At last

Those of us who have planted buddleia and other butterfly-friendly plants have been wondering where our regular English butterflies have been hiding.

I haven't seen a peacock butterfly since the very beginning of the season and right now, when our gardens and parks should be full of them, they have been scarily absent.

I went over to Pipe Hill Heathland to do the Big Butterfly Count (on my way back from Tamworth John Lewis and my free coffee and cake.) Plenty of large whites, as has been the regular state of affairs this year, but there were also quite a few Gatekeepers, a solitary and battered Meadow Brown, a Six Spot Burnet Moth and, lo and behold, two Peacocks and two Red Admirals.

Now we shall see if they are just late - or very scarce.

Enjoy your Saturday.