www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Oh yeah, just one other thing to report. I rather cheekily asked Sami to marry me...and she said YES!

Well done Gibster and Sami.

Jack

David M wrote:

NickB wrote:A quick tour of the Cemetery this morning revealed 31 Red Admirals..

Egad!

I suppose I should congratulate you for the effort expended in counting them all.

That's nothing - someone in Suffolk counted 75 at one site!!!!

N

NickB wrote:

David M wrote:

NickB wrote:A quick tour of the Cemetery this morning revealed 31 Red Admirals..

Egad!

I suppose I should congratulate you for the effort expended in counting them all.

That's nothing - someone in Suffolk counted 75 at one site!!!!

N

That's not a count, that's a plague!

Seriously though, they DO seem abnormally abundant this year, yet Small Tortoiseshells and Painted Ladies are rather scarce.

NickB wrote:

David M wrote:

NickB wrote:A quick tour of the Cemetery this morning revealed 31 Red Admirals..

Egad!

I suppose I should congratulate you for the effort expended in counting them all.

That's nothing - someone in Suffolk counted 75 at one site!!!!

N

Hopefully if the weather conditions are suitable we should see a few through the winter, I saw this one at Paignton on 30th January 2010
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13372714@N00/5602526138/

It is in a rather sheltered and sunny spot and I suspect that year round breeding rather than hibernation was occuring there.

Large numbers of Red Admirals arrived in May to supplement those that had survived the winter. We are (probably) now seeing their grandchildren.

I'm not sure about breeding all year in even the most favoured spots but they certainly don't seem to hibernate in the way that Peacocks of Tortoiseshells do. RAs most likely go into short periods of torpor and wake on many a sunny winter's day (but it needn't be warm - I have seen a Red Admiral basking with an air temperature of a mere +2°C). It is thus probable that some of those active at the moment could just survive until next spring to breed again.

With such huge numbers at the moment, this could give the ideal opportunity to mark and release and then note how many - if any - are seen again next spring. A little dab of Tippex or similar on an upper wing might be suitable. (I suggest upper wing as that would be easier than under wing to observe without the need for re-capture).

Jack

Red Admiral outside Southwark Crown Court today!

Red Admiral outside Southwark Crown Court today!

Any idea what the senior Russian sailor was on trial for? (Groan - well somebody had to be the first)

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:

Red Admiral outside Southwark Crown Court today!

Any idea what the senior Russian sailor was on trial for? (Groan - well somebody had to be the first)

Jack

Piracy (of old jokes)?

Sorry - should have posted this yeasterday...

Red Admiral, 6 -7 whites and a male Adonis Blue at Roundway Down nr Devizes, Wilts.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Only just caught up with the news ... Congratulations Gibster & Sami. Good work!
Best Wishes, Neil

Thanks again, chaps! Still kinda reeling with it all, at our birdclub's indoor meeting we were treated to a bout of near-rapturous applause once word got out there, which fair made our evening! Date is still to be settled, we're hoping for a summer wedding, possibly in Cornwall. And maybe a small party (or three) at a butterfly reserve near you??? All are invited, with the proviso that you come dressed as your favourite butterfly or moth!!!

See viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4859 for Neil's idea of getting dressed up, lol!!!!

Cheers,

Gibster.

Gibster wrote:... All are invited, with the proviso that you come dressed as your favourite butterfly or moth!!!
Gibster.

Sounds interesting, so long as all the blokes don't start fighting each other for the best display perch and then start a barney when the girls arrive....
N

Had a lovely surprise today in Huntingdon High Street... a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was enjoying the hanging baskets outside Phones 4 U !!

Charles



PS Congratulations to Gibster & Sami !!

Still plagues of Red Admirals over here today ...
..switching locations in the cemetery as the ivy bushes come into flower....
..and they love the warm stones for basking on ....
from a day or two ago... ..lots of spiders now too...

Today I went to Folkestone Warren in search of Clouded Yellows ( ever the optimist.. ) Although I didn't find any I was happy to see a Peacock, my first in many weeks I then came across a Small Copper Last but not least was this Large White : I thought it looked beautiful I've got my fingers crossed that this Indian Summer continues and will encourage all those Clouded Yellows to make the Channel crossing,after all, It's not so bad here...

Hoggers wrote:Today I went to Folkestone Warren in search of Clouded Yellows ( ever the optimist.. )
I've got my fingers crossed that this Indian Summer continues and will encourage all those Clouded Yellows to make the Channel crossing,after all, It's not so bad here...

Yes, 2009 at Beachy Head was phenomenal!
Here's hoping...

N

Seconded. 500 in one field. Including helice.I've never seen anything like it!

My contacts in Bournemouth (Hannah and Mia) took a break from visiting the 'in-laws' yesterday, to survey for Clouded Yellows and ice-cream on Southbourne undercliffs. They spotted 5 Clouded Yellows , some of which appeared to be in excellent condition.
Neil

The last Clouded Yellow I saw in 2009 was at Ouse Valley NR Newhaven on November 7th . I managed to see no less than 5 species in November that year with Speckled Wood , Small White , Large White and Red Admiral in addition to Clouded Yellow . Small Copper and Common Blue were seen there in the last week of October .

Congratulations to Gibster and Sami!

A Meadow Brown in surprisingly good condition at Stoke Camp today, along with a couple of hill-topping Red Admirals and a Speckled Wood along the woodland edge. No sign of Wall Brown or third-brood Small Blue, which is what I went to look for, but perhaps later in the week given good weather.