Since 2010 Butterfly Conservation has organised a yearly nationwide survey where people can spend 15 minutes counting the number of butterflies they see in their garden or other location and then submit their records. Last year 60,000 people participated submitting 62,500 counts of butterflies and day flying moths. It is now the world's largest butterfly survey.
Butterflies are excellent biodiversity indicators as they react rapidly to environmental change. Therefore declines in butterflies provide an early warning of potential losses in other species. The Big Butterfly Count also helps to identify trends in species allowing plans to be made to protect those in decline and it will also help scientists to understand the effects of climate change.
This year the survey runs from 20th July until 12th August and you can submit as many counts as you like.
I know many of you enjoy taking part in this count too and I look forward to discovering what others have seen.
I've done three counts so far - all in the garden.
Big Butterfly Count 1
Brimstone x 1
Small White x 2
Large White x 1
Holly Blue x 1
Gatekeeper x 2
Peacock x 1
Big Butterfly Count 2
Holly Blue x 1
Gatekeeper x 1
Speckled Wood x 2
Green-veined White x 1
Small White x 7
Large White x 2
Brimstone x 1
Big Butterfly Count 3
Speckled Wood x 2
(Sorry rubbish photo I couldn't get any closer without it flying off!)
Large White x 1
Small White x 3
Gatekeeper x 1
Holly Blue x 1
Worryingly, I have only seen one Peacock and no Red Admirals, Painted Ladies or Small Tortoiseshell.
Although not seen during the counts, we have had several sightings of Skippers
Small Skipper
Large Skipper
I was also thrilled just before one of the counts started to see a Small Copper in the garden. Sightings of this butterfly here are so unusual that I thought at first I it was a new garden "tick" but on my checking my records the last sighting was in 2006.
Garden Bees
Buff-tailed Bumble Bee
Common Carder
Bees on echninops
Garden Hoverflies
Golden Rod is flowering in the garden and Hoverflies just love this flower.
I need a better photo to be able to identify this species.
One of the Eristalis species possibly tenax.
Myathropa florea
Marmalade Hoverfly
Volucella zonaria
Flies
Tachina fera - thanks to Kevin for id help.
Greenbottle
Garden Moths - I haven't been trapping moths as often as usual this year so it was good to see a day flying moth on a buddleia in the garden.
Mother of Pearl
Hairy Shieldbug - I found this shieldbug amongst the washing. If my id is correct it would be a new species for the garden
Wooden Bee - This lovely little carved bee was a lovely surprise in the post from a friend who enjoys carving the most wonderful objects out of wood. Thank you Peter.
Butterfly Pin Badges
For a few years now I have been collecting beautiful limited edition butterfly pin badges designed and produced by Paul (many thanks to Paul). These are the two latest.
Weird Effect
When I was looking out of the bedroom window a few nights ago it looked as though the sky was floating above a neighbour's garden.
The effect was caused by the reflections of the eastern sky in the open window I was looking through. I am not sure if the photos bring out the effect that well but it was a strange experience!
D has started to grow vegetables again.
Green Peppers are doing well and
the tomato plant brought back from the Isle of Wight now has baby tomatoes on several trusses.
