb.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Dull and mild February brings wet winter to a close The Met Office has released its provisional statistics for Winter 2025/26 and February 2026, revealing a season characterised by persistent wet weather and stark regional rainfall contrasts.

Winter second wettest for Dorset since records began in 1836. Only surpassed by Winter 2013/14. I recorded 635.2mm in Dorchester this Winter, and 646.1mm in 2013/14.

I remember 2013/14 as being much stormier (windier) here, than this Winter. www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...

Events Please book with the event leader in advance – anytime up to the afternoon before the event. Please include your mobile phone number and email address, as we may have to contact you if number…

Next recorders meeting is for south Dorset on Thursday 6th March at Harmans Cross. The usual round up for the year and @martinswarren@btinternet.com talking on 50 years of butterfly monitoring in Purbeck. All welcome, details here www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

Now a brief visit from a Hummingbird Hawk-moth to the Paper Bush in our Corfe Castle garden @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Three Red Admirals up and about at 09:30 this morning at 10C, basking and nectaring on our Paper Bush. You have to admire them. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Moth traps very poor, but saved by this Streamer. Otherwise, 4 Oak Beauty worth a mention.
Rodden Hive quiet this morning bar small numbers of lingering Teal.
The Sibe Chiff was again at Abbotsbury STW with 20+ Chiffs. Rather elusive though.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Not one but two Red Admirals in my garden today, taking it in turns to nectar on our Edgeworthia plant, which provides unique amount of early nectar @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Come on Dorset, we can’t be far behind. Keep up with the latest sightings on our website www.dorsetbutterflies.com/sightings/re...

Had Peacock, Brimstone and Early Bumblebee in the Wareham Garden 🐝🦋

Peacock butterfly in hibernation, with spider lurking!

120 wings of dead Peacock butterflies on floor of bunker, presumably eaten by bats. Equates to 30 butterflies eaten!

A solitary Peacock left alive in the Purbeck bunkers. Out of 73 that went in. Not a very good survival rate! Culprits are bats (wing photo from last August) and spiders. Let’s hope they do better in other hibernation sites @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Ideally use iRecord butterfly app in tandem
(though I appreciate the hassle of managing 2 apps)

A dirt track runs out to the horizon under a bright blue sky, flanked by wire and post fencing and green agricultural fields, with a row of cottages and a small chapel visible in the distance.

A sniff of spring at a beautiful St Aldhelm's Head this morning, with a smattering of Mipits, wagtails, & thrushes on the move, & most of the local breeders bqck in full song. At least 5 Peacock butterflies were also enjoying the sunshine @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Saw 7 Brims from C mullen to Compton Acres + Peacock and loads of bees

And now a Comma in the garden. That’s three butterfly species today, and it’s still February @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social