November grayling
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:06 pm
I found 9 species still flying in the Rhône Valley (Switzerland) today, 1st November. Bad weather is moving in tonight, including snow at my altitude, so it was probably the last day of mortal existence for most of these insects.
Most surprising was this grayling - not fresh, but in reasonable condition still:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/semele097.jpg)
Tolman gives the flight period as late June to September, so this little creature proves you can't trust the books!
There are still some very fresh Queen of Spain fritillaries around:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/lathonia0913.jpg)
Lots of fresh male clouded yellows, but no females, strangely:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/croceus096.jpg)
The other species still on the wing are tree grayling, wall, red admiral, peacock, Berger's pale clouded yellow and Adonis blue. The problem butterflying in wild places in November is that there are so few nectar sources around, so after the morning warm-up period everything goes very quiet. The only nectar plants available were clover, which attracted the clouded yellows, and a few dandelions, which the walls liked:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/megera098.jpg)
Guy
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Most surprising was this grayling - not fresh, but in reasonable condition still:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/semele097.jpg)
Tolman gives the flight period as late June to September, so this little creature proves you can't trust the books!
There are still some very fresh Queen of Spain fritillaries around:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/lathonia0913.jpg)
Lots of fresh male clouded yellows, but no females, strangely:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/croceus096.jpg)
The other species still on the wing are tree grayling, wall, red admiral, peacock, Berger's pale clouded yellow and Adonis blue. The problem butterflying in wild places in November is that there are so few nectar sources around, so after the morning warm-up period everything goes very quiet. The only nectar plants available were clover, which attracted the clouded yellows, and a few dandelions, which the walls liked:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2009/megera098.jpg)
Guy