Sorry for the delay. I have several spreadsheets which cannot be combined until end of year so the number is an approximation.
A few duplicates etc may be in this Suffolk total so far of 1160 sightings. Some areas had a bumper season while others saw no improvement. Very localised.

Over the long term, it is a dire situation and it's now in the same category as the Wall Brown (thin on the ground and a real treat to see). (end)

I will have a look at my Suffolk data and see what our situation is like. I do visit Norfolk regularly and saw several Small Tortoiseshell in the Loddon and Surlingham areas in their summer and autumn broods, a welcome increase on previous years. (1 of 2)

Apparently, it best resembles a Little Owl for eye size and hiss.

Great. I haven't seen more than half a dozen for the whole year. It's not that bad, though. It's been a cracking year for Clouded Yellow in Suffolk with two (probable) Pale Clouded Yellow reported as well.

They're beautiful in flight. Sadly, we have to wait until May or even June for our British subspecies to be on the wing again. Enjoy your swallowtails.

A lot of small birds do seem to hide away in windy weather. Some reasons for it, including being unable to hear and see predators as well. Rustling sounds and moving plant material interfere with their movement based predator detection. They can't control their evasive manoeuvres as well in gusts.

Sooo happy you got to see one. They're having a fantastic year. Once a decade we have a bumper season and this is one of those years.

Welcome to Bluesky, it's great to have another hoverator onboard.