www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Is this a really bad year for Small Torts? I ask because I have seen plenty of Peacock & Red Admiral in my garden but in the last two months I would say I haven't seen a single ST.
Been on a couple of outings to Chambers Wood in Lincolnshire and didn't see one there either so was wondering what the general experience was countrywide?

have been doing quite a lot of butterflying this month and ive only seen one.At Alice Holt (Straits Inclosure)

cheers
rob

I saw plenty early on in the year but I agree they've been scarce since May ended.

Just for the record i did see a second one this weekend on the South Downs near Graffham

cheers rob

In central Essex a few weeks ago, I saw up to 30 along a riverbank where previously I've only seen ones and twos. But this hotspot seemed very local; maybe they managed to get ahead of their parasite somehow. A couple of branch sightings this weekend suggest the next brood could be underway.

Rob S

About a month ago I saw lots (in one small area I saw at least 17) so they are having a good year around my haunts in Co Down, its peacocks that are having a really bad year, saw one all year!

David,

They do seem to be scarce here abouts. On 31st July there was a BC walk around Chambers. Four hours and 50+ pairs of eyes saw no ST. Saw one in the Butterfly Garden there this week and it was a fresh specimen.

Hugh

On the corresponding weekend last year, I visited West Williamston in Pembrokeshire and saw huge numbers of Small Tortoiseshells nectaring on the Sea Asters in the tidal zone. I intend to go back there this Sunday if the weather forecast is correct and if I see only a few (or even none) then I will readily conclude that this has been an atrocious year for them.

This probably isn't all the records but here are some reported ones for NI on Small Tort this year so far: http://www.bcni.org.uk/sightings.php?mo ... toiseshell

I saw loads end of June/early July - but not so many recently.

I saw reasonable numbers up until late June in Essex,but very few since. They are between broods now,hopefully they will re emerge in September. Saw one at Hayle,Cornwall, last Sunday.
Cheers,Mark

Had 4 on transect today on the Blackwater estuary, Essex - double my previous best! Only a few, but all looked too pristine to be migrants and the next brood is definitely underway.

Started seeing quite few around in the last couple of days. Here's one on my prize ragwort

I saw 8 on a big patch of Wild Thyme at Aston Rowant on Sunday - the most I have seen in one place since I was a kid!
Cheers

Lee