Seasons progressing as normal!

[RoyW]

There are a couple of threads running at the moment where people are commenting on "early" signs of the approaching autumn and winter.

As far as I can see things are progressing as normal, with bird migration, fruiting of plants, autumn insects etc pretty much right on cue (there is always some slight weather dependant variation, but to me things seem pretty average this year).
So, am I alone in considering this to be a "normal" year, or are there others who agree with me?

[PMG]

Originally Posted by RoyW

There are a couple of threads running at the moment where people are commenting on "early" signs of the approaching autumn and winter.

As far as I can see things are progressing as normal, with bird migration, fruiting of plants, autumn insects etc pretty much right on cue (there is always some slight weather dependant variation, but to me things seem pretty average this year).
So, am I alone in considering this to be a "normal" year, or are there others who agree with me?

My impression was that its run more or less about three weeks ahead? But seeing as I'm now missing it wholesale I could be well wrong!

Pauline

[Deb London]

I agree (I give in) I agree!!!



EDIT Seriously, butterfly-wise, earlier in the year they were early. This is according to a paragraph of "British Wildlife" 2011, June edition, that I had started to read before I turned on the laptop.

[earthdragon64]

I'm a member of the Yahoo Scottish Moths group, from what was being posted earlier this year, early season moths were appearing earlier than normal in March and April, when we had warmer than normal weather.

I also saw Large Red Damselflies and Four-spotted Chaser Dragonflies a couple of weeks earlier than in previous years. Pearl-bordered Fritillaries were also a bit earlier than previous years.

Then in May, we had wetter, cooler weather and a late frost, and things seemed to get back to normal.

After a promising start, it hasn't been a great year for lepidoptera and odonata, but not horribly bad either.

I've seen it mentioned in a couple of threads about ripe Rowan berries in the south, but if anything, they're a bit late up here. It's only been the last week that I've seen any really red ones, including the one in my garden. I've not seen any really ripe Blackberries yet.

So in summary, I think things are pretty much on track. There are always some early migrants bird-wise, failed breeders, or those too young to breed for example. There will always be some really early examples of a specific thing as well as really late examples, it's the average that's important, as I understand it anyway.

Regards, Audrey.

[STYRBJORN]

Not noticed much change. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. The usual order. Seriously, the warmer seasons do seem to be starting earlier amd lasting later. Ants swarm at least 2 weeks sooner then was once the case, and blackthorn flower in April. No big deal though.

Ric

[diggleken]

I notice the times on monday carried a story about fruit pickers being two weeks ahead for strawberries and raspberries and melons are doing brill in kent - all due to a warm april, so thats clearly affected some things, but perhaps not all.
Any scientific phenology reports comment on this yet, or are they late?
Cheers
Ken

[Ukwildlifeo]

Agreed. Seems like a typical August to me.

[artdemole]

Couple of weeks earlier would agree with me.Flowers in my baskets are going over.All my runner beans picked and in the freezer.Apples are being blown off the trees before time.Leaves and seeds have fallen and swept away daily.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by RoyW

There are a couple of threads running at the moment where people are commenting on "early" signs of the approaching autumn and winter.

As far as I can see things are progressing as normal, with bird migration, fruiting of plants, autumn insects etc pretty much right on cue (there is always some slight weather dependant variation, but to me things seem pretty average this year).
So, am I alone in considering this to be a "normal" year, or are there others who agree with me?

Seems bang on to me Roy.

[Cordaline]

Seems early to me by a couple of months!