Butterfly Bonanza

Painted Lady

We humans may have been wilting in the heatwave, but as far as I can see, the butterflies are thriving this summer. David and I have been blessed to witness 2 butterfly 'blooms'. The first time, as we were strolled through a narrow strip of meadow on the margin of Epping Forest, scores of Ringlet butterflies emerged from the grasses, with along with some Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites. We were transfixed. The experience was repeated in North Devon on the front lawn of Hartland Abbey. This time it was dozens of Painted Ladies as we tiptoed along, trying not to tread on them.

Minutes later we were wowed again by the number of different species of butterfly in the walled garden there. And to cap it all David spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. We spent the next 20 minutes utterly enchanted watching them and listening to the faint hum of their unbelievably fast wingbeats. 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Have you also noticed more butterflies this summer in your neck of the woods?