Conservationists are telling us that since the Second World War British Butterflies have been in decline. The loss of their habitat can be put down to several reasons, but changes in agricultural management, reutilisation of land and pollution must be some of the main causes for the decline. Other factors to add to this decline in numbers could also include Climate Change, the change in the seasons, higher temperatures, heavy rainfall and flooding and extremes in temperature. Obviously all these changes not only affect Butterflies but many other creatures as well, including humans!.
The Summer of 2013 appears to have seen a slight upturn in these numbers. During my travels around the County and Country this summer, I have seen a significant increase in their numbers which has often been a topical talking point of interest, lets hope it continues.
Red Admiral
The bold colours of the Red Admiral make it one of the easier butterflies to recognise. The Red Admiral is an immigrant from North Africa and Southern Europe, though in recent years there have been reported sightings of them in December and January, meaning that they have started to overwinter in the uk.
Once mated the Reds Admiral starts to appear from Africa around late May and June on the South coast of the uk before they gradually spread northwards, this migration continues throughout summer until November, depending on the weather.
From mid August the buterflies start to head south and occasionally large numbers can be seen congregating along the south coast.
Red Admiurals are attracted to garden flowers, particularly the purple flowering buddleias, sedums and michaelmas daisies, and during autumn will visit flowering ivy as well as rotten fruit.
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