October 2021

[David M]

Not a promising start according to the weather forecast, but hopefully we'll get a few fine days later on to catch up with the last of the Whites, Coppers, Specklies, etc..

[Medard]

To start your month off David heres one seen in my garden today
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com

[millerd]

That's a very nice Peacock, James!

Not a promising start according to the weather forecast, but hopefully we'll get a few fine days later on to catch up with the last of the Whites, Coppers, Specklies, etc..

The start of the month was actually OK, with some warm sunshine, but tomorrow looks like a very different type of day altogether round here... And how could you not mention the Red Admirals, David? Always an October staple, and today (1st) was a case in point. I counted 22 today locally, almost exclusively nectaring on ivy.

This one was a bit unusual, with a fairly prominent red spot on just one forewing. If it were damage, you would expect the scales to be rubbed off completely, but it is as if black scales were removed to reveal the red ground colour underneath.

Also seen were a Comma...

...a Small Copper that I've been keeping in touch with for a couple of weeks or so...

...and this rather tired Small Heath.

At this time of year, with falling leaves and worn butterflies being blown about on blustery winds, it's very hard (especially for Londoners like me) to tell the difference between a small leaf and a Small Heath...

Cheers,

Dave

[David M]

To start your month off David heres one seen in my garden today

Nice sighting, Jim. I've not seen one of those for over a month!

[David M]

..The start of the month was actually OK, with some warm sunshine, but tomorrow looks like a very different type of day altogether round here... And how could you not mention the Red Admirals, David? Always an October staple, and today (1st) was a case in point. I counted 22 today locally, almost exclusively nectaring on ivy.

Red Admirals will reliably continue into November, Dave, so I'll save that for next month's intro.

[NickHull]

Still a few RA heading southtoday, as we have 17C in the sunshine. with a few Comma, plus the odd Speckled Wood and Small White, in the last few days...

[bugboy]

Two Tree Island out in Essex, with its large tracts of Ivy is always good for a late season punt to wring out the season that little bit more and today was no different, wracking up a respectable 7 species. Predictably Red Admirals were most numerous (6), Comma (3), Speckled Wood (1), all three Whites were positively identified but the surprise species for the day was a rather late Painted Lady. Hopefully it's plans for departure are imminent

[Padfield]

No sooner did the freezing rains clear than a beautifully fresh, female clouded yellow appeared in our garden (in Woodbridge, Suffolk):







I saw a holly blue yesterday. Apart from that, the only things still on the wing are speckled wood, red admiral, small coppers and whites.







The first of my autumn small white caterpillars has pupated:



There are lots more to come.

Guy

[David M]

No sooner did the freezing rains clear than a beautifully fresh, female clouded yellow appeared in our garden (in Woodbridge, Suffolk)...

Great stuff, Guy. What a lovely specimen she is (and framed nicely on the yellow flower).

[Stevieb]

With the sun this morning came the Red Admirals ( including an ab. bialbata ) and Comma with nine of each seen. Also one each of Small Copper and Speckled Wood. Bewley Common, Wiltshire.

6th October

6th October

6th October ab. bialbata

6th October

6th October

[Andy02]

Shetlands 3rd record of Monarch today. A true American migrant. I have seen them on Scillies before but never on Shetland

[David M]

Shetlands 3rd record of Monarch today. A true American migrant. I have seen them on Scillies before but never on Shetland

One of my butterfly tour colleagues texted me about this earlier. I thought he was taking the p*$$! Looks like I owe him an apology.

[millerd]

Today's glorious sunshine and decent temperatures brought out the Red Admirals again. Having counted an amazing 48 on my local patch on 3rd, I only managed 41 today...

Also seen were four Small Whites, three Holly Blues, three Speckled Woods, two Commas, one female Brimstone and one Small Copper.

The Small Copper is one I've been seeing for a few weeks now in the same spot, and it turns up like a bad penny (that should probably be like a shiny penny... ) every time I go out. It never ceases to amaze me how long individuals of this species can last, surviving all kinds of adverse weather: this one has come through at least three bouts of wind and torrential rain remarkably whole. It'll be a shame when it finally disappears.

A fuller account of the day in my PD sometime before Christmas...

Dave

[Charles Nicol]

i made the most of the splendid weather today with a trip to the Chilterns. there were plenty of Red Admirals and Commas on the ivy bushes and one or two Speckled Woods and Small Whites. Also a fine male Brimstone.
i came across a flock of some thirty goldfinches... delightful

this is an excellent picture provided by the Wildlife Trust:

[ludlows30]

Sumburgh ,Shetland 7/10/21

[ludlows30]

Date of sighting of Monarch should read 6/10/21( October 6th)- found in field at front of Sumburgh hotel. Dyslexic posting previously said 6/7/21- oops.

[Stevieb]

A Monarch was seen in flight at Blacknor, Isle of Portland, Dorset yesterday (6th) according to the Portland Bird Observatory and Field Centre.

[Deborah]

No exciting Monarch sightings here. But there are still a lot of butterflies flying.
A Wall, a Small Copper, a Comma, still loads of Peacocks and Speckled Woods, and a fair few Red Admirals.

[millerd]

Date of sighting of Monarch should read 6/7/21. Found in field in front of Sumburgh hotel .

A July sighting is much less likely to be a natural occurence I would think than an October one. Most UK sightings happen during the autumn when the butterfly is migrating southwards down the eastern seaboard of North America and can get caught up in hurricane systems (and then the powerful lows they transform into). These then can quickly cross the Atlantic and reach our shores.

Though it passed not particularly close to the US/Canada coast, Hurricane Sam has just done exactly that and the remnants of its warm and humid tropical air are currently bathing the UK. It is entirely possible that this powerful system may have whisked a few Monarchs off course and diverted them our way.

Cheers,

Dave

[millerd]

The afore-mentioned warm and humid airmass only generated overcast skies locally for me today. However, it was bright enough for a handful of Red Admirals to appear and nectar.

However, surprisingly I found that the Small Copper I've been following was also active...

...and even more surprisingly had found something to chase: a male Brown Argus. This butterfly (looking as if it has been out a few days) must be a third brood individual.

Cheers,

Dave