Andrew Thomas

Volunteer Cornwall Butterfly Conservation. Pearl-bordered Fritillary Species Champion.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Large skippers have been flying in Cornwall for a couple of weeks now. The male has a thick black line through the centre of the upper forewing—actually a scent brand of special scales used to attract females.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Marsh fritillaries flying today on Bodmin Moor. Living in damp meadows and boggy grassland, needing Devil’s-bit Scabious to survive. Like the pearl-bordered and small pearl-bordered fritillaries, they're under threat—with populations down 66% in England since 1990.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Bunny’s Hill, Cardinham, this morning: a whopping 217 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in just 45 minutes, in blazing temperatures. Absolutely incredible.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Pearls still around on Bodmin Moor. Numbers seriously down, though. Increasing numbers of Small Pearls. Too hot!!

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

No Pearls on the Coast Path this afternoon—flight season’s over for the pearl‑bordered fritillaries along the Cornwall coast. But consoled to find this Large Skipper soaking up the sun instead.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

While their caterpillars rely entirely on violets, adult Pearl-bordered Fritillaries need plenty of early spring nectar to fuel their flights. Bugle, dandelion, bluebells are vital, and they also happily visit newly blossomed bird's-foot-trefoil.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@KernowLoz Probably for another week to ten days if the sun shines. But Small Pearls will be increasing in numbers making identification tricky.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Cornwall Butterfly Conservation field trip to Pendrift on Bodmin Moor today was a special one: 70 Pearl‑bordered Fritillaries seen plus 7 Small Pearl‑bordered Fritillaries. A lovely sight but the emergence of the Small PBFs reminds us our Pearls have only a few days left to fly.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Pearl-bordered fritillary nectaring on bluebell at Fellover Brake, Bodmin Moor. Following a very wet winter, cold easterly winds the past few weeks, and only the occasional sunny spell, numbers are running well below typical levels.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Pearl-bordered Fritillary snacking on Sheep's-bit. One of 44 seen on Cornish coast path this morning. Rain on the way unfortunately.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Pearl-bordered fritillaries are finally out on Bodmin Moor. In Cornwall they first appear on the Coast Path near Looe, then at Marsland near Bude, and finally on Bodmin – a sequence shaped by altitude, temperature, exposure and microclimate.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

26 Pearls seen at Marsland Hard Hills yesterday afternoon, matching last year’s peak count, so we’re hopeful for an even better year this year. @savebutterflies

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

Strong cold easterly winds on Cornwall Coast Path for over a week. Yet Pearl-bordered Fritillaries show big spirit! 20 seen today—small in size, but mighty! Come on you Pearls! @Cornwall_BC @savebutterflies

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

15 Pearl-bordered fritillaries this afternoon on the Cornwall coast path. Lovely to see them again. @savebutterflies

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@StevenFalk1 @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC I think it’s more likely to be the large number of willows that they are drawn to. I am not aware of comparable numbers of elm. Particularly as Large Tortoiseshells are mostly sighted near the coast here.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

I thought it was just a battered Small Tortoiseshell on a muddy patch… but something wasn’t quite right. Then it clicked—it was far too big! My first-ever Large Tortoiseshell, emerging in the sun after months of Cornish rain. @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@cj_annie @BC_Suffolk @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC I would say so. In the part of Cornwall I live in there have been 8 sightings in the past 100 years.

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@DeenaSharp18 @duncan_dine @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC I’ve been checking every leaf that’s blown past!

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@unicorniodeldra @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC Large Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis polychloros

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@jochen_roeder @SmalePerry @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC We used to have the Large Tortoiseshell here but it went extinct around 1960s. A few may have started breeding on the south coast in the past few years. Cause for optimism!

[Andrew Thomas @AndrewPBF]

@SmalePerry @savebutterflies @Cornwall_BC Just north of Lanreath near Looe. Didn’t see it today though sadly