Bumper year for stag beetles???

[rana]

Where I live is known for being a stag beetle hot spot and it is not unusual to see a few these magnificent insects over the summer months. This year seems to be a bumper year as I have already seen many of these beetles and was recently fortunate enough to see a dozen or so males in flight on a recent mild calm evening - a phenomenon I have never previously witnessed. I wonder if this is just a local glut or whether it is more widespread.

[chris]

I didn't even know they could fly!

[FoxHillGardener]

I've seen loads this year, far more than normal.

There's an article about them on Gardeners' World website saying it looks like a bumper year for them
Stag beetles | Wildlife | Gardening Blog | Talk | BBC Gardeners' World

[ginger ninger]

I'm visiting Jeanied on the 18th June...she has stag beetles in her back garden. Here's a photo I took of a lovely lady beetle from last year.

[endymion]

I wonder if this is just a local glut or whether it is more widespread.

We've only seen a few so far, nowhere near as many as usual, but it has been very cold.

I didn't even know they could fly!

They tend to fly around dusk. Can't be confused with bats because they angle their body at about 45 degrees, make a bit of a whirring sound and are quite slow.