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Southbourne Seafront Transect

@helice25.bsky.social

27 followers 30 following 27 posts

☀️ News photos & regular updates from the Southbourne Butterfly Monitoring Transect Dorset. https://maps.app.goo.gl/amhDZQDfUVXGdzwu8 🦋 For further information please contact us via chat 😀

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Mar 1

Transect highlight record from 2024 on Section S2 Long-tailed Blue - Lampides boeticus. What will 2025 bring 🤞

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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 2d

STOP PRESS: Long-tailed Blue see at Southbourne on 9th October. This remarkable season keeps on going www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2025/10/long...

Long-tailed Blue, Southbourne

Two photos of a great butterfly to see sent in by Tracy telling us: It was great to spot a Long-tailed Blue at Southbourne yesterday, 09/10/2025 and my husband Gary managed to get a slight open win…

www.dorsetbutterflies.com

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · 3d

Down at Southbourne today to meet up with fellow transect walker Andy M and the weather was glorious ☀️
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · 12d

I was down at Southbourne today and there was plenty of action from at least 20 Clouded Yellows seen along a mile long strip of the undercliff and getting photos of the females whilst they were egg laying was a top highlight.
Fantastic.

Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · 18d

Final week of @ukbms.bsky.social monitoring season - Clouded Yellow numbers greatly increased on the transect, also nice to see fresh Common Blue. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · 23d

Week 25 and it was nice to be out on the Southbourne Transect today on a sunny warm day.
Butterflies seen.

2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?

Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · 29d

Unfortunately, due to predicted poor weather conditions at Southbourne on Tuesday, we are cancelling the guided walk.
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Sep 9

🌬 Windy for the start of week 24, so 🦋 numbers reduced. Better forecast for next week when we are hosting a guided walk on the transect. Please click the link for more details www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/ 😊

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Sep 5

Week 23 and out on the Southbourne Transect today.
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.

Southbourne
Dorset

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · Sep 2

Its week 23 of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme!

September is here and we're into the last month of the survey. Some summer species may no longer be on the wing, but as we're having a bumper year, keep an eye out for second (or even third) broods of some species.

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Aug 29

Happy to complete a rain free transect walk this morning. 2 Small copper seen on section S4 one being common aberration caeriuleopunctata (row of blue spots on hind wing) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Aug 8

It was great today to catch up with fellow Southbourne Transect walkers and find Clouded Yellow eggs layed on Common Bird's-foot-trefoil this afternoon.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Aug 6

Our first Southbourne transect Jersey Tiger this morning. A flash of bright colours as it flew by, then settled for a photo. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Aug 5

I was down at the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning for a quick look to see what was about.
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.

Southbourne Dorset

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Aug 2

Happy to report Clouded Yellow flying again on our Southbourne transect. Pictures courtesy of @cloudedyellows.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Jul 25

Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today, good to see Mike O out there aswell.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.

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Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · Jul 18

The Big Butterfly Count 2025 is here and butterflies need our help 🦋🚨

This isn't just a survey, it's a rescue mission, and we need everyone to get involved.

No lab coats. No science degrees. Just 15 minutes of your time. ⏱️

Get out for the count 👉 bigbutterflycount.org

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Jul 16

☀️ Drought conditions noticeable on some parts of the transect this morning. However enough nectaring remains on uncut meadow. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Jul 11

Great to meet up with fellow walker Andy M on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Jul 11

☀️ 24c at 10.30 for the start of todays Southbourne transect walk. Lots of butterflies recorded, including this beautifully marked Green-veined White. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Jul 4

A few pictures from the uncut overcliff meadow on Southbourne 🦋 transect this morning. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @bcpcouncil.bsky.social

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Jul 1

Week 14 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning.

Gatekeepers now on the wing with 2nd brood Common Blue and Six-spot Burnet moths now appearing.
Plenty of Whites, Small Skipper and Large Skipper about plus the usual Meadow Browns.

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Jun 18

Week 12 and out on the Southbourne transect walk today.
First migrant Clouded Yellow of the season seen, 2nd brood Small Copper emerging and Small Skipper also now on the wing.
Plus well done BCP Council for not cutting the grass its making a real positive difference for biodiversity in the area.

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · Jun 13

I had a good morning at the Southbourne Butterfly transect today meeting up with fellow walkers.
We saw Small Heath, Whites, Meadow Brown and 2 Painted Lady's.
Dartford Warbler was also showing well plus a Wall Lizard on top of a Hebe bush "nectaring" or eating pollen ?
Never seen that before !

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Southbourne Seafront Transect @helice25.bsky.social · Jun 2

☀️ Lovely morning on transect - Meadow Brown now emerging on our uncut Meadow. Surprised by what I assume is a deceased Dogfish on the S4 Undercliff section.

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garyh-56.bsky.social @garyh-56.bsky.social · May 30

I walked the Southbourne Butterfly transect this lunchtime.
Only Painted Lady's were strong enough to be on the wing in a moderate sea breeze (8 in total), with a solitary Small Heath tucked in low, into the grass.
No other species seen.
I think the "June gap" is well under way .

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