October 2012

[Hugh Middleton]

Still plenty of Comma's, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and a single Small Copper at Chambers this morning.

Hugh

CHAMBERS 052 (640x542) (400x339).jpg (103.21 KiB) Viewed 952 times

CHAMBERS 074 (400x400).jpg (131.48 KiB) Viewed 952 times

CHAMBERS 074 (400x400).jpg (131.48 KiB) Viewed 952 times

[Jack Harrison]

10th October - trespassing into Sussex Kipper territory

Worthing. Several whites seen including one over the shingle beach. This one in Beachhouse Park chose an exotic plant for a rest: Pampas Grass.



Nearby in the park is a wonderful memorial to Warrior Birds with the description:
ON TOP OF THIS MOUND
IS A MEMORIAL TO
WARRIOR BIRDS WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES ON
ACTIVE SERVICE 1939-45

Homing pigeons were often carried in bomber aircraft. If shot down but before capture, the aircrew might be able to release a pigeon that would take a brief message back to England.

Jack

[Matsukaze]

Four species in the garden today - Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Red Admiral and Large White. Not bad going for mid-October!

[A_T]

Speckled Wood, Comma and Red Admiral at home today

[David M]

Drove back from Liverpool to Swansea today.

One Small White by the roadside near Hereford and a single Red Admiral active in my friend's garden in Abergavenny.

[David M]

Had the pleasure of receiving a brief visit from a Comma this morning which settled for ten seconds or so on my wall before seeking out the telegraph pole two gardens away.

[Wurzel]

Red Admiral, Large White and Comma yesterday but couldn't get any shots until the Red Admiral strayed into my garden.

Today 2 Red Admirals at the top of my garden and a male Brimstone bombing down the length of it.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

...and a male Brimstone bombing down the length of it.

Brimstones disappear very early in my neck of the woods. I've never seen any in October so you're quite lucky there, Wurzel.

[Wurzel]

I only wish I'd gotten a photo of it but I was so shocked to see it, and chuffed to seee something other than a Red Admiral, that I just enjoyed the moment!

Have a goodun

Wurzel

ps Also got my first butterfly ever at the property that I'm in the process of buying. We took a drive by it on the way home form the swimming pool and there was a Red Admiral taking off from the wall! Mind you as the garden is small enough to seriously hamper cat swinging that could be one of the only species I'd be likely to get!

[Paul Harfield]

In Hedge End yesterday numbers were well down compared to the last couple of weeks Only 1 Comma seen along my local footpath and 1 Red Admiral in the Garden.
Several Red Admirals and 1 Large White seen in Fleming Park, Eastleigh around lunch time today.

Red Admiral in the garden

Then around 4pm this afternoon 1 Red Admiral on Hebe in the Garden which was then joined briefly by a Humming Bird Hawkmoth The first one I have ever seen

[David M]

Lovely day today (Sun 21st) and I saw 11 butterflies of 4 different species in total.

Temperatures peaked at 15.5c in the Swansea area and I wasn't surprised to see a few on the wing.

5 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Woods, 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Green Veined White......

.....oh, and a fox from a hide in Pembrey Country Park.

[millerd]

Lovely day today (Sun 21st) and I saw 11 butterflies of 4 different species in total.

You had the edge on my bit of the world this time, David. Grey, damp, breezy and not much more than ten degrees all day near Heathrow.

Dave

[David M]

You had the edge on my bit of the world this time, David. Grey, damp, breezy and not much more than ten degrees all day near Heathrow.

Yes, for once south Wales trumped south east England (remind me of this in June 2013).

I'd noticed the low pressure front hovering around the SE coast for the entire weekend.

Trouble is, I'd like these things to occasionally happen in high summer, rather than in March, October or January!

[Jack Harrison]

DavidM

I'd noticed the low pressure front hovering around the SE coast for the entire weekend.
Trouble is, I'd like these things to occasionally happen in high summer, rather than in March, October or January!

I know you didn't mean it the way it comes across, but thanks for wishing gloom and doom on those living in the southeast.

It will be better on the Isle of Mull - I'll be there two weeks today.

Jack

[David M]

It will be better on the Isle of Mull - I'll be there two weeks today.

As you well know, Jack, most of the time it WON'T. However, every so often the west of Scotland benefits from unusual weather patterns, and when that happens, I doubt that there's anywhere else in the world more pleasant to be in.

I look forward to your reports next year (not just butterflies, but birds, mammals, etc).

[Hoggers]

I hadn't expected to be posting any more sightings here until at least Spring 2013: It's been well over a week since I last saw a butterfly ( a Small White ) and today, although dry and mild, has been foggy and dull. But a dark and distinctly butterfly-like shape caught my eye this afternoon, restlessly fluttering fairly high over my garden before setting down on some Ivy. I had to perch on a chair to get a look as it was high up,but saw that it was a Comma:

After a few minutes on the Ivy it took to the air and circled for about five minutes before resting high up in a tree

It then set off again and disappeared into the gathering gloom.

[A_T]

Commas and Red Admirals still around yesterday when the sun came out.

[Susie]

I was surprised to see a male brimstone flying around in the high street at Cranleigh, surrey, this afternoon.

[Wurzel]

Red Admiral over the Devizes road on the way home from work this afternoon.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[Jack Harrison]

Lowestoft Tuesday 23rd - visiting friends.

Two Red Admirals over the garden in the mist but it was mild at 14C.

Jack