martinswarren.bsky.social
@martinswarren.bsky.social
Butterfly and moth enthusiast, working to conserve these lovely insects in Europe and beyond. Advisor to Butterfly Conservation Europe and author of ‘Butterflies’ published by Bloomsbury.
Pinned
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
18 moths of 9sp last night in Corfe Castle. My first December moths of the winter. The Yeti of the moth world @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
18 moths of 9sp last night in Corfe Castle. My first December moths of the winter. The Yeti of the moth world @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
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📢 Just 2 places are left on our Butterflies of the French Pyrenees tour, 27 May - 3 June 2026.
A classic GW tour which we designed & launched back in 2014, given a refresh for 2026!
Violet Copper, Spanish Fritillary, Spanish Festoon, Apollo, & many more butterfly highlights!
A classic GW tour which we designed & launched back in 2014, given a refresh for 2026!
Violet Copper, Spanish Fritillary, Spanish Festoon, Apollo, & many more butterfly highlights!
November 16, 2025 at 8:09 AM
📢 Just 2 places are left on our Butterflies of the French Pyrenees tour, 27 May - 3 June 2026.
A classic GW tour which we designed & launched back in 2014, given a refresh for 2026!
Violet Copper, Spanish Fritillary, Spanish Festoon, Apollo, & many more butterfly highlights!
A classic GW tour which we designed & launched back in 2014, given a refresh for 2026!
Violet Copper, Spanish Fritillary, Spanish Festoon, Apollo, & many more butterfly highlights!
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Numbers of eggs in Herts very encouraging so far. This is the third year in a row this species has been present after a gap of 30 years hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/news.php @bc_hertsmiddx
News
hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Numbers of eggs in Herts very encouraging so far. This is the third year in a row this species has been present after a gap of 30 years hertsmiddx-butterflies.org.uk/news.php @bc_hertsmiddx
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction across Europe has increased significantly in the past 15 years, a new assessment has warned:
Number of European butterflies at risk of extinction increases
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction across Europe has increased significantly in the past 15 years, a new assessment has warned. Across the continent, 65 out of 442 assessed species are now facing the threat of extinction, up from 37 in 2010. This accounts for 15% of all European species.
bit.ly
November 15, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The number of butterflies at risk of extinction across Europe has increased significantly in the past 15 years, a new assessment has warned:
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Check the occupancy model results of @mfajgenblat.bsky.social on Belgian #butterflies via this link. Amazing results! #vlinderstudiedag
November 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Check the occupancy model results of @mfajgenblat.bsky.social on Belgian #butterflies via this link. Amazing results! #vlinderstudiedag
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Eerst is Marc Herremans aan de beurt die een overzicht geeft van de afgelopen twee vlinderjaren. Grote variatie van jaar tot jaar in slaagkans van tweede generatie van dagpauwoog! #vlinderstudiedag
November 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Eerst is Marc Herremans aan de beurt die een overzicht geeft van de afgelopen twee vlinderjaren. Grote variatie van jaar tot jaar in slaagkans van tweede generatie van dagpauwoog! #vlinderstudiedag
Good turn out for our first Brown Hairstreak egg count at Lydlinch Common.Eggs thin in the ground though with just 13 found in 2 hrs by 9 people. But we did find a nice double and a dew covered Drinker moth caterpillar. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Good turn out for our first Brown Hairstreak egg count at Lydlinch Common.Eggs thin in the ground though with just 13 found in 2 hrs by 9 people. But we did find a nice double and a dew covered Drinker moth caterpillar. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Coppers may be pennies from heaven, but we know the pounds count too - which is why our Early Bird booking discount offers £150 off the cost of any of our week-long tours in 2026 if booked before 1 December.
All our tours, and availability, are here:
www.mariposanature.com/calendar
All our tours, and availability, are here:
www.mariposanature.com/calendar
November 14, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Coppers may be pennies from heaven, but we know the pounds count too - which is why our Early Bird booking discount offers £150 off the cost of any of our week-long tours in 2026 if booked before 1 December.
All our tours, and availability, are here:
www.mariposanature.com/calendar
All our tours, and availability, are here:
www.mariposanature.com/calendar
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
A reminder of the importance of ancient grasslands. In Uk we really should be treating our remaining ancient meadows as irreplaceable and given the same protection afforded to ancient woodlands.
"...one of 1,700 “remnant” grasslands identified in Virginia over the past few years. Using carbon dating & other forensic techniques, scientists have found that plant communities in similar plots have existed continuously for at least 2,000 years..." 🌎 🌐 🌱
These ancient time travelers have answers to our 21st century problems
Newly discovered patches of ancient landscape have somehow managed to survive without being turned into a farm, forest or subdivision.
wapo.st
November 14, 2025 at 11:17 AM
A reminder of the importance of ancient grasslands. In Uk we really should be treating our remaining ancient meadows as irreplaceable and given the same protection afforded to ancient woodlands.
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
⚡ We’re excited to announce that Dorset Council is backing the Climate and Nature Bill!
🐝 They join 384 councils across the UK calling for new, urgent, science-led legislation—bold enough to tackle the climate-nature crisis.
👉 action.zerohour.uk/council #CANBill
🐝 They join 384 councils across the UK calling for new, urgent, science-led legislation—bold enough to tackle the climate-nature crisis.
👉 action.zerohour.uk/council #CANBill
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
⚡ We’re excited to announce that Dorset Council is backing the Climate and Nature Bill!
🐝 They join 384 councils across the UK calling for new, urgent, science-led legislation—bold enough to tackle the climate-nature crisis.
👉 action.zerohour.uk/council #CANBill
🐝 They join 384 councils across the UK calling for new, urgent, science-led legislation—bold enough to tackle the climate-nature crisis.
👉 action.zerohour.uk/council #CANBill
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Great. I haven't seen more than half a dozen for the whole year. It's not that bad, though. It's been a cracking year for Clouded Yellow in Suffolk with two (probable) Pale Clouded Yellow reported as well.
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Great. I haven't seen more than half a dozen for the whole year. It's not that bad, though. It's been a cracking year for Clouded Yellow in Suffolk with two (probable) Pale Clouded Yellow reported as well.
The 2025 season goes on down here in Swanage. A rather tatty Painted Lady today 13 November @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 PM
The 2025 season goes on down here in Swanage. A rather tatty Painted Lady today 13 November @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Yesterday the wonderful Phil Sterling came to Studland to tell us about some unique moths of Purbeck, and we’ve got some real goodies and some real weirdos. Who’d have thought Bagworms were so devious! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Yesterday the wonderful Phil Sterling came to Studland to tell us about some unique moths of Purbeck, and we’ve got some real goodies and some real weirdos. Who’d have thought Bagworms were so devious! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Glacier Blanc from Tuckett Hut
1926 | 2025
Exactly one century of man-induced ice loss at the largest glacier (now) in the Ecrins massif! 🧊🔥
The scale is difficult to grasp here, but the glacier has lost approx. 1.8 km in length over this period! 📈
📷 RTM and Ecrins NP
1926 | 2025
Exactly one century of man-induced ice loss at the largest glacier (now) in the Ecrins massif! 🧊🔥
The scale is difficult to grasp here, but the glacier has lost approx. 1.8 km in length over this period! 📈
📷 RTM and Ecrins NP
November 11, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Glacier Blanc from Tuckett Hut
1926 | 2025
Exactly one century of man-induced ice loss at the largest glacier (now) in the Ecrins massif! 🧊🔥
The scale is difficult to grasp here, but the glacier has lost approx. 1.8 km in length over this period! 📈
📷 RTM and Ecrins NP
1926 | 2025
Exactly one century of man-induced ice loss at the largest glacier (now) in the Ecrins massif! 🧊🔥
The scale is difficult to grasp here, but the glacier has lost approx. 1.8 km in length over this period! 📈
📷 RTM and Ecrins NP
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
My friend Penny Green has started a new podcast over the last few months, I recorded this with her back in July and it's just been released. I was surveying the arable margins for invertebrates on the Wiston Estate. It's a great listen.
Marginal Gains - The Wandering Ecologist Podcast
Episode 5 takes us on top of the South Downs at the Wiston Estate where I join awesome entomologist, Graeme Lyons, on some invertebrate surveys. We’re looking at the benefits of having wildflower stri...
thewanderingecologistpodcast.buzzsprout.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
My friend Penny Green has started a new podcast over the last few months, I recorded this with her back in July and it's just been released. I was surveying the arable margins for invertebrates on the Wiston Estate. It's a great listen.
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Running 30 April - 7 May 2026, just 1 place remains available to join this perennially popular tour.
And, of course, like ALL our butterfly tours, it generates a donation to support the great conservation work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (2/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
And, of course, like ALL our butterfly tours, it generates a donation to support the great conservation work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (2/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Running 30 April - 7 May 2026, just 1 place remains available to join this perennially popular tour.
And, of course, like ALL our butterfly tours, it generates a donation to support the great conservation work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (2/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
And, of course, like ALL our butterfly tours, it generates a donation to support the great conservation work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (2/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Good morning and welcome to a new week!
Our featured Spanish tour of the week is Spring Butterflies of Andalusia - a chance to enjoy a mouth-watering array of special butterflies rare or absent elsewhere in Europe. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
Our featured Spanish tour of the week is Spring Butterflies of Andalusia - a chance to enjoy a mouth-watering array of special butterflies rare or absent elsewhere in Europe. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Good morning and welcome to a new week!
Our featured Spanish tour of the week is Spring Butterflies of Andalusia - a chance to enjoy a mouth-watering array of special butterflies rare or absent elsewhere in Europe. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
Our featured Spanish tour of the week is Spring Butterflies of Andalusia - a chance to enjoy a mouth-watering array of special butterflies rare or absent elsewhere in Europe. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Back on Bodmin Moor this weekend with Cornwall Butterfly Conservation. This time, we were working at Fellover, another site for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, managing Gorse and Bracken in an area between the two existing colonies. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Back on Bodmin Moor this weekend with Cornwall Butterfly Conservation. This time, we were working at Fellover, another site for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, managing Gorse and Bracken in an area between the two existing colonies. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Huge thanks to Nigel Spring who is stepping down as Chair after many years of superb leadership of our Branch. We are grateful that he is staying on the Committee and as Reserves Manager. A true great of conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Huge thanks to Nigel Spring who is stepping down as Chair after many years of superb leadership of our Branch. We are grateful that he is staying on the Committee and as Reserves Manager. A true great of conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Caroline Bulman explains action to save priority butterflies in Dorset, especially the Duke of Burgundy which is now found on only 6 small sites. It has died out from several nature reserves and requires careful management. Action is now being taken on the last few sites under a special grant.
November 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Caroline Bulman explains action to save priority butterflies in Dorset, especially the Duke of Burgundy which is now found on only 6 small sites. It has died out from several nature reserves and requires careful management. Action is now being taken on the last few sites under a special grant.
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
Wonderful to see so many butterfly and moth enthusiasts at our AGM and Members Day. Great to hear so much super work being done by our dedicated volunteers
November 8, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Wonderful to see so many butterfly and moth enthusiasts at our AGM and Members Day. Great to hear so much super work being done by our dedicated volunteers
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
It’s definitely been a good year for clouded yellow in Kent, though several weeks since I’ve seen one. These were at Elmley NNR and Canterbury. All recorded on iRecord of course ☺️
November 8, 2025 at 11:17 AM
It’s definitely been a good year for clouded yellow in Kent, though several weeks since I’ve seen one. These were at Elmley NNR and Canterbury. All recorded on iRecord of course ☺️
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
A reminder that some downland was once ploughed. Ancient field system showing well in morning light near Chapmans Pool, south Dorset
November 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A reminder that some downland was once ploughed. Ancient field system showing well in morning light near Chapmans Pool, south Dorset
Reposted by martinswarren.bsky.social
It was so good to hear that in other parts of the country, concerted efforts at both site and landscape level have returned Duke of Burgundy to old haunts and newly created habitat. There is hope in Dorset yet!
We heard some wonderful stories of amazing recovery of Dukes in Sussex from Neil Hulme and Kent from Dan Tuson, and latest survey methods from Sue Clarke. Very inspiring
November 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
It was so good to hear that in other parts of the country, concerted efforts at both site and landscape level have returned Duke of Burgundy to old haunts and newly created habitat. There is hope in Dorset yet!