Hi Folks,
Trapped last night (Thursday 30th May 2013) and it will have been the last time in May this year, so looking at the facts and figures, I can confirm that its been the WORST May ever since we began trapping in 1991.
In total we trapped 19 species, which brought the year total up to a miserly 21 ..... 21 is also the lowest number of species we've ever trapped by this time of year.
An average May for us (1999-2013 data) is 50 species, and an average year to the end of May is 58.
The best May for us (1999-2013 data) is 94 species, and the best year total to the end of May is 104.
I'm using 1999-2013 as the guide since its only been from 1999 that we've recorded micros as well as macros. Even last year, which was thought to be 'bad' had accrued 53 species in May and 69 for the year by now, so whichever way you try to look at it .... it has been really bad here. You have to go back to 2000 to get close to this years figures, which were 14 for the month and 22 for the year, and by that year end we'd managed just 239 species.
One final set of stats for those of you still awake
.....In our recording system, May spans weeks 17-21. Since 1991, the total species recorded in each of these weeks is 37, 75, 97, 115 and 145, so there's plenty of scope!
Lets hope June can catch us up ..... to get us to the average year total by the end of June, its got to get us to 162 species and somehow I'm doubting that is going to happen.
Cheers,
Steve