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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Week 24 starts today! Do you need any pointers to help you enter your data? We have great videos and resources that walk you through it how to do it. You'll find them all on the UKBMS our website here: buff.ly/di3oDpJ

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Its week 23 of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme! September is here and we're into the last month of the survey. Some summer species may no longer be on the wing, but keep an eye out for second (or even third) broods of some species.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just published: UK and England butterfly population indicators using UKBMS data. These show a long-term decline in the all-species index in the UK of 18% and a 37% decline for habitat specialists in the UK. Check out the full statistics here ⬇️ www.gov.uk/government/s...

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Its week 22! Did you know that the sightings you enter to the UKBMS also feed through to iRecord? This makes them available to county recorders, species experts and researchers. If you have an iRecord account you can view your UKBMS records all together with your other records.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Today is the start of week 21. The deadline for submitting all your data for the UKBMS is the end of October - so get ahead and enter all your data to date. This gives our team of volunteer Coordinators and species experts time to check, validate and verify your records.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Its week 20. Thinking of setting up a new transect for next year..? Now is a good time to trial it and make any tweaks it so it's ready for the next season. Once finalised, the route can't be changed, so testing it first is crucial. More info here: buff.ly/zQyStix

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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Its week 19 of the transect season and numbers of many species are on the wane, notably Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper which have been abundant recently. A lot of Clouded Yellows are being recorded and 2nd brood Brown Argus are numerous despite the drought, which is getting very extreme now in Dorset.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Its week 19, August already! If you're off on your hols and someone is covering your transect, make sure they are linked to it on the UKBMS website so they can enter data and are signed up to Assemble. UKBMS website: buff.ly/ndO4Aob Assemble: buff.ly/LIF7yMF

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Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Our next event is our Open Day at Ryton Wood Meadows on Sat 15th! 🦋 Come & discover this reserve with us & meet fellow enthusiasts. Guided walks, refreshments & cake. Full details on our webpage: butterfly-conservation.org/events/warwi...

butterfly-conservation.org

Warwickshire: Branch Open Day at Ryton Wood Meadows Butterfly Reserve

There will be a guided walk at 11:00am followed by refreshments and a further walk at 2:00pm.There will be a Bird Ringing demonstration by Kate Thorpe (RSPB) from 09:30am. (In the event of extremely h...

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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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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

My 2 Wider Countryside butterfly recording squares on Lulworth Army ranges felt like the end of days, with brown grass and very few butterflies left. Just the odd Meadow Brown, Wall, Small Heath +whites in 4 km. And one very worn Lulworth Skipper @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Its been another record year for Silver-studded Blue at Studland NNR with total count of 2164, just beating 2024. That's nearly a 12 fold increase over 16 years. The huge rise with little management is a puzzle and is explored in our paper dispar.org/reference.ph.... @ukbms.bsky.social

A chart showing the rise of Silver-studded Blue, Plebejus argus, on two transects at Studland Heath in Dorset, going from a total count of 183 in 2011 to 2164 in 2026

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David Walsh @david-walsh.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

My final survey of the spring/summer was a WCBS visit to Brantham this morning. 94 butterflies of 12 species, both personal August highs. Highlight a helice female Clouded Yellow. Spent the afternoon with my mum then saw Black Stork at Hemley on my way home!

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

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

volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org

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...

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

We are half way through the core survey season for the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey 👏 👏 Recorders carry out 2 visits to their allocated square, 10 days apart in July and August, to record all the butterflies they see. There's still time to get involved ⬇️ buff.ly/YLnZSVB

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Butterfly Conservation Suffolk @bc-suffolk.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Suffolk Branch is run entirely by volunteers. If we do not have enough volunteers to fulfil various roles then the Branch will cease to exist after 35 years. We now have vacancies in two key roles Branch Chair & Transect Co-ordinator Please see suffolkbutterflies.org.uk for details

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Butterfly enthusiasts in Cheshire — we need you! Help keep the 20-year butterfly transect alive at Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve near Davenport. We're looking for new volunteers who can ID butterflies and walk 1–2 km. Learn more ⬇️ volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie...

volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org

UKBMS Transect Surveyor (Cheshire - Brereton Heath Local Nature Reserve)

Our Transect Walkers help us to understand butterflies in their local area and, by extension, across the UK. They inspire people to better understand the butterflies that they see.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

It's week 18! Keeping your data entry up to date is crucial for swift analysis at the season's end. Take a moment to review and enter your data. There's a helpful video to guide you: buff.ly/QSIgMdi

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Don't forget, the UKBMS website (and other Indicia sites such as iRecord) will be offline TOMORROW and are expected to be back up from Weds. You'll be unable to access or enter data during this time. Thanks for your patience whilst the team at @ukceh work to boost the storage capacity of the system

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Please be aware that the UKBMS website - and other Indicia sites such as iRecord - will be unavailable next week on Tueday 28th July due to maintenance. It is expected that the site will be back up from Wednesday 29th. You'll be unable to enter your UKBMS counts during this time.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Its week 17 Keep at it! The more weeks that you can consistently record, the more valuable the data is to produce UK butterfly population trends and insights into local populations. Missing a week or so is ok, but try not to miss multiple weeks in a row during peak flight times

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

If anyone doubts the profound impact of climate crisis on butterflies, look at the peak flight week of the Silver-studded Blue at Studland NNR. On average it flies 4 weeks earlier than 50 yrs ago, but first few years vs last two, its 8 weeks! Its doing well but other sp aren't @ukbms.bsky.social

Chart showing the peak flight week of Silver-studded Blue, Plebeius argus, at Studland National Nature Reserve in Dorset over the last 51 years. In 1976-79 it peaked in week 19, but in the last two years it has peaked at week 11, 8 weeks earlier.

A pair of mating Silver-studded Blue, Plebeius argus, on pink flowers of Cross-leaved Heath, Erica tetralix

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Brill to hear about @bbs-birds.bsky.social volunteers carrying out Wider Countryside Butterfly Surveys on thier BBS squares. Great count @alankmiller.bsky.social, thank you!

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Silver-studded Blue numbers tailing off quickly now on the two Studland transects. Almost identical timing as last year. With maybe 1-2 weeks to go before they finish, it looks like 2026 might even break the record for total numbers seen. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Mad dogs and entomologists go out in the midday sun! My Wider Countryside Butterfly Monitoring @ukbms.bsky.social square on the Lulworth Army ranges was strangely quiet today. I wonder why at 30C! Feels more like August already with a few very faded Lulworth Skippers @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Week 16 starts today! What has been your favorite sighting on your transect walks so far this year..? We've had rare species, new species to a site, large numbers and memorable encounters.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Don't forget, there is planned maintenance on the UKBMS website TODAY from 5pm. This will mean you can't access the wesbite or enter data. Manitenance is expected to last until 9pm. Please keep hold of any data and enter it once the manintenance is complete. Thanks!

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Please be aware that the UKBMS website will be unavailable next WEDNESDAY evening July 15th from 5pm due to maintenance. It is expected that the site will be back up by 9pm.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Its week 15! As we head towards the summer holiday period, you may want to get someone to walk your transect if you're away. If you do, they must register on Butterfly Conservations volunteer portal - Assemble. Register here ukbms.org/sites/defaul...

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Great effort by all the Transect Surevyors in Dorset ⬇️

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Silver-studded Blue just going past their peak on the two Studland NNR transects in Dorset today. Still a combined count of 286 isn't bad. Numbers look similar to the last 2 years, which suggests its rapid rise has plateaued @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

Graph showing weekly counts of Silver-studded Blue for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The flight period is early again this year as in 2025

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

It's week 14. Did you know you can look back at the data from your site for previous years? There are various charts and tables showing the data, just log in to the UKBMS website and go to 'My data'. Handy video on how to do this - buff.ly/1JCT7yG

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

First Grayling out on Studland Heath transect, the earliest in its 51 years! Still good numbers of Silver-studded Blue and heaths looking surprisingly green despite the hot weather @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Its the start of week 14 of the transect season and the weather looks good. Marbled Whites exploded last week in Dorset and are having a fantastic year. Our recorders are wowed by seeing so many. Gatekeepers are just emerging so with Ringlets + Meadow Browns counting gets tricky @ukbms.bsky.social

The black and white Marbled White rests on a yellow flower (photo: Martin Warren)

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Today is the start of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey! This volunteer scheme monitors butterflies across 1900 randomly allocated 1km squares across the UK. The core survey runs from now until the end of August, providing crucial data on butterflies. Get involved ⬇️ buff.ly/YLnZSVB

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

The core survey season of the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey starts tomorrow. Recorders will be visiting their 1km squares in July and August to survey butterflies. This survey provides valuable info on how butterflies are doing across the UK. Get involved ukbms.org/wider-countr...

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

The UKPoMS Stats and Annual Report were released today giving an important insight into how pollinating insects are doing, as well as providing valuable data on which flowers attract butterflies, day-flying moths and other pollinating insects. ukpoms.org.uk/sites/defaul... @pomscheme.bsky.social

ukpoms.org.uk

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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

We are halfway through the transect recording season and it’s the time when counting gets difficult with lots of Meadow Browns mingled with Ringlets and Gatekeepers. Whites are low this year so we don’t have those to contend with. See latest sightings here www.dorsetbutterflies.com/sightings/re...

dorsetbutterflies.com

Recent Sightings | Dorset Butterflies

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Week 13 and it was a scorching 🥵 morning out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect. Plenty of Whites about (including this Large White). A couple of fast moving Painted Lady and a equally quick Clouded Yellow and that was about it. Southbourne Dorset

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Week 13 and we're halfway through!! 🎉 👏 👏 The mid-point of the transect survey season, a good chance to look back and appreciate all we've seen and look ahead to the late summer species. What have been your best sightings so far?

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Catch up on the latest UKBMS news with our Summer eNewsletter. This edition includes 2025 UKBMS results highlights, seasonal guidance, ways to get involved and FAQs from surveyors. buff.ly/gRxnwuE

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Out now! The Annual Newsletter for the Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey. Find out about the WCBS results for 2025 and read some great articles about butterflies in urban habitats. ukbms.org/sites/defaul...

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Great opportunity for @bbs-birds.bsky.social volunteers to learn more about butterflies, including ID and how to carry out butterfly surveys on BBS squares. Its free 🎉, with lunch 🍱 and run by a great team. What more could you want! Sat June 20th at BTO HQ, booking below ⬇️

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Its week 12! For the keen beans - did you know - you can carry out more than one walk a week on your transect - as long at the weather is right. The data from multiple walks will be averaged for analysis.

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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

It’s the start of week 11 of the transect season. Meadow Browns are surging ahead now but Small Heaths are also having a good year. But the spring season is probably over now with the last Orange-tip, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers seen @ukbms.bsky.social

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Its week eleven! Have you entered your data to the UKBMS website? Get ahead and enter your walks as you go instead of waiting to end of the season. Its much safe than risking those precious forms or notebooks being chewed by the dog, having coffee split on them or blowing away😉

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Butterfly Conservation - Cambs & Essex @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Monks Wood in Cambs has a storied butterfly past. Black Hairstreak was first noted as a UK species here. Ernie Pollard developed the @ukbms.bsky.social transect design here, and it's had a transect ever since - 50+ years of data. It remains one of the best wildlife sites in the east of England.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Its week ten! Remember to record the percentage sunshine for each section of your transect - how to decide if its sunny? If you cast a shadow, that counts as sunshine 🌞

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Its one month until the start of the core survey season for the Wider Countrsydie Butterfly Survey. This citizen science scheme monitors butterflies across the UK landscape. Want to get involved? Check out our Volunteer Opportunities page - volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie...

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