The Retirement Thread

[welsh dragon]

So the nurse came off the phone to say there is no date for my scan.
Less than one minute later there was a trolley to take me for the scan anyway it's all done now.

Fingers crossed its OK Dave.

 

[Mo1959]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on a day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

 

[Dave7]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on as day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

There was an article on Google news about it tother day. If I had been in a better mood I would have read it.

 

[PaulSB]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on a day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

Along with many other insect species there is a very serious decline in the butterfly population. 80% of butterfly species have been in decline since the '70s. There's a Cabbage White flitting around my allotment. The only one I've seen this year.

I can't recall the last time I saw a crane fly or moth. At one time we could sit on the bench outside our house at dusk and watch the bats fly past. We had four different species. Today? None.

The damage we have done is repairable but only if there is real will.

Meanwhile my neighbour has sprayed weedkiller across the hedge row bottom. This man is so dim and unaware even if I pinned him to the wall and explained he wouldn't get it. The amount of self-control I exercise is off the scale. There is the problem, 95% of the population don't have a clue or care.

Rant over.

The Guardian

 

[Drago]

Five episodes of Tulsa King under my belt.

 

[gavroche]

Finally finished.

 

[gavroche]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on a day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

I saw only one white butterfly in the front garden yesterday and the day before but that's all. Yes, it is worrying the damage we do to wild life. We really don't deserve to live on this planet. When the human race disappears, animals will run the earth better than we do.

 

[Drago]

Well, here's hoping for good, positive news.

But not HIV positive news!

 

[BoldonLad]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on a day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

Yes, I have noticed a lack of butterflies and flying insects in general.

 

[Drago]

30 years ago my car would have been spattered with bugs this time of year. Sadly no more.

What's the mechanism behind this drop in insect numbers?

 

[PaulSB]

30 years ago my car would have been spattered with bugs this time of year. Sadly no more.

What's the mechanism behind this drop in insect numbers?

Habitat loss or damage. Pesticide and herbicide use. Pollution. Climate change. In a nutshell.

EDIT: We could add invasive species, for example the Asian Hornet.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Phew. It’s warm now. I managed to make up a 4 mile route that kept me under the trees for 75% of the time so not too bad. Glad to get back though. I think the pjs will be going on.

Anyone else noticed a distinct lack of butterflies this year? Even on the buddleia bushes there wasn’t a single butterfly. A few years ago they would have been covered on a day like this. It’s a bit worrying.

Lots of butterflies only fly when it’s warm and sunny so that might have something to do with it this year. Longer term the picture doesn’t seem so bad, as reported as recently as last year…https://www.nature.scot/scotlands-butterflies-increase-35-percent-some-species-risk

 

[PaulSB]

Lots of butterflies only fly when it’s warm and sunny so that might have something to do with it this year. Longer term the picture doesn’t seem so bad, as reported as recently as last year…https://www.nature.scot/scotlands-butterflies-increase-35-percent-some-species-risk

That's very encouraging.

 

[welsh dragon]

Talking of butterflies, one just fluttered past the window. Can't remember the last time I saw one.

It's 29 deg inside my house. I am melting

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

@Mo1959 fyi I follow a great butterfly group on FB, “East Scottish Butterflies”. Lots of photo’s and sightings, I’ve found the group really useful to learn about what’s about in different months and how to identify them.