On going meadow management - putting wildflower filled swards to bed for the winter. Nearby cider apple and perry pear trees are mulched with the arisings. An organic option to reduce competition for summer rains and hold on to moisture between times.

Good valley for butterflies as well - Brown hairstreak, Small pearl and Marsh fritillary all seen in recent years.

Red Admiral nectaring on Ivy at Milborne wood in Dorset today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A misty autumns morn.

Last of the Cornish heath in flower on the Lizard. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Some stunning female Common blue about at the moment. Comma on autumn fruit and spent seed heads of Saw-wort. I do like September. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Fiddly vegetation mgmt for Marsh fritillary. Taking a percentage of the thicker sward whilst avoiding mapped and marked larval webs and nectar rich areas of DBS and Fleabane. There is no grazing in this area, so we become mechanical cows. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Comma and Small copper from the transect today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Sad to see this vital butterfly site up for sale, we really hope a conservation body buys it and maintains the sensitive management by cattle grazing. The Branch have been monitoring and cutting scrub there for years to good effect. Please step up @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

At our recent moth night Gill Nash found Aplota palpellus. Phil Sterling says "Fantastic record! The last one in Dorset was on 19 Aug 2000, I found one in a trap in Melbury Park. Prior to that, only 19th century records, the latest of which was 1872!" @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Some on a different part of the harvest site, some for a couple of local projects and probably some left over by the look of it!

The polly tunnel crops are well positioned to enjoy the coming heat wave. Summer abundance.

Big harvest of Dyers greenweed seed coming in today in North Dorset. Horseshoe vetch and Cowslip ready for storage. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Privet hawk moth caterpillar on the coast path nr Durlston today. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

My first of the year this week as well @ RW.

Woops, Bulrush wainscot.

A few moths from last night in North Doset. Oak eggar, Black arches, Olive, Mocha and Brown-veined wainscot. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Seems a very good year for Wasp spider in North Dorset. Some whoppers about and the first time I have seen the huge egg sack that they make.

Opening up this account with today's encounter - an immaculate Brown hairstreak @ Ryewater Nursery in North Dorset. Above average egg count for this species at this site last winter - how well will they fly this summer?
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social