Mid-July already and I must say there have been plenty of bees a-buzzing but the butterflies seem to have been few and far between up to now around my North Devon patch.
On my walk-abouts and in my garden I have seen one Green-veined White, Peacock, Speckled Wood and Orange Tips early on in May and over the past couple of months have spotted a Brimstone, Green-Veined White and Large/Small White, a couple of Red Amiral, one Peacock, Small Tortoishell, Meadow Brown, Heath Brown, a few Comma, a Skipper and a couple of Six-Spot Burnet Moths! Earlier today I got a record shot of a Ringlet.
On reflection I suppose that's not bad really but they are in so few numbers especially as the Buddleia (aka Butterfly Bush) has been flowering in my garden for a couple of weeks now, so I am hoping they arrive on mass in the next couple of weeks in time for the Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count which this year is from 14th July-6th August. It's a fun thing to do especially for a family with budding young naturalists as they can learn to recognise different species using an illustrated butterfly chart or or free mobile phone app.
The big butterfly count, is a UK nationwide survey aimed at helping assess the health of the environment. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world's biggest survey of butterflies. You can show your support by signing up HERE
Sir David Attenborough, President of Butterfly Conservation, Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Nick Baker and Mike Dilger, Vice Presidents of Butterfly Conservation and the actress Joanna Lumley OBE have given their enthusiastic backing to the project and will support its launch and operation.
Before setting out on your quest to count or photograph butterflies it is also useful to know the different habitats and food plants favoured by individual species.
Comma - RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon 2 July 2017
Meadow Brown - RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, North Devon 2017
Large White (Female) Welcombe, North Devon 1st July 2017
Large Skipper - Welcombe, North Devon 1st July 2017
Peacock - My Garden North Devon 24th May 2017
Green-Veined White - My Garden North Devon 1st July 2017
Speckled Wood - My Garden North Devon 28th May 2017
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Article/Photos copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)
