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2025

Big Butterfly Count Norfolk 2024

We thank the 2329 people who took part in the Big Butterfly Count in Norfolk during the summer counting 27,885 butterflies and day-flying moths.

The results for our county make sobering reading. Numbers of butterflies per count were 7 compared to last year’s 14. Of the 20 species counted only Ringlet and Six-spot Burnet appeared to have fared well in this year compared to 2023, however, this was due to their peak flight periods coinciding with the count.

Gatekeeper was our number 1, jumping from 4 th place in 2023. Despite this its numbers were still down by over a quarter. 

Our chart topper last year Peacock fell to number 5 with its numbers down by an average of 70% per count, Red Admiral at number 2 in 2023 slipped to number 6 with a 75% reduction.

The once common Small Tortoiseshell slipped out of the top 10 with only 0.08 butterflies per count, Norfolk is now below the national average for this species which in itself was the lowest since the count started 14 years ago.

We achieved good coverage for Norfolk, but there are a few gaps (see map). Can you help us fill these in 2025? 

The Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 18th July – Sunday 10th August. Please put a note in your diary.

Let’s hope for better results in 2025.

BBC Norfolk: 2024No. countedAve per count

% difference 

2023 - 2024

1 Gatekeeper57381.60 -26
2Large White5245 1.46-34
3Meadow Brown 43061.20-18
4Small White32880.92-52
5Peacock24070.67-70
6Red Admiral2005 0.56-75
7Ringlet 11630.3280
8Comma9560.27-39
9Green-veined White 5790.16-22
10Small Copper428 0.12-7
11Speckled Wood3520.10-24
12Six-spot Burnet2880.08100
13Small Tortoiseshell2760.08-66
14Brimstone2510.07-48
15Holly Blue2510.07-78
16Common Blue1590.04-74
17Painted Lady980.03-76
18Silver Y840.02-56
19Marbled White70.002-54
20Jersey Tiger40.001-21

2024

Members Day 2024 Report

A good number of members gathered at Hethersett Village Hall on November 2nd for  the annual members afternoon and AGM. Chair, Mike Gasson, opened proceedings and introduced the keynote speaker, Dr Mark Collins, founder and Chair of the Swallowtail and Birdwing Butterfly Trust. The first half of his talk dealt with the many conservation projects set up and monitored by the Trust throughout the world -places like Fiji, Jamaica, Australia, Bhutan, and Malaysia - trying to conserve these beautiful Papilionidae from the effects of habitat loss and trade. 

 

After a break for tea and cakes Mark talked about the problems facing Norfolk’s own special Swallowtail. Climate change is affecting the growth of Milk Parsley, this butterfly’s food plant. He said that one solution could be translocation – moving the butterflies to a more favourable location. His talk emphasised the threats and problems faced not only by our Swallowtails but by all our native butterflies here in the UK and worldwide.  

During the afternoon members examined the photos sent in for this year’s photographic competition. The winners in the different categories were: 

 

Butterflies UK  - Dark Green Fritillary  - Steve Evans 

 

Moths UK  - Puss Moth Caterpillar  - Rory McShane 

 

International  - Cycad Blue  -  Regine Godfrey 

 

Juniors  -  Hummingbird Hawkmoth  - Jasmine Davey (age 6) 

 

The Book Stall aroused a great deal of interest as many of the books were donated by the widow of Andy Brazil, our late much missed County Recorder. 

 

The business end of the afternoon, the AGM, saw our co-opted Committee Members elected unanimously. You can find details of the Committee in the Autumn Newsletter. Since the AGM, a new member has been co-opted. Anne Fitz-Patrick has agreed to join the Committee and take on the Treasurer’s role. Welcome Anne! 

 

It’s been a difficult year for our butterflies prompting Butterfly Conservation to call a state of emergency. We must hope that 2025 will be a better year, your support has never been more important. 


Photographic Competition 2024

Thank you to all the members that entered photographs to this year photographic competition. Once again the enters were of a very high quality.

The winners in the different categories were: 

 

Butterflies UK  - Dark Green Fritillary  - Steve Evans 

 

 

Moths UK  - Puss Moth Caterpillar  - Rory McShane 

 

 

International  - Cycad Blue  -  Regine Godfrey 

 

 

Juniors  -  Hummingbird Hawkmoth  - Jasmine Davey (age 6) 

You can now start taking photographs for the 2025 competition.


Big Butterfly Count Norfolk 2024

We thank the 2329 people who took part in the Big Butterfly Count in Norfolk during the summer counting 27,885 butterflies and day-flying moths.

The results for our county make sobering reading. Numbers of butterflies per count were 7 compared to last year’s 14. Of the 20 species counted only Ringlet and Six-spot Burnet appeared to have fared well in this year compared to 2023, however, this was due to their peak flight periods coinciding with the count.

Gatekeeper was our number 1, jumping from 4th place in 2023. Despite this its numbers were still down by over a quarter. Our chart topper last year Peacock fell to number 5 with its numbers down by an average of 70% per count, Red Admiral at number 2 in 2023 slipped to number 6 with a 75% reduction.

The once common Small Tortoiseshell slipped out of the top 10 with only 0.08 butterflies per count, Norfolk is now below the national average for this species which in itself was the lowest since the count started 14 years ago.  

Let’s hope for better results in 2025. 

BBC Norfolk: 2024

No. counted

Ave per count

% difference 2023 - 2024

1

Gatekeeper

5738

1.60

-26

2

Large White

5245

1.46

-34

3

Meadow Brown

4306

1.20

-18

4

Small White

3288

0.92

-52

5

Peacock

2407

0.67

-70

6

Red Admiral

2005

0.56

-75

7

Ringlet

1163

0.32

80

8

Comma

956

0.27

-39

9

Green-veined White

579

0.16

-22

10

Small Copper

428

0.12

-7

11

Speckled Wood

352

0.10

-24

12

Six-spot Burnet

288

0.08

100

13

Small Tortoiseshell

276

0.08

-66

14

Brimstone

251

0.07

-48

15

Holly Blue

251

0.07

-78

16

Common Blue

159

0.04

-74

17

Painted Lady

98

0.03

-76

18

Silver Y

84

0.02

-56

19

Marbled White

7

0.002

-54

20

Jersey Tiger

4

0.001

-21


Members Afternoon And Photographic Competition

We invite all Norfolk Butterfly Conservation members to our Norfolk Branch Members' Afternoon

Saturday 2nd November 2024, 2:30pm-5:00pm. 
Hethersett Village Hall, Back Lane, Hethersett, NR9 3JJ

This year’s Members’ Afternoon will focus on Swallowtails – not only our own Papilio machaon but equally its many relatives around the world. More information in the Spring 2024 Newsletter and on the Events page.


The branch will be at the following events

Chet Valley summer fete
Chet Valley Summer Fete
Caistor Roman Town
Caistor Roman Town

 


Andy Brazil

11th January

We are sad to inform you of the death County Recorder Andy Brazil. As a result of his work over many years our knowledge of Norfolk butterflies has been increased many fold. He will be greatly missed within the butterfly community. Our thoughts are with his family.

Andy Brazil

2023

  • Autumn 2023 Newsletter
  • Butterflies and Moths need you!
  • The Winners of the Photographic Competition 
  • Members’ afternoon
  • Sandringham Flower Show 26 July
  • Field visit to Cockley Cley
  • Report on Holt CP Field Trip, 14th June 2023
  • Catfield Fen Moth Event Field Report 21st June 2023
  • Press release from the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society 19th June 2023
  • Stoke Ferry Field Report
  • Winter Wildlife Family Event 7th February 2023
  • Death of Judy Dunmore
  • Zoom talk by Dr Jeff Price
  • Happy New Year to all our members

2022

  • Borneo butterflies reveal the effects of environmental change
  • Branch AGM and Member's Afternoon
  • 2022 Photographic Competition Results
  • 2022 Photographic Competition
  • Zoom Talk By John Geesons
  • Lynford Water Field Trip Report
  • Photographic Competition 2021 - Results
  • Photographic Competition 2021 - Voting now open

2021

  • Photographic Competition 2021 - How to enter
  • Members Day 2021
  • Members Day 2019 Minutes
  • Member’s Afternoon/ AGM 2021
  • Foxley Wood 27/28th July 2021
  • National Moth Night 8/9th July 2021
  • Talk on Grayling Butterfly in the Brecks — in decline or under-recorded? By Sharon Hearle 5th May 2021
  • Talk on March Carpet by Sharon Hearle 3rd March 2021
  • The branch is looking for a Moth Officer
  • Sad News - death of Roland Rogers
  • Thank you for your continuing support during the difficult times of 2020

2020


2019

  • Roland Rogers receives Outstanding Volunteer award
  • Members' Day and AGM 2019
  • Annual Chalkhill Blue count at Warham Camp
  • Tyrells Wood field trip report
  • Holt Country Park field trip report
  • Marbled Whites at Cranwich Heath
  • Cranwich Heath field trip report
  • Moth event at Weeting Heath report
  • Moth event at Pigney's Wood
  • Kelling Heath field trip report
  • Purple Emperor now the 37th species in Norfolk
  • World Swallowtail Day at Wheatfen field trip report
  • Grimes Graves, Weeting Heath and Cranwich Heath moth events report

2018

  • Horsey Gap Walk field trip report
  • Pigney's Wood field trip report
  • Bradfield Woods field trip report
  • Foxley Wood field trip report
  • Beeston Common field trip report
  • Buxton Heath field trip report
  • Butterfly Alert number 8

2017

  • Beeston Common field trip report