November 2020

[David M]

This spell of stormy weather is set to end on Tuesday, and to be followed by 4 or 5 days of sunny, benign conditions.

It may be the last chance for many of us. Make the most of it.

[millerd]

After a warm but very windy and quite wet couple of days, today (2nd) cleared to sunshine. At lunchtime it was still warm on my local patch near Heathrow (around 15 degrees at a guess) and despite the continuing strong wind I set out looking for butterflies. The Red Admiral wasn't really unusual for November...

...but the Comma was more so, particularly as I hadn't seen one since 29th September.

However, what definitely did come as a surprise was a male Brimstone. I only managed a quick shot here as it breezed past, looking for somewhere to tuck itself away and resume hibernation.

Three species - not too bad.

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

Great finds, Dave.

Been stormy round my way but I hope to get a chance either tomorrow or Wednesday to see if anything's about.

[millerd]

Despite a ground frost first thing, my local patch today (4th) produced a female Common Blue (no photo, sadly), two Red Admirals (one of which was the one seen on 2nd) and a female Speckled Wood which aside from the missing bit of wing looked in remarkably fresh condition.

Five species so far this month... However, I have a suspicion that this will all be overshadowed shortly by reports from the Sussex Coast...

Dave

[bugboy]

Five species so far this month... However, I have a suspicion that this will all be overshadowed shortly by reports from the Sussex Coast...

Dave

Whatever could you mean......

[Maximus]

After last nights frost, I certainly didn't expect to see this very photogenic male Wall Brown in the warm sunshine today. Not sure why or how he's emerged so late, given the recent spell of grim weather!

[bugboy]

So the last day of freedom before lockdown 2.0 and with the Fat Lady warming up I went to one last adventure down to the south coast, primarily to see what was happening on Mill Hill, but as I usually do I stopped off at Southwick for a wander along the harbour front. A Cloudie quickly appeared, one of a probable two and I also found two Red Admirals, one in perfect nick stayed far out of reach but a second with a large chunk missing did settle on the ground later. There was a third species present (along with an appearance from Dave Cook) but not a species I was expecting, and in numbers too! There seemed to be a mass emergence of Holly Blues going on. At one point Dave and I were able to confirm a minimum of seven but they were staying tantalizingly out of reach of macro lenses and there was almost certainly many more out of sight. a full account of the day will appear at some point in my PD (probably next week)

Ps. at Mill Hill there was just a single Common Blue to be found, well past her sell by date!

[Deborah]

A Red Admiral, this White, a Speckled Wood... Frosty here too this morning. Maybe this is the end...?

[David M]

This is an impressive return for November. Specklies, Clouded Yellows, Common Blues, Wall Browns and Holly Blues...

What more can we expect before this benign spell is over?

[Maximus]

Red Admiral, Small White, Peacock and Comma seen today.

[David M]

Red Admiral, Small White, Peacock and Comma seen today.

Four species on a November day! That's quite some tally.

[Jack Harrison]

6 November Lochindorb Highland north of Grantwon-on-Spey (about 200 metres abov e sea level) single Peacock.

Jack

[David M]

6 November Lochindorb Highland north of Grantwon-on-Spey (about 200 metres abov e sea level) single Peacock.

Impressive, Jack .

[Maximus]

Male Brimstone seen flying today, settled on the bank in the sun just long enough for a couple of shots.

[millerd]

A glorious day in my neck of the woods near the currently distinctly quiet Heathrow - looking back, 6th June was actually cooler and less sunny...

Only three butterflies, though: a Red Admiral (no surprise there) and two Peacocks flying within a few metres of each other. They may well have been woken from the same warm spot. This is the better-looking of the two.

I also spotted a Silver-Y moth, and this dragonfly.

Dave

[aeshna5]

Your dragonfly Dave is a Common Darter. I was at Perivale Park, not too far away, where I saw 10 of these around some ponds, but sadly no butterflies.

[Wolfson]

A lone Peacock making the most of yesterday’s sunshine.

[millerd]

Warm (16 degrees) and sometimes bright near Heathrow today, but all that was tempted out in a brief burst of hazy sunshine was a rather worn-looking Red Admiral.

(Thank you for the dragonfly ID by the way, aeshna!)

Dave

[essexbuzzard]

One fresh Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell in Harlow this lunchtime.

[David M]

One fresh Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell in Harlow this lunchtime.

You must have had better weather than we did here, Mark! That Small Tortoiseshell was a nice find.