Enjoyable walk at Durlston Country Park lunchtime even though a little overcast. Highlights - lots of Hummingbird hawk-moth on budliea, late Adonis Blue and lovely 3rd gen Wall. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Even with an onshore breeze and intermittent 🌞 at Southbourne lunchtime I still managed to count 59 Clouded Yellows on our Seafront transect. On the undercliff sectons many were sheltering from the wind among the grass. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Out at Southbourne today, and on the transect there was an total count of 153 Clouded Yellows. There were more outside the transect walk. It's the most we've had in a single count since we started recording in 2022. Simply amazing. Also 3rd brood Small Copper, Whites and C'mon Blue. Sbourne Dorset

Mating Long-tailed Blues on Portsdown today

Week 24 and it was back out on the butterfly transect today. Just like the rest of Southern England there's Clouded Yellows everywhere, what a year we're having, with 10 helice spotted. Larva and eggs found as well. Only a few Whites and 2 Painted Lady seen for other species. Southbourne Dorset

A mallow skipper is camping in the garden already for a week or so, busy chasing other butterflies. And while cleaning up the moth trap this morning a female southern small white came sunning in front of me. (1/3)

This Dragonfly was cruising along the overcliff at Southbourne today. Managed a quick picture possible ID Lesser Emporer which would be a first for me. Happy to be corrected as not an expert 😀 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Brief visit to @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Fontmell Down to see how the Dorset colony of Silver-spotted Skipper is coping with the ☀️weather. Happy to say 3 seen making best use of the limited vegitation. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

A reminder for Dorset folk that my second Marvellous Moths event in Corfe Castle is on Sunday 9:30-11:00 Hope to see some of you there

Just had a brief walk along an urban street in Poole Dorset. Every garden budliea contains 4 of 5 Painted Lady, also a couple of Jersey Tiger moth 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

☀️ 23c for walk at Badbury Rings this morning. Lot's 🦋 to see on this lovely patch of Dorset chalk downland, inc Chalk-hill blue, Clouded Yellow and Hummingbird hawk moth. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

The Big Butterfly Count 2026 is here and butterflies need our help! 🦋 From now until 9 August, spend just 15 minutes outside counting the butterflies you see and help us take nature's pulse. The best part? Anyone, anywhere can take part. Count yourself in 👉 https://butrfli.es/3SVFepj

A brief early morning visit to Alners Gorse reserve. Brown Hairstreak proving to be a little shy but lots of butterflies to see. Return visit required 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Lulworth Skipper out in good numbers at Durlston Country Park this morning. This one displaying the iconic Lulworth cove markings. Thanks @barnold668.bsky.social for interesting guided walk. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

☀️ Lot's of White Admiral and one Purple Emporer at Abbots Wood this morning. It's my first grounded PE for a while 😀

Morning visit to Arne nature reserve @rspbengland.bsky.social Nice to see 50+ Silver-studded Blue 🦋 on the heath, only one female. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

A few more sightings from this morning at Ulwell including my first Adonis Blue & 20+Brown Argus 😀

At least 2 Marsh Fritillary on the hillside at Ulwell nr Swanage this morning. I did see one last year in the same spot. Assume continued release in same area. 🤔 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social

A great start to Spring for the Holly Blue 🦋 6 in my small urban garden this afternoon. Also had 2 Painted Lady Zoom past. 😀 @BC_Dorset @savebutterflies

Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) have finally emerged in Dorset.

A few Spring butterflies seen at a blustery Martin Down this morning. Nice to see my first Green Hairstreak of the year 😀

Yay, my first Wall of the year, but the big surprise is that it’s a female. They usually come out a bit later to make sure there are plenty of males around to mate quickly. Seen on chalk ridge near Swanage @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Looking like one of the best Springs in recent years but we can only be sure if you record the butterflies seen. We encourage the use of iRecord, an app you can download to your phone. Its free and simple to use. Do give it a try & thanks if you already use it @savebutterflies.bsky.social

👏 Hurray the cycle is complete. Adult Clouded Yellow x3 on our Southbourne transect today. All stages monitored overwinter to demonstrate successful overwintering. Thanks to all who helped 👍 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Would you believe it my first visit to Ulwell this year rewarded with a Large Tortoiseshell. Unfortunately did not see the upper wing until it flew off. Second sighting locally this week I believe 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Another Dorset sighting of Large Tortoiseshell. Perseverance pays!

garyh-56.bsky.social@garyh-56.bsky.social · 6mo ago

It was 3rd time lucky over the last couple of weeks as I finally saw my first ever Large Tortoiseshell at Hengistbury Head this morning after years of always missing out. Blooming Marvellous! 🦋 Hengistbury Head Dorset

My first Orange-tip and Holly Blue of the year along the Purbeck Ridge between Corfe Castle and Swanage. Too flighty for photos so here is a more obliging Peacock amongst gorse flowers! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

The "Southern Cousin" of our Orange Tip. The Provence Orange Tip was in big numbers on the hills and mountain slopes in Spain last week. Mijas Spain

First Holly Blue sighting in Dorset, plus first Small White, courtesy of @martinswarren@btinternet.com www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2026/03/holl...

Holly Blue, Hambledon Hill

Shona sent in this photo telling us: I was at Hambledon Hill watching some Peacocks nectaring on Blackthorn yesterday, 18/03/2026, when something small and blue shot past me and joined in.  I was s…

dorsetbutterflies.com

Canary Island Large White now in crisis following likely extinction on Tenerife

Asociación ZERYNTHIA@asoczerynthia.bsky.social · 7mo ago

🦋 Alerta por una mariposa única de Canarias Vía: canariasnoticias.es La Asociación ZERYNTHIA pide incluir a la Pieris cheiranthi, endémica de Canarias, en la categoría de “en situación crítica” tras su probable extinción en Tenerife. Noticia completa: acortar.link/77q0nS