Thank you, Neil - as already mentioned, the Cloudy x 2 photo was 99.99% luck!
Unfortunately, David, that Small Copper is now long gone. I've looked regularly since that last sighting and there has been no trace. When a clearly recognisable individual appears regularly in the same spot, you can indeed feel a bit of an attachment as you describe. Daft really!
October is now over, the wet and lack of sunshine doing its best to spoil the month down this way. The average maximum temperature was only 15 degrees, and the high for the month was just 19 degrees (on 20th). The total of only 54 hours of sunshine averages out at only one and three-quarter hours a day - not a lot.
However, the surprisingly numerous third brood of Common Blues spilled over from September, and the presence of a handful of Clouded Yellows gave the month an unexpected lift. Ten species were seen altogether during October (and strangely two species not seen at all then appeared on 2nd November...).
Since 26th October, I had seen no butterflies at all. The last day or two of the month, plus 1st November, became noticeably warmer though as often happens at this time of year this warmth was accompanied by strong winds, cloud cover and rain. However, on the morning of
Monday 2nd November (after an unusually warm night) the clouds broke up and warm sunshine ruled for a few hours. The wind was still strong, but there were sheltered spots along my usual local walk. One bit of path between two bramble hedges was particularly favoured, and I looked ahead to see a male Brimstone bowling along. It must have been disturbed by the unexpected combination of warmth and sunshine, but was clearly intent on finding another suitable hibernation niche as it repeatedly wandered into the hedge and out again. Having watched Brimstones seeking roosting spots in the past, I have noticed how picky they are in deciding what will be the right location and this one was no exception. I gave up any hope of it actually settling near me, so pointed the camera at it as it passed and hoped for the best.
I wondered if this was going to be a complete one-off and then also remembered that curiously a Brimstone had been the first butterfly I had seen in 2020, back on 11th March.
I'm glad to say I was wrong - on the way home, via a sheltered bit of flowering ivy, I spied a Red Admiral. Not really a surprise as I've seen this species at some point during almost every November in recent years.
Whilst attempting to get a bit nearer this butterfly, I saw that further back still there was a Comma. I've seen these in many previous Novembers as well, but the surprise element here was that I hadn't seen one this year at all in October - not since 29th September in fact.
Though the weather is set to settle down now, with more sunshine, there are going to be some frostly nights and it remains to be seen whether any more butterflies are tempted out. Still, today was a satisfying outing!
Dave