Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of butterflies and moths. You can find out more about the national organisation here.
The SxBC photo competition is back!
We're inviting photographers to submit their best Sussex butterfly photographs to our annual competition. Whether it's a rare species in flight or a perfect close-up of delicate wing patterns, we want to see it.
The results will be announced at the Members Day held on Sunday the 22nd November. For more information click here.
To see the 2025 winning entries click here.
Our branch is organising many butterfly walks in the summer across the county.
Our next events are:
22 Nov: Members Day 2026 - More details to come later.
Information on all our walks and other events can be viewed here.
Anyone can post photos of butterflies they have seen in Sussex. Recent sightings include:
01 Sep: It was warm and often sunny for a walk round Lancing Ring. Fourteen Butterfly species - 28 Common Blue, 16 Wall, 8 Speckled Wood, 6 Red Admiral, 3 Painted Lady, 3 Brown Argus, 3 Small Heath, 2 Small Copper, 2 Holly Blue, Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, Large White, 2 Humming-bird Hawk-moth. Small White present but not counted. The dewpond is in the process of being refurbished as it was not holding water properly. A separate small pond is being dug specifically for dogs, which will be kept out of the main dewpond by thick dead-hedging. I hope it works!
01 Sep: As we enter the autumn months, it becomes ever more difficult to photograph our Sussex butterflies "in good condition" (not impossible, but it does become more difficult). Today, I managed half an hour with my camera, and found four images that I found interesting. Pic 1 shows a female Common Blue that is approximately 90% brown, and that isn't that common, nowadays (they are generally more blue than brown). Pic 2 shows the same female Common Blue getting along with a tiny Common Carder Bee (I rather like that - a willingness to share). Pic 3 shows both the upperside and underside of a male Common Blue (but he is around 5 days old and there is a grass tendril, in the way). Pic 4 shows a female Brown Argus "saying No", but the male hangs around, anyway. I am still hoping for a Wall Brown to take me to 34 butterfly species, this year. Maybe tomorrow?
01 Sep: Long walk from Seaford to Alfriston and back - 15 species seen. Hoping for Queen of Spain but no luck! However did see a Brown Hairstreak on hedgerow on road down into Alfriston - 2nd Brown Hairstreak of the year. Only had a mobile but managed a photo. Simon & Fran.
01 Sep: Six, possibly eight, species in our back garden while I was having my late lunch outside. First a Red Admiral, then Small Whites (four or five passed through), a Comma and a Speckled Wood which liked our "Hot-lips" Salvia. I'd eaten outside as the weather and time of day were good for Brown Hairstreak and I wasn't disappointed (this time). A worn female appeared by the side of our green-leaved plum-cherry bush. It dived in to egg-lay twice and rested nearby afterwards. Then it crossed the garden to the dark-leaved plum-cherry and had a go there. (It was this bush on which we found a Brown Hairstreak larva on 2nd June.) After another brief rest it was on its way. This is only the third time we've seen a Brown Hairstreak in butterfly form outside August, the other 2 occasions being 16 Sept in 2022 and 24 July 2026. A male Common Blue dipped down and inspected the wild lawn area but didn't stay long. The two possibles were a Large White and another Blue which from its behaviour might have been a Holly Blue - it stayed high-ish as they do, but it did pause to nectar on the buddleia in a way which suggested Common Blue again.
01 Sep: Single White Admiral flew out of woodland edge, along closely in front of me, and then back into woodland. No chance of a photograph but ID certain having seen the species on two separate occasions at Knowlands Wood, Barcombe.
31 Aug: mon 31/08/2026 Abbot's Wood, E,Sx. at Milton Hyde (563 086) saw 6x Clouded Yellows, 1x Hornet, 4x Common Blues (m), 2x Small Coppers, 1x Small White, 1x Small Heath and 2x Painted Ladies on devils bit scabious,. at PBF site 2 counted 2x Wall (m)(f), 2x Small Whites, 2x Clouded Yellows - one an helice, 3x Painted Ladies and 1x Hornet. I saw more butterfly species in this location today than the earlier part of the year (too dry), in the rest of the wood saw 1x Holly Blue, 2x Small White, 1x Red Admiral, 1x Peacock, 1x Speckled Wood, 1x Common Blue (m), 1x Green-veined White and on fleabane flowers at track edge (TQ 571 080) 4x Clouded Yellows including one helice, 2x Painted Ladies, 3x Wall (2m)(1f), 3x Hornets and 2x Common Blues (m)(f). under patchy blue sky.
31 Aug: I think I have a surprise! My friend Tim Bernhard has been staying for the weekend and found these butterflies. A group of them (8-10) were in one part of the garden which many years ago was vegetable patch but has been neglected grass/meadow for many years. Are they Brown Argus? They are quite distinct from some Common Blues in neighbouring areas. In the spring there is plenty of Herb Robert and Cut-leaved Geranium for them, but we can't find it now. What are they doing on the Sussex Clay? You might also be interested that I have seen several Clouded Yellows in the last couple of weeks, a species I have rarely seen here before.
31 Aug: In Arundel today, 5 Clouded Yellow near the Black Rabbit pub including 2 lovely Helice females. Also within the WWT reserve a female Brown Hairstreak egg laying and then basking with her wings open briefly before moving on. Quite large numbers (200+) of Common Blue as well.
Click here for more sightings.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
New colonies of Wood White were recently discovered in West Sussex and our branch is planning to learn more about this rare butterfly.
We are organising a coordinated survey and are looking for volunteers. For more information on the Wood White Project in Sussex click here.
Photo by Graham Hubbard
Throughout the year we receive interesting sightings records. We have started an exercise to identify notable sightings and look for patterns during a month with a little help from an AI assistant.
To read more click here.
07 Aug: Annual Cotoneaster bashing on the Buckle by-pass (A259), Seaford
30 Jun: Martin Kalaher's Open Garden Sunday 12th July.
24 Jun: Scotney Castle - More opportunity to explore
27 Mar: Butterfly Recording Training at National Trust Woolbeding
22 Mar: 2026 walks now appear on the Events Page
28 Feb: Liz Williams Butterfly Haven work day
16 Jan: A summary of Sussex BC work parties in 2026
23 Oct: SxBC Members' Day - Saturday 22nd November 2025 1.30pm – 4.30pm. Latest Update
White Admiral, photo by Maurilio Tesa
Martin Kalaher has written a very interesting article titled 'Partial broods in 2025' to read the article click here.
Last month Martin published 'Second brood Dingy Skippers'. To read that article click here.
Photo from our 2025 competition.
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.
There are many important sites for butterflies in our county.
Information on some of them can be viewed here.
The 2025 edition of our magazine has just landed! Members should receive a paper copy in mid November. A digital version can be viewed here.
Orange-tip by Gary Faulkner
The results of the 2025 SxBC photo competition were announced at the recent Members' Day.
To see the winning entries click here.
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