2023 was a great year for Red Admirals
As in previous years a small team took weekly counts of butterflies in 12 sectors around the lake throughout the summer. Following on from last year’s very hot, dry summer 2023 was much less extreme with slightly above average temperature and rainfall. These milder conditions were more favourable for butterfly development and, mirroring the national picture, produced a modest increase in numbers compared to 2022 but still slightly fewer than the average measured since 2012 with the total number counted at 586 compared to an average between 2012-23 of 644.
The most-seen species this year was the Red Admiral, Gatekeeper was next, Large and Small Whites took the third and fourth spot while Holly Blue had another good summer. Species that saw a decline from last year include Ringlet, Common Blue and Speckled Wood, all of which also show long-term declines.
For further information please view or download our full FoSL Butterflies report 2023.