‘Magical': butterfly sightings across the UK this summer

The Guardian

5 days ago

'I spend my time recording and photographing wildlife and am the Northants county recorder for diptera (true flies). In the last couple of weeks, I've taken photos of some common butterflies in the woods around here including brimstones (pictured), large skippers and gatekeepers. They are typical of this area and of the midlands as a whole.' John, Rothwell Photograph: John/Guardian Community
'I live in the countryside and it's been an incredible year for butterflies – we've seen marbled whites, tortoiseshells (pictured), red admirals and ringlets. I always think of an entry in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady where she says she turned a corner into a lane and walked into a cloud of meadow browns. It makes me sad that this almost never happens these days, though this year, walking past butterfly-friendly plants, there have been small clouds of gatekeepers and meadow browns and it's magical.' Charlotte, West Yorkshire Photograph: Charlotte/Guardian Community
A hairstreak butterfly: 'This year has been much better for butterflies and I try and take part in the big butterfly count. The number of bigger butterflies seem to have been reasonable but I think the dry conditions have meant some of the food plants like black knapweed have suffered. I was in Castleton recently and stood watching a buddleia covered in different butterflies such as red admirals and small tortoiseshells – it's been a while since I'd seen so many butterflies in one place.' Chris, South Yorkshire Photograph: Chris/Guardian Community
'Visiting nature reserves such as Bradfield Woods, Strumpshaw Fen and canoeing on the broads we have seen lots of butterflies this year. This photo of a Swallowtail was at How Hill in Norfolk.' Phil, Suffolk Photograph: Phil /Guardian Community
'So far this year I have seen 31 butterfly species within 30 miles of Bath, and I expect to see several more by the end of the summer. Some species like small tortoiseshell have not fared well but others have. Marsh fritillaries bred at their only known North Somerset site for the first time in six years, and wandering individuals turned up in some strange place around Bath and Bristol, miles from any suitable habitat. In woodland areas, Silver-washed fritillaries (pictured) seem to be doing well and I've found them drinking in the mud by springs and streams in the dry weather.' Mike, Bath Photograph: Mike/Guardian Community
'After last year being so bleak for butterflies, it's good to see many more this summer. Brimstones, orange tips and whites have all been seen in numbers, followed by a much better year for peacocks and red admirals. Small tortoiseshells, that used to be everywhere once upon a time, still seem to be struggling but at least more sightings this year. Pictured is a marbled white seen near the chalk pit of the old railway line in Kiplincotes.' Steph, East Yorkshire Photograph: Steph/Guardian Community
'This was quite an unusual sighting. The purple emperor is usually seen around the tops of large oaks, this male was seen at the top of the Malvern Hills.' Ian, Worcestershire Photograph: Ian/Guardian Community
'I have a rather wild garden with a pond and as many insect friendly plants as I can fit in. Last year I saw a few butterflies, this year there have been clouds of butterflies and many day-flying moths. Most of the common species like gatekeepers (pictured) have visited but no blues yet.' Will Cave, 63, GP, South Somerset Photograph: Will Cave/Guardian Community
'Summer for me means getting out and photographing dragonflies and butterflies. On a recent trip to Suffolk I visited a number of nature reserves and was pleased to see lots of butterflies about this year. Favourites include a silver-studded blue on Westleton Heath (pictured), a green-veined white at Minsmere and a comma at Hen Reedbeds.' Alan, Cambridge
Photograph: Alan/Guardian Community