October 2012

[Jack Harrison]

Premium unleaded. (NW Norfolk fuelling station).

Jack

[Jack Harrison]

And now on the wind sill:


Jack

[A_T]

Some really attractive Red Admirals and Commas on the ivy today.

[David M]

Small White in the garden opposite early this afternoon!

[MikeOxon]

Premium unleaded. (NW Norfolk fuelling station).

Very good head-on shot, Jack. It must have been very intent on topping up.

Mike

[NickB]

Nothing like BH over here; still a few Red Admiral (3+), Comma (4) and single Large and Small White flying yesterday in the Cemetery.
The RA like to bask on gravestones at this time of year; presumably, the stones retain solar energy as heat, making them warmer and more attractive perches....?

[MikeOxon]

A visit to Waterperry Gardens, Wheatley, Oxon. provided a bonanza of Vanessids and Whites in warm sunshine, this morning. The border of Michaelmas Daisies and other late season flowers is at its spectacular best and well worth a visit for anyone in the area:

Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2012

Butterflies enjoying the flower display included Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, and Small White. With such a profusion, it was hard to select a few photos from the 150-odd that I took.

Small Tortoiseshell - 2nd October 2012
Nikon D300s with Tamron 90mm + 1.4X TC - 1/350s@f/9.5 ISO400

Small White - 2nd October 2012
Nikon D300s with Tamron 90mm + 1.4X TC - 1/500s@f/11 ISO400

Comma - 2nd October 2012
Nikon D300s with Tamron 90mm + 1.4X TC - 1/180s@f/6.7 ISO400

Red Admiral - 2nd October 2012
Nikon D300s with Tamron 90mm + 1.4X TC - 1/125s@f/13 ISO400

With so much on offer, I hoped to get a few multiple-species shots but this proved surprisingly difficult. The most successful attempt was this combination of Comma and Small Tortoiseshell:

Waterperry Gardens, Oxon - 2nd October 2012
Nikon D300s with Tamron 90mm + 1.4X TC - 1/500s@f/11 ISO400

After such a poor year overall, it was hard to tear myself away... but then the rain started again!

Mike

[Hoggers]

Fair weather and a day off work saw me at Dungeness this morning for a stroll around the Observatory trapping area. I came across Red Admirals aplenty ( easily 30 ), some gliding overhead, others soaking up the sun on the shingle or stopping off at the Blackberries:

There were also 2 Large Whites, 1 Small White and a Comma.

[Jack Harrison]

4th October
I followed MikeOxon's example and went to the public gardens at Pensthorpe near Fakenham.
Of the five species seen, each seemed to have its preferred spot, even to the choice of Michaelmas Daisy colours. (No Small White photo).

Comma chose the purple.


Torties liked the pale Michaelmas Daisies.


Red Admiral ignored the Michaelmas Daisies and chose the path.


Small Copper was only seen on the thin vegetation with sandy scrapes.

Jack

[NickB]

The odd Small White, Red Admiral and Comma today....

[badgerbob]

Despite the cold breeze today, at least the sun was shining and in the sheltered spots several butterflies put in an appearance. At the back of Seaford 10 Speckled Wood seen as well as 7 fresh Small Coppers. 2 Brown Argus, 3 Commas, numerous Red Admiral, Small and Large Whites also seen. No sign yet of any 3rd brood Wall Brown.

[David M]

...as well as 7 fresh Small Coppers.

That's something that makes me rather envious. I don't think I've seen 7 all year.

This is one butterfly that if I see it in spring next year, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

[badgerbob]

With heavy cloud and a stiff breeze this morning I decided to leave the camera at home and walk up to High and Over with just the binoculars to see if any unusual migrant birds were around. Just before I got to High and Over blue sky appeared and I wondered if I should have brought the camera as well as a lot less clothing as it soon became very warm out of the wind. For a couple of hours it became a successful butterfly walk with the star being a pristine female 3rd brood Wall Brown. 4 other sightings of Wall were probably all the same specimen at the top of the scarp. 4 Small Copper, Red Admirals, Small and Large White, Commas, Speckled Wood, 3 Brown Argus, singles of Peacock and Meadow Brown and the biggest surprise 3 Adonis Blue including 1 fresh female were also seen. 11 species on a day when I hadn't expected to see anything!! All in a radius of about 400metres as well.

[David M]

With heavy cloud and a stiff breeze this morning I decided to leave the camera at home and walk up to High and Over with just the binoculars to see if any unusual migrant birds were around. Just before I got to High and Over blue sky appeared and I wondered if I should have brought the camera as well as a lot less clothing as it soon became very warm out of the wind. For a couple of hours it became a successful butterfly walk with the star being a pristine female 3rd brood Wall Brown. 4 other sightings of Wall were probably all the same specimen at the top of the scarp. 4 Small Copper, Red Admirals, Small and Large White, Commas, Speckled Wood, 3 Brown Argus, singles of Peacock and Meadow Brown and the biggest surprise 3 Adonis Blue including 1 fresh female were also seen. 11 species on a day when I hadn't expected to see anything!! All in a radius of about 400metres as well.

Moral of the story: ALWAYS take a camera!

[badgerbob]

Yes David. You would think I would have learnt by now!! The sun is coming out and the camera is coming with me today. (probably see nothing)!!

[David M]

Two Red Admirals and a Comma spotted this morning in Cwm Clydach, whilst this afternoon a male Large White flew through my back garden.

[Hugh Middleton]

Chambers Farm Wood Butterfly Garden had the largest number of butterflies I have seen there all year.
20+ Comma
Loads of Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell
Pairs of Small Copper and Small Whites
Single Brimstone

Hugh

[Paul Harfield]

Comma outnumbered Red Admiral for the first time in the last few weeks in Hedge End today.

Commas in Hedge End today

Commas today in Hedge End

Commas fighting over blackberries in Hedge End today

Many of those seen today were very tattered compared to last week. I am not sure if any of these tattered Red Admirals would get very far should they decide to fly south

[David M]

Commas are absolutely ubiquitous at the moment.

I don't ever remember seeing them in such numbers at this time of year before.

[Hoggers]

This morning I paid a visit to Samphire Hoe . The sun was shining and by noon it was very warm. There were good numbers of Large Whites, a few Small Whites and a couple of Red Admirals too.
I hadn't expected to see much in the way of butterflies and so was delighted to come across a couple of Common Blues which really added some colour: