Big Butterfly Count 2022 /23

We have to say hello to the butterflies when we pass the buddleia. It was dull this morning so not many had come out to play. A couple of peacocks lots of unidentifiable whites I'm not good at identification, there's one that flitters about then closes its wings up when stopping to sip, I've no idea what it looks like open, just orangey.

I’ve done my first butterfly count of 2024. Kept putting it off because there just isn’t any around this year. I can honestly say I’ve seen less than 15 butterflies all year, so far. But then they do say to still send in your survey even if you don’t see anything.
I did actually see a day flying moth while doing my 15 minutes. so I put that down as a silver Y. It was about the right size and flying in the same manner, but it didn’t actually land for me to identify it.
Anyone else been doing the survey this year?
I’ll definitely do a couple more.

I keep thinking about it but usually during the evening, which is not very useful. I can identify the big colourful ones and whites and yellows but have trouble with the brown/dark orange ones that don't keep still. Saw a couple of peacocks on the buddleia today and a ladybird! First this year. Found two ladybird larvae as well chomping on some blackfly. Never thought I'd be excited to see a ladybird.

The butterflies I see most often are the brown ones and I'm not 100% confident of what they are . Probably a Speckled Wood. saw a Red Admiral yesterday and lots of Large Whites. None of them can be relied on to appear within a 15 minute slot though!

The butterflies I see most often are the brown ones and I'm not 100% confident of what they are . Probably a Speckled Wood. saw a Red Admiral yesterday and lots of Large Whites. None of them can be relied on to appear within a 15 minute slot though!

How inconvenient and insubordinate. I suggest deployment of the famous pokey stick.

Have you ever tried poking a butterfly with a stick? They don't like it up 'em.

Saw two Speckled Wood butterflies chasing each other this morning and a Gatekeeper in the GH.

I’ve seen a scotch argus this afternoon. Unfortunately they’re not on the big butterfly count list.

Did another count this afternoon. A solitary green veined white this time.
Very disturbing