A fantastic year for butterflies in the garden.

What a fantastic year we are having for butterflies in the garden.  Unfortunately the high temperatures are very worrying.  The latest scientific findings on climate change are that we have 18 months to do something about it before we reach a tipping point.  Sadly the chaotic politcal climate here, in Europe and America mean that it is low on the list of priorities, particularly in America where Donald Trump, despite all the evidence is a climate change denier.

Still on the slight brighter side, meanwhile our list of garden butterflies grows:

• Small tortoiseshell
• Red admiral
• Peacock
• Large White
• Green Veined White
• Small White
• Holly Blue
• Speckled Wood
• Comma
• Gatekeeper - new this year
• Meadow Brown - new this year
• Common Blue
• Ringlet - new this year
• Brimstone
• Small Copper
• Skipper sp - new this year

We have also had a Privet Hawk Moth which was a treat.

It would seem that there may be an influx of painted ladies this year so we may be able to add that to our records later.

Large White

Large White Pair Mating

Large White

Holly Blue

Comma

Comma (showing the white comma mark on the underwing)

Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper

Common Blue

Common Blue

Peacock

Red Admiral

Small Copper

Brimstone

Privet Hawkmoth