November 2023

[David M]

..I'm not sure he'll survive another week and break that record...

Possibly not, Dave, but if we get two or three cloudy days where he's forced to be inactive, he might just make it.

Fingers crossed.

[David M]

Tuesday 7th - A total of seven Red Admirals seen at three different local sites in sunny but relatively windy conditions today.

[Wolfson]

Tuesday 7th - Penzance, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma & 1 Painted Lady in Garden, had to find the camera!

[David M]

...had to find the camera!

Glad you did, Wolfson. Great pairing given the time of year.

[millerd]

..I'm not sure he'll survive another week and break that record...

Possibly not, Dave, but if we get two or three cloudy days where he's forced to be inactive, he might just make it.

Fingers crossed.

I'm afraid that there has been no further sign of either of the Common Blues that were flying on Tuesday - but sunshine has been at a premium all week since then, unlike rain...

However, after a ground frost this morning (11th), the sun reappeared and the temperature may have reached 11 degrees at 11 minutes past 11. In an hour's local walk around midday I came across three Red Admirals enjoying the sunshine...

...and a basking Peacock that immediately after this shot burrowed into the dense mass of brambles nearby, presumably to resume hibernation.

Finally, I chanced upon a surprisingly sprightly and undamaged Speckled Wood, looking very autumnal.

The season continues, just about!

Dave

[bugboy]

I went to 2 tree Island in Essex today for some Wader watching, they put on an excellent show with lots of spectacular murmurating. It was however bloody freezing in the hide, so I wasn't expecting to see any butterflies but out of the wind I found a Red Admiral. Not only that but she laid three eggs whilst I was photographing her.

[David M]

Practically nothing gets in the way of these late season females ovipositing, Paul. Quite a few of those I've seen lately have been females fluttering amongst nettles looking to deposit their cargo.

They're almost indestructible!

[Allan.W.]

Four butterfly sightings this morning from coastal Kent . 2 Red Admirals zipping around the gardens at Dymchurch ,1 Red Admiral in New Romney High Street, and in- land mid-Kent ,what was probably yet another Red Ad flashed across the back garden ..........didn,t see that one well .....................could have been a Peacock !
Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

As a footnote to the above post ,at mid-morning today the Dungeness bird observatory warden counted 30+ Red Admirals along the shingle beach ,before they moved on (presumably out to sea ) .
The record is on the Dungeness twitter page.
Allan .W.

[millerd]

After another chilly, grey and damp day yesterday and more heavy overnight rain, things cleared to a warm, sunny (but very windy) one today (13th). Predictably I suppose, a couple of Red Admirals were enjoying the conditions.

They really do seem to revel in warm windy weather, even in November!

Dave

[David M]

Friday 10th:

Four Red Admirals seen at Oystermouth Cemetery in Mumbles, Gower, then another nectaring from the Himalayan honeysuckle on my estate:

[Matsukaze]

Red Admiral in the garden today, basking in the sun, nectaring on hebe and flying energetically.

[aeshna5]

Had 2 Red Admirals yesterday, my first for a few days. One at Warren Farm, the other in nearby Osterley Park, west London.

[David M]

Red Admiral in the garden today, basking in the sun, nectaring on hebe and flying energetically.

Aah, the magic of hebe, eh Chris?

[Matsukaze]

Red Admiral in the garden today, basking in the sun, nectaring on hebe and flying energetically.

Aah, the magic of hebe, eh Chris?

Yes indeed - another one, seemingly freshly emerged, nectaring on the same shrub this morning, until disturbed by a blackbird.

[David M]

Wednesday 15th, Lower Kilvey Hill, Swansea:

Speckled Wood 4
Red Admiral 1

[Allan.W.]

At Dungeness (Kent) late morning we found 7 Red Admirals ,3 around the garden fence around the Old lighthouse garden ,most looking pretty worn ,but still very active . Another 3 just back from the tideline near the Point .................Keeping the beach anglers company !
two of these Admirals . were seen to fly strongly out to sea ,another was noted along the power station perimeter fence .As we crossed Walland marsh we saw 1 more Admiral ..............8 in all ,not bad for mid-November . The temperature at Dungeness was 10 c.
Allan.W.

[Matsukaze]

What has happened to the Long-tailed Blues? Has the bad weather killed them off or are they trying to migrate south?

[David M]

Wednesday 15th, Bracelet Bay, Gower:

Red Admiral 1

[essexbuzzard]

Amazing to see your Speckled Woods at this time of year, David.