www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Red Admiral spotted in Abergavenny town centre early this afternoon as I was driving up to Linda Vista Gardens! Good chance that will be my last of the year.

Red Admiral on the ivy in my back garden yesterday- my only sighting so far this month.

Today we had the first frost of the season here in Crawley. However the sky remained clear for the rest of the day, which raised temperatures to around 11C. A local walk produced 4 Red Admirals and a female Speckled Wood.
Vince

Wow, wasn't expecting a Speckled Wood! Just one Red Admiral in Harlow today, despite 8 hours glorious sunshine.

Clouded Yellows still going strong at Mill Hill and Shoreham Harbour. Saw a total of 5 species today, details in my PD when I get round to it.

bugboy wrote:Clouded Yellows still going strong at Mill Hill and Shoreham Harbour. Saw a total of 5 species today, details in my PD when I get round to it.

Will look forward to that, Bugboy. Seems the season is still going abnormally well in a few isolated pockets of the south.

2 Long tailed Blues reported (and photographed ) at Walmer castle ,near Deal ,Kent on the 6th.
Regards Allan.W.

Allan.W. wrote:2 Long tailed Blues reported (and photographed ) at Walmer castle ,near Deal ,Kent on the 6th.

Superb information, Allan. Clearly, this butterfly is spending ever more time in the southern parts of the British Isles.

Clouded Yellows showing well with a lot of pairing going on at Southbourne Undercliff. My biggest surprise was a Green-veined White there on 5th November, a species I did not expect to see on the undercliff at this time of year. Probably from a 3rd brood appearance. Small Whites had been showing until recently, along with Small Copper. Painted Lady also reported. Incidentally a Marbled White was reported at Portland on 8th November, make of that what you will!!!

Regards
Mike Gibbons

False Apollo wrote:Incidentally a Marbled White was reported at Portland on 8th November, make of that what you will!!!

Surely a misidentification?

It looks like it is. There is are far as I know no photographs. The news was on the Portland Bird obs twitter feed. I think people were a bit stunned when they saw it, I certainly was. Likely a misidentification, but will wait for the ID outcome with interest.

Mike

If anyone wants a look at the Long tailed Blues (pics) from Walmer on the 6th ,theres a couple on " Margaret Smith" (image maker) twitter page /feed. Regards Allan.W.

At least one Small Copper on the wing today at Dungeness,reported on the Dungeness obs; website ,and whats more it looks fresh ! (See photo on the site) Allan.W.

See within the last hour on my local patch near Heathrow, a lovely new female Holly Blue... The latest I've seen this species: more photos on my PD later.

Dave

It will be interesting to see if any of the Whites or Blues make it into December, if so the usual species of the hibernators + Speckled Wood will have to be added too.

A Red Admiral in the sun, air temp around 8 C.

Red Admiral, 17-Nov-2017, Cherry Hinton Hall park, Cambs

A Red Admiral and Speckled Wood today in sparkling sunshine.
A survey of a likely site for Red Admiral eggs produced over 100 at a nettle bed in the shelter of a south-facing wall. More details here: viewtopic.php?t=9581&start=0#p126459
Vince

millerd wrote:See within the last hour on my local patch near Heathrow, a lovely new female Holly Blue...

I'm practically speechless, Dave!

Does your patch have undersoil heating?

Finally one of the two Clouded Yellows that have been buzzing around the garden these last few days came to a stop on some broccoli which has started flowering. They seem to be the last two butterflies standing from this year...

A further visit to the cemetery wall nettle bed at Ifield, Crawley today found an egg-laying female. She was observed to lay 3 eggs at around 12.30 and she stayed basking on the wall until 2.30.
A full count along the whole length of the wall produced 192 eggs.
Vince