BC Upper Thames
@upperthames.bsky.social
The Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation; the national charity saving butterflies, moths and our environment
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
Very pleasing to be greeted by the first of this year's Scarlet Tigers on the doorstep this evening #TeamMoth @upperthames.bsky.social
A few traps in a wood just outside of Oxford over the weekend yielded a good number of moths, including several interesting micros. By far the stand-out was this rather smart Denisia albimaculea- a first for me, and for the county! @upperthames.bsky.social #teammoth
The heat of last night produced 192 moths of 54 species including a welcome surprise, Gold Cloak, Phtheochroa schreibersiana, new to me and possibly only the second record for Buckinghamshire #TeamMoth @upperthames.bsky.social
A great day out in the Chilterns at Incombe Hole, looking for the Duke of Burgundy and other species. A bit hot today and a fair bit of climbing 😓 @upperthames.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk
Incombe Hole & Steps Hill were very hot & we weren’t sure we’d find the Marsh Fritillaries but eventually found 3. Also lots of Dingy Skippers, a few Green Hairstreak, lots of Common Blues, a few Duke of Burgundy & these Grizzled Skippers in cop @upperthames.bsky.social
Large Skippers spotted today in Oxfordshire. Seems early!
Grapholita pallifrontana is now on the wing in Oxfordshire. This lovely little moth is an Upper Thames priority species.
Puss Moth found in a garden in Caversham, Berks. Always a stunning moth, and a very funky caterpillar too!
Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) seen in our garden in Oxford on Aquilegia last week. We now see in most years now in our garden, so it's definitely becoming established @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social
Went looking for Wood White in Hazelborough Forest, Northants and found around 20, along with some other spring species and the bluebells still out @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
More Drab Looper surveys today. 13 recorded in the woods around Frilsham, West Berks. Also a rather nice Four-spotted carrion beetle. Several hours spent on Ashampstead Common drew a blank, DL seems to be gone from there sadly.
