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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

The abundance of butterflies seen in woodland in the UK has declined by 57% since 1990. But, the short-term trend, since 2015, shows no change - which is more encouraging.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The abundance of butterflies seen on farmland in the UK has declined by 32% since 1990. The short-term decline (since 2015) is less dramatic at 11%.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Habitat specialist butterflies have fared worse than the generalists. For all UK habitat specialist butterfly species have declined by 37% since 1976. However, if we look at the trend over the last ten years from 2015, there has been little change.

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The Butterfly Indicators work by grouping species of butterflies together. An indicator is produced for all species, for habitat specialists and generalists and for butterflies on farmland and on woodland. This is done for all of UK, and then for England.

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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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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Yes! We're currently working to produce regional trends (county level-ish) for all species - where there is sufficient data. This'll be very interesting to compare to the national trends, and across regions where priority species occur.

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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

That is fantastic, what a highlight! Thanks for all your surveys 👏👏

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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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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Fascinating to see the changes in just one week.

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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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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Great to see this level of local analysis, and such an early emergence compared to 2024

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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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