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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire

@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
473 followers 92 following 65 posts

Surveying and Conserving Yorkshires' Butterflies and Moths

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alangray22.bsky.social @alangray22.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
What a year for Clouded Yellow! A clip from YWT Skerne today. @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @savethebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Dr Dave Wainwright said he felt an 'overwhelming feeling of relief' after discovering the hidden population of Dark Bordered Beauty at the National Trust's Wallington estate in Northumberland. Dave has spent his life searching for a second colony of one of England's rarest moths.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The last Yorkshire 'inland' colony of Grayling survived at Liberty Steel railway sidings upto 3 years ago and have not been seen since. They lived amongst the extreme dry of track ballast but didn't survive the drought of 2022. Species holding on at various locations on Teesside like South Gare.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The BBC ask our Nick and Les onto Look North to talk to Tom Ingle about why there are more butterflies this year plus the dramatic changes in Yorkshires Butterflies. Goto 20 mins in. All filmed at Les's butterfly reserve at Wenthillside, Pontefract www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
bbc.co.uk
Look North (Yorkshire) - Evening News: 04/08/2026
The latest news, sport and weather for Yorkshire.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
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.
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Richard Lewington @rlewington2.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Who said moths are dull and eat clothes? Royal Mail stamps issue, release date 9th July
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RES Publications @respublications.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
New #OpenAccess research by @benoitevol.bsky.social et al. in #RESInsectConsDiv reports on the genomic distinctiveness and #conservation #genomics of the British #swallowtail butterfly (#Papilio machaon britannicus) doi.org/10.1111/icad.70102 #WholeGenomeSequencing
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Chris van Swaay @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social · 13/07/2026
Where the Red Admiral (V atalanta) has a good year on Dutch Butterfly Monitoring transects, Peacock (dagpauwoog, A io) and Comma (gehakkelde aurelia, P c-album) are only doing so-so. The Small tortoiseshell (kleine vos, A urticae) has been down for the last ten years.
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Craig Jones @craig63jones.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Male and female Clouded Yellow. Grafton Wood, Worcs 20/7/26. @westmbms-99.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Yorkshire's Butterflies Spring 2026: After a record breaking 2025 numbers are only down 7% but 35% up on 5 year average. It illustrates the carry over with good numbers of Lycaenid species but also poor survival in last year's drought of Small Tort. Wall & Small Heath docs.google.com/document/d/1...
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Our latest Argus newsletter is now available at drive.google.com/file/d/1gIbB...
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Chris van Swaay @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social · 06/06/2026
Occupancy-trend of the Chequered Skipper (bont dikkopje, C palaemon) in NL. After a long period of gradual decline distribution in 2024 and 2025 fell by almost 50%, esp. small populations were abandoned. Helas 2026 showed little recovery as far as we can tell now.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Yorkshire's monitored sites after the huge influx a week ago are still recording 2-5 Painted ladies per 1km. An abundance we've not seen since late July 2019. All set for an Explosion! www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Get set for a painted lady summer: big year for orange butterflies in Britain
Migrant insects have been seen in large numbers along east coast thanks to heatwave and benign southerly winds
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
And another paper that's likely to spark debate "Biodiversity offsetting, if properly implemented, can be an effective tool for pollinator conservation" besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The effectiveness of biodiversity offsetting for wild pollinator conservation
We show that even small differences in the composition of floral resources can result in significantly higher wild pollinator abundances and species richness in offset grasslands. Since our reference...
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keithwarmie.bsky.social @keithwarmie.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Our Holly Blue caterpillars on the Alder Buckthorn have now acquired a couple of Black Garden Ants in attendance. The ants feed from the caterpillar’s honey gland. @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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Mark Tutton @marktutton.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
A nocturnal trip into my local woods with a UV torch turned up half a dozen Purple Emperor pupa shining like led’s
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UK Butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
I must have taken 100s of photos of Purple Emperor larvae over the years, but this one, from today, is probably my favourite ... showing just how camouflaged a fully grown larva is against a leaf of its foodplant (Salix caprea, Goat Willow, in this case).
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Malcolm Hull @malcolmhull.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Great footage of Brown Hairstreak larva interacting with ants on tonights Springwatch. Starts @42 minutes @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
bbc.co.uk
Springwatch - 2026: Episode 2
Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan continue to celebrate the season at National Trust Crom in Northern Ireland, revealing a hidden world playing out in the reed beds.
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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Really valuable piece of research. We have used scrapes successfully on the old limestone quarries on Portland. A very different habitat but the vegetation recovers quickly and is also colonised by suitable ants, Lasius alienus. Sadly we do not have the resources to do enough to help SSB in big way
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Tom Lowe @saloplarus.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Hundreds of Painted Lady butterflies in East Yorkshire today, along with smaller numbers of Silver Y moths and Red Admirals @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Painted Lady butterflyPainted Lady butterfly underwingPainted Lady butterfly from below
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Steven Cheshire's British and European Butterflies @britbutterflies.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Richard Lewington's Moths and Butterflies of the British Isles. Pre-order your copy today. Due to be published 12/11/2026. RRP: £75.00. Just add to your cart to get an instant £10.00 discount and free delivery too! *** UK Only *** wildernessbooks.co.uk/products/ric...
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Richard Fox @richardfoxbc.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
📣 Our recent paper, led by Luke Evans, assesses evidence for links between insect abundance & populations of insect-eating birds & bats. link.springer.com/article/10.1... #teammoth 🌍 @savebutterflies.bsky.social 1/3
link.springer.com
Assessing direct effects of insect change on insectivore populations in the United Kingdom - Biodiversity and Conservation
Declines in insect abundance are a cause for concern, with potential downstream impacts on ecosystem function. Insects are key food resources for insectivorous vertebrates, with evidence that reductio...
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Paul Selby @selbypaul.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
This female Brimstone was laying eggs on the Buckthorn hedge I planted in my Sheffield garden. Plant it and they will come! 🦋
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Biological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · 26/04/2026
#SundayScience | Dark Bordered Beauty Moths 🦋 Discover the conservation of the rare Dark Bordered Beauty moth with Georgina Lindsay in this #SundayScience. Learn how RZSS breeds and reintroduces this striking species to safeguard its future. ▶️ youtu.be/4noTrJyUwSc
youtu.be
More Moths Please
YouTube video by Biological Recording Company
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
We need your help with the BCY Argus Newsletter The Yorkshire Branch general editor feels that it is time to step back.They are happy to stay on for twelve months and support whoever takes on the role. Mail:penny.relf@yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk www.yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/publications...
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
An opportunity to help out with the Leeds Wild Spaces project sowing wild flower seeds at Middleton Park on 24th April 10am www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leeds-wild...
eventbrite.co.uk
Leeds Wild Spaces - Middleton Park Wildflower Meadow Seeding
(ACCESS CODE: MIDDLETON) - Join us as part of Butterfly Conservation's Leeds Wild Spaces project!
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
The final zoom talk rounds up 2025 Butterfly season and what a season it was! An Annus Mirablis some would say. We look at the effects of the heat and drought on the fortunes of our species on different habitats as well as exploring a record breaking early start www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yorkshire-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Yorkshire Butterfly Season 2025 by Nick Hall
Nick Hall is the Yorkshire county Transect coordinator will present a review of the 2025 Butterfly Season.
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Butterfly Conservation - Cambs & Essex @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Another early spring (though has recent cool slowed it a bit) The latest from @patrickbarkham.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
From early birds to emerging butterflies: UK shows signs of earliest spring on record
Citizen science data reveals early flowering, nesting and insect activity as global heating accelerate seasonal change
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Rob Stephens @tillingtonchum.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
An update on the Orange-tip butterfly chrysalis. The orange of the wing tip is looking more obvious now. Hoping for a still, warm day for the emergence. #butterflies #chrysalis #UKwildlife
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
A rare wetland plant is returning to East Yorkshire to support the nationally scarce Swallowtail butterfly. A joint project between Wassand Estate and Tophill Low are planting Milk Parsley to see if it is possible to bring this butterfly back to Hornsea mere. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
There are 8 species now on the wing in Yorkshire with Speckled Wood spotted along the south facing woodland roadside at Wentbridge yesterday. Emergences are running a week early and in the Midlands Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Green Hairstreak have already been spotted! Please report your sightings
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Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Fascinating. If this spread continues will we start to see more and more in SE England? And will any re-establishment be clouded by questions over rogue releases?
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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Its 2 weeks today until the start of the official Butterfly Monitoring season But for any keen beans you can do early transect walks before April 1st if the weather is warm, above 13oC, dry, bright and still. Early counts can be entered on our website as weeks -3, -2, -1, 0 etc.
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Butterfly Conservation - Cambs & Essex @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
@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/...
theguardian.com
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
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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Get ready for survey season! Its just less than a month to go until the start of UKBMS Transect surveys. Brush up on the survey method with our resources here - buff.ly/Qo4kgNX
buff.ly
Guidance & recording forms | UKBMS
UKBMS Online Guidance - illustrated guidance for new UKBMS users getting started with data entry
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Richard Fox @richardfoxbc.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
📣 New paper 🎉 Proud to have helped with this nice study by @wlangdon12.bsky.social showing a trade-off between nutritional quality & microclimate of host plants for Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). Here in England, they choose warmth over nutrition resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
The recording of Charlie Fletcher's review of the 2025 Moth year is now available. Its been another very busy moth year with record number of moths a lots of new earliest and latest recorded dates let alone record abundance for hundreds of species... Phew! youtu.be/-s8RWBO-_nI
youtu.be
Yorkshire Moths Review 2025
YouTube video by Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
A final reminder; the highlight of every moth year is Charlie's entertaining and enthralling stories and revelations around our resident and so many new species. Its Tonight so dont miss out... book now www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977023474...
eventbrite.co.uk
Yorkshire Moths. A Review of the Year 2025 by Charlie Fletcher
Charlie, the Yorkshire county Macro Moths recorder will present a review of the Moths recorded in Yorkshire in 2025.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Butterfly Conservation Leeds Wild Spaces Project has three vacancies for volunteers. Including Conservation Work Group Volunteer , Events Volunteer and a Volunteer media editor see volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie...
volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org
Practical Conservation Group Volunteer (Leeds Wild Spaces)
We are excited to be running a new Wild Spaces project spanning the city of Leeds. We are looking for volunteers to get involved and trained in meadow management and care at publicly accessible parks ...
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Did you know the mostly likely Yorkshire species you will see first, each year, is a Brimstone. They are rarely the earliest but awoke in force in the warm sun of 25th Feb. More than 5 times as many were seen than any other species, 2nd was Peacock, 3rd Comma and Red Admiral so far is zero!
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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Now a brief visit from a Hummingbird Hawk-moth to the Paper Bush in our Corfe Castle garden @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
At long last the weather is improving this weekend. So if you want to get outdoors its a great opportunity to join one of our Duke of Burgundy Work Parties and help save the Dukes Please do come and help.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
3 speakers on the YNU zoom tonight see www.ynu.org.uk/news-events
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
New Science found moths tend stay put under LED lights, wast­ing pre­cious time! 800 moths from 23 spe­cies were exposed to LED lights of vari­ous col­ours and bright­ness at street lighting levels. Moths moved 85% less than in nat­ural night­time con­di­tions See www.pressreader.com/uk/western-m...
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-morning-news/20260128/281698326164784
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
The firing gun has gone off on the Yorkshire butterfly season a Small Tortoiseshell on 24th Jan by Jane Greenwood over in Bilton Small Torts are usualy the first species in Week 3 month and by end of this month we would expect to have seen Peacock and Red Admiral. It doesnt look very hopeful!!
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Its been a better year for the Clouded Yellow and they are now making their way south for the treacherous trip home. This individual was captured by Chris Cox at Spurn yesterday where there have been regular sightings recently. Also flying currently are Red Admiral, Small Copper and Holly Blue.
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
There is no reason why this species is not spreading through Yorkshire in our warming world and is already present at Pleasley Park just over the border in Derbyshire
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
A fascinating study at Leeds University reveals for the first time how its possible to use weather radar data to estimate total numbers of flying insects. They found 11 trillion insects daytime increasing with climate warming while at night strong decline after LED's in urban heat and light islands
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.70425
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Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire @bcyorkshire.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
With a massive third generation will Small Copper be Yorkshire's Butterfly of the year? Please submit your butterfly records by 16th November 2025 for them to be included in the Annual Report. Please submit on iRecordbutterflies, the Sightings site on the branch website or UKBMS for transects
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"Quercus" @quercus632511.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
On another site ,Green Hairstreak ,Adonis Blue and incredibly a Duke of Burgandy ! have been seen and photographed in the last few days . What next ..............Orange-Tip !😂
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