Small Tortoiseshell

Today's the day ........................... to be elusively common

Is it just me - or have there been very few butterflies to be seen this summer?

This small tortoiseshell is described as being ......... 'widespread throughout Britain and Ireland, commonly found in gardens.  It is among the most well known butterflies in Britain and Ireland. The striking and attractive patterning, and its appearance at almost any time of the year in urban areas have made it a familiar species. It is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and in the autumn it often visits garden flowers in large numbers'.

I think it's the first one I've seen in my garden this year - and it was only one.  Admittedly it was there for most of the afternoon, but I'm pretty sure it was the same one!  There were no butterflies at all on the buddleia bush which is normally full of them.

Must be something to do with the non-summer weather we've been having ............................