Butterflies

It has been a big year for quantities of butterflies. There are a large number of Gatekeepers currently and also Small Whites. Earlier there were lots of Meadow Browns and Ringlets. It's also been a better year for Marbled Whites and Holly Blues. Not so good for Common Blues and there seem to be fewer and fewer of what used to be very common butterflies such as the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock. Still this extended hot dry period should allow them all to breed successfully. Photo - Gatekeepers on Wild Marjoram by our gate.