BC Upper Thames
LightNews LightNews
banner
upperthames.bsky.social
BC Upper Thames
@upperthames.bsky.social
510 followers 390 following 30 posts
The Upper Thames Branch of Butterfly Conservation; the national charity saving butterflies, moths and our environment
Posts Replies Media Videos
upperthames.bsky.social
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!
October 27, 2025 at 9:07 AM
upperthames.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
christopherblakey.com
Trapping around Cothill Fen this week produced some nice moths including Clifden Nonpareil! Evergestis limbata was the rarest to turn up, and it was nice to see Vestal and other migrants #teammoth @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Evergestis limbata Vestal Clifden Nonpareil Clifden Nonpareil
September 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
upperthames.bsky.social
Brown Hairstreak, adult and egg, recorded on the outskirts of Caversham, near Reading, Berks, today.
September 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
upperthames.bsky.social
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!
August 25, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
judywebb.bsky.social
Just a sliver of deadwood with some bark on? Fresh from the rearing pot, a Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta. Caterpillar swept from meadowsweet & fed on it. what a docile spectacular #moth Oxon, Hinksey Hts fen. @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
mjopocock.bsky.social
Doing moth trapping in the UK this weekend?
Can you help us gather lots of images of moths on egg cartons from your trap?
Help us develop a tool making moth recording easier for more people
Tks! #mothsmateer #teammoth
@richardfoxbc.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
@upperthames.bsky.social
abigaillowe.bsky.social Abigail Lowe @abigaillowe.bsky.social · Aug 7
Do you do moth trapping in the UK? We'd love your help! 💡

At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image.

Send us top-down photos of multiple moths on egg trays to support this work.

More info & form: forms.gle/e3HzBPEd7RVV...

#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
A top-down image of 12 various moths on a green egg carton.
August 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
stevenwright58.bsky.social
I'm thinking this is the last Gatekeeper sighting of 2025 for me. @upperthames.bsky.social Walking on the water at 50 Acre Piece. 16/08/25
August 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
daveob66.bsky.social
Silver-spotted Skippers, seen yesterday at Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
daveob66.bsky.social
Adonis and Chalkhill Blues from Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon, and Common Blue from Hazelborough Woods, Northants today.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
stevenwright58.bsky.social
@upperthames.bsky.social . Thanks to Grahame Hawker for guiding us at 50 Acre Piece today. Despite overcast and cool weather we saw plenty of the target species. My first ever Grayling. And a Potter Wasp "pot". A valuable addition to the mosaic of habitats in transition.
August 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
drtonygillie.bsky.social
Delighted to spot this pristine Brown Hairstreak butterfly this morning in the Lye Valley, Oxford, the first adult I've ever seen there!
#Recorded #UKWildlife #WildlifePhotos #inverts #OX3
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
A pale brown butterfly with white "streaks" through both its upper and hind wings. The edge of the hind wing is tinged orange and it has a small "tail" sticking out near the bottom. It's perched on a piece of dried brown grass, facing to the right of the photo. Its black eye is visible, as are its orange tipped black and white striped antennae. Its legs are also striped. The background is a messy mix of mostly green blades of grass.
August 15, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
The "scrapes" we created and sowed with native plants in the amenity grassland at Rock Edge are proving popular with the last of the summer's butterflies. Here a Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) is nectaring on the copious Marjoram still in flower.
#UKButterflies @upperthames.bsky.social #Oxford
In roughly the centre of the photo a small blue butterfly is sitting on a purple flower with its wings closed. It's facing to the left of the photo, and its striped antenna and left eye is visible. The underwing has a number of small mostly black dots, while the hindwing has a row of orange heart shapes markings. Front left is another Marjoram flower, not fully in focus, while the background is a mix of diffuse greens and purples from other flowers.
August 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
stevenwright58.bsky.social
Added Adonis Blue and Silver Spotted Skipper to species sighted in '25 . Aston Rowant NNR today in better weather than was forecast. @upperthames.bsky.social
Chalkhill Blue in cop Adonis Blue male Silver Spotted Skipper Common Blue male and female
August 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
OK, so it's a dreadful photo, BUT, it's the first adult Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) butterfly we've *ever* seen at Rock Edge. We routinely count the eggs over winter, but until now, the adults have remained elusive...
#UKButterflies #UKWildlife @upperthames.bsky.social @judywebb.bsky.social
A light brown butterfly with a bright orange patch on each forewing is nestled down in grass. There are several bits of dead grass covering it. It's facing towards the op of the photo.
August 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Great to spot this fresh Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) butterfly in the Valley this morning. Not seen many here this year. Is anyone else seeing them? 🤔
#UKButterflies #inverts #UKWildlifePhotos #recorded
@upperthames.bsky.social
An orange butterfly with black markings on its wings, and black wing tips with white markings is facing away from the camera, resting on a large white Bindweed flower. Its body is brown with black stripes. Its antennae are visible against the white flower. There are thin green tendrils appearing bottom left. One curls round to the left about two thirds of the way up the photo, and one disappears under the white flower.
July 30, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
craig63jones.bsky.social
Silver-spotted Skipper beginning to emerge at Aston Rowant NNR. Six counted 25/7/25.
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
craig63jones.bsky.social
Stunning male second brood Adonis Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
hasanalfarhan2.bsky.social
My 46th species of UK butterfly yesterday at Grangelands, Bucks; Silver-spotted Skipper. Also, Chalkhill Blues. @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
craig63jones.bsky.social
Chalkhill Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 29, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
chrisgpackham.bsky.social
Today's the day ! It's launch day for the #BigButterflyCount . . .

Get out between now and 10th August for 15 minutes and count the butterflies you see & help the great citizen science of @savebutterflies.bsky.social ! Get involved at bigbutterflycount.org
July 18, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
danfwildlife.bsky.social
With only 1 prev record (‘24) at Watermead, I watched the same small Oak beside the R.Thame for 1/2hr & was rewarded with a single PURPLE HAIRSTREAK…
+ only the 3rd rec. of BROWN ARGUS here on the bank.

@chilternsnature.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social #butterflies #nature #wildlifephotography
July 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
judywebb.bsky.social
In #LyeValley #fen rare Parsley Water Dropwort Oenanche lachenalii is doing exceptionally well & in cooler mizzly rain I managed a closer look at the wings of a Green Veined white butterfly, never noticed spots before.. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social
July 3, 2025 at 7:35 AM
upperthames.bsky.social
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.
July 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by BC Upper Thames
friendlyevalley.bsky.social
Our Ragwort plants are looking a "little the worse for wear" thanks to the massed ranks of Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) moth caterpillars in the Valley. This plant has been completely stripped of leaves and flowers! 😃
#WildWebsWednesday #inverts @upperthames.bsky.social #MothsMatter
In the centre of the photo running from top to bottom a bright green stalk is covered in yellow caterpillars with black horizontal stripes. The background is a mix of brown dead grass stems and out of focus greenery.
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM