I'm aware the south east of England has had a decent summer, but ours in south Wales has been most disappointing. There have been no sustained warm, sunny periods between late April and early September, and even when we've had isolated nice days, temperatures have defiantly refused to go beyond 22c.
Overall, I think it has been a poor year for butterflies, as my list of 'losers' far exceeds my list of 'winners'. Anyway, here goes with the main ones:
Winners
Holly Blue
This beautiful little insect has been a regular sight on my travels, especially during August. I'd say spring numbers were fairly normal but they have certainly enjoyed a particularly strong second brood. The downside to this, I suppose, is that they'll be thin on the ground in 2016, in keeping with their recognised parasitoid fluctuations.
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Painted Lady
Whilst not strictly a 'Painted Lady year', 2015 has nonetheless seen fair quantities of this species. After seeing my first in early June, they cropped up in small numbers almost everywhere I went and got into double figures at the Pembrokeshire Brown Hairstreak site during the latter half of August.
Speckled Wood
Again, like Holly Blue, this species was more numerous than normal during late summer/early autumn. This was surprising because if anything I thought numbers in spring were lower than usual, and subsequent weather conditions didn't do a great deal to precipitate an increased second emergence.
Hedge Brown
Not seen in notably larger numbers than usual, but my instinct tells me that they've had a decent year. They also lasted till later in the season than they normally do.
Losers
Green Veined White
I was alarmed at how few I saw in August and September. They were practically absent. You'd think after a cool, damp summer that they'd emerge in good numbers but they didn't, and I can't understand why.
Small Heath
Is it just me or was this species thin on the ground in 2015? Even at Crymlyn Burrows on the Swansea coast they only appeared in the twenties and thirties. Previously, I've seen 100+.
Small Copper
I wonder whether Hoggers has granted them all asylum at Dungeness! They've had quite a poor showing for me in 2015, and I've probably seen no more than 60-odd all year.
Dingy Skipper
Except for decent numbers encountered at Rodborough Common in late May, I've hardly seen this species at all this year. They're fairly common round my neck of the woods if you know where to look, but at best they were appearing in ones, twos and threes.