Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.
Sussex BC are holding a photographic competition open to all members; the results to be announced, and top images projected, at the Members Day being held at the Cyprus Hall, Burgess Hill on Saturday the 30th November.
For more information click here.
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.
Anyone can post photos of butterflies they have seen in Sussex. Recent sightings include:
19 Oct 2024: Val saw a White in our back garden, probably a Large White, before we went to Woodside Road for Worthing's match against Tonbridge Angels. Val's powers of noticing butterflies are much better than mine. She spotted 3 or 4 Red Admirals. One kept flying around just above the front of the stand - even I saw that. 4 or 5 Large Whites / Small Whites drifted by at distance - I saw 2. Good game - Worthing came back from 0-1 to win 3-2.
18 Oct 2024: Still lots of whites still about today - including this very pale one.
18 Oct 2024: It was 16°C and bright sun in North Lancing and the adjacent Ring. Nine butterfly species were identified. 14 Speckled Wood, 13 Red Admiral, 4 Large White, 3 Common Blue, 2 Peacock, female Wall, Small Copper, Comma, Brimstone, Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 3 Silver Y. A couple of blues couldn't be verified, a probable Holly Blue (would definitely have been third brood) and a possible Long-tailed Blue. Perhaps rather than wait around an hour for the return of these two I should have gone to the allotments and staked it out for Small White!
18 Oct 2024: Our morning walk took in a Red Admiral at the south end of George V Avenue, then a Speckled Wood behind the Sailing Club in Goring and a Peacock in middle George V Avenue + 3 Whites (probably all Large Whites) at various stages between start and finish. Something smallish and brown flew past Val back near home, maybe a moth rather than a butterfly. In the afternoon we walked from the town center to Lyons Farm and came across another 3 Red Admirals. The last evaded us by flying up and over Sainsburys. We were the only occupants of the rather late and last-of-the-day number 16 bus back from there to the Pier - almost like being chauffeur driven. Lots of starlings were gathering just below the shingle line on the beach. The tide was very low and a digger was working at the far end of Worthing Pier, so the emergency works needed to reopen it appear to have started.
18 Oct 2024: On the transect at Beacon Hill, Rottingdean today was a remarkably fresh Meadow Brown. Other butterflies around were Small White, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and 23 Red Admirals, the vast majority of which were heading for France. Presumed incomers were Rusty Dot Pearl, Silver Y and L-album Wainscot.
17 Oct 2024: A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden at 1.15 on Verbena.
17 Oct 2024: On the main path that runs through Amberley Wildbrooks, watching a nice variety of raptors. Whilst there, JC and I saw a dozen or more Red Admirals over two hours or so on a southerly reverse-migration. They were all singles and heading more-or-less due south. Also an unidentified white butterfly and a Small Copper (I think - not 100% sure as it was in flight). At home there was a brief view of a Speckled Wood and a rather longer view of a Roe Deer (at 5.30pm). I'm not sure I am pleased to have Roe Deer in my garden but .....
Our branch is organising many butterfly walks this summer across the county.
Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.
There are many important sites for butterflies in our county.
Information on some of them can be viewed here.
Please remember, you can raise money for your favourite Butterfly Conservation Branch every time you shop online simply by clicking on the easyfundraising logo below and then signing up to support our cause.
