Butterfly Conservation Yorkshire
@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
Surveying and Conserving Yorkshires' Butterflies and Moths
Its been a better year for the Clouded Yellow and they are now making their way south for the treacherous trip home. This individual was captured by Chris Cox at Spurn yesterday where there have been regular sightings recently. Also flying currently are Red Admiral, Small Copper and Holly Blue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Its been a better year for the Clouded Yellow and they are now making their way south for the treacherous trip home. This individual was captured by Chris Cox at Spurn yesterday where there have been regular sightings recently. Also flying currently are Red Admiral, Small Copper and Holly Blue.
A fascinating study at Leeds University reveals for the first time how its possible to use weather radar data to estimate total numbers of flying insects. They found 11 trillion insects daytime increasing with climate warming while at night strong decline after LED's in urban heat and light islands
October 28, 2025 at 12:28 PM
A fascinating study at Leeds University reveals for the first time how its possible to use weather radar data to estimate total numbers of flying insects. They found 11 trillion insects daytime increasing with climate warming while at night strong decline after LED's in urban heat and light islands
With a massive third generation will Small Copper be Yorkshire's Butterfly of the year? Please submit your butterfly records by 16th November 2025 for them to be included in the Annual Report. Please submit on iRecordbutterflies, the Sightings site on the branch website or UKBMS for transects
October 17, 2025 at 11:21 AM
With a massive third generation will Small Copper be Yorkshire's Butterfly of the year? Please submit your butterfly records by 16th November 2025 for them to be included in the Annual Report. Please submit on iRecordbutterflies, the Sightings site on the branch website or UKBMS for transects
Annus Mirabilis! A brief summary across 20 sites show a remarkable recovery. With a 70% increase in our spring species and 50% increase till August its likely to the best year since the 90's. 20 year ranking puts 20 species 1st-3rd. Numerical winners were the Large White, GV White and Gatekeeper.
August 12, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Annus Mirabilis! A brief summary across 20 sites show a remarkable recovery. With a 70% increase in our spring species and 50% increase till August its likely to the best year since the 90's. 20 year ranking puts 20 species 1st-3rd. Numerical winners were the Large White, GV White and Gatekeeper.
An influx of Clouded Yellow since 4/8. They can be seen in many flowery places and clover fields. Popular spots include Ledston Luck, North Cave wetlands, Ripon wetlands. Look for a medium sized dusky orange butterfly in flight. You rarely get to see the upperside so thanks go to Tony Wilson.
August 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
An influx of Clouded Yellow since 4/8. They can be seen in many flowery places and clover fields. Popular spots include Ledston Luck, North Cave wetlands, Ripon wetlands. Look for a medium sized dusky orange butterfly in flight. You rarely get to see the upperside so thanks go to Tony Wilson.
The Dutch had their Garden Butterfly Count last weekend. Red Admiral was top as in previous years followed by Small White, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, Meadow brown, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue and Comma. 2025 ranks best since 2016 but not as good as years prior to that.
July 17, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The Dutch had their Garden Butterfly Count last weekend. Red Admiral was top as in previous years followed by Small White, Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, Meadow brown, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue and Comma. 2025 ranks best since 2016 but not as good as years prior to that.
Discover the beauty of butterflies this summer at Tropical World, Roundhay Park from 19th to 31st July and find out about their habitats. We’re taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2025 (19 July to 10 August) Join BCY team with live insects 19-20th July tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/tropical-wor...
July 11, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Discover the beauty of butterflies this summer at Tropical World, Roundhay Park from 19th to 31st July and find out about their habitats. We’re taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2025 (19 July to 10 August) Join BCY team with live insects 19-20th July tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk/tropical-wor...
Time to look back at an once in a century Spring with sunniest, warmest and one of the driest on record. The result was exceptional numbers of Peacocks, Brimstones but also the Whites, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper. In mid April some transects had counts of 100+ insects.. quite remarkable!
June 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Time to look back at an once in a century Spring with sunniest, warmest and one of the driest on record. The result was exceptional numbers of Peacocks, Brimstones but also the Whites, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper. In mid April some transects had counts of 100+ insects.. quite remarkable!
Large Heath after a couple of years absence on Fen Bog has returned with 4 seen on the transect yesterday which is very good news. Butterfly conservation are involved with a large new habitat restoration project nextdoor to expand habitat for this species.
June 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Large Heath after a couple of years absence on Fen Bog has returned with 4 seen on the transect yesterday which is very good news. Butterfly conservation are involved with a large new habitat restoration project nextdoor to expand habitat for this species.
In June 2024 during week 11 only 1 Small Tortoiseshell was recorded overall Yorkshire's sites. This year 150 have been recorded so far! Everywhere I go near nettles I'm seeing them! A strong recovery but everything depends on the weather and nettle quality. Too hot/dry could still spell disaster.
June 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
In June 2024 during week 11 only 1 Small Tortoiseshell was recorded overall Yorkshire's sites. This year 150 have been recorded so far! Everywhere I go near nettles I'm seeing them! A strong recovery but everything depends on the weather and nettle quality. Too hot/dry could still spell disaster.
Join us at Wintersett and see all the amazing moths to be found there and join our butterfly walk and learn so much more about their amazing lives.
June 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Join us at Wintersett and see all the amazing moths to be found there and join our butterfly walk and learn so much more about their amazing lives.
Butterflies have thrived in the sunniest March and April on record, up nearly 50%. Record counts of Peacock, Speckled Wood and Brimstone, similar to summer, with odd sites with over 100; remarkable! Yorkshire has a record breaking 22 species on the wing and emergence is 13 days earlier in 20 yrs.
May 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Butterflies have thrived in the sunniest March and April on record, up nearly 50%. Record counts of Peacock, Speckled Wood and Brimstone, similar to summer, with odd sites with over 100; remarkable! Yorkshire has a record breaking 22 species on the wing and emergence is 13 days earlier in 20 yrs.
The weather forecast is good for our second open day at Wenthillside thsi coming Sunday. Some of our spring species are in abundance this year including the scarce Dingy Skipper.
May 6, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The weather forecast is good for our second open day at Wenthillside thsi coming Sunday. Some of our spring species are in abundance this year including the scarce Dingy Skipper.
The BC Yorkshire Annual report is now available to enjoy by members who should recieve an email shortly with the password. An exciting but challenging year for our species drive.google.com/file/d/1dt70...
May 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The BC Yorkshire Annual report is now available to enjoy by members who should recieve an email shortly with the password. An exciting but challenging year for our species drive.google.com/file/d/1dt70...
Our Spring Open day is open to all . Come and enjoy Wenthillside with guided tours by the Owner Les Driffield
April 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Our Spring Open day is open to all . Come and enjoy Wenthillside with guided tours by the Owner Les Driffield
Open to everyone but especially aimed at new Transect walkers. We look at simple methods to ID not only when at rest but also in flight including how do you tell apart our 6 white species below!
Mail me for an invitation.
Mail me for an invitation.
April 11, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Open to everyone but especially aimed at new Transect walkers. We look at simple methods to ID not only when at rest but also in flight including how do you tell apart our 6 white species below!
Mail me for an invitation.
Mail me for an invitation.
Have you seen a Green Hairstreak yet? This butterfly we always associate with the Butterfly season's kick-off. With butterflies emerging presently nearly 2 weeks earlier than norm, this year may prove to be one of our earliest and comparable to 2020 when Green Hairstreak emerged on 5th April.
March 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Have you seen a Green Hairstreak yet? This butterfly we always associate with the Butterfly season's kick-off. With butterflies emerging presently nearly 2 weeks earlier than norm, this year may prove to be one of our earliest and comparable to 2020 when Green Hairstreak emerged on 5th April.
Brimstone lift-off day with temperature touching 17'C in Yorkshire. For the majority of us a Brimstone will be our first butterfly of the year. I was lucky enough to spot two at the Yorkshire Butterfly reserve at Shipley Station while advising on improving the meadow. Comma comes in at second place
March 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Brimstone lift-off day with temperature touching 17'C in Yorkshire. For the majority of us a Brimstone will be our first butterfly of the year. I was lucky enough to spot two at the Yorkshire Butterfly reserve at Shipley Station while advising on improving the meadow. Comma comes in at second place
Some of Yorkshires butterfly species were hit badly by the 2024 bad weather with a quarter of our species down more than 70%. There are worrying signs of once common species like Green-viened White, Small Copper, Small Skipper and Common Blue are in permanent and quite quick decline!
January 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Some of Yorkshires butterfly species were hit badly by the 2024 bad weather with a quarter of our species down more than 70%. There are worrying signs of once common species like Green-viened White, Small Copper, Small Skipper and Common Blue are in permanent and quite quick decline!