The UK’s Butterflies are doing well at the moment due to the good weather and our recording area is no different.
Sightings of the once common Common Blue butterfly have been sparce in recent years however, this year two males were recorded at Low Moor Banks on 24/7 with a single male at Raw Nook LNR on 25/7 and another male at Toad Holes Beck on 31/7.
Small White butterflies have been seen in good numbers with a count of 21 ( minimum count) at toad Holes Beck on 25/7.
The Large White is normally recorded in single figures here. However, they are doing really well with a minimum count of 16 at Caldene fields on 25/7.
Number of Gatekeepers have been good at all our sites with many newly emerged butterflies noted.
The Peacock has not as yet shown any improvement in numbers although two were at Toad Holes Beck on 31/7.
A real surprise was a freshly emerged male Brimstone Butterfly at Toad Holes Beck on 31/7.
A good count of mainly newly emerged Speckled Wood butterflies were at Raw Nook LNR.
So all in all most butterflies species in our area appear to be having a good breeding season…Long may it continue.
