BC Upper Thames

Chalkhill Blue in cop

Adonis Blue male

Silver Spotted Skipper

Common Blue male and female

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

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.

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

No, its a Tree-lichen Beauty

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.

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

Silver-spotted Skipper beginning to emerge at Aston Rowant NNR. Six counted 25/7/25.
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Stunning male second brood Adonis Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

My 46th species of UK butterfly yesterday at Grangelands, Bucks; Silver-spotted Skipper. Also, Chalkhill Blues. @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Chalkhill Blue. Aston Rowant NNR 25/7/25
@rowantnnr.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.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

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

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

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.

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.

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

A striped Lychnis near Henley yesterday. Sadly for this one it has a few Tachinid eggs attached.

A Lappet recorded at one of the sites we survey in Berkshire.
Such a stunning moth and a good record. Berks records for this species are few and far between.

Trapping last night at one of the rewilding sites we survey in Berks. Pleased to record two Light Crimson Underwing and a Buttoned Snout.

Just right of and below centre a black and white butterfly with its wings open is resting on a small yellow flower. There are three other small yellow flowers spread throughout the frame. The background is out of focus green vegetation.

More usually found in flowery grassland, Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) butterflies do occasionally visit the fen. This one stopped on some of our abundant Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil just long enough to have its photo taken.
@upperthames.bsky.social #inverts #UKWildlife #OxfordshireFens

Aston Clinton Ragpitslooked and smelled good on Saturday. Surprisingly long wait to get a butterfly on an orchid pic. considering how many spikes there were!! Twayblade,hybrid Fragrant/Common Spotted and parents. @ukorchids.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

A White-letter Hairstreak at Bottom Wood, Mapledurham, Oxfordshire

Roughly in the centre of the photo a dark coloured triangular shapes moth is resting on the tip of a plant with a reddish stem. It has white blotchy markings at the bottom of its wings, and smaller yellow markings near the apex. There are two yellow dots in its dark head. The background is defocussed green leaves.

We seem to have lots of Scarlet Tiger (Callimorpha dominula) moths in the Valley at the moment. Is anyone else seeing more than usual?
#inverts #MothsMatter #UKWildlife #30DaysWild 📷
@upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

White-letter Hairstreak very active this morning on this wych elm on the Berks/Oxfordshire border

A white caterpillar with bright yellow and black markings with black spiky hairs is resting on a light green "furry" leaf. In front of it is the remains of the skin it has just shed. The black markings and hairs are clearly visible.

Waste not, want not!
Something I've never seen before, a Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci) larva eating its own shed skin!
#inverts #30DaysWild #UKWildlife #TeamMoth #UKButterflies
#BackGardenSafari @upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Marbled White

Large Skipper

Red Admiral

Common Blue

MARBLED WHITE, LARGE SKIPPER, RED ADMIRAL and COMMON BLUE from our day in the Chilterns yesterday. #butterflies @upperthames.bsky.social #wildlife #nature

A few nice bits at Watermead this eve:

Best by far - male CUCKOO calling at small lake, 21.10,
PAINTED LADY stopped for a couple of secs for a shot before shooting off,
Pair of BAR-HEADED GEESE,
& lots of NOCTULE BATS hunting…

#bucksbirdalert @upperthames.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social

Few bits from this morn’s survey at Watermead…

CUCKOO calling again,
REED WARBLER singing (scarce here, esp. in June),
Increase in MARBLED WHITES,
BROAD-BODIED CHASER devouring a Hoverfly - great to see side-by-side with BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER.

@upperthames.bsky.social #dragonflies #wildlife #nature

A cream and brown caterpillar sitting on a crinkly green leaf. It seems to have two tails tipped in red at the back (left), and two tiny red horns (right) just behind its head. The background is a diffuse green.

The weird and wonderful Puss moth (Cerura vinula) caterpillar. This one is still tiny (around 1cm or so). They look much more dramatic as they grow bigger!
@upperthames.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social #inverts #UKWildlife #TeamMoth

A triangular shaped moth with black upper wings punctuated with cream spots. I's resting on a dead flower head with browned petals. At the centre bottom of the moth you can just make out a hint of scarlet.

Just spotted my first Scarlet Tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) of the year, happily flying along a street in East Oxford. It was the flash of red I noticed, that I couldn't quite make into a butterfly...
#MothsMatter #UKWildlife 📷
@upperthames.bsky.social #Recorded

A Black Hairstreak, one of many in Salcey Forest, Northants
@savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

A Drab Looper in West Berks this afternoon. One of our priority Moth species. A dreary name but actually a rather charming and dainty little moth!

Are you heading up to the Lake District fells this summer?

You could help us monitor Mountain Ringlet - England's only mountain butterfly. This small, beautiful butterfly flies in June and July and we need help from hillwalkers to locate new colonies.

buff.ly/AZYvjvk