Southbourne Seafront Transect
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helice25.bsky.social
Southbourne Seafront Transect
@helice25.bsky.social
☀️ News photos & regular updates from the Southbourne Butterfly Monitoring Transect Dorset. https://maps.app.goo.gl/amhDZQDfUVXGdzwu8
🦋 For further information please contact us via chat 😀
4 Clouded Yellow on the wing along the seafront at lunchtime. Looks promising for adults flying locally into December. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
November 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
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A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.

Southbourne
Dorset.
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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Finally a sunny day at Southbourne Undercliff and it was great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Sue, Andy and Mike G.
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.

Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
November 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Southbourne Seafront Transect
It's November and despite a stiff westerly breeze and an air temperature of 12c there were still 3 Clouded Yellow on the wing and evidence of egg laying down at Southbourne today.

It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋

Southbourne Dorset
November 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A count of 12 Clouded Yellow at lunchtime on the transect. Mostly fresh so weather permitting should have adults in November 🤞 @ukbms.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great news. When the weather is good there are still several adults on view along the transect.
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.
October 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Generally dull overcast day at Southbourne today. However, a brief 10 minutes of sun had a few butterflies emerging, including this fresh Small Copper. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
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STOP PRESS: Long-tailed Blue see at Southbourne on 9th October. This remarkable season keeps on going www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/10/long...
Long-tailed Blue, Southbourne
Two photos of a great butterfly to see sent in by Tracy telling us: It was great to spot a Long-tailed Blue at Southbourne yesterday, 09/10/2025 and my husband Gary managed to get a slight open win…
www.dorsetbutterflies.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
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Down at Southbourne today to meet up with fellow transect walker Andy M and the weather was glorious ☀️
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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I was down at Southbourne today and there was plenty of action from at least 20 Clouded Yellows seen along a mile long strip of the undercliff and getting photos of the females whilst they were egg laying was a top highlight.
Fantastic.

Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
September 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Final week of @ukbms.bsky.social monitoring season - Clouded Yellow numbers greatly increased on the transect, also nice to see fresh Common Blue. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
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Week 25 and it was nice to be out on the Southbourne Transect today on a sunny warm day.
Butterflies seen.

2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?

Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋
September 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Unfortunately, due to predicted poor weather conditions at Southbourne on Tuesday, we are cancelling the guided walk.
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
🌬 Windy for the start of week 24, so 🦋 numbers reduced. Better forecast for next week when we are hosting a guided walk on the transect. Please click the link for more details www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/ 😊
September 9, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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Week 23 and out on the Southbourne Transect today.
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.

Southbourne
Dorset
September 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Southbourne Seafront Transect
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 as we're having a bumper year, keep an eye out for second (or even third) broods of some species.
September 2, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Happy to complete a rain free transect walk this morning. 2 Small copper seen on section S4 one being common aberration caeriuleopunctata (row of blue spots on hind wing) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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It was great today to catch up with fellow Southbourne Transect walkers and find Clouded Yellow eggs layed on Common Bird's-foot-trefoil this afternoon.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.
August 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Our first Southbourne transect Jersey Tiger this morning. A flash of bright colours as it flew by, then settled for a photo. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
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I was down at the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning for a quick look to see what was about.
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.

Southbourne Dorset
August 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Happy to report Clouded Yellow flying again on our Southbourne transect. Pictures courtesy of @cloudedyellows.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
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Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today, good to see Mike O out there aswell.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.
July 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
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The Big Butterfly Count 2025 is here and butterflies need our help 🦋🚨

This isn't just a survey, it's a rescue mission, and we need everyone to get involved.

No lab coats. No science degrees. Just 15 minutes of your time. ⏱️

Get out for the count 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
July 18, 2025 at 6:30 AM
☀️ Drought conditions noticeable on some parts of the transect this morning. However enough nectaring remains on uncut meadow. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social
July 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
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Great to meet up with fellow walker Andy M on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.
July 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM