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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Always a lovely day, a chance to chat with other members, listen to some great speakers. Friends and supporters welcome.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

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!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

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.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Beware the yellow peril! Death amongst the ragwort.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

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.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

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.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Purple Emperors at Bernwood Forest yesterday

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Large Skippers spotted today in Oxfordshire. Seems early!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Grapholita pallifrontana is now on the wing in Oxfordshire. This lovely little moth is an Upper Thames priority species.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Puss Moth found in a garden in Caversham, Berks. Always a stunning moth, and a very funky caterpillar too!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

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.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Painted Lady numbers seem to be starting to ramp up now in the Upper Thames

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Drab looper are on the wing now in West Berkshire.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Good numbers of Grizzled and Dingy Skippers at Lardon Chase yesterday.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Its that time of year. Have you seen a Green Hairstreak yet?

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

One of life's simple pleasures is seeing Brimstones on those first sunny spring days after a long wet winter. This one was at Otmoor, Oxfordshire.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

A quick Brown Hairstreak egg survey today at the recently colonised site at Bugs Bottom, Caversham. 10 found in total. Great to see a butterfly that is doing well!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

It's always lovely this time of year to grab your wellies, coat and torch, and go for a woodland walk to look for those wonderful winter moth species!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

A very enjoyable UTB Members Day and a big thank you to the 4 excellent speakers. And a thank you to all UTB members working behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly and of course all who attended!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Brown Hairstreak, adult and egg, recorded on the outskirts of Caversham, near Reading, Berks, today.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

The annual Barberry Carpet survey yesterday, at the only Upper Thames site. 22 larvae from 23 bushes sampled, so seems to be holding on okay. A couple of Vestal also seen which is always a nice bonus!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Surveying for Striped Lychnis larvae at Dairy Lane, Henley, today. 823 dark mullein flower spikes produced 113 larvae. 64 were final instar of which 75% had Tachinid eggs attached.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

A striped Lychnis near Henley yesterday. Sadly for this one it has a few Tachinid eggs attached.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

A Lappet recorded at one of the sites we survey in Berkshire. Such a stunning moth and a good record. Berks records for this species are few and far between.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Trapping last night at one of the rewilding sites we survey in Berks. Pleased to record two Light Crimson Underwing and a Buttoned Snout.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

A White-letter Hairstreak at Bottom Wood, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

White-letter Hairstreak very active this morning on this wych elm on the Berks/Oxfordshire border

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

A Drab Looper in West Berks this afternoon. One of our priority Moth species. A dreary name but actually a rather charming and dainty little moth!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Drab Looper are already on the wing in the Upper Thames

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

A stunning Oak Eggar larva seen in Oxfordshire yesterday

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Adonis Blue seen at Lardon Chase this morning. That is rather early!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Several Garden Tiger larvae found on the Lambourn Downs today. Nice to see, not as easy one to find these days in the Upper Thames.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

BBOWT/BC ran a 'surveying for Hairstreaks course' yesterday with a practice UV light search for Black Hairstreak larvae in the evening. The surveys will form part of BBOWTs exciting RBOR project. An interesting and informative day, thank you to all who organised.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

A Green-veined White enjoying a bit of mud puddling at Wytham Woods this afternoon. An underrated butterfly!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

A fair few Grizzled Skippers enjoying the sunshine at Aston Upthorpe, Oxfordshire, today.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

A Small Tortoiseshell at RSPB Otmoor, Oxfordshire yesterday. Nice to see, as they have become a bit of rare sight in the Upper Thames these days.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

One of winters simple pleasures. Take a torch and search the tree trunks for those winter species. Merry Christmas everyone!

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

Upper Thames Branch have planted over 400 elms across the region to support the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly. This has included Wych elm but most of them have been dutch elm disease resistant varieties.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

UTB work hard for our butterflies, but we are of course equally invested in our wonderful moth species. Moths never get such a good press as butterflies, but they are great pollinators, a vital part of the ecosystem and of course fascinating and often very beautiful in their own right.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The UTB region is home to three-quarters of the 59 British butterfly species, including these beauties! Black Hairstreak, Wood White and Silver-spotted Skipper.

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BC Upper Thames @upperthames.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation covers the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. We monitor populations of butterflies and moths in our region, run work parties to improve habitat, give advice to landowners and help educate through talks and guided walks.

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