Many of us are still waiting for warmer nights and dryer days. I would like warmer nights hoping to catch more moths in our moth trap. This spring has been a disaster for those of us who count moths and butterflies. Except for Orange Tips in early May, I have hardly seen any butterflies at all. The numbers of moths I have recorded is easily half of those in the same time period for the last two years. Fortunately I am still getting some beauties like Maiden's Blush and Ruby Tiger.
I have had distressing reports from the north of our county of Brown Long-eared bats brought into care in need of feeding. This is more evidence of lower numbers of moths there as well.
The rain washed caterpillars off tree leaves, leaving none for those birds that collect there for feeding their young such as Blue and Great Tits. We have noted several of our nest boxes have had 50% loss of young after hatching. Robins and thrushes that are ground feeders have not been affected.
The wet weather, though bad for moths and butterflies, has been good for many of the wildflowers. Not only those we have planted, but all the others. Marsh Cinquefoil, Orchids and Buttercups have been doing well as you may see below.
Lighter evenings mean I can also help with some pond dipping sessions for Scouts and Beavers. In one of them, as we were looking at Banded Demoiselle nymphs, this adults paid us a visit. I can't remember ever having one this close before.
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