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09-Dec-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 8th December. The sheep have been taken off the site, so there are no longer any access restrictions.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom
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10-Nov-2019
The 2019 Wood White Species Champion report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/WoodWhite_Report_2019_NBoard.pdf
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04-Nov-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 3rd November.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom
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11-Oct-2019
Sheep are grazing at the Holtspur Bottom reserve. Last year there were incidents of dog worrying, so there is currently no access to the internal parts of the reserve. The reserve may be visited by prior arrangement, and will be open on Conservation Task days. We anticipate the sheep will depart in December 2019. Once the sheep are gone all areas of the reserve will revert to permissive Open Access.
The days with access for visitors and volunteers during the closure period are :
Sunday 03.11.19 from 10.00 until 13.00 : Guided walk, planting and scrub control and Sunday 08.12.19 10.00-13.00 : 'scrape' weeding, scrub control and hedge laying.
If you are interested in attending on those days, to assist with conservation or simply for a guided walk around the reserve, please inform Nick Bowles (nick.bowles@ntlworld.com)
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10-Oct-2019
The 2020 Branch calendar will be available at Members' Day, or by post.
upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/calendar
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10-Oct-2019
The 2019 Silver-spotted Skipper Species Champion report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/SilverSpottedSkipper_Report_2019_RSoulsby.pdf
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03-Sep-2019
Update from the Butterfly Reeords Officer
I have received further batches of useful records since the last update just before the Bank Holiday weekend. I have
attached an updated selection of maps. There has been excellent
progress with the gaps in species coverage, and a few people have successfully targeted all previously un-visited
blank squares - all these within our boundaries and almost all of those on the edges. As a result, the number of
visited squares with records has increased in the last two weeks from 1551 to 1561; the average number of species
recorded per visited 2km square has increased from 16.8 to 17.1. Moreover, all of the squares within our three
county boundaries that had fewer than 3 species have been re-visited, and many of these are now over 10 spp. Well
done so far to all who have contributed - you have done a fantastic job!
I have also included a gaps map, in which records available from neighbouring counties have been included. This removes
a number of the gap dots on our outer boundaries, although we recognise that these are likely to be records from outside
our own county boundary, although they are within the same square.
We are on the last lap for 2019. There are still a scatter of squares with fewer than 10 species recorded to be filled
in N Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks, W Berks, and a handful in E Berks. We also have gaps in 10km squares for Small
Copper and Small Heath, which both fly in September, so there are still useful records to be found. We are appealing
again to people to send in records if they have not already done so, especially if they are in gaps. For those who
don't wish to miss opportunities to walk in autumn sunshine, please feel free to target the remaining dots on the
map where there are species gaps, especially for late-flying species such as Common Blue, Small Copper and Speckled Wood,
which can appear in good numbers late in the season. Please don't forget to record all species. Within the last week,
I have been still been finding up to 10-12 species in searches (although it is harder work now than in mid-July) and
I found a Clouded Yellow east of Faringdon.
If you have records that you have not yet sent me (or submitted to iRecord), please send them as soon as possible,
so that we keep track of which gaps have been filled. I suspect some of the people out there are sitting on records
that are not in the system, and would fill some of our gaps. If you have sent in your data, but your dots are
missing, please let me know, as I may have missed some incoming data. My apologies if this is the case for you.
Click here for maps (will open in new tab).
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22-Aug-2019
Update from the Butterfly Reeords Officer
I have received more new records since the last update on 5th August. Thank you to everyone who has sent me
their records. There has been excellent progress with the gaps in species coverage, and a few people have successfully targeted
previously un-visited blank squares (all these within our boundaries and many of those on the edges). As a result, the number of
visited squares with records has increased in the last two weeks from 1541 to 1551; the average number of species recorded per
visited 2km square has increased from 16.7 to 16.8. Well done to all who have contributed!
There are still a few gaps to be filled in NW Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks and west of Berks - see the map. We are appealing again
to people to visit these fewer remaining blank areas, especially the bigger ones (and to send in records if they have not already
done so). We are just beyond the peak of the season for number of species, so the imminent bank holiday weekend and the next week
or two is a key time to go out into the field and cover remaining gaps, especially for species such as Common Blue and Speckled Wood,
which tend to appear in good numbers late in the season. Please don't forget to record all species and target gaps in the overall coverage map.
If you have records that you have not yet sent me (or submitted to iRecord), please send them as soon as possible,
so that we keep track of which gaps have been filled. I suspect some of the people out there are sitting on records
that are not in the system, and would fill some of our gaps. If you have sent in your data, but your dots are
missing, please let me know, as I may have missed some incoming data. My apologies if this is the case for you.
Click here for maps (will open in new tab).
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05-Aug-2019
Update from the Butterfly Reeords Officer
I have received a number of batches of new records since the last update on 22nd July;
thank you to everyone who has sent them in. There has been excellent progress with the gaps in species
coverage, and a few people have successfully targeted previously un-visited blank squares, all these within our
boundaries and some of those on the edges. As a result, the number of visited squares with records has increased
in the last two weeks from 1536 to 1541; the average number of species recorded per visited 2km square has
increased from 16.2 to 16.7. Well done to all who have contributed so far!
There are still some gaps to be filled in NW Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks and west of Berks - see the map. Let's
appeal again to people to visit these remaining blank areas, especially the bigger ones (and to send in records
if they have not already done so). We are only just beyond the peak of the season for number of species, so
the next few weeks is a key time to go out into the field and cover remaining gaps, especially for species
such as Common Blue and Speckled Wood, which tend to appear in good numbers late in the season. Please don't
forget to record all species and target gaps in the overall coverage map.
If you have records that you have not yet sent me (or submitted to iRecord), please send them as soon as possible,
so that we keep track of which gaps have been filled. I suspect some of the people out there are sitting on records
that are not in the system, and would fill some of our gaps. If you have sent in your data, but your dots are
missing, please let me know, as I may have missed some incoming data. My apologies if this is the case for you.
Click here for maps (will open in new tab).
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24-Jul-2019
Update from the Butterfly Records Officer
I have received a number of new and updated datasets as we approach the end of July (including submissions to iRecord up to 22nd July)
and I have updated the maps. Thank you to everyone who has sent me their records. There has been good
progress with the general gaps in species coverage, and a few people have already filled in previously unvisited blank squares.
As a result, the number of visited squares with records has increased in the last month from 1525 to 1536; the average number
of species recorded per visited 2km square has increased from 15.8 to 16.2.
There are still gaps to be filled in NW Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks, and the east and west of Berks - see the map link.
Let's appeal again to people to visit these remaining blank areas, especially the bigger ones (and to send in records if
they have not already done so) and the few empty squares fully within our boundaries, e.g. in SU97 (SU9070 Winkfield),
SP33 (SP3634 Nill Farm, Hook Norton; and SP3838 Swalcliffe Lea, N of Tadmarton) and SP44 (SP4244 N of Hanwell). We are
at the peak of the season for number of species, so the next few weeks is a key time to go out into the field. Please
don't forget to record all species and target gaps in the overall coverage map.
If you have records that you have not yet sent to me (or submitted to iRecord), please send them as soon as possible,
so that we keep track of which gaps have been filled. I suspect some of the people out there are sitting on records
that are not in the system and would fill some of our gaps. If you have sent in your data, but your dots are missing,
please let me know, as I may have missed some incoming data - my apologies if this is the case for you.
Click here for maps (will open in new tab).
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21-Jul-2019
The Holtspur Bottom work party page has been updated.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom.pl
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19-Jul-2019
The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping Butterfly Conservation assess the health of our environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. Over 100,000 people took part in 2018, submitting 97,133 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK. The 2019 event takes place from Friday 19 July to Sunday 11 August.
www.bigbutterflycount.org/
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02-Jul-2019
Update from the Butterfly Records Officer
I have received a number of new and updated datasets at the end of June
(including submissions to iRecord up to 30th June, which I have
downloaded) and I have updated the maps. Thank you to everyone who has
sent me their records. There has been good progress with Orange-tip
recording this Spring and also the general gaps in species coverage, and
a few people have already filled in previously unvisited blank squares.
As a result, the number of visited squares with records has increased in
the last month from 1511 to 1525; the average number of species recorded
per visited 2km square has increased from 15.6 to 15.8. Well done
to all who have contributed so far!
There are still gaps to be filled in NW Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks,
and the east and west of Berks - see the
Gaps map. I'd like to
appeal again to people to visit these remaining blank areas, especially
the bigger ones (and to send in records if they have not already done
so). We are near the peak of the season for number of species, so this
month is a key time to go out into the field. Please don't forget to
record all species and target gaps in the overall coverage map.
If you have records that you have not yet sent me (or submitted to
iRecord), please send them as soon as possible, so that we keep track of
which gaps have been filled. I suspect some of the people out there are
sitting on records that are not in the system and would fill some of our
gaps. If you have sent in your data, but your dots are missing, please
let me know, as I may have missed some incoming data.
Click here for maps (will open in new tab).
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28-Jun-2019
A previously extinct butterfly has bred successfully in an English woodland for the first time in more than 40 years as part of the ambitious conservation project "Back from the Brink".
butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/extinct-butterfly-breeds-in-english-first
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07-Jun-2019
The 2018 Black Hairstreak Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/BlackHairstreak_Report_2018_SHodges.pdf
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09-May-2019
Update from the Butterfly Records Officer
I have received a number of datasets so far this year (including submissions to iRecord). There has been significant progress with Orange-tip recording this Spring, and a few people have already added 178 new dots where the map was blank at the end of last year. Well done so far!
There are still gaps to be filled in North Oxfordshire, mid-north Bucks, and the east and west of Berks, and OTs are still flying. I'd like to appeal again to people to visit these remaining blank areas, especially the bigger ones (and to send in records if they have not already done so) and look for flying OTs, or for their eggs on Garlic Mustard, and subsequently, larvae on Garlic Mustard. I reckon we have about 6 weeks of useful recording time left for this one species. Let's not forget other species and gaps in the overall coverage map. Holly Blue seems to be doing well so far this year, for example.
Click here for maps.
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28-Apr-2019
A new version of the garden records spreadsheet is available. If you downloaded the old version, please replace it with the new one.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Forms/Form_UTB_Garden_Records_2019.xlsx
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23-Apr-2019
A Large Tortoiseshell was seen at Ivinghoe (Incombe Hole) today. The last sighting in the UTB region was in 2009.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/butterfly_sightings.pl
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04-Apr-2019
Phil Tizzard is the new garden and churchyard record co-ordinator.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/contact.pl
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01-Apr-2019
Butterfly recording forms for 2019 are now available. Please use the spreadsheet versions where possible.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/gardens.pl
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16-Mar-2019
The 2018 Duke of Burgundy Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/DukeOfBurgundy_Report_2018_CGeorge.pdf
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15-Mar-2019
The 2018 Dark Green Fritillary Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/DarkGreenFritillary_Report_2018_CGeorge.pdf
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14-Mar-2019
The 2018 White Admiral Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/WhiteAdmiral_Report_2018_JHuggins.pdf
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13-Mar-2019
The 2018 Chalk Hill Blue Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/ChalkHillBlue_Report_2018_NBowles.pdf
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12-Mar-2019
The 2018 Purple Emperor Species Champion Report is available for download.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/PurpleEmperor_Report_2018_MRobinson.pdf
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03-Mar-2019
Nick is looking for a date in the second half of April to plant Dark Mullein and Horseshoe Vetch plants at Holtspur Bottom. Friday 26th April at 10am is the currently preferred date. If you can't make this date (whether or not you have plants), please let Nick know (nick.bowles@ntlworld.com).
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03-Mar-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 3rd March
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom.pl
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24-Feb-2019
The Brown Hairstreak continues to expand its range in our area. UTB's intrepid band of egg-searchers has managed to add no less than 23 new kilometre squares to our population this winter, giving us 13 new tetrads. There are 18 known tetrads out of 147 still needing to be checked for eggs this winter. Last summer's adult sightings showed a greater spread than usual, 60 individuals being recorded over 22 different tetrads, while egg counts at our core sites have shown a significant increase too.
On Saturday 2nd March we will be visiting BBOWT's Bernwood Meadows reserve. We would welcome any help because there is a lot of blackthorn to search. Meet at 10.30am in the main Oakley Wood carpark for Bernwood Forest (SP611117), from where we will walk to the reserve. Bring appropriate clothing and footwear. A small hand lens or magnifying glass would be helpful but is not essential. We aim to finish around 1pm - no previous experience necessary!
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/hairstreak_egg_hunts.pl
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24-Feb-2019
The 2018 Grayling Species Champion report is now available (PDF).
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/Grayling_Report_2018_DSussex.pdf
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24-Feb-2019
The 2018 Grizzled Skipper Species Champion report is now available (PDF).
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/GrizzledSkipper_Report_2018_DHastings.pdf
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18-Feb-2019
The 2017 Dark Green Fritillary Species Champion report is now available (PDF).
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/DarkGreenFritillary_Report_2017_CGeorge.pdf
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17-Feb-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 17th February.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom.pl
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17-Feb-2019
The 2018 White-letter Hairstreak Species Champion report is now available (PDF).
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/Reports/WhiteLetterHairstreak_Report_2018_PCuss.pdf
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27-Jan-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 27th January
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom.pl
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23-Jan-2019
Emma Turnbull will be giving up the Garden and Churchyard survey co-ordinator role on 1st February. Anybody interested in taking over is requested to contact Nick Bowles (nick.bowles@ntlworld.com)
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11-Jan-2019
The branch is running three one-day courses in Butterfly and Moth Identification, Surveying & Recording during March 2019. These are free to attend, but registration is required (select 'Day course' from the drop-down menu).
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/day_courses.pl
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06-Jan-2019
Holtspur Bottom news has been updated with the work party on 6th January
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/holtspur_bottom.pl
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01-Jan-2019
Field meeting dates for May and June 2018 are now available.
www.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk/events.pl
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