Anyone else finding numbers of Small Coppers are down this autumn? Counts this month on our two best local sites in South Herts are down 85% and 93% on two years ago @savebutterflies.bsky.social #butterflies @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

It’s been a good year for butterflies! Hot weather has boosted overall numbers, but some species have done better than others. Find out who are the winners and losers and what might come next… @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social #butterflies @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Richard Fox@richardfoxbc.bsky.social · 2w ago

Big Butterfly Count results are out 📈 📊🦋 butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...

Reform are now clearly defining their party as anti-wildlife

Guy Shrubsole@guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 4w ago

‘Honest Bob’ Jenrick says he wants to “abolish” Natural England, and at the very least stop funding it, in the first 100 days of a putative Reform government. Reform may appear to be on the rocks currently but their plans are terrifying, mad & must be stopped. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Rapid butterfly declines across the United States during the 21st century

Numerous declines have been documented across insect groups, and the potential consequences of insect losses are dire. Butterflies are the most surveyed insect taxa, yet analyses have been limited in ...

science.org

More worrying evidence of butterfky declines in the USA. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Reform UK showing their true anti-environment colours

Guy Shrubsole@guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 4w ago

I’ve noticed a disturbing credulity amongst some anti-development activists, who seem to think that Reform UK would want to protect the environment (yes, really). The party’s proposals today to rip up environmental duties on developers ought to slay that idea: www.reformparty.uk/policies/pla...

Was it only because Google couldn’t profit enough from China🧐

It’s bonanza time in Dorset for Clouded Yellow. They are now third in our sightings list, only just pipped by Common Blue and Small White. Looks like it will be a record year for this pretty migrant @savebutterflies.bsky.social www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2026/08/clou...

Clouded Yellow Bonanza!

2026 is turning into a very good year for Clouded Yellow butterflies. Nick Galer alerted us to his sighting of more than 40 at Lydlinch Common (North Dorset) on 27 August.

dorsetbutterflies.com

Mating pair of Graylings on Dunyeats Heath near Poole, Dorset. I love the way there’s a tiny bit of the orange upper wing showing on the right @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Some highlights from this week’s dive into Dorset - Wall Brown at Durlston, Adonis Blue at Ulwell, Grayling at Upton Heath and Clouded Yellow, Badbury Rings. All richly rewarding sites in their different ways @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Revealed: just 20 out of of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation, as UK burns in fifth heatwave of this summer - FOI request by me @andyburnham.bsky.social needs to level with the country about the climate crisis & set out radical plan to tackle it 🧵 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Just 20 of 6,600 Defra staff working on climate adaptation amid drought and wildfires

Exclusive: England ‘desperately unprepared’ for effects of crisis including water shortages and heatwaves

theguardian.com

We're recruiting a Transect Coordinator for Suffolk. Help support and inspire local Transect Surveyors while gaining experience in monitoring methods and local butterfly populations. More info here - volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie... @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

Transect Coordinator (Suffolk)

Transect Coordinators help to support and promote butterfly transect recording in their area as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). They help us to understand butterfly populations loc...

volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org

We look back at the 2026 Butterfly season with less than 20% of season remaining in terms of butterfly numbers. 11 species had their best or 2nd best summers ever with representatives from every family. Gatekeeper for the Browns but it was also very much a Vanessid, Lycaenid and Pierid summer.

The next time a climate change denier comes at you with that excuse:

EBG Romania Day 9 - The finale. Black Ringlet, Danube Clouded Yellow, Poplar Hawkmoth and it’s time to say goodbye for now @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG România Day 8 - Asians & Pearl Bordered Fritillaries , Brown Hairstreak, Osiris Blue and Pale Clouded Yellow bringing us up to 93 butterfly species so far. Amazing groupings of species on damp mud @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG in Romania Day 7 Our first Hairstreaks, Blue-spot and Sloe, Iolas and Large Blue, Black and Woodland Ringlets, Balkan Green-veined White, Scarce and Sooty Coppers @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG in Romania Day6 - Lesser Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Large Copper, Three Scarce Swallowtails. Another great day, sorry to say goodbye to Zayed @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG in Romania Day 5. Weavers Fritillary and Clouded Yellow Rather wet this afternoon so less to report! @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Many congratulations to all those involved with the SAVE WHITEWEBBS campaign. They've won at the High Court. See their Insta post for full details. Many people have worked so hard against all odds. Amazing achievement @savebutterflies.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social @malcolmhull.bsky.social

Romania - EBG Day 4 Hungarian and Common Gliders, White Admiral and Purple Emperor, Cardinal, Large Chequered Skipper, Four spotted moth, Black Ringlet, Scotch Argus, Chequered Blue, Small, Scarce and Sooty Coppers Berners and Clouded Yellows and much more @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG in Romania Day 3. Many more Danube Clouded Yellows, Bergers Clouded Yellows and Scarce Large Blue @europebutterfly.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

EBG Day 2 continued - Good numbers of Danube Clouded Yellows amongst the days sightings

EBG vs Day 2 around Cluj. 3 species of Large blue @savebutterflies.bsky.social

@europebutterfly.bsky.social Great selection of butterflies on the first day of the EBG visit to Romania. We did see Danube Clouded Yellow, but the one I photographed is Bergers. Looking forward to more tomorrow @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Is trying to tell blue butterflies apart making you feel blue? Check out our top tips for identifying common butterflies in the #BigButterflyCount 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...

@s4r4h-l@s4r4h-l.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#TuesdayBlue Fabulous blue #butterflies seen in the last week. Top is a holly blue sunbathing, middle; male common blue, very fresh with it's white wing edge in tact, bottom; female common blue; easy to confuse with brown argus but the body has a blue tinge. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #Lancashire

How will Britain's favourite butterfly fare in this year's #BigButterflyCount? Help us find out 👉 bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org

@s4r4h-l@s4r4h-l.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#FlutterbyFriday Shades of peacock #butterfly, how will they fare in this year's #BigButterflyCount? These seen in the last few days, love the range from pinky lilac to electric blue. #Lancashire @savebutterflies.bsky.social #vitaminN

Let’s get out on the Count! Many Peacocks and Brimstones are already in hibernation, so expect BBC numbers to be down. What will we see in Herts & north London? @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social

Butterfly Conservation@savebutterflies.bsky.social · 3mo ago

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

Ear moth spotted today on Butterfly Conservation walk at Bricket Wood Common near St Albans today. A lifetime first for me! @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social

A total of 391/90 in the AirBnB garden this morning (ignoring the Scopariinae), with 3 lifers and 4 more NFY. The lifers were Clouded Magpie, the rather gorgeous Slender Pug, and Monochroa cytisella. NFY included Beautiful Carpet and Garden Tiger. Overall a good choice of accommodation. #TeamMoth