Butterflies-- are they in decline ?

[scottie]

What's the situation like in your neck of the woods,?
they seem to be very sparse here in the South of Wales, I went looking for them on the local mountain where I know there are many species, I spotted a red admiral and a grey veined white, too fast for me this time
I am out every day and they are rarely seen, there were a few around in April
that also goes for ladybirds ,
we have had a pretty good summer compared to previous years so I thought this would be a good one for taking them, last year was also very poor but 2007 there was plenty around
I used to see many meadow brown (quite common)
but nothing
would be interesting if you could add your comments to this post as to find out why they are in such decline

[benjiblanco]

i think i would agree with you scottie, think, because i have only really been looking for them for a couple of years.

i guess our odd summers maybe responsible. we tend to have about 3 weeks of warm weather very early in the year, it then turns cold again for about 10 weeks, then we get an odd heatwave for a couple of weeks, then winter seems not to far away.
summers seem to have been like this for the last few years.

[scottie]

I reckon your right there Ben
I love to take macro esp on butterflies but as mentioned the last 2 years have been a struggle to fine any at all

[badbadman]

We have started to see quite a few down here in the south.

Should be off to Queen Elizabeth Country Park near Petersfield in Hants this weekend which is known for its Butterflies.

I will try to catch a few on camera. :)

[JamesStan]

ive seen quite alot, infact walked through a field the other week full of thousands or crysilis. i think the more you look for them the harder it is.

[miffy]

We walked along the River Severn last week & there were HUNDREDS of butterflys & dragonflys ! I don't remember seeing so many for years! Couldn't name them, i'm afraid, so they could have all been common, bog-standard varieties! Still---- they were there!!!! With the dragonflys though, there were loads of smaller blue ones & quite a few big ones with black spots on their wings!

xxjan

[Jeni]

i love dragonflies, they used to scare me when i was little though, i think it was down the the name DRAGONflies lol.

when ive got a bit of spare time im going to go for a walk along the canal. if i get to Uppermill without seeing any theres a nice wildlife garden type thing with a small pond that attracts dragonflies. my problem is getting close enough, although theyre are less likely to fly away if i dont have Josh with me. one of his favourite games is running up to birds/butterflies/anything like that and going BOO! lmao

[miffy]

i love dragonflies, they used to scare me when i was little though, i think it was down the the name DRAGONflies lol.

when ive got a bit of spare time im going to go for a walk along the canal. if i get to Uppermill without seeing any theres a nice wildlife garden type thing with a small pond that attracts dragonflies. my problem is getting close enough, although theyre are less likely to fly away if i dont have Josh with me. one of his favourite games is running up to birds/butterflies/anything like that and going BOO! lmao

Awwww--That evokes a lovely mental picture,Jeni!!:D

xxjan

[Jeni]

is it helped by his pictures too? lol :) hes funny. theres not many words he can say, but he says boo really clearly.

[Hicarrumba]

I have noticed more here in the last few days than all the last 6 years of living here, and Saturday night I have never seen as many Hawk moths in one place at a time, no camera though so nothing to show.

[miffy]

Little chubby legs toddling across a field full of poppies--hazy sunshine-- chasing butterflies--saying " boo" when he sees one-- giggles in the long grass----

What are you waiting for,Jeni??? Get your camera, put Josh in his buggy & go find a field---it's a POW just waiting to happen!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

xxjan

[Jeni]

buggy? hes 3, hes not allowed in it no more lol.

soon as we have some decent weather ill be doing that Jan, its just constantly raining here, or it seems to be.