Butterflies

[jethro]

Seen lots of Brimstone ones recently which is rather odd, they're usually around more in late Spring / early Summer - perhaps the cold Spring delayed them?

Dime bars?

[Turnedoutniceagain]

buddleias generally are not out here yet, mine arnt, some others are just opening.

Mine are just starting to pop out, so let's hope the BFs will follow !!

[Methuselah]

noooo ringlets are dark chocolate coloured, not light... meadow brown i think then, they are lighter.

having a record year for ringlets in my garden atm... saw another 2 today, seen more now then any other butterfly this summer (not spring).

Cheers Mush.

Red Admiral yesterday!

[mushymanrob]

i have noticed more butterflies than normal this year, in terms of numbers and types. very encouraging and a lovely site. I am envious of those of you who can identify them all.

tbh its pretty easy, theres only about 20 odd you need to know and they fall into 4-5 families. its knowing what you have in your locality thats the trick. books might have 60 - 100 speciese in but location and time of year really brings the options down.

Mine are just starting to pop out, so let's hope the BFs will follow !!

mines opening now, be at its max in about a weeks time... but the gardens been empty all week... too cloudy/cool/wet.

peacocks and small tortoishells will be out soon.

[Polar Continental]

Seen lots of Brimstone ones recently which is rather odd, they're usually around more in late Spring / early Summer - perhaps the cold Spring delayed them?

Dime bars?

You are seeing the new generation of Brimstone butterfly jethro, which emerge about this time. This generation will hibernate over winter and will again be seen during the fist mild days of spring.

[jethro]

Thanks PC. didn't know that.

Went for a walk along the top of the Mendips today, most of the fields are old, old pasture with a vast array of plants, haven't seen so many Butterflies in one place for a very long time - wish I'd had a book with me to identify them all.

[Rustynailer]

No cabbage whites for me this year up to now.

Seen all the rest of our usual complement, some in reduced numbers, Red admiral, Painted lady and Peacock quite low.

One Hummingbird hawk moth this year up to now.

Plenty of High Brown Fritillaries and different Blue butterfly's on the Downs near home.

I think the "traditional" cold winter did the Whites in a bit.

I wish I would have planted Cabbages this year, I usually avoid them as the Cabbage whites round here are a pain in the .....

Russ

[mushymanrob]

had holly blue and peacock in the past couple of days

wish we had a decent southerly though, that would produce some interesting migrants.

[Polar Continental]

Saw a few Peacock butterflies and a Comma today, even a honeybee, not seen any foraging round here for a number of years until a few days ago, when I saw several on the Buddleia, hopefully a sign of things to come. Plenty of bumble bees as usual.

[Sunny Android]

There have been very few butterflies here in the North West this year.

Even the recent warm weather hasn't encouraged them and now it's that wet I don't expect them !

[Backtrack]

Seen loads of Cabbage Whites this morning despite the overnight rain. It was warm and humid though, I suspect they quickly retreated though as the colder air moved in. I actually felt the change in temperature walking the dog this morning. 20.2c to around 19.5c. Not a significant drop but it's definitely enough to notice.

Not seen many Cabbage Whites though this year, only a few over the past few weeks. I suppose July is the peak month for them. But since the month so far has been a total washout, I don't suspect numbers to be as great as previous years.

[mushymanrob]

no there arnt many whites of any variety... strange.. so far though my peacock totalls are very low, not had above 3 so far at any one time. 20 odd years ago i had over a hundered, and similar small tortoishells. (my gardens long and narrow, it makes counting easy on my many buddliea).

my record is 11 non white speciese in any one day.. lucky to get 4 now.

[Fozfoster]

Not seen to many Butterflies this year.... sstrange. Trimmed the Buddliea back early spring and now flowering better than ever.

[mushymanrob]

had the best day of the year for them..

red admiral, peacock, comma, holly blue, speckled wood, gatekeeper, large and green veined whites.... surprisingly no small tortoishells.

[Eugene]

Yes plenty of butterflies here too, seen loads since May while walking in the countryside, loads of moths too at night.

I love butterflies but hate moths

[The PIT]

Very easy to do a survey. One white butterfly which I didn't get close enough too identify. Despite having a Buddleia in the garden there hasn't been any visits this year.

[coldfingers]

Much fewer butterflies here this year than last year which was wonderful for them. I am wondering if the drought down here has caused them to move further north to damper areas.

[Fozfoster]

Much fewer butterflies here this year than last year which was wonderful for them. I am wondering if the drought down here has caused them to move further north to damper areas.

Good point Coldfingers, it has been very dry here too.

[mushymanrob]

Much fewer butterflies here this year than last year which was wonderful for them. I am wondering if the drought down here has caused them to move further north to damper areas.

id have thought they prefer drier conditions... well, the common varieties anyway. there are specialists..

[Methuselah]

My guess as to the shortage of butterflies this year, would be a combination of wetness last summer and a cold winter to follow???

Seen a few Garden Tiger moths of late.

[jethro]

Butterfly Conservation is asking for help to survey the Butterfly numbers in the UK; they want everyone to pause for 15 minutes to count the number they can see from a fixed position (even if that number is zero). The survey is taking place this week July 24 - August 1.

Identification chart and further details from: www.bigbutterflycount.org

[Turnedoutniceagain]

Maybe it's me, maybe I live in a butterfly free-zone, but I haven't seen one yet!!

Replying to my own post here (a sign of madness !!), but things have improved since my buddleias have flowered. Even had a Red Admiral in my office this morning. Very welcome he was too !

[Fozfoster]

Replying to my own post here (a sign of madness !!), but things have improved since my buddleias have flowered. Even had a Red Admiral in my office this morning. Very welcome he was too !

LOL

[Turnedoutniceagain]

LOL

I have reluctantly released him !!

[Methuselah]

I've tried to release my 'pet' Garden Tiger moth on numerous occasions. But he, she, it won't go...