Butterfly count

[peatff]

It's the last day for the butterfly count today, I did it yesterday while I sat reading in the garden and was surprised how few were around compared to last year.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I haven't done a count but been thinking for weeks the numbers seem considerably lower than previous years. (SE Cornwall)

[TGB]

Loads of bees and other bugs in the garden this year. But to date, I've seen maybe half a doz. butterfly and maybe a few doz. small moths.

[playtent]

My daughter and I did it yesterday and counted 37 which we thought was quite high.

[peatff]

My daughter and I did it yesterday and counted 37 which we thought was quite high.

 

I only got 9 in the time allotted and 4 of those were cabbage whites. I've deliberately waited till the Buddleia flowered as well as that usually draws quite a few in. Peacock butterflies are completely absent this year.

[playtent]

The Buddleias had 9 Peacock butterflies on yesterday out of the 37 we counted.

There were 2 painted ladies, 3 holly blue and numerous others.

[Prunus]

Numbers of butterflies aren't great this year.

[peatff]

We had our first Peacock butterfly yesterday sunning itself on the patio table and we saw a couple of Meadow brown as well which are the first on here this year.

[Billhook]

Strange year for butterflies here in Lincolnshire.

Hardly any in the garden, even on the buddleia "butterfly plant". I think I have seen one Peacock and one Red Admiral all year and hardly any Honey Bees but loads of Bumblebees of all types.

However, when mowing the grassland out on the farm, the place was alive with Meadow Browns, hundreds of them and each time I stopped about twenty had been sucked onto the radiator grill.

They could not move with the engine at working revs but a soon as it was at idle they had enough power to free themselves and flew off apparently none the worse for their ordeal.

There were dozens of skylarks also which seem to have had a good year here.

[nepia]

Was on a small managed site in Dorset this morning; 14 species seen in an hour but none in any real numbers.

Nothing much out of the ordinary except for half a dozen Small Coppers and four or five Silver-Washed Fritillaries.

 

According to a knowledgeable local gent the site has 3 Hairstreaks resident. With continued good management - not guaranteed as it's private - it could be a special place.