Red Admiral. Photo: Lynda Lambert
Our first butterfly photo for the Gallery in 2026 sent in by Lynda Lambert telling us:
I decided on a visit to Compton Acres on the one lovely day last week, 04/02/2026 and was delighted to spot just one Red Admiral enjoying the many Wattle shrubs which lit up the gardens.
Gary Holderness has just sent in these photos telling us that along with fellow volunteers he has been monitoring the Southbourne butterfly transect this winter specifically looking to see if they could find any Clouded Yellow larvae. Continue reading
Speckled Wood. Photo: Paul Godier
Paul sent in this photo saying:
I was rather surprised to see this fresh-looking Speckled Wood flying around near Boscombe Pier on Christmas Day, 25/12/2025. Yet more evidence of global heating I suppose.
Editor’s Note: I was also surprised to receive this photo – it is a definite “First” for the Gallery being the first photo of butterfly actually seen on Christmas Day in all the years I have been dealing with the Gallery photos sent in to Dorset BC.
Painted Lady. Photo: Lorraine Munns
Lorraine sent in this photo telling us:
This beautiful Painted Lady appeared in my Swanage garden when the sun came out briefly on Sunday 14/12/2025. Highlight of the day!
Red Admiral. Photo: Mark Hardaker
Mark sent in this photo telling us:
Arthur Bryant and I were walking around the Wimborne St. Giles transect on Wednesday, 03/12/2025 to check it out before winter when a few rays of sunshine brought out a beautiful Red Admiral basking in the warmth. The temperature was only 12C so she must have been a little chilly.
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Gary has just sent in this photo telling us:
After a tip off from fellow transect walker who saw it yesterday, I went to Southbourne today, 03/12/2025 hoping to see probably my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for this year.
As luck would have it around lunchtime when the sun was out and it had warmed up a bit it appeared. Briefly nectaring and sunning itself before more cloud rolled in, it then disappeared into the undergrowth. A British December Clouded Yellow – a first for me.
Red Admiral. Photo: Jane Hopper
Jane sent in this photo telling us:
I was pleasantly surprised to see this glorious Red Admiral feeding on the rose hips this morning, 21/11/2025, in our Chalmington garden when there was still lots of frost on the ground. Like me it seems to be enjoying the sunshine!
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Clouded Yellow Caterpillar and Egg. Photo: Gary Holderness
Two photos from Gary sent in telling us:
We eventually had a few hours of sunny weather at Southbourne Undercliff today, 13/11/2025 and butterflies were still on the wing – 7 Clouded Yellows plus a Peacock and a Small White seen with fellow transect walkers Andy, Mike and Sue. Also, evidence of Clouded Yellow eggs and caterpillars. Not bad “butterflying” for the middle of November.
Peacock (1). Photo: Mark Pike
Peacock (2). Photo: Mark Pike
Two photos from Mark sent in telling us:
Although I had hung up my butterfly boots for this year I came across these two excellent Peacock’s yesterday, 08/11/2025.
Peacock (1) was kind enough to land on a gorse bush right in front of me on Middlebere Heath, near Corfe Castle and Peacock (2) did the same about an hour later, this time amongst lichen on Hartland Moor, about a mile or so distant as the crow (butterfly) flies. Both were pretty fresh.
Speckled Wood. Photo: Brian Arnold
Speckled Wood. Photo: Brian Arnold
Brian sent in these two photos of a Speckled Wood he saw in his Harman’s Cross garden today, 04/11/2025 telling us:
This morning, 04/11/2025 was really warm for so late in the year and this Specked Wood settled on the fig tree in our Harman’s Cross garden. It looked very worn so I don’t expect we will be seeing it for much longer. Maybe the last of 2025, but who knows?