Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Here I am again taking a dander round the back and front garden at our home up in the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
This summer's weather has been marvellous. We have had several long warm summer periods where temperatures have been close to 25C Insect plants and bird life has thrived. We had almost daily sightings of painted lady butterflies. The highest number was 4. Then there were frequent sightings of red admirals tortoiseshells and peacocks. They were only in low numbers though. Bees bumblebees and wasps all did well too.
The most spectacular sightings were of a single comma butterfly and a hummingbird hawk moth. Both arrived in the garden on the same Sunday! I managed to video them both! I've never seen a comma before and we have only ever seen a hummingbird hawk moth once before around 30 years ago.
Our wild flowers including poppies galore made a terrific showing this year. I had good numbers of sunflowers and the sweet pea did well too.
all in all a super summer. Goldfinches and swallows were in good numbers. One afternoon I counted 16 goldfinches in the front garden at the nijer seed.
Generally speaking it is now turning colder and cloudier each day but hey we have had a terrific summer to remember and keep our spirits up over the winter.
Today Friday 21st August 2026 and the sunshine has returned after heavy rain which we neede!
Here I am again taking a dander round the back and front garden at our home up in the Belfast Castlereagh hills.
This summer's weather has been marvellous. We have had several long warm summer periods where temperatures have been close to 25C Insect plants and bird life has thrived. We had almost daily sightings of painted lady butterflies. The highest number was 4. Then there were frequent sightings of red admirals tortoiseshells and peacocks. They were only in low numbers though. Bees bumblebees and wasps all did well too.
The most spectacular sightings were of a single comma butterfly and a hummingbird hawk moth. Both arrived in the garden on the same Sunday! I managed to video them both! I've never seen a comma before and we have only ever seen a hummingbird hawk moth once before around 30 years ago.
Our wild flowers including poppies galore made a terrific showing this year. I had good numbers of sunflowers and the sweet pea did well too.
all in all a super summer. Goldfinches and swallows were in good numbers. One afternoon I counted 16 goldfinches in the front garden at the nijer seed.
Generally speaking it is now turning colder and cloudier each day but hey we have had a terrific summer to remember and keep our spirits up over the winter.
Today Friday 21st August 2026 and the sunshine has returned after heavy rain which we neede!
