A red butterfly with black, white and blue markings on a pale brown leaf

Peacock. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Stewart sent in this photo he took in his Bourton garden yesterday, 07/09/2026 saying:

I am at last seeing single Peacocks in the garden having been absentees for several months. Also lots of Small Coppers.

Peacock, Bourton
Posted on: 8 September, 2026

A pale yellow and white butterfly with black and brown markings on a purple flower

Clouded Yellow f.helice. Photo: Mark Pike

Two butterflies in flight, one yellow and one yellow and white and both with black markings

Clouded Yellows Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in saying:

Like Nick Galer, I am also enjoying the current mass of Clouded Yellows – these two shots were taken amongst the huge numbers seen at Lydlynch Common feeding on the abundant Devil’s-bit Scabious on 06/09/2026, almost looking like confetti fluttering around!  A great sight for early autumn. Even for a helice version, the single one on the Scabious was exceptionally white.

Clouded Yellow f.helice and Clouded Yellow, Lydlinch Common
Posted on: 8 September, 2026

a beige, and white micro moth with a distinct row of white edged black spots along the outer edge of the forewing,, sitting on a lucerne flower.

Euchromius Ocelle. Photo: Sarah Corbett

Whilst Sarah was photographing the thousands of Clouded Yellows at Tarrant Rushton on 6/09/26  she came across this attractive migrant micro moth,Euchromius Ocelle, also known as a Necklace Veneer.

These are usually found on coastal sites in the South in early Spring and Autumn  but can be pushed inland during weather patterns such as our recent heatwave  It is also possibly imported with grain products on which it feeds on the continent.

Euchromius Ocellea, Tarrant Rushton Airfield
Posted on: 8 September, 2026

An orange butterfly with black spot markings

Queen of Spain Fritillary. Photo: Peter Moore

An orange and brown butterfly with white and some black markings on a yellow flower

Queen of Spain Fritillary. Photo: Peter Moore

The Queen of Spain Fritillary is not a butterfly often seen in Dorset but today I am able to add two more photos of one to our online Gallery – these were both taken by Peter on Sunday 06/09/2026 at Silverlake.

This butterfly is a rare migrant from the near continent and the best distinguishing marks are the large silver/white patches on the underside of the hindwings which are clearly visible in the second photo.

Editor’s Note:  My thanks to Nick Urch for sending these photos to Dorset BC.

Queen of Spain Fritillary, Silverlake
Posted on: 7 September, 2026

An orange and brown butterfly with black markings resting on some brown vegetation

Small Copper ab. Photo: Mike Brooke

A pale yellow butterfly with some white and brown markings resting on some brown vegetation

Clouded Yellow ab. Photo: Mike Brooke

Two photos sent in by Mike telling us:

I had an interesting afternoon yesterday, 05/09/2026 while carrying out my survey at Pamphill, near Wimborne. I was following a male Clouded Yellow that I thought had settled  when I was overtaken by what looked like a Green-veined White or a Small White. As it settled, I went to confirm its identification but was surprised to find it was a possible Clouded Yellow f. helice aberration. In the same section of the transect I came across what appears to be a possible Small Copper aberration. Altogether a good afternoon.

Editor’s Note:  If you have any thoughts on a name for either of these aberrations please add them to the “Leave a reply” section of this posting.

Small Copper ab. and Clouded Yellow f.helice ab., Pamphill
Posted on: 7 September, 2026

A brown butterflywith orange markings and white edge to the wings on a yellow flower.

Common Blue. Photo: Mark Pike

A brown and blue butterfly with orange, black and white markings on a yellow flower

Common Blue (female). Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark taken on 05/09/2026 and sent in saying:

This very unusually coloured female Common Blue along with a nice mating pair of Common Blues were seen at Duncliffe Meadow along with a good number of Clouded Yellows.

Common Blue, Duncliffe Meadow
Posted on: 7 September, 2026

An orange butterfly with black spot markings resting on a yellow flower

Queen of Spain Fritillary. Photo: Chris Rowland

An orange butterfly with black spot and white markings resting on the ground

Queen of Spain Fritillary. Photo: Chris Rowland

Chris sent in these photos of this rare migrant telling us:

I found this Queen of Spain Fritillary today, 06/09/2026 nectaring on fleabane near the car park at Silverlake. There were also large numbers of Clouded Yellows present including several of the helice form and at least one Painted Lady. It seemed quite settled so hopefully might stay for a little while. 

Queen of Spain Fritillary, Silverlake
Posted on: 7 September, 2026

Two yellow butterflies with black markings on a purple flower

Clouded Yellows: Photo: Nick Galer

A yellow butterfly with black markings in flight above a purple flower

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

Two photos from Nick sent in saying:

Had a Magical few hours at Tarrant Rushton yesterday, 05/09/2026 seeing hundreds of Clouded Yellows.  The disappointing news was that the farmer planned to cut the field imminently.

Clouded Yellow, Tarrant Rushton
Posted on: 6 September, 2026

An orange and brown butterfly with black markings on a yellow flower

Small Copper. Photo: Mark Pike

An orange and brown butterfly with black markings on a yellow flower

Small Copper. Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in telling us:

The nice fresh Small Copper in the first photo was seen at Duncliffe Meadow yesterday, 05/09/2026 but the one on the Black Eyed Susan flower actually came to visit me in my front garden.

Small Copper, Duncliffe Meadow
Posted on: 6 September, 2026

A red and brown butterfly with black and white markings on a purple flower

Red Admiral. Photo: Stewart Balmain

An orange butterfly with black and white markings on a pale purple flower

Painted Lady. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Two photos from Stewart both taken in his garden at Bourton on 05/09/2026 and sent in telling us:

When the sun comes out I am getting lots of butterflies in the garden – most common are the Whites but Red Admirals, Small Coppers, Common Blue, Painted Ladies and a Peacock all seen today.

Painted Lady and Red Admiral, Bourton
Posted on: 6 September, 2026

More photos: Gallery archive