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Big Butterfly Count 2019

Today sees the launch of the annual Big Butterfly Count which runs this year from 19 July to 11 August. Run by the charity Butterfly Conservation (https://butterfly-conservation.org/), anyone can take part and you can report your sightings via a mobile phone app (iOS and Android) or the Big Butterfly Count website (details at the end of this post). You don't have to be an expert to take part, there is a downloadable poster to identify which species, and all your sightings are gratefully appreciated! Putney and Putney Heath have many species including scarce species such as Purple Emperor, Brown Hairstreak and White-letter Hairstreak. The Big Butterfly Count website address is https://www.bigbutterflycount.org/.

Les Evans-Hill ● 2672d4 Comments

I read this morning that Painted Ladies have been spotted on distant St Kilda. Amazing!Anybody seen any round here yet?

Jonathan Callaway ● 2672d

Yes, I've seen a few in my Putney Heath garden and on Wimbledon Common over the past month or two. There's also a single larva on Borage growing between two paving slabs in the garden, about 2cm long.

Les Evans-Hill ● 2672d

We have a buddleia bush growing outside the glass doors on the patio.  I salute it for staying alive with very very little attention - and with the alternating waterlogging and drought conditions and so little attention this year that is something!We have recently spent several days absolutely amazed by the bees and butterflies and moths that come looking for this bush which is now flowering.  We see them flying across the road to get to it.  In the evening a whole new fluttering world just outside the window is revealed.  It definitely gives the bird table competition!Most of the garden nearby has been trimmed so that there are very few flowers on the flowering shrubs and this plant seems like a rebellious stand against controlled landscaping.Go on do it!  Seek out some plants that the bees and butterflies love and you will open up a new world and give them a better chance of survival.  They also need plants that they lay their eggs on which are usually also food for the larvae.  That includes nettles for some butterflies who will only lay their eggs on them.  So be brave and leave a patch of them somewhere.  We don't need to kill everything that we find inconvenient.If you ever get a chance to watch the BBC film about the Painted Lady butterfly and its travels from Africa to Europe - watch it.  It was on again this year in July.

Philippa Bond ● 2633d

@Philippa

I couldn't agree more, many insects are in big trouble and do need our help, however small whether it be a nectar source or [native] foodplants.

Les Evans-Hill ● 2631d