Keeping count

Another fabulous day. Another trip out so as not to waste the sunshine.

I went back to my favourite Elford Hall Gardens - and counted SO many butterflies.

Like Ken Petch earlier in the week, I noticed an amazing number of Peacock butterflies. I could only estimate the numbers and I think my 100 was very conservative.

Runners up were the whites - mainly large whites but several green veined too.

I was a bit surprised to see a few Gatekeepers among the flowers - and Meadow Browns too (but it isn't far for them to have flown from the grassier areas I suppose)

There was a solitary Speckled Wood in the parking area.

Small Tortoiseshells were there - but not in huge numbers. And they seemed to be being bullied by the rather aggressive Peacocks.

Just before I left, I was buzzed by a couple of blues - tiny ones. And no - they weren't whites in odd light. Definitely blues.

I'm having fun with the Butterfly Count and please join in - it goes on until the middle of August

The Big Butterfly Count