Forums Forums General Forums A - Z Lifestyle What a lovely summer

What a lovely summer we have had this year. With that in mind, and having just seen the pictures Pinzgauer has posted of his swallows, it brought to mind a few missing regulars from the natural world.
So far this year, I have hardly seen:

1) a fly/blue bottle
2)not one ladybird,
3)only two wasps,
4)a number of bees( not very many) earlier in the summer, which seem to have disappeared now.
5)No flying ants
6)about half a dozen swallows, when there used to be two dozen or more
7)no greenfly
8)no crows
These differnt species have been fairly regular visitors to my garden over the past 13 years.


on the good side...

1)masses of beautiful butterflies
2)a group of hedge sparrows (about 10) all together.
3)plenty of blackbirds

Can anyone else give an idea as to how things have changed in their area, it may be quite interesting?

I agree it's been a wonderful summer, and I've not seen many wasps at all, but plenty of bees and a nest of them too. Have seen plenty of flying ants on a few occasions but no Mossies. We have been plagued by them for the last 4 years living here, not being able to open windows in the evening but I have seen only a single one. Not that I am complaining.

No crows also but LOADS of seagulls, noisy ones.

Better still this Summer weather is going to last untill the end of September.Alot of outdoor events were held in the Wirral this year.Makes all the difference when everyone is out and about in the sun.Wiki members photos of butterflies etc were amazing.Thanks for sharing.

I love the summer, can't beat sun bathing in my back garden on the lounger with a glass of wine.

We have plenty of wasps in Willaston if you want them :))

Not seen hornets in a long time, used to see them every summer.

Have loved this summer its been and still is lovely.
As for flies they have drove me mad!! Having all my windows and French doors open they have been flying round my room all the time, so much so I bought one of those horrid plastic door blind things, you know the multi coloured plastic strips that just flap about.
We have enjoyed all the birds in the garden, blue tits and a family of sparrows using the garden as a bird Olympics trial arena!!
Its lovely to smell all the BBQ's, see the families out together in the park. I love the fact that the days are longer and I can sit out later. The tv is hardly watched as you get out more.
I dont mind a really cold winter if it means a lovely long summer too. This year we holidayed in Cornwall (normally go abroad) the weather was glorious, the beaches stunning, and the scenery breathtaking.

I do love our seasons!

Definite increase in Buzzards ,Magpies,Goldfinches and Blackbirds around here. No reduction in white fly , but less greenfly and wasps. Millions of ordinary ants have ant hilled all over the lawn which hasnt happened before.

There has been a decrease of birds, around these parts. The nearby Hotel owner decided to 'trim back' his trees.... I would call it 'obliteration' at the completley wrong time of year...

I've got lots of tiny black flies on my kitchen ceiling, anyone have any idea what they may be or how to get rid?

Granny you can have all of the bluebottles that have been coming in to my house in droves Also the ants, both flying and walking have been in gangs at my front door regularly.

The weather has been glorious as you say, and I love to see how everyone appears to be so much happier because of it

Plus, it's lovely to get all the washing dried on the line in a couple of hours saving a bit of money on the electricity

Hi christelle,
They could be cornflies, which if they are will go as easily as they came and very quickly. I had
them once for 24 hours, all over the walls,then they were gone!

You will see hornets soon Crystelle . Apparently a load of European ones are on their way over!

I've seen flying ants, granny. Plenty of insects around this year and certainly a good summer for butterflies. Didn't get as many May Bugs as usual though.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...sects-taking-skies-humid-end-summer.html

I certainly agree the summer has been glorious and I think yesterday was one of the nicest days of all, it was warm without being too hot with a lovely breeze that was perfection itself. The bird I miss most is the skylark - I can't remember the last time I heard or saw one, I don't know if they have moved away from round here or not. Another bird I have not heard this year is a cuckoo. I do get out too and am in Eastham woods at least three times a week so I do have the opportunity to hear these birds if they are around.