Tag Archives: Ulwell

A pale brown butterfly with with black, white and orange markings on a pink flower

Brown Argus. Photo: Pauline Dixon

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

Brown Argus. Photo: Pauline Dixon

Two photos sent in by Pauline telling us:

I participated on one of your walks, organised by Lorraine Munns at Ulwell near Swanage on Bank Holiday Monday, 26/08/2024.  It was a really enjoyable walk – we saw several Brown Argus, and I wanted to share with you a couple of the photos I managed to get. I had never seen this butterfly before so it was particularly interesting. 

An orange coloured butterfly with black and white markings nectaring on a white flower.

Dark Green Fritillary. Photo: Paul Freedman

Paul sent in this photo telling us:

My first Dark Green Fritillary of the season. It is one of two seen this morning, 25/06/2024 in Ulwell, behind the waterworks. They seem rather late this year.

Editor’s Note:  Paul is right about this species being seen later this year – this is likely to be first sighting of one reported to the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation this year – last year, 2023 the first one reported to us was seen on 05/06/2023.

A golden brown butterfly on some green vegetation

Lulworth Skipper. Photo: Francesca Surrey

Francesca sent in this photo of a Lulworth Skipper she saw when out for a picnic at Ulwell with her family on 23/06/2024 – she told us they saw lots of butterflies including a lovely Dark Green Fritillary.

A brown butterfly with a bluish sheen, orange markings and white fringe to the wings

Brown Argus. Photo: Andy Martin

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

Small Copper. Photo: Andy Martin

Two photos from Andy sent in with the following comments:

On Saturday, 04/05/2024  I visited one of my favourite local sites at Ulwell near Swanage hoping to see my first Small Copper of the year. It was not long before one appeared with a second after a short while. I was further rewarded with my first sighting of a freshly emerged Brown Argus with a beautiful bluish sheen. Maybe Spring has arrived at last.

An orange butterfly with black and white markings resting on some green vegetation

Painted Lady. Photo: Paul Freedman

Paul sent in this photo telling us he was delighted to see a Painted Lady in his Ulwell garden on 15/02/2024 adding that it was the first one he has seen this year.

Editor’s Note:

Dorset BC has now received 9 sightings of a Painted Lady so far this year – this is a butterfly which migrates here from the continent in varying numbers each year and is now known to migrate back to the continent in the autumn.  However, as mentioned in a news item on our website earlier today, we can only presume this individual was one of those that did not return south and the winter has been mild enough for it to survive so far.

A brown butterfly with orange markings and white fringe to the wings on a green plant stem

Brown Argus. Photo: Andy Martin

A resting brown and orange butterfly with some lighter colour markings

Small Heath. Photo: Andy Martin

Andy has just sent in these two photos telling us:

Just had my first sightings of Brown Argus and Small Heath at Ulwell this afternoon. 26/04/2022.  The settled April weather is certainly having a positive effect on butterfly emergence locally. 

Editor’s Note: The first sighting of a Small Heath reported to Dorset BC in 2021 was on the same day that this one was seen, namely 26th April so this could be the first one of these reported to Dorset BC this year.  However the first sighting of a Brown Argus reported to Dorset BC this year was a few days ago on 23rd April 2022 at Ulwell Water Works – last year the first one reported to Dorset BC was on 26th April, the same day that this one was seen.

An orange butterfly with black, white,and blue markings on some green leaves

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Andy Martin

An orange butterfly with black, white and blue markings perching on the top of a tree.

Large Tortoiseshell. Photo: Andy Martin

Andy has just sent in these two photos he took today,17/04/2022 telling us:

A lovely Easter Sunday surprise as this morning I came across a Large Tortoiseshell at Ulwell. First seen perched high in a tree but then descended to give excellent views – what a treat. Sighting reported via app and to Dorset BC website. 

Rosy Footman. Photo: Paul Freedman

Davina and Paul were watering their garden at Ulwell in the evening on 3/08/21 when they spotted this Rosy Footman moth.

In the dying light it is difficult to get a sharp image but this photo still shows the beauty of this small moth.

It has one generation, mid June-early Aug and can sometimes be found at rest on twigs and foliage of woody plants during the day.