Things are looking up.

Well, certainly they are on the Butterfly front.  Having seen virtually no butterflies this year and only one on the "Butterfly Bush"  (Buddleia), today there was a fairly constant presence with a top count of 7.  Not massive numbers but very pleasing compared to the dearth we have had.

Mostly they were Peacocks ( Aglais io) like this one, there were Tortoiseshells and a single Red Admiral.  Adult Peacocks over winter like the Tortoiseshell, however,  I have never had one appear in the house while Tortis are quite common.  Peacocks are expanding their range, I wonder if climate change has anything to do with it.  As an expanding range the species clearly isn't threatened in any way.