04 March 2019 An update on the French Red Admiral caterpillars. Since my last posting on 07 February, my RA cat (and I think that it is the same individual), has doubled in size and is now 14 mm long. Is this 4th instar ? atalanta48 caterpillar 4th instar 14 mm long on Urtica sp. Parc du Griffon 04M...

Thanks Wurzel. I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures in Portugal this year. .. Back to the usual wind, cloud and rain now though ... I know, David. The UK and most of France (apart from here on the south coast) is under the weather. Down here we still have sun and highs of between 17 ...

Per Twitter, there was an Orange-tip on the wing yesterday at RSPB St Aidans near Leeds. My colleague Andy Suggitt (who writes the Orange-tip report for BC Yorkshire's annual report) reckons this is likely to be the earliest record ever for the county. https://twitter.com/DarrenStarkey/status/11007...

Thanks Wurzel and David. I believe temperatures in the UK this week have nothing to envy over the south of France. At the moment we can easily see Large Tortoiseshells coming out of hibernation. Here, today at lunchtime, high up in an oak tree polychloros37 Vitrolles olive grove 29Feb19 (2).JPG (FZ1...

One of the rare occasions I can post a photo that was actually taken in the UK. I was back home late June/early July 2018 and visited Fermyn Woods where I indulged myself in Purple Emperors and White Admirals; both species are rarities for me. They are not easily accessible in the south of France. c...

... Does the L.celtis have a summer brood - I was wondering if I'd catch up with it in August? ... Hi Wurzel, I've sent you a PM with my sightings, however August appears limited, at least near me. One theory - could it be that hibernators, like L. celtis, aclimatised for the winter, fear the hotte...

Great shots of the Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Guy, hardly any signs of wear on those wings.
Neither of these species fly in my département.

Bonne chance pour la suite.
Chris

Thanks for your encouragement David, Charles and Andrew. Today 16th February, south of France - 16 to 17°C in Marseilles As each year on the outskirts of Marseilles in February (or sometimes in January), as soon as the temperature reaches 15 or 16°C, I can almost guarantee sightings of ex-hibernator...

Its great to hear that you are getting so many sightings in the UK (including Small Torts and Peacocks which unfortunately do not fly near me in Marseilles). You must be having the same mild spell as we are getting in France. In the last 2 days temperatures in the south of France (and most of France...

That Orange Tip video is great, Roger.
I hope to be experiencing that live as of April.
Thanks for the link.

Chris

Good report Paul. Hi Folks, I am continuing my Red Admiral caterpillar report from the end of last year. Close to my workplace in Vitrolles, France, in the Bouches du Rhone département , I am keeping an eye on a small south-facing bank that attracts Red Admirals. Nettles are not all that common in m...

While we are on the subject of topside C. pamphilus photos, I'll just pop this one in from the south of France: Chris

Nice shot millerd, not many have got one like that I should think.

Here are a couple from the south of France in August and September.
The markings are more interesting in this later brood. Chris

Here we have an A. pamphilus f. valezina from the south of France on 7th July:
Chris

This one is from the south of France on the 3rd of June - the best moment of the season. Chris

David M wrote:

Chris Jackson wrote: In the distance I saw 2 different whites, and I suppose that one could have been P. brassicae and the other E. crameri.

Crameri in mid January? Is that normal, Chris?

I suppose P. daplidice could be a more likely option by a couple of weeks.

Wow, Sylvie, that is tantalising.
How lucky you are to have had this experience, although I can do without the 42°C
Chris

Hi Essex, Wurzel and David. Yep, blue skies do boost the moral in the winter. As well, temperatures today in Vitrolles are between 6 and 12°C, so during my lunch break I went up onto the plateau and predictably saw at least 4 Red Admirals. In the distance I saw 2 different whites, and I suppose that...

Hi Folks, The year starts down here in the south of France as would be expected, blue skies, sunny, but with a chill wind. The odd Red Admiral can be seen from time to time. This weekend has been relatively mild which prompted me to get out and check out a couple of guaranteed sightings. In my local...

Hi Mike,
I admire your photographic skills.

Here is my photo of Meadow Brown from this year, from the south of France. Chris