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:
24 Aug: First ever visit to this reserve and got to see plenty of species such as, Small White, Clouded Yellow, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Silver-washed Fritillary, Painted Lady, Comma, Common Blue and Hummingbird-hawk Moth. Sadly weather was murky most of my visit so photography was quite poor.
22 Aug: Today i visited Findon cricket club and took the opportunity to climb up the hill behind the club house. Plenty to see when the sun was out, mostly Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Common Blue but also a few whites at least one of which was a green veined. Also singles of Brown Argus, Small Copper, Holly Blue and Clouded Yellow. Great views from the bench near the top over the downs to cissbury and chanctonbury rings but there were a few wasps chewing on the bench to make paper for their nests so beware before sitting down!
22 Aug: Today was a big contrast to yesterday in our back garden. Before 10:30am Val saw 2 Painted Ladies and a Red Admiral, which were around all day, also Small Whites in and out and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. When I was there in the afternoon, a Clouded Yellow passed through heading north and a Small Copper spent 5 minutes on the Buddleia. They were the 18th and 19th species in our garden in 2026 with the Small Copper being a first in our 6 years here. Then the first Large White for ages came, paused on the buddleia and headed north. Just after, a bright orange butterfly went through, heading north too speedily for identification. More likely a Comma than a Q of S Fritillary, although Commas usually pause or come back later, which this didn't. However, no obvious flash of a silver-spotted underside. Not done yet, a male Common Blue and a female appeared from nowhere and spent time in the wild bit of lawn. A Vine's Rustic moth and a Common Purple and Gold mint moth plus a few dragonflies made up the day's tally.
22 Aug: Had a look in the section from the Steyning Chalk Pit and up high, for the Downland Scheme. There were Chalkhill, Adonis, Common and Argus Blues. Always a tricky id situation, but hopefully I’m ok. Also a Clouded Yellow, several Small Heath and Meadow Browns. Very little nectar up there, some Hemp-agrimony for the butterflies and blackberries for the spotters.
22 Aug: I walked the extended Centurion Way lunch time, to see the great work that has been done to restore the former Singleton station platforms, which have laid untouched since the 1930’s. To my total surprise there were many “blues” on site mating as well as other butterflies. Seeking some tranquility, I did not take my phone, so therefore no pictures. I am not a butterfly expert, so therefore the site needs a visit from one of your followers. I just wanted to give you a heads up.
22 Aug: We spent a glorious morning at Anchor Bottom amongst the 100's of Adonis Blues. We did though come across this Clouded Yellow which was almost white so we think it is likely an Helice. But it was very small compared to the other Clouded Yellows and we wondered if it was a Pale Clouded Yellow. Please could you confirm the ID. Many thanks
21 Aug: Val and I have been in Wiltshire for a few days. Apart from Small Whites, very quiet on the butterfly front. I was hoping our back garden might be more interesting, but just a couple of Small Whites passed through. My only photos were a bee and (I think) some sort of hoverfly. Hopefully Martin knows what they are. The cut price rather unhappy-looking fennel plant we bought last year and nursed back to health has done very well despite the drought. I remain over-optimistically hopeful of a continental visitor.
21 Aug: Yesterday evening, I had roosting third brood Common Blue and Brown Argus in the garden meadows, and so I thought I might have half a chance at some photography this morning. The weather was not kindly but I did manage just three, half decent photos. Currently, I have both second and third brood Common Blues. The second image would have been lovely, had she obliged and opened her wings. Astonishing colours that I could see, naked eye. The underside of the third image, shows us how beautiful these insects, are.
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.
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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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