Welcome to the Sussex Branch of Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.

Butterflies

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.

Sightings

Anyone can post photos of butterflies they have seen in Sussex. Recent sightings include:

15 Oct 2024: I RATHER SUSPECT THAT MOST OF US (ME INCLUDED) GO STRAIGHT TO THE SIGHTINGS PAGE AND MISS OUT THE HOME PAGE ALTOGETHER. NOTHNG WRONG WITH THAT (AND I AM GUILTY AS CHARGED) BUT THAT COULD MEAN THAT MANY OF US ARE MISSING OUT ON THE LATEST NEWS ITEMS. ONE OF THIS WEEK'S NEWS ITEMS IS ABOUT ARCHIVES. UNTIL THIS WEEK, ARCHIVES ON THE MENU BAR HAS BEEN AN EMPTY SHELL BUT NOW YOU CAN PERUSE THE SUMMARIES OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS AS WELL AS REMIND YOURSELVES OF SOME VERY NICE PHOTOS. THE INTENTION IS TO GO BACK IN TIME AND REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FOR THE YEARS FURTHER BACK. IF THE MEMBERSHIP WOULD LIKE OTHER ITEMS TO BE INSERTED IN THE ARCHIVES THEN PLEASE SEND IN A POST WITH SUGGESTIONS. Martin Kalaher website editor

15 Oct 2024: Some weak sun this afternoon was enough to get me out in my garden and adjoining chalk pit to see the state of play. 4 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, Wall (female), Small White, Silver Y.

15 Oct 2024: At about 2:15 pm, Val looked up and a Speckled Wood had landed, wings spread, on the glass window of our patio door. Of course as I got ready to take a perfect picture of its underside, it flew away.

13 Oct 2024: The Adur Valley Transect Group currently consists of four volunteers who have agreed to share two butterfly transects at Mill Hill and Anchor Bottom in the Adur valley. Each member of the group has agreed to walk two transects a month between April and September. Because the sites are so close together it is possible to walk two transects on the same day. Following the retirement of John Gilbert after 7 years’ excellent service we are looking to recruit a new member for the 2025 season. If you are interested in helping us monitor the butterflies in the lower Adur valley please contact transects@sussex-butterflies.org.uk

12 Oct 2024: At Pagham Harbour on Saturday we were lucky it brightened up for a couple of hours and was quite warm early afternoon. Butterflies seen were 1 Small Copper, 4 Speckled Wood, 30+ Red Admiral and around 15 or so Small White. Also seen were about 10 Migrant Hawkers and around 30 Common Darters

12 Oct 2024: Just following up on the theme of Wall sightings. Yesterday we saw one or perhaps two in our garden near Berwick station. They've been present on sunny days throughout their third generation. None seen today though (13th).

11 Oct 2024: Strong westerly movement of Red Admirals low along the top of the beach at Lancing this morning. Between 11.30am and 1pm we watched in total some 50 Red Admirals, all flying west with strong purposeful flight. A lovely Brimstone in front garden when we got back to Keymer.

for more sightings.

News

15 Oct 2024: Adur Valley Transect Group are recruiting

13 Oct 2024: SBC Annual Reports

16 Sep 2024: New website !!!

08 Sep 2024: Date for Diaries

03 Sep 2024: Winter Work Parties 2024-25

01 Aug 2024: More events for 2024

03 Jul 2024: The Damselflies & Dragonflies of Sussex

for more news.

Events

Our branch is organising many butterfly walks this summer across the county.

Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.

Sites

There are many important sites for butterflies in our county.

Information on some of them can be viewed here.

Moths

Ryszard Szczygieł

The Sussex Moth Group website 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.

easyfundraising.org.uk