Has anybody else seen so few Butterflies?

[sticky1]

I don't know whether this thread has already been up but...

Has enybody else noticed that there are less butterflies than last year. So far this year i have only seen one or two butterflies and they were only the Cabbadge White.

[Susie]

This has been an amazing year for butterflies.

Although over the past years the trend has generally been downwards this year has been better than average. A million or so painted ladies graced our shores recently and their offspring are busy chomping on thistles or beginning to emerge right now.

If you grow the right plants and/or visit the right sites there is no way you wont see plenty of butterflies!

I trust that has given you some hope, sticky1.

[NickCantle]

Quite the opposite here in Norfolk! Ringlets and Peacocks are abundant and I've seen more Brown Argus this year than I've ever seen. Seen no Cabbage Whites but have seen Green Veined Whites, Small Whites and Large Whites. A few Small Tortoiseshells are about, but I've noticed an absence in the smaller Blues.

[ron1863]

It's the opposite up my way, I have noticed an increase in Whites, Peacocks, Ringlets, Painted Ladies and Small Tortoishells, there have not been many Red Admirals yet, but they were late appearing last year.

[earthdragon64]

I've seen more butterflies this year than for the last few years and at quite widespread locations.

[Lance Morgan]

Certainly a better year than last so far. Even more S Tortoishell

[Cheryl]

A better year here for me too - at this time last year I'd seen hardly any

There's not been so many Marbled Whites so far though and I've only seen one or two Small Coppers earlier in the season but this year I've also had a number of "firsts". Lots of Commas this year too

Where abouts are you Sticky1?

[RobinP]

Same story for me too, best year for ages, Small Torties still a worry though.

[John]

Same here. Plenty of Butterflies seen this year. In fact I was on the eastern edge of Dunwich Wood on Monday (13th), near Minsmere, and the amount of Butterflies in the brambles and Ferns along the woodland edge was nothing short of phenomenal.

There were Painted Lady's, Red & White Admirals, Comma, Small Copper, Grayling, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Ringlets, Meadow Brown, Large & Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper, Cabbage White, Small White all in large numbers, plus I'm pretty sure that I saw a few Silver-washed Fritillary but they never stayed still and were a bit distant from me.

Below are a few of these Butterflies from Monday.
White Admiral


Painted Lady

Common Blue


Gatekeeper


John

[sticky1]

I'll have to start going to the right places, i'm pretty glad it's just me, Britain without butterflies would be a dull Britain!