The Big Butterfly Count

The big butterfly count takes place on 16th - 31st July.

To join in, and download an ID chart of common butterfly species go to www.bigbutterflycount.org

All you need to do is pick a sunny spot, such as a garden, park, meadow or hedgerow and keep a tally of all the butterflies and day-flying moths you see in 15 minutes.

Definitely worth a try - Lai

Thanks Lai downloaded the chart, which will be really useful as well. As you say certainly worth ago
WS

Thanks Lai. I will be taking part as the amount of butterflies that have been winding Jet up is unbelievable.

SM

Not that easy to count butterflies for 15 minutes - and not repeat the ones you've already seen :What:

So my count was
4 Small White
2 Speckled Wood
2 Peacock
13 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Comma

Not the best day, last week the lavender had literally hundreds on it

Lai

Not seen a Peacock at all this year Lai. Have not counted so far.

SM

Just received this today.

Thank you for taking part in Big Butterfly Count 2011!
With your help we counted more than 300,000 butterflies and moths, giving us some fascinating results...

Butterfly numbers were down this summer. The average number of individual butterflies and moths seen per count
dropped by 11 per cent compared to last year’s event. Many species were less abundant. The dismal summer weather, the coldest in nearly 20 years, was undoubtedly to blame. Butterflies need warm conditions to be active, find food and mates and, if female, to lay eggs.
The Common Blue suffered one of the biggest declines compared with 2010; its numbers fell by 61 per cent. Other species faring badly included the Brimstone, Small Copper, Comma and two common immigrants, the Painted Lady and Silver Y moth.
The Gatekeeper topped the Big Butterfly Count chart this year, up from third place in 2010. Also moving up this year were the Red Admiral, which was almost twice as common in 2011 than last year, and the Speckled Wood, which increased by 80 per cent.
Although not a great summer for butterflies, there was a phenomenal response to the Big Butterfly Count this year, with 34,300 people taking part and twice as many counts submitted as in 2010. Many thanks to everyone who helped us ‘take the pulse of nature’.
See the full results and find out how all the species fared in 2011 on the Big Butterfly Count results page.

Lai

Understandable with the weather being colder how it affects the butterflies and other creatures.

So what can we do in our gardens for next year to give them a better chance with food etc.

SM

Just found this - How to Build a Butterfly House....

Good find SM - will have to watch it on Saturday on my office PC my laptop is on a serious go slow

Lai

My PC's going slow as well tonight Will have to catch up later. I would have thought you might be a bit busy tomorrow Lai
WS

WS -

Lai

Big Butterfly Count

Save Our Butterflies
Save Our Butterflies Week is Butterfly Conservation's annual celebration of butterflies.

From 19 to 27 May we will be hosting events across the UK to raise awareness of the devastating declines many species are facing.

Get involved!

Watch our butterfly video and share it with your friends.
Download an identification chart and keep your eyes peeled for rare species on our reserves.
Search our events listings for guided butterfly walks and other activities near you.
________________________________________

http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/

Lai

Thanks Lai, I didn't realise it was time for the Butterflys, as yet i've not seen a singe Butterfly around, maybe it's a little early or I wonder if the rain has had an impact on them. I will have a look at the video when I get in from work but I will be keeping my eyes peeled for them

littlewid-x-

You're right Littlewid. The actual count is between 14th July - 5th August. The events to raise awareness runs from 19th - 27th May.

That week in March when we all thought summer had arrived we started to see some butterflies, sadly none at the moment but I guess when the weather turned bad they all sadly suffered.

Lai

I saw my first Butterfly yesterday whislt walking Nero, it was a cabbage White, their first flight time is April - May and then another one in June. It was flying along the grass verge and then just resting on the grass. Not a dreadfully exciting sighting but it is my first Butterfly of the year

littlewid-x-

Littlewid - still exciting to see the first one of the year.

Lai

Don't forget anyone who wants to take part in the Big Butterfly Count. It runs between 14th July and 5th August, takes 15 mins and you can download info from

www.bigbutterflycount.org

Lai

Thanks Lai. I will check the form to see if you can do the count anywhere, if so I may go to the crematorium to the wild meadow as that would be my best bet. I have trees and shrubs in my garden but no flowers until the PEAS flower so not much chance of Butterflys.

littlewid-x-

This is rather worrying news and as it's related to the Butterfly count I thought I would post this link here.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9394106/Wet-weather-threatening-Britains-butterflies-warns-David-Attenborough.html

littlewid-x-

Thanks for the link Littlewid. Sad news indeed and so true, we've hardly seen any so far and our buddleia which is a plant they love are way off flowering. In fact every flower seems to be wet, waterlogged and several weeks behind in their growth.

Lai

I did see a Butterfly the other day and apart from the one I saw in May that is about it so far. It will be interesting what the count reveals and where most of the Butterflys are. As you say Buddleia has usually flowered by now and yes the Butterflys do love it but I too have noticed that many plants that would be flowering now have not, they haven't really had the sunshine to help them along and I heard today, not sure if it is correct or not but when I was in town today a lady said that August was going to be as wet as July, so it doesn't look too hopeful for the flowers and Butterflys and when I was talking to my friend the other night, she lives in Southampton and she said her tomatos had plenty of flowers on them but they just werent turning too fruit, the weather seems to be affecting a whole bunch of stuff.

littlewid-x-

I saw our first butterfly yesterday. It was black. Unfortunately I did not see any detail so do not know exactly which one it is.

I hope they do not suffer with the weather though.

SM