Always a lovely day, a chance to chat with other members, listen to some great speakers. Friends and supporters welcome.
BC Upper Thames
@upperthames.bsky.social
The Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation; the national charity saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Anyone else noting a late 2nd/3rd brood of Small Blue @upperthames.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social
A fair few of our UTB members have been slipping over the border to visit Monks Sherborne to see the Queen of Spain Fritillaries that have been flying there. Not sure if these were a release or if they found their way here naturally? but lovely to see and very obliging for the camera!
Nice to see this pristine Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly in the Valley yesterday. You can tell they're having a good year when they turn up in our wet #OxfordshireFens! #InsectThursday #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #ECK @upperthames.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social
Great summer for migrant moths in Britain - Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) and Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatum) seen in good numbers is our garden in Oxford @upperthames.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social
One of my favourite skippers 😍 Silver-spotted Skipper seen at Aston Rowant NNR @upperthames.bsky.social
@upperthames.bsky.social Gotcha ! Found a sweet spot (not for the want of trying) At 1/8000 of a sec for this Hummer feeding on spear thistle at Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks
Roosting Adonis, Chalkhill, and Common Blues (plus a very worn Dingy Skipper) from Aston Rowant, taken before sunset on Sunday, then sunrise on Monday. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
Silver-spotted Skippers at Aston Rowant NNR on Monday. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
Second brood male Adonis Blue. Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon 3/8/26 @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
A good year for Clouded yellows at Aston Rowant NNR @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Silver-spotted Skipper at Aston Rowant NNR yesterday (1/8/26.) @rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
This lovely Death's-head Hawkmoth was found in Caversham by Philip Jones, on his allotment. He very kindly gave it me to look after and it has now burrowed down into the soil to pupate.
Decided to check in on a local colony of Chalk Hill Blues and managed to pester some of the males into actually opening up for me. @upperthames.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
As many have noticed this has been a good year for Painted Lady butterflies but thanks to their fidgety nature & powerful flight getting a decent picture of one is easier said than done. This week I finally got one I'm happy with. @upperthames.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Lots of Jersey Tiger moths (Euplagia quadripunctata) coming to light in our garden in Oxford last night @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social
@bbowt.bsky.social Grangelands today recommended by 2 butterfly enthususiasts we met at Whiteross Green and well worth the detour. @upperthames.bsky.social See ALT
Beware the yellow peril! Death amongst the ragwort.
Brown Hairstreak at Bugs Bottom, Caversham. A butterfly that is definitely increasing in its range and has been on this site for at least three years now.
Sooo many butterflies in the Valley at the moment. Here's a pristine Green-veined White (Pieris napi) refuelling on some of our Ragwort flowers. 😍 They love the damp lush conditions in our #fen. #inverts #UKWildlife @upperthames.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social #OxfordshireFens
Another Striped Lychnis survey today, this time at Butterfly Conservations lovely Holtspur Bottom Reserve. 535 dark mullein flower spikes produced 171 larvae. Far better than last year's 11 larvae. Afterwards had a look through the plentiful bedstraw for Hummingbird Hawk larvae and soon found one.
Saw my first Grizzled Skippers today, ever, at Longmead Nature Recovery Network. There's a word for that - Firsties?? @upperthames.bsky.social @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social #savebutterflies @bbowt.bsky.social No pics, too busy counting. But aren't they darling little things, so detailed!
Striped Lychnis caterpillars are now out on the dark mullein plants in the Chilterns area. We do lots of larval surveys for this scarce moth to help monitor the population. If you spot one please do irecord!
The day-flying Six-belted Clearwing moth Bembecia ichneumoniformis seen at eastern end of Greenham Common today - lots of its foodplant bird's-foot-trefoil in flower @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social
Went along to Whitecross Green Wood @bbowt.bsky.social today. Fleeting views of Black Hairstreak and White Admiral but pleased to see Emperor and other Dragonflies,Small Tortoiseshell at last!,Marbled White and Skippers aplenty. @upperthames.bsky.social
Despite the weather, we managed to see some nice butterflies in The Chilterns including SMALL COPPER, LARGE SKIPPER, SMALL TORTOISESHELL & CLOUDED YELLOW. #UKbutterflies #england #wildlife #nature #insects #chilterns @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
Black Hairstreaks in Salcey Forest this morning including a recently emerged one, with its pupal case, at the end @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org
