Scottish Borders garden butterflies 2024

We are lucky enough to live in 17 acres of woodland which we have been managing to improve for butterflies and other wildlife. I am developing a wild flower meadow, planted an area of native broadleaves that produce flowers and berries, put in hedges, taken out loads of invasive Rhododendron and planted up various areas with Rockrose and other wild flowers. Our triangle of land is quite a wildlife haven, which in itself causes more challenges. Everything needs to eat, either other creatures or precious plants that I have been nurturing!

It has generally been accepted that 2024 was a lousy year for butterflies in the UK. The Big Butterfly Count confirmed low numbers for most species with record-breaking reductions from 2023 for many species. I have yet to receive all of the record for East Lothian, but my own experience at home here in the Scottish Borders concurs with the national picture.

Although this is only the fifth year that we have been living here I had noticed a pattern developing and numbers of butterflies had been increasing year on year. I can't be sure why that was, but I would like to think it was partially because of the work I have done to manage the habitats here.

In previous years the first butterfly to appear has been the Small Tortoiseshell, which would venture out on a mild spring day to feed on whatever it could find flowering that early in the year. This year, however, I didn’t see any until August and I only saw a total of four all year. I didn’t find any caterpillars either this year, which is unusual. Often I find big clusters of caterpillars on nettles.

Peacocks and Commas are the other two butterflies that over-winter here. At least they both made an appearance this spring, but in surprisingly low numbers. This was particularly disappointing for Commas after I had such a bumper year for them last year. Towards the end of last summer I had been finding caterpillars and chrysalises everywhere, so I expected them to do well. However, this year I only recorded 26 compared to 122 last year.

Despite a poor spring showing the later summer generation of Peacocks did a lot better. The number I saw was only a little lower than average, which is encouraging. Again, I didn’t find any caterpillars, which is unusual.

Orange Tips had a fantastic year here. I recorded 101 of them this year, which is way up on the previous best number of 62. I also saw an unusually high proportion of female Orange Tips.

Despite finding so many caterpillars and chrysalises last year, the number of Small Whites this spring was lower than expected. I did see them throughout the year, though, and ended up seeing 26. This seems a low number compared with the 90s I have seen in previous years, but their numbers do seem to fluctuate considerably from year to year.

I saw seven Large Whites this year, which is about average for this species.

Although I had the impression that there were not many Green-veined Whites around this year, my records show that numbers were only slightly down on previous years. They were more numerous in the spring and the summer generation wasn't so good.

Red Admirals had the worst year by far here. I only recorded 38 in total compared to last year's 474!

Ringlets were here in about average numbers. Not as good as the previous two years, but better than the numbers I had seen before then. There is more suitable ground for them now that we have taken down a large area of Spruce woodland, which has now grassed over and thinned out the trees elsewhere. With the additional habitat it is a bit disappointing that the numbers weren't higher. Certainly higher up the valley where I often walk numbers were well down on previous years.

Last year was really good here for Meadow Browns. This year their numbers dropped back to what I had previously seen here. This was disappointing, as I had thought that Meadow Browns  were appreciating the new areas of grassland. However, numbers up the valley were also considerably down on previous years.

The first Speckled Wood I saw here this year was on 2nd July. Having seen them for the first time here last year I was delighted to see them return, although I had been hoping to see some in the spring indicating that they had bred here. I continued to see them for the rest of the year and ended up seeing 18 - 4 more than last year!

Small Skippers had the worst year since I first saw them here in 2021. They had been increasing in numbers since then, so it was disappointing that I only saw seven here this year. Similarly, in the valley above the house the numbers were lower than normal.

I often chance across a butterfly and think to myself if I had been there five minutes before, or five minutes after I would have missed it. I suppose, though, that there will be hundreds of butterflies I miss because I am not in the right place at the right time. So, this year's lucky spots included one Large Skipper in my meadow. I don't know why I only saw one, as there were a lot in the valley above our house.

As I do most years, I just saw one Small Heath in our meadow. It isn't best suited for these butterflies, so it is odd that most years I see one, just one!!

This year, again, I was delighted to see a Scotch Argus. I just happened to go out to check the Buddleia on a sunny afternoon and spotted a small, dark butterfly. I am still intrigued why I have seen one five out of the last six years here. I am sure there must be a colony close by, which I am yet to find.

Last year I saw my first Wall Brown here in the meadow. This year, I was sitting having lunch outside when a Wall Brown landed on some Marjoram in our patio. They have been slowly working their way in this direction over the last few years.

Disappointingly I only saw one Small Copper here this year. I don't understand why I don't see more as there are plenty of sorrel and dockens growing here for their caterpillars to feed on.

Sadly I didn't see any Northern Brown Argus, Dark Green Fritillaries, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, or Painted Ladies here this year. I saw the first three species in the valley above the house, but in much smaller numbers than normal. This is the second year in a row that I haven't seen a Painted Lady anywhere in the UK!

It is difficult to know exactly why butterfly numbers were so low this year. I am sure it is a combination of factors. There has been much in the news recently about herbicides and loss of habitat impacting on insect populations. I am sure this is true, but I can't see that would explain this year's sudden reduction in butterfly numbers. Last year was really dry throughout spring and summer and I am sure this must have resulted in a reduction of food plants for caterpillars. I noticed how the wild flowers I had planted struggled. Then from September last year more or less until September this year we had so much rain. A damp winter and then limited sunshine later in the year must have had an impact.

It will be really interesting to see what next year brings. I really hope that butterfly numbers bounce back