Just wondering if it is our garden or are others seeing a downturn in the numbers of Butterflies visiting your gardens?
Last year we had lots of butterflies of different kinds floating around the garden and enjoying the flowers we have. This year so far I must have seen only a handful. Maybe it is the past bad weather we have had that has had it's toll on them.
Anyone else notice a downturn in numbers?
Ed
I did wonder, from the Dorset Butterflies report, whether it was partially because less people are going out as the weather has been less than kind. I know I've not been out as much as I was last year, so haven't reported as frequently my sightings.
Still nothing here except a couple of White and another Holly Blue and the weather is warm, dry & sunny ... still no Hoverflies!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
We started seeing some here (South Wales) around a month ago and now haven't seen a single one in the garden for a couple of weeks For anyone interested, the Big Butterfly Count (Butterfly Conservation) starts 12th July and runs until 4th August.
Northwest based I see several a day not sure what this one is usually get white or brown ones
The sun appeared yesterday up here in central Scotland and there were a few more around as well as hover flies and bees, good to see.
Hi-
apparently its a bad year for wasps as well-
I wonder if the really wet winter got to hibernating pupating insects etc.
More slugs than usual !
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
No upturn in slugs here. (Perhaps they drowned, as most hibernate around ground level).
Wasps don't hibernate underground (the queens hibernate above ground). Which possibly suggests other factors than the wet winter.
I found a few (viable) subterranean moth pupae whilst gardening. The pupae hatched. Which suggests the wet winter may not be as disasterous (but it may have affected other areas).
I was also particularly surprised to discover some plants had survived in the most waterlogged areas.
But insect numbers are still down. I wonder why?
I went out to Fairburn nature reserve on Sunday thinking a nice sunny day and warm, There are bound to be a few showing today, apart from around four white butterflies that didn’t land for a photo that was it. Now this spot had produced last year with a good selection by my standards in fact I have to agree with the majority it’s been a poor year for them. Let’s hope next year makes up for it.
After a reasonable showing of the coloured type of butterflies here we are now down to seeing a few small whites plus one Comma in the past week but pleased to report plenty of bees on a daily basis No flies, hovers or mozzies
Edit: just had Gatekeeper visit!
thats a red admiral Butterfly