November 2009 Sightings

[Zonda]

I saw one Red Admiral in the garden today. Quite a cold wind blowing. I also had a ride around, and watched a kestrel hunting, and a buzzard being mobbed by rooks on Poundbury. Picked loads of teasel from waste ground for my goldfinch lure.

[Mikhail]

Two Painted Ladies today, one on Hebe and one on Seaside Daisy. Also a Red Admiral ovipositing on some nettles growing at the foot of the cliffs in the shelter of beach huts. This particular site is often selected by Red Admirals for egg laying at this time of year, and I have often seen larvae there throughout the winter, even last winter.

Misha

[Trev Sawyer]

With the mild weather, it seems there may yet be a few surprises in store...
There are reports of a potential third brood of Holly Blue at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
See: http://www.cambs-essex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings.php
How often does this happen I wonder?

Trev

[NickB]

Last two reports show how these coastal micro climates support surprising activities and all year residents!
Is this a sign of things to come as we slowly warm up?

[geniculata]

one painted lady in a garden in the forest today basking mostly and feeding on the last few flowers of verbena.

gary.

[Susie]

One painted lady being buffeted by the wind in the back garden this afternoon.

[Zonda]

I just thought i'd ask you all. Has this Painted Lady season been the best ever, on British soil? Oops,,,wrong thread

[Denise]

I just found a Red Admiral sheltering in my kitchen window recess.
So glad I cleared all the cob webs away this week.

Denise

[geniculata]

on yet another windy but sunny day down here on the south coast,
in highcliffe, in a garden on hebe again was one nectaring painted lady.


alittle worn now but still flying strong in the winds.

gary.

[Neil Hulme]

Just for Guy, as he's off hunting the beasties, here's a few shots I took this autumn, of Purple Emperor caterpillars just before they went into hibernation. Those that are further into shutdown mode are already showing signs of 'browning up'. I will be returning to hopefully get some photographs of hibernators covered in frost, or even snow!
Neil

[Padfield]

Those are wonderful, Kipper! I'm inspired.

Guy

[Pete Eeles]

Me too - any chance you could add these shots to the species-specific albums Neil? They deserve to be on the main species pages.

Cheers,

- Pete

[Susie]

Smashing pics, Kipper. Can't wait to see the adults next summer.

[Jack Harrison]

It certainly would be great Neil if you could follow him through to at least pupation, maybe to adulthood and keep us literally, “in the picture” as he progresses.

Jack

[55bloke]

Bit of a late comer to this thread, but thought I'd contribute anyway!! We had a weekend break in Bristol last weekend, and spent much of Sunday (17th) at the zoo. Given the foul nature of the weather of the previous couple of days, I was amazed to see a Red Admiral basking on a tree trunk.

[FISHiEE]

Extremely envious of the Purple Emperor pics Neil. Not seen the butterfly yet let alone the caterpillar. I'd be visiting them daily if it was me! Do they have aqualungs? Some of them do appear to be in quite a bit of water!

First chance propperly out in the countryside out for some weeks due to other commitments but was very pleased to se half a dozen red admirals, a peacock and a pristine Brimstone yesterday morning. Brimstones aren't that common around home at the best of times but to see one just 5 weeks before christmas was quite special. It was posing beautifully for the camera too - just need to suss out how to get a photo to a gallery somewhere and then onto this forum!

Didn't turn out too bad considering it just came over bery grey and was about to tip it down, it was blowing a gale, plus it was with the canon 100-400 which isn't on a par with the sigma 150 for macro work.

That was was incredibly easy. I like it a lot!

[Neil Hulme]

Hi all,
Thanks for the kind comments regarding the PE cat shots. I will transfer them (and plenty of other stuff) to the species albums when time allows - I'm going through an orribly busy period just now I would love to follow these particular cats closely, but they're a long way from home. I usually find a few post-hibernators in Sussex each spring - then monitor them through to adulthood. Their behaviour is absolutely fascinating. John - when small, they always rest at the drip-point of the leaf, which means they must spend long periods in this apparently uncomfortable state!
Neil

[Matsukaze]

Hi Neil,

I guess I'm being over-optimistic, but could this be feeding damage caused by His Majesty?

[Pete Eeles]

For what it's worth - I don't think so. There is quite a bit of feeding damage in the centre of the leaves, resulting in holes in the leaf (rather than feeding from the edge), which I've never seen iris larvae do.

Also - and perhaps I'm going nuts! - but is this actually a Sallow?

Cheers,

- Pete

[Matsukaze]

Hi Pete, quite possibly not - I took the photo quite some time ago now, although quite what I thought I was photographing at the time I cannot now remember...