Spring Red Admirals

[Simon-in-Kent]

At St Woolos Cathedral, Newport, South Wales, Saturday 23rd April 2011 at 4.30 pm: 2 male Red Admirals disputing adjacent territories. Rather early for this sort of thing! Early migrants (given the exceptional weather)? Hibernators? Emergers from overwintering caterpillars/pupae? Any thoughts?

Simon (just back from a short holiday jaunt).

[Dave McCormick]

I have already seen 5, one today and 4 two weeks ago. I presumed they were overwintering adults but wasn't sure as I saw 3 Painted ladies on same day as the first Red Admiral sightings and there has been increased activity in migrant moths starting to appear around that time. Would be interesting to know if these red admiral were immigrants or hibernation adults as I doubt the Painted ladies were (I didn't think to check to see if the painted ladies had bigger wings that migrants have).