Has anyone seen any butterflies this year in England?

Jim in the West

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Sep 13, 2003

4,593

Way out West

• Jul 22, 2015

• #61

Norman Potting said:

There are increasing numbers in our garden attracted by the tree with the pointy purple bits just coming into blossom (sorry don't know its Latin name). Bees also appearing on the Lavender bush.

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Buddleia.

We've got one, and quite a bit of lavender - butterflies and bees love them.

 

jevs

Well-known member

Mar 24, 2004

4,347

Preston Rock Garden

• Jul 23, 2015

• #62

The Birdman said:

What about Bees!

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Any plants i put in the Rockery are hopefully as Bee, Butterfly or pollenating insect friendly as possible. But there's one plant in flower at the moment called Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail' which is absolutely covered in Honey Bees, quite impressive really.

 

K

knocky1

Well-known member

Jan 20, 2010

12,981

• Jul 23, 2015

• #63

Jim in the West said:

Buddleia.

We've got one, and quite a bit of lavender - butterflies and bees love them.

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Spot on. Known as the butterfly bush. Latin Buddleja Davidii.

We have that one and the Buddleja Globosa, which has beautiful orange globe flowers.

Buddleja is a foreign, invasive plant and very common along railway lines and brown field site areas. Good news for Butterflies.

 

Last edited: Jul 23, 2015

perseus

Broad Blue & White stripe

Jul 5, 2003

23,457

Sūþseaxna

• Jul 23, 2015

• #64

Not been so many this year, but the best time in early August is yet to come:

http://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.html

Just cycled Shoreham to Steyning and back for the dentist and saw twelve different species on the way without trying. This is a bit low really. Could have made 15 different ones if I went out of my way. Variety, but the numbers were low.

Someone pointed out a Wild Marjoram plant with 40 butterflies of four different species: mostly Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, but also a Ringlet and Small Skipper.

 

Last edited: Jul 23, 2015

Superphil

Dismember

Jul 7, 2003

25,428

In a pile of football shirts

• Aug 3, 2015

• #65

Just seen this on my wheelie bin, flew away just after I took the pic

 

R

Rod Marsh

New member

Aug 9, 2013

1,254

Sussex

• Aug 3, 2015

• #66

Had 4 or 5 in my garden at once over the weekend.

 

perseus

Broad Blue & White stripe

Jul 5, 2003

23,457

Sūþseaxna

• Aug 19, 2015

• #67

Shoreham Blues



Six butterflies from Shoreham. The brown one is a girl.

 

Wellesley

Well-known member

Jul 24, 2013

4,973

• Aug 19, 2015

• #68

Not many about this year. Most of them have had their heads smashed in by rabid Reading fans.

 

jevs

Well-known member

Mar 24, 2004

4,347

Preston Rock Garden

• Aug 19, 2015

• #69

Lots of whites, common/large blues, peacocks, commas and gatekeepers around in the Rockery at the moment. A few lovely mint moths too although i've not seen a hummingbird hawk moth this year yet

 

glasfryn

cleaning up cat sick

Nov 29, 2005

20,261

somewhere in Eastbourne

• Aug 19, 2015

• #70

perseus said:

View attachment 67914

Six butterflies from Shoreham. The brown one is a girl.

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they are beautiful
have seen a lot more over here in Eastbourne
there seems to be a glut of them this year