South west summer brings dearth of wildlife

IN THE southwest, the summer has, so far, been indifferent. “Summery In-justice!” I’d call it. While the midlands have their share of sun-blessed days, here, on the holiday coast, when it isn’t raining buckets, a sea mist blots out the sun.

There are notable absences in nature. No butterflies, or almost none. My vigilant opposite in the Irish Times, Michael Viney, noted in his July 4 column that a group of 30 searchers walked 5km in a nature reserve in Donegal without seeing a single butterfly, but then came upon 10 species in a small area.

He commented: “Retreating to a hot spot, then spreading out when things get better; this is, apparently, how butterflies survive.” An interesting observation, and a relief to know. I’ve noticed, in some years, the near absence of certain species, and wondered how a new crop would be engendered to fly on the following year.