Butterflies

[Alice]

Where are all the butterflies. I hardly have any. I remember last year we talked about this. We all had plnty early in the season, then they disappeared and reappered later. Yhis year I had plenty early in the season, but now, none. The buddleas are flowering and usually covered in butterflies - but none. Something else to blame on the weather ? How's everybody else getting on? Oh yes, I know about the cabbage whites

[kirsty b]

I get loads of Red Admirals on my plot, sadly none of them are obliging enough to stay still while I get a pic! Have seen a fair few Peacocks too, had to rescue one out of the chooks house today. Not so many cabbage whites, which is not such a bad thing and a little blue one fluttered by yesterday but it didn't hang sround long enough for me to get a good look.

[Alice]

Glad you've got some KirstyB. Anybody else got the usual ones, or noticed their absence.

[Nicos]

Yesterday I was watching 6 cabbage white fluttering around INSIDE my neighbours cabbage netting!!!
I agree- not seen so many this year, although I have to say that I've not been out as much pottering around as I would in a 'normal' year.

[Madasafish]

Cabbage white: just 1
Tortoiseshell 1

Usually 50 plus on buddleia.
Rain delayed hatching?

[Two_Sheds]

Apparently its all down to the weird weather this year. The flutterbys did their thing early this year, in the hot April, then went away for a while. I have just now started getting Cabbage Whites (hundreds...anyone want some?) and a few little brown jobs.

[rustylady]

I've seen tortoiseshells recently, 2 red admirals, and a small blue one. Lots of cabbage whites, I think they're invincible.

[Benacre]

There have been two Large White immigrations this year the first in May the second during the last weeks of July, these are continental migrants pushed over here by the extensive breeding season in Europe.
BTW August the 4th is the peak day for seeing butterflies as all second brooded species have emerged and the continental migrants have boosted numbers, But it is during late August the rarities like Queen of Spain Fritillary, Clouded Yellow and Camberwell beautys arrive

[roitelet]

Deffinately a shortage of Butterflies this year. Lots in April and May but what with all the awful weather after that there is now a shortage, including the Cabbage white

Thought you might like to see this beauty, Swallowtail

[Sue]

Yes, it's dreadful, really miss the butterflies, all except the cabbage whites, just one brown skipper to report and I only have to think back to my childhood to remember all the butterflies that used to be around.

Saddest of all was after having seen not one red admiral this year I found the remains of one, just a little bit of wing in the hen run this morning, the fiends.
Sue

[Alice]

Thanks folks. So it's not just me. This time last year I had Peacocks flying about in gangs and plenty of painted ladies and red admirals. This year - nothing.

[Two_Sheds]

Guys, if you want butterflies, you gotta grow nettles!

[heebiejeebie]

I've seen too many cabbage whites, only a couple of peacocks, a couple of red admirals, and a few small brown butterflies that won't stay still long enough for me to get a proper look and one that had black undersides to its wings but didn't want to open them to let me see the tops.

[SarzWix]

Just started spotting them again this week, as the sun has come out again! The buddleias on a plot near mine have been covered in both butterfly and bees. It's been lovely to see after them being 'missing' for months

[scarey55]

Guys, if you want butterflies, you gotta grow nettles!

Anyone want any - I've got loads (nettles that is)