Anyone Else Noticed A Proliferation Of Bees This Year?

[youngmafbog]

Started early in the year, the lupins seems to attract them, then as the Dahlias came through even more came, counted over 30 the other day whearas previous year lucky to see a dozen at one tiem.

Also started to see more Ladybirds which is excellent news.

Still no hedgehogs though which is a real shame.

[Theland]

Sadly, no.

[margarettom]

There do seem to be a lot around, which is good news.

[albaqwerty]

you lucky thing! I've noticed quite a few more recently than in previous years
The most I've seen in any one day is about 8, which is up on a few more than last year.

[Toorak]

Loads here

[jno]

moths yes- I'm starting to have to take action to protect clothes - and we had more flying ants than usual. We haven't got that many lupins but I think they're just getting their usual number of bees; nothing special on the dahlias.

[youngmafbog]

I'm in Bournemouth, be interesting to know the rough area others are seeing them no one really knows each other.a we are seeing more.

Certainly good new for me, hope they catch on. Could be someone has a hive nearby of course but none of the neighbours know of one. The problem is the houses are far apart and no one knows each other

[jno]

NW London me. We're in an area of big gardens but surprisingly little birdlife - which ought to be good for ladybirds but I haven't seen one all summer.

[albaqwerty]

I'm just 'outside of Glasgow'

Haven't seen ladybirds for about 20 years :(
No hedgehogs either.

The foxes are back tho, usually see them from about 10.30 pm onwards.

[ummmm]

Loads of bees. Not sure what type. I'm allergic so don't get too close, just in case, my outhouse was full of them.

2 hedgehogs in the garden the other night. First time I've seen any since moving in here.

I keep finding ladybirds in my bathroom for some reason.

[sherrardk]

Lots of bees about and lots of fox sightings. Regularly seeing five hedgehogs a night but more must come when I’m not about (judging by how much food they’re eating).

[retrocop]

Few bees
no hedgehogs
few flutterbyes
Trillions of pesky flys and maggots in this recent heatwave. Have pressure washed our wheelie bins that have alleviated the problem somewhat.
B..... all friendly wildlife around here at all. :-(
SE London/Surrey

[ummmm]

Forgot about the butterflies. Lots of those about.

[Gromit]

I always get a lot of bees because I have a lot of flowers. We had a very sunny late spring which increase the number of early blooms, which may be why you have seen more. It may have also meant you sat outside more and for longer, so you uncounted more Bees.

[Buenchico]

The buddleia bush in my garden used to attract hundreds of bees, as did the massive privet hedge in my front garden (which I try never to get pruned until after it's flowered), but there don't seem to have been anywhere near as many for the past few years :(

[Prudie]

I'm in Dorset and yes have seen loads of bees this year, especially bumbles but my buddleias have only attracted red admirals, peacocks and the white family of butterflies. I've not seen a single tortoiseshell (which used to be the most common) nor painted lady.

[Mozz71]

I wonder is it that numbers have increased or is it that because of lockdown, those with gardens have been spending longer in them and have just noticed more of the surrounding wildlife?

[rowanwitch]

Loads in southwest Birmingham, less grass cutting and shrub pruning has meant loads of flowers therefore loads of bees and butterflies. Big increase in honeybees on flowering shrubs, bumbles on the knapweed in the parks and late evening moth sightings up a lot too. Seen a lot more crickets and grasshoppers in the long grass as well. I hope they continue with this hands off policy after the covid crisis. It is making a big difference

[woofgang]

South hants here. I never see many bees and butterflies on my buddleia but other plants have been full of them, especially my agapanthus and hardy fuchsias. My birds have a slightly strange pattern. They are here en masse at my feeders until late May/early June and then they mostly vanish until the late autumn. There is always plent of safe water around the garden but they don't use it even when its so hot and dry. its been a good year for Stag Beetles this year, I have seen 3 large healthy specimens. Some years I don't see any.

[MartinMillar]

Yes I wondered if it had to do with lockdown less pollution being produced perhaps

[webbo3]

Lots of honey bees and SOME bumblebees on my Echinops and some solitary bees that have laid eggs in both of my bee boxes and I have two visiting hedgehogs and a couple of visiting foxes.