Big Butterfly Count

[alan refail]

I fear that if the past week is anything to go by, fifteen minutes in the coming week would record no butterflies

http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/about

[Nature's Babe]

wow they are milling around my garden, red/black ones brown/orange ones,small blue ones, a few cabbage whites, maybe others I haven't seen, and I am not out in the garden that much because I'm. caring for my elderly mum. We do have a big wild patch of nettles near, and I plant to attract them.

[Parsons Jack]

This last week we've had Red Admirals, Peacocks, Gatekeepers, and Cabbage Whites in the garden most of the time.
Much the same on the allotment 7 miles away, along with Cinnabar and Burnet Moths

[glallotments]

It's even worse than trying to count sparrows. Lots flitting about especially small brown ones - mostly gatekeepers but some just won't stay still long enough to let me identify them and they flit so quickly I can't tell whether I have counted them or not - there needs to be a 'lots of them' option.

We also had lots of honey bees on our buddleias which was good to see.

[Nature's Babe]

while feeding the chicken ladies and ducks saw two peacock butterflies, a red admiral and marsh frit, also lots of tiny hover fly types around the teasles, many bees various, in and out of the nasturtiums. One of the peacock butterflies nearly became a ducks delicacy, but the duck was not quite quick enough, lol

[Monika]

You sure it was a marsh fritillary, NB? They are not really known for your area, and are jolly rare nowadays.

[Nature's Babe]

Well thet was closest on the butterfly pics and we are near Romney marsh, they do move quick so I might be mistaken. We do get some rare ones last year we had 2 huge ones downed in a heavy rainstorm 3 inch wingspan, attracted to our tobacco plant flowers, then caught in the storm and dead on our front steps

[PLUMPUDDING]

Our garden has been full of butterflies and bees today. We've had large and small whites, lots of Gatekeepers and small tortoishells, small copper, commas, meadow brown, and a very fast Dark Green Fritillary. There are also lots of Burnett moths and a day flying Burnished Brass moth which we only usually see at night.

[Monika]

NB, if you go to www. ukbutterflies.co.uk you will find lots of photos and also a detailed distribution map for the marsh fritillary.

Our ringlets are doing particularly well this year with at least 20 flying about our small meadow.

[Nature's Babe]

Thank you Monika, I saw one I had not seen before today, smaller than a common blue, very dainty, brown with 4 dash marks in yellow on rear edge of each wing. will try and find it on that site

[glallotments]

Really not butterfly weather here!

[Parsons Jack]

On our site there is a half plot size area designated as a wildlife garden, with quite a large pond and wild flower areas. It has been neglected over the last few years, and I have recently volunteered to look after it
I have spent the last few weeks putting in the odd half hour or so after working on my plot, just getting rid of weeds and rubbish. It's starting to look better already. There is a large Buddleia on it which had at least 6 Peacock butterflies and a few assorted moths on it this morning
Dragged some blanket weed from the pond and left on the edge so that any wildlife could find it's way back in, and saw a few newts as well as numerous beetles etc