Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.
The SxBC photo competition is back!
We're inviting photographers to submit their best Sussex butterfly photographs to our annual competition. Whether it's a rare species in flight or a perfect close-up of delicate wing patterns, we want to see it.
The results will be announced at the Members Day held on Sunday the 22nd November. For more information click here.
To see the 2025 winning entries click here.
Our branch is organising many butterfly walks in the summer across the county.
Our next events are:
22 Nov: Members Day 2026 - More details to come later.
Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.
Anyone can post photos of butterflies they have seen in Sussex. Recent sightings include:
03 Sep: Had a walk in Brooklands between noon and 1 pm, not expecting to see anything as it was very overcast. It's looking in good shape shape for butterflies these days and I got lucky with a Small Copper at the start of my walk and a Small White at the end.
03 Sep: A Brown Argus was seen visiting the meadow in my old Ferring garden this morning. Went to fetch the camera but it had moved on 5 minutes later ...! Brings the tally for this garden to 28 butterfly species since 1999.
02 Sep: Humming-bird Hawk-moths have started to emerge in my Crawley garden. This one came in as a 2nd-instar larva on Lady's Bedstraw plug plants on 29th July and is drying her wings prior to being released. The larvae resulting from eggs that were laid on my Red Valerian plants are developing more slowly and with a huge loss-rate. I will be compiling a detailed report in the coming months, once all the data has been collected.
02 Sep: I watched a fascinating interaction between a male (the paler one) and female Small Copper this afternoon in St Leonards Forest, Horsham. He crept up behind her and tried to push himself under her wings. She all the while shaking her wings at great speed. Unfortunately, after while I got rather to bold and frightened them off.
01 Sep: At least ten fresh Wall at the Cockshute, watercourse very minimal but vegetation bouncing back after a week of rain. A few Common Blue nectaring on a second flush of Creeping Thistle. Several Small White enjoying masses of Bristly Oxtongue. At home in Lewes still daily visits from Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Painted Lady; also one fresh Comma and several Small White, mainly feeding on Buddleia.
01 Sep: It was warm and often sunny for a walk round Lancing Ring. Fourteen Butterfly species - 28 Common Blue, 16 Wall, 8 Speckled Wood, 6 Red Admiral, 3 Painted Lady, 3 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heath, 2 Small Copper, 2 Holly Blue, Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Large White, 2 Humming-bird Hawk-moth. Small White present but not counted. The dewpond is in the process of being refurbished as it was not holding water properly. A separate small pond is being dug specifically for dogs, which will be kept out of the main dewpond by thick dead-hedging. I hope it works!
01 Sep: As we enter the autumn months, it becomes ever more difficult to photograph our Sussex butterflies "in good condition" (not impossible, but it does become more difficult). Today, I managed half an hour with my camera, and found four images that I found interesting. Pic 1 shows a female Common Blue that is approximately 90% brown, and that isn't that common, nowadays (they are generally more blue than brown). Pic 2 shows the same female Common Blue getting along with a tiny Common Carder Bee (I rather like that - a willingness to share). Pic 3 shows both the upperside and underside of a male Common Blue (but he is around 5 days old and there is a grass tendril, in the way). Pic 4 shows a female Brown Argus "saying No", but the male hangs around, anyway. I am still hoping for a Wall Brown to take me to 34 butterfly species, this year. Maybe tomorrow?
01 Sep: Long walk from Seaford to Alfriston and back - 15 species seen. Hoping for Queen of Spain but no luck! However did see a Brown Hairstreak on hedgerow on road down into Alfriston - 2nd Brown Hairstreak of the year. Only had a mobile but managed a photo. Simon & Fran.
Click here for more sightings.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
New colonies of Wood White were recently discovered in West Sussex and our branch is planning to learn more about this rare butterfly.
We are organising a coordinated survey and are looking for volunteers. For more information on the Wood White Project in Sussex click here.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
Throughout the year we receive interesting sightings records. We have started an exercise to identify notable sightings and look for patterns during a month with a little help from an AI assistant.
To read more click here.
07 Aug: Annual Cotoneaster bashing on the Buckle by-pass (A259), Seaford
30 Jun: Martin Kalaher's Open Garden Sunday 12th July.
24 Jun: Scotney Castle - More opportunity to explore
27 Mar: Butterfly Recording Training at National Trust Woolbeding
22 Mar: 2026 walks now appear on the Events Page
28 Feb: Liz Williams Butterfly Haven work day
16 Jan: A summary of Sussex BC work parties in 2026
23 Oct: SxBC Members' Day - Saturday 22nd November 2025 1.30pm – 4.30pm. Latest Update
White Admiral, photo by Maurilio Tesa
Martin Kalaher has written a very interesting article titled 'Partial broods in 2025' to read the article click here.
Last month Martin published 'Second brood Dingy Skippers'. To read that article click here.
Photo from our 2025 competition.
Sussex is one of the best counties in the UK to see a wide range of interesting butterfly species.
More information on species can be viewed here.
There are many important sites for butterflies in our county.
Information on some of them can be viewed here.
The 2025 edition of our magazine has just landed! Members should receive a paper copy in mid November. A digital version can be viewed here.
Orange-tip by Gary Faulkner
The results of the 2025 SxBC photo competition were announced at the recent Members' Day.
To see the winning entries click here.
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