Andy Martin
@andos13.bsky.social
🐝 Wildlife sightings from Dorset & beyond, especially Butterflies : UKBMS Transect walker https://bsky.app/profile/helice25.bsky.social : Member BC Dorset & European Butterfly Group 🦋 https://x.com/Alexanor56?t=WHs6PrxeG-f7cOaCy9Xe1g&s=09
Reposted by Andy Martin
Rather bedraggled helice form of Clouded Yellow at Chapmans Pool in south Dorset just now. This remarkable long season goes on @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Rather bedraggled helice form of Clouded Yellow at Chapmans Pool in south Dorset just now. This remarkable long season goes on @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @richardfoxbc.bsky.social
It may be late October but still have a couple of Speckled Wood in my Poole garden 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
It may be late October but still have a couple of Speckled Wood in my Poole garden 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Still penty of Clouded Yellow on the wing at a ☀️ Southbourne today. Also seen lightly marked Small Copper. Sightings reported to @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Still penty of Clouded Yellow on the wing at a ☀️ Southbourne today. Also seen lightly marked Small Copper. Sightings reported to @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
October 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
A rather small helice form of Clouded Yellow at Southbourne today. This individual had a delecate lemon flush on the wings. 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A rather small helice form of Clouded Yellow at Southbourne today. This individual had a delecate lemon flush on the wings. 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a sign of our times - October 9th, stood in a t-shirt watching Redwings and a Brambling at the same time as this Chalkhill Blue butterfly!! It’s all over the place…
October 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: a sign of our times - October 9th, stood in a t-shirt watching Redwings and a Brambling at the same time as this Chalkhill Blue butterfly!! It’s all over the place…
Though windy at Fontmell Down today, it was nice to see a few very fresh butterflies on the wing. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Though windy at Fontmell Down today, it was nice to see a few very fresh butterflies on the wing. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Enjoyable walk at Ulwell near Swanage at lunchtime. Good numbers of insects on the wing despite very dry conditions. Picture of very cooperative Migrant Hawker (f) 😀 @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Enjoyable walk at Ulwell near Swanage at lunchtime. Good numbers of insects on the wing despite very dry conditions. Picture of very cooperative Migrant Hawker (f) 😀 @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Only 2 dedicated transect walkers👍 seen at Alners Gorse reserve at lunchtime. Temperature peaked at 33c so didn't stay long. Of note a very active lemon coloured female Clouded Yellow patrolling the meadow. 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Only 2 dedicated transect walkers👍 seen at Alners Gorse reserve at lunchtime. Temperature peaked at 33c so didn't stay long. Of note a very active lemon coloured female Clouded Yellow patrolling the meadow. 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
As a true climate opportunist the Short-tailed Blue (C argiades, staartblauwtje), which arrived in NL in 2009, profits from hot and dry summers caused by climate change. Numbers on Dutch Butterfly Monitoring transects now higher than ever.
August 12, 2025 at 6:21 AM
As a true climate opportunist the Short-tailed Blue (C argiades, staartblauwtje), which arrived in NL in 2009, profits from hot and dry summers caused by climate change. Numbers on Dutch Butterfly Monitoring transects now higher than ever.
Reposted by Andy Martin
Congratulations to William Brame @landguardbirder.bsky.social for realising this was a different white butterfly. Now confirmed by @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social as a Southern Small White - the first seen in England. As it is a female let's hope it has been laying eggs. @matthewberry.bsky.social
August 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Congratulations to William Brame @landguardbirder.bsky.social for realising this was a different white butterfly. Now confirmed by @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social as a Southern Small White - the first seen in England. As it is a female let's hope it has been laying eggs. @matthewberry.bsky.social
Some Copper butterfly sightings from my central European Campervan holiday so far 😎 @europebutterfly.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Some Copper butterfly sightings from my central European Campervan holiday so far 😎 @europebutterfly.bsky.social
Visited Portland today to see the Silver-studded Blue. 8 in total, seen from 2 separate locations. Reported to @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
June 11, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Visited Portland today to see the Silver-studded Blue. 8 in total, seen from 2 separate locations. Reported to @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
Wow, both White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary are out. Both seen at Badbury Rings on 2nd June. I assume these are records dor earliness www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/06/whit...
White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary, Badbury Rings
James tells us: I found not only a very early White Admiral BUT also a Silver-washed Fritillary in the space of about 10 minutes in a glade near to Badbury Rings on 2 June. I could not quite believ…
www.dorsetbutterflies.com
June 8, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Wow, both White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary are out. Both seen at Badbury Rings on 2nd June. I assume these are records dor earliness www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/06/whit...
Silver-studded Blue from visit to @rspbengland.bsky.social Arne Nature Reserve yesterday.
May 21, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Silver-studded Blue from visit to @rspbengland.bsky.social Arne Nature Reserve yesterday.
21c ☀️ At Ulwell this morning, Adonis Blue numbers building with more females emerging. Count recorded at @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social 😀
May 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
21c ☀️ At Ulwell this morning, Adonis Blue numbers building with more females emerging. Count recorded at @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social 😀
Reposted by Andy Martin
They are coming but still rather low numbers, late May is usually when we see first big influx, if it’s going to be a good PL year
May 11, 2025 at 10:22 AM
They are coming but still rather low numbers, late May is usually when we see first big influx, if it’s going to be a good PL year
Reposted by Andy Martin
My first manically flying Painted Lady, presumably a migrant, seen near Corfe Castle, Dorset at 19:00. Anyone else seeing any?? I heard reports of good numbers in S Europe a few weeks ago @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
My first manically flying Painted Lady, presumably a migrant, seen near Corfe Castle, Dorset at 19:00. Anyone else seeing any?? I heard reports of good numbers in S Europe a few weeks ago @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
Double digits Dingy Skipper on Devil's Dyke (Newmarket) today. I've never had more than 4 before. But the highlight was this Small Copper found by Paul Fisher
April 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Double digits Dingy Skipper on Devil's Dyke (Newmarket) today. I've never had more than 4 before. But the highlight was this Small Copper found by Paul Fisher
Last day of April ☀️ 23c at Ulwell lots of 🦋 including a suprise Marsh Fritillary. Probable release as MF does not occur at this site.
April 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Last day of April ☀️ 23c at Ulwell lots of 🦋 including a suprise Marsh Fritillary. Probable release as MF does not occur at this site.
Spent an enjoyable hour watching several Green Hairstreak this morning. It doesn't seem to matter how they settle head up or down. This one completed a full 360 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Spent an enjoyable hour watching several Green Hairstreak this morning. It doesn't seem to matter how they settle head up or down. This one completed a full 360 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by Andy Martin
No butterfly better symbolizes the arrival of spring in the British Isles than this species, the Orange-tip.
I had a great weekend watching them and saw plenty of their little orange eggs being laid on Cuckooflower.
Plus a Snake's head fritillary to boot, marvelous!
Alderholt, Dorset. 📸
I had a great weekend watching them and saw plenty of their little orange eggs being laid on Cuckooflower.
Plus a Snake's head fritillary to boot, marvelous!
Alderholt, Dorset. 📸
April 14, 2025 at 10:01 AM
No butterfly better symbolizes the arrival of spring in the British Isles than this species, the Orange-tip.
I had a great weekend watching them and saw plenty of their little orange eggs being laid on Cuckooflower.
Plus a Snake's head fritillary to boot, marvelous!
Alderholt, Dorset. 📸
I had a great weekend watching them and saw plenty of their little orange eggs being laid on Cuckooflower.
Plus a Snake's head fritillary to boot, marvelous!
Alderholt, Dorset. 📸
Reposted by Andy Martin
Duke of Burgundy reported by Matthew Oates from the other place, near Stroud in Glos, his second earliest. And it was a female!!
April 12, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Duke of Burgundy reported by Matthew Oates from the other place, near Stroud in Glos, his second earliest. And it was a female!!
Green Hairstreak in a sheltered ☀️ spot at Martin Down Hampshire today. My first of the year 😀 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
April 9, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Green Hairstreak in a sheltered ☀️ spot at Martin Down Hampshire today. My first of the year 😀 @britishnatureguide.bsky.social