October Sightings
Re: October Sightings
A few Whites down by the Thames at Runnymede this afternoon. There is a lot of thistle flowering for the second time near the river, and plenty of red clover in the field landward of the main road. Warm in sheltered sunny spots, but overall very chilly. No evidence of overnight frost hereabouts.
Dave
Dave
Re: October Sightings
Two red admirals were flying very low and fast along the coast at Goring this afternoon. One bravely headed out to sea. Perhaps it saw the weather forecast for later this week and headed across to France while the going was still good.
Re: October Sightings
Lunchtime - Surprised to see a single Red Admiral flying in the Lime Avenue leading to the Mill Road Cemetery despite the cold weather....
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
Re: October Sightings
Although it's gone cold (about 11C here today in Swansea), it doesn't actually feel too bad in sunny, sheltered spots. I'm sure there will still be a butterfly or three out and about (although that may change as the weekend looms with its promised sub-zero temperatures).NickB wrote:Lunchtime - Surprised to see a single Red Admiral flying in the Lime Avenue leading to the Mill Road Cemetery despite the cold weather....
Re: October Sightings
There was an absolutely perfect red admiral feeding on buddleia,vebena bonariensis and michelmas daisy in the garden this afternoon. It was lovely to see such a fresh and strong flying butterfly.
- Wildmoreway
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:29 pm
- Location: Torquay, Devon
Re: October Sightings
Almost perfect Speckled Wood in Hollicocmbe Park near Paignton, looks like the same individual I saw earlier in the week.
Re: October Sightings
I photographed a female Holly Blue in my garden in South Somerset this afternoon, feeding on an ivy flower:
I also saw a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. I have never seen a Holly Blue so late in the year.
I also saw a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. I have never seen a Holly Blue so late in the year.
Re: October Sightings
You lucky fellow. I've been waiting all my life to see a female Holly Blue posing with wings open. I'd happily take it in August, never mind the back end of October!hystrix wrote:I photographed a female Holly Blue in my garden in South Somerset this afternoon, feeding on an ivy flower:
Re: October Sightings
There was a small copper flying around when I went for a walk in some local fields this afternoon. There was a solitary buttercup left and it managed to find it.
Re: October Sightings
I also saw a small copper sunning itself in a rabbit scratching in the middle of a field in SW Surrey. Its colour was so bright it must be a recent emergence.
Re: October Sightings
Saw loads of butterflies today - Scare Swallowtail, Large Copper, Large White, Small White, Brimstone, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Wall?, Meadow Brown?, Painted Lady?, Small Blue?, Small Copper? and a few un-id's ......
.... all in the floral pictures in the Fitzwilliam Museum, dating from the mid-1600's to the late 1800's....
Worth a look if you are in Cambridge or up for the BC AGM weekend....How many species can you identify?
I need Guy for the difficult id work.....
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
.... all in the floral pictures in the Fitzwilliam Museum, dating from the mid-1600's to the late 1800's....
Worth a look if you are in Cambridge or up for the BC AGM weekend....How many species can you identify?
I need Guy for the difficult id work.....
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
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- Posts: 487
- Joined: Sun Dec 31, 2006 9:39 pm
- Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Re: October Sightings
Chances are she may have also been egg-laying. I have found their eggs on the flowers of Ivy just like those. I've also seen them laying on the growing tips of Virginia Creeper growing on a sunny wall but in the high summer. The V. creeper growing over much of my garage has lost half its leaves already ... all a brilliant Crimson and some are white. It will be bare soon and not suitable for holly blue ova. Twenty feet away there is a mature female holly bush where i've seen females laying in May and June and found the larvae on it later.hystrix wrote:I photographed a female Holly Blue in my garden in South Somerset this afternoon, feeding on an ivy flower:
I also saw a Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. I have never seen a Holly Blue so late in the year.
..
Cotswold Cockney is the name
All aspects of Natural History is my game.
All aspects of Natural History is my game.
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: October Sightings
Nick wrote:
(Explanation for those whom don't know what I'm talking about: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4708494.stm)
Jack
I presume you aren't allowed to take photos to help with i/d - or are you? I do know that you're not supposed to knock over precious antique vases.... all in the floral pictures in the Fitzwilliam Museum, dating from the mid-1600's to the late 1800's....
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
(Explanation for those whom don't know what I'm talking about: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4708494.stm)
Jack
Re: October Sightings
No photos! And there is so much varnish on some that it is difficult to see the detail; or they are too high to see properly.....Jack Harrison wrote:....presume you aren't allowed to take photos to help with i/d - or are you? ......
Jack
It passed the time whilst my mother had a look round
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
(And I didn't touch that vase...honest
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
N
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
- Dave McCormick
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- Contact:
Re: October Sightings
I was out today, haven't seen a butterfly in ages so have not been around, but I did see a good condition red admiral feeding on ivy near my house, warm in sun but cold in shade.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
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My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Re: October Sightings
Freshwater on the Isle of Wight and a very sunny and warmish afternoon,a Red Admiral fliting around my front garden.
Re: October Sightings
Likely Red Admiral or Peacock flew overhead as I travelled allong the A27 near Portsmouth around 11:00 this morning and then a Red Admiral fluttering around inside the garden centre at Hillier Gardens near Romsey (Shopping for my new garden I am begining to unbury!).
First butterflies I have seen in ages... first time I have been outside much in ages due to work and the shrotening days grr!!
First butterflies I have seen in ages... first time I have been outside much in ages due to work and the shrotening days grr!!
- Jack Harrison
- Posts: 4640
- Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:55 pm
- Location: Nairn, Highland
- Contact:
Re: October Sightings
I wear my pedant's hat. The days have been shortening since the summer solstice on 21st June and will get longer again after the winter solstice on 21st December.....first time I have been outside much in ages due to work and the shortening days grr!!...
But a little know fact is that the earliest sunset is not on the shortest day but several days earlier (at my latitude of 52 degs north is in fact on or about 13th December)
Explanation:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/rog/2008/12/earlie ... rther.html
Jack
Re: October Sightings
Another Red Admiral - up in the sunny side of a pine tree yesterday...
N
N
"Conservation starts in small places, close to home..."
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Re: October Sightings
saw a red admiral today on my post round flying from a garden, sunny but only bout 9 c ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)