Small Copper. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Stewart sent us this photo of a Small Copper he saw in a field near his house in Bourton on 09/07/2026.

Small Copper, Bourton
Posted on: 10 July, 2026

Silver-washed Fritllary. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Stewart sent in this photo saying:

My walk up to the blackberry bush near my house in Bourton today, 08/07/2026 revealed the usual reluctant posers but I couldn’t resist taking a long shot of this Silver-washed Fritillary. Aren’t their colours striking!

Silver-washed Fritillary, Bourton
Posted on: 9 July, 2026

Small Copper. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Stewart sent in this photo saying:

Today, 07/07/2026 I walked the dogs up to a blackberry bush in the neighbouring field in Bourton and it was covered in butterflies. As usual they were reluctant to pose with open wings and the best I could do was this rather poor shot of a Small Copper.  Good to see the butterflies coming out at last.

Small Copper, Bourton
Posted on: 8 July, 2026

Small Skipper, Photo: Natalie Dalzell

Natalie Dalzell. Small Skipper Eggs

Natalie sent in these two photos taken 07/07/2026 telling us:

After observing a Small Skipper utilising an area of grass in my Sherborne garden which I had left to grow long, I noticed this individual was perching on specific stems for prolonged periods. Further investigations confirmed that a female was laying eggs.  She has returned for several days in a row. I’m thrilled.  I am a short distance away from an area Small Skippers are known to inhabit so I suspect she has travelled from there. 

Small Skipper and Small Skipper Eggs, Sherborne
Posted on: 8 July, 2026

Essex Skipper. Photo: Paul Harris

Essex Skipper Antenna. Photo: Paul Harris

Two photos from Paul taken 06/07/2026 and sent in by him saying:

For the second year running I’ve found an Essex Skipper in my Weymouth Conservatory. I potted it and took some photos before I released it in the garden. You can clearly see the diagnostic black underside to the tip of the antennae. This species is found at the nearby Lorton Meadows NR, so has no doubt wandered up from there.

EDITOR’S NOTE: My apologies, this post was originally sent out under the incorrect heading of “Peacock and Peacock Antenna”.  The original incorrect post has now been deleted.

Essex Skipper and Essex Skipper Antenna, Weymouth
Posted on: 7 July, 2026

White-letter Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Pike

Purple Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Pike

Brown Hairstreak. Photo: Mark Pike

The combination of Alner’s Gorse and Mark Pike with his camera produced this collection of three different Hairstreaks all seen on just one visit to the Reserve yesterday, 06/07/2026 – an amazing “hat trick” of Hairstreaks.

White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak and Brown Hairstreak, Alner’s Gorse
Posted on: 7 July, 2026

Peacock. Photo: Stewart Balmain

Stewart sent in this photo of a Peacock saying:

I am at last seeing a number of Peacocks in my garden at Bourton but just 5 today, 06/07/2026 and nothing much else. A far cry from my 27 on one day in last year’s Big Butterfly count.  Let’s hope the others start to emerge soon.

Peacock, Bourton
Posted on: 7 July, 2026

Small Copper. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

Small Copper. Photo: Lucy Dalzell

Two photos taken by Lucy age 9 and sent in by her mother, Natalie telling us:

When visiting the Platinum Reserve in Sherborne almost a year ago, my daughter Lucy photographed a Small Copper for the first time using an iPhone. Today, 05/07/2026  Lucy was back, in almost exactly the same spot, following and photographing 2 Small Copper individuals using her own camera. 

Whilst Lucy’s focus today was to photograph the Small Copper, we also recorded Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers (in growing numbers), Essex Skippers, Small Skippers, Marbled Whites, Common Blues, Small Whites, a Brown Argus, a Red Admiral and a Painted Lady.

Small Copper, Sherborne
Posted on: 6 July, 2026

Red Admiral. Photo: Matt Cooper

Peacock. Photo: Matt Cooper

Two photos from Matt sent in saying:

The buddleia is doing its business again, with Small and Large Whites, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Peacock all enjoying the feeding opportunity this afternoon, 05/07/2026 in Sturminster Newton.

Red Admiral and Peacock, Sturminster Newton
Posted on: 6 July, 2026

Brown Hairstreak. Photo: Derek Fowler

Derek sent in this photo of a Brown Hairstreak which was just one of the butterflies he saw on 04/07/2026 at Alner’s Gorse.

Brown Hairstreak, Alner’s Gorse
Posted on: 5 July, 2026