Join in on the Big Butterfly Count 2026
In just 15 minutes, you can help Butterfly Conservation by providing key survey information about butterflies in your area. During our regular butterfly surveys here at WWT Caerlaverock, our wardens have done just that. Have a read to find out what we found.
Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count 2026 has just begun!
From 17th July until 9th August people all across the country will be taking a quiet 15 minutes in their local green spaces, counting and recording any (or no!) sightings of butterflies and moths, contributing to one of the world’s biggest citizen science projects.
While the dry weather is not so great for our ponds, the butterflies have certainly been enjoying the sun. Over the past few weeks our wildflower meadows have been alive with a variety of species, with a particular abundance of Green-veined Whites and Meadow Browns. The Avenue is brimming with Speckled Woods, Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals - their colourful wings beating as they flit from flower to flower.
Earlier this week, I undertook my first count of the year, taking a moment to settle on one of the benches on our Summer Meadow Trail. I immersed myself into the world of our small fluttery friends, only casting my eyes away from scanning the field to add to the tally in my notebook, or when I temporarily got distracted by dragonflies zipping past across the pond.
Of course, most of the more exciting species stayed tucked away during my count as they always do, however, we caught glimpses of Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, and the striking bright colour of Common Blues around the reserve. Some lucky few have had the joys of watching a Hummingbird Hawk Moth nectaring on flowers in our wildlife garden, hovering and using its long proboscis – much like a hummingbird’s beak!
The great thing about the Big Butterfly Count is that anyone can take part – no need to be a butterfly expert! All you need is 15 minutes, a notepad, and Butterfly Conservation’s handy online ID guides. Whether in your garden, local park, or joining us at WWT Caerlaverock, all data is valuable and is a great way to contribute to the research and conservation of UK butterflies.
Want to take part? Head to https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ for more information and where to record your findings. Happy counting!
By Izzy Rigby, Reserve Warden
