Britain's Big Butterfly Count 2015 17th July- 9th August

[Nicos]

I've just spotted this- you may wish to join in????

big butterfly count

17th July- 9th August


Sir David Attenborough (who is Butterfly Conservation president) says this....
David Attenborough: Big butterfly count kicks off - CBBC Newsround

Perhaps peeps would like to put their results on here too- just cos we're nosy

[Gillykat]

I'm definitely going to be sending in my results

Eventually I'd like my allotment to be 100% wildlife friendly and I'm slowly getting there as it's converted from a leek-and-potato-plot from the previous tenant into one full of nectar-rich flowers and shrubs....with the occasional bit of veg chucked in for good measure So far this year (I've only had the plot since February) I've seen Orange Tip, Large & Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and, yesterday, I was over the moon to have a Meadow Brown visit

[WPG]

I'll definitely have a go at this, though not sure I'll be lucky enough to see many (if any) within just 15 minutes. I see the chart for NI has less butterflies than the chart for England - things like brimstone, marbled white, comma and gatekeeper are missing from here.

Earlier this year we had a lot of orange tip, which seem to have disappeared again. In the past fortnight I've seen quite a few meadow brown and speckled wood, and today I saw my first small tortoiseshell of the year. Haven't seen any red admirals yet, but hoping they'll appear when the buddleias are in flower.

Update - I've just been out in the garden, and this butterfly was a very obliging model on my daisy - I think it's meadow brown (?)

[dogsbody]

I'm joining in. With 7 buddlejas, loads of nettles, a woody bit and lots of weeds I am going to have my work cut out.

This year so far seen holly blue, gatekeeper, comma, painted lady, peacock, small and large white, orange tip, ringlet and small tortoiseshell so may have to do a number of 15 minute shifts and post the biggest total for each species...

[WPG]

Just a reminder it's the last weekend for the butterfly count.

I did it yesterday...a walk through tall grassland - saw a few meadow browns but nothing else.

I'm going to try it again today at the allotment.

[dogsbody]

You may still upload results until the end of August, here are mine (sadly no red admirals yet this year and many fewer than last)

Gatekeeper 1
Meadow Brown 1
Small Tortoiseshell 13
Green veined white 1
Comma 1
Large white 3
Painted Lady 2
Silver washed fritillary 1
Holly blue 1
Peacock 7
Small white 6

[dogsbody]

It's back again for 2016 - 15th July to 7th August (logging results up to end of August).

Full details plus the app etc. can be found here big butterfly count

Pretty quiet on the butterfly scene around here at present, so hoping it will rapidly improve.

[Martin H]

Thanks for this. I've downloaded the app, ready to go.

[Jay22]

Do you know, and this if the honest truth (often wondered what other truth there could be right enough) but I can't remember the last time I saw a butterfly! Very rare creatures indeed. Must be too cold up here.

[WPG]

I went on my annual search for the rare Marsh Fritillary in Murlough Bay nature reserve today. Didn't see any, but during the hour walk counted around 30 meadow browns, a dozen or so common blue, and also about a dozen small heath - so will record them on the site
big butterfly count

[dogsbody]

This is still on-going, all welcome to take part (summer activity for the children?).

I keep trying but the woeful lack of butterflies around my garden keep frustrating me (despite 7 buddleias in the gardens). Will keep trying!

[Sheneval]

I have seen so few this year other than a few cabbage whites - last year on the allotment I had 20+ at each of my two verbenas at the same time - I now have 3 verbenas plus 1 at home but zilch although I am informed there were 3 or 4 in the garden yesterday - 1 a red admiral, another similar colour and 2 cabbage white. There is a massive Buddleia on the allotment - the flowers dozens of them are almost a foot long and 6" round tapering - most beautiful one I've ever seen but no butterflies in the vicinity.

[Bren In Pots]

Too much wind and rain here I knew I should have done my count the other week when it was summer.