Our third year of butterfly hunting has got off to a great start, with several new ones ticked off our list already.
Sadly, though, in general it seems these are worrying times for UK butterflies, which suffered their fourth worst year on record in 2016.
According to the charity Butterfly Conservation: “A mild winter followed by a cold spring contributed to conditions that saw both rare and widespread species struggle despite many parts of the UK enjoying a warm and dry summer.”
Some 40 of the 57 species studied recorded a decline compared with 2015.
Professor Tom Brereton, head of monitoring at Butterfly Conservation, said: “The results show that butterflies are failing to cope with our changing climate and how we manage the environment. As butterflies are regarded as good indicators of environmental health this is hugely concerning for both wildlife and people.”
We’ve visited some new places (Foxley Wood and Strumpshaw Fen) which has helped to up our personal butterfly count but it’s upsetting to imagine what will happen in the future. How many butterflies will Freya be able to spot when she’s an adult?
While it might seem like we as individuals can’t do much to help, we can, including planting to help encourage butterflies and moths. Even if you only have a balcony, like us, you can plant a pot for pollinators.
I’ve joined Darren’s brilliant #MySundayPhoto linky again this week (it’s opened early because of Easter Sunday). Please do check out what other people have posted, it’s always such an eclectic mix.
After The Rain 
Gorgeous photos! I love wildlife and you definitely don’t see as many butterflies as you used to. Funnily enough I did see quite a few this weekend in Wiltshire. I’m worried about the bees as there have definitely been fewer in our garden so far this year. I will follow your blog.
Have fun this Easter weekend. #MySundayPhoto. I haven’t put up my Sunday photo yet but will do!
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Hello and thank you 🙂 Oh yes, the bees are on my worry list too. I’m off to visit your blog now 🙂
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Thank you Tara. X
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I have never got very good shots of butterflies in the wild, I did better in a butterfly house. These are great! #MySundayPhoto
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Thank you. I went in a tropical butterfly house once but everything misted up and I was very frustrated.
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Stunning detail in the butterflies, I am never quick enough to capture them.
Definitely don’t see as many as you used to.
Have a good Easter and thank you for linking up
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Thank you for hosting, Darren 🙂
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Such great close-up photos, I never knew that butterflies were so fluffy! I must admit that there seems to be an abundance of butterflies here in rural Spain, but mostly cabbage whites and red admirals, have seen a couple of swallow tails but not as many as I’d like, so sad to think they are in decline.
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I’m always amazed at the fresh details you see when you look at things close up. I hope you’re having a fun weekend.
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Fantastic close shots. I always find butterflies so hard to photograph well
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Thank you, there was an orange tip that was just too fast for me 🙂
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Some very well captured shots here – love the way you’ve managed to catch all the colour and detail, Tara.
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Thanks, Tim. I hope you’re having a great long weekend.
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Beautiful pictures and a great idea about planting pollinators #MySundayPhoto
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I figured only having a balcony we wouldn’t be able to do much (we don’t see many butterflies coming this high) but maybe if we plant, they will follow 🙂
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What beautiful photos of the butterflies but how sad that they are declining in number. Will have to make sure I add some more pollinators to my garden.
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Brilliant! I bet your lovely girls would enjoy helping with that too 🙂
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What amazing photos! We love watching butterflies! #MySundayPhoto x
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Thank you. I’m a bit obsessed with them 🙂
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Love the speckled wood, I think I will have to wait a couple of months to see butterflies here. Happy Easter
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I couldn’t believe it was in our garden, which is in the city. Happy Easter to you too 🙂
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I love butterflies. We have seen quite a few fluttering around in Norfolk this week. Great photos x
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Me too, Cathy. Glad you’ve had a lovely break (even without the wifi).
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Your photos are amazing! I adore butterflies! Thank you for your comment 🌟
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Thank you 🙂
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These are all gorgeous photos. I could chase butterflies all day just to capture some good photos x #MySundayPhoto
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That sounds like my sort of day out 🙂 Thank you.
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Beautiful! I love butterflies 🙂
#mysundayphoto
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Me too! I have three tattooed on my foot 🙂
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Amazing photos – fabulous detail.
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Thanks Sarah, that’s very kind of you.
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Wow, I love butterflies – We have a Butterfly World close by and go to see them and the other animals – but great to see them in the wild.
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Cor, I’d be there all the time. Hehe.
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Gorgeous shots! I can never get them to sit still for me.
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Thank you. I do plead with them to just let me take one photo 🙂
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Some great pictures of butterflies Tara. It’s definitely worrying times for them. I do hope they get a chance to recover. #mysundayphoto
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Thank you. I hope you’ve had a fab holiday.
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Beautiful photography Tara – I find it so hard to get pics of butterflies, without any blurring – and you’ve done a miraculous job 🙂
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Hehe, thank you. The trick is to talk to them and ask if they will please sit still for a photo (much the same as a three-year-old).
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I will try this 🙂 although still utterly failing to get four boys facing in the same direction and smiling at the same time for photos, I cheer when they all manage to keep in shot … 😀
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Wow. You have captured some stunners there! Love them all 🙂
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Thank you, that’s very kind.
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Great photos 🦋🦋🦋
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