www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

My predictions for November sightings (adults) somewhere in Britain

Probables
Clouded Yellow / Brimstone / Small White / Red Admiral / Peacock / Small Tortoiseshell / Comma / Speckled Wood / Small Copper

Possibles
Large White / Meadow Brown / Chalkhill Blue / Long-tailed Blue

Unlikely but not ruled out
Green-veined White / Painted Lady / Monarch / Wall Brown / Geranium Bronze

Any others?

Jack

At some point in (probably) early to mid November the first serious frosts will descend and we can then rule out all but the adult hibernators (unless you live on the south coast, in which case I'd expect a few other species to still turn up).

Jack,
Do you know something about the weather that we do not know?
P.J.U.

Jack, Do you know something about the weather that we do not know?

Perhaps I do (given my background). By the sea, frosts are far rarer than just a mere 100 metres inland. Hence there must be localities RIGHT ON THE COAST of southern England (and especially islands eg Scillies) that have frost only every few years.

Jack

Not a November sighting but an indication that Jack may not be too far out with his predication. Today, the 29th October, and only 2 days away from making Jack smile, at Dungeness we saw two Clouded Yellows, Painted Lady and 10 Red Admirals. A fellow enthusiast had a Brimstone in his garden near Hamstreet, and another is still being seen in Hempsted Forest by people watching the Two-barred Crossbill. It will be close to a frost tonight here in Kent but just maybe they will make November.

Dave

A November sighting at midnight tonight - Small Tortoiseshell - I've named it Bob.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

2nd November - Red Admiral seen at Stanwell Moor in Middlesex. (one tick on Jack's list above... )

Dave

Hey Wurzel, Good to get a butterfly named Bob!! I had a Red Admiral in the garden this morning before the rain started. I thought I ought to call it Wurzel!!

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com

One of the Dungeness regulars saw a Painted Lady today around the Dungeness Observatory Moat before the rain set in. Another one off Jacks list.

I see it as a special challenge every year to spot a butterfly in November.

This morning, I did just that - a solitary Red Admiral fluttering around the flowering ivy at the back of Forge Fach in Clydach, near Swansea:

3rd November - another (different) Red Admiral seen in exactly the same spot as yesterday.
(Photo in my diary)

Dave

Another one off Jacks November predictions. Today we saw a single Clouded Yellow flying around at Oare Marsh nature marsh. It felt cold but the sun was shining and the spot was fairly sheltered. We also saw a single Red Admiral but no dragonflies.

Yesterday while out in the forest I saw a Brimstone flying around a sunny glade in West Sussex

Didn't someone on another forum have a November Peacock? (Or is it here and I can't find it?)

Jack

Hi Jack,
I had a Peacock yesterday at Rewell Wood. See viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4065&start=1380
BWs, Neil

Red Admiral today

Ten species seen in November in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, over the years:

Excel page at

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterflies1X2009.htm

Others in the past: Common Blue

On the list:


Clouded Yellow / Brimstone / Red Admiral / Peacock / Comma / Speckled Wood /

Meadow Brown

Painted Lady / Wall Brown /

I expect one day to add Large White to the list.

4 November 2013
A Common Darter (dragonfly) was seen over the Pixie Path and I immediately thought that it might my total of interest as winter seemed to have set in. Immediately afterwards a Red Admiral flew northwards from Frampton's Field in a few minutes of weak sunshine. I visited Mill Hill after the recent rain along muddy paths which were sticky but not treacherous. I was thinking it was hardly worth the trek to the lower slopes as there was hardly a plant in flower and nothing moving apart from the common birds.






Just as I was about to leave I spotted a flash of yellow out the corner of my eyes and it was not one of the many leaves that fluttered a bit like a butterfly in the gentle breeze. It was the first of three Clouded Yellow Butterflies, of which two appeared to be courting, despite the faintest chill (>9.8 °C) in the air after the warmest October in my memory. I disturbed the resting butterflies and they flew up rapidly over the steep slopes above the muddy path.

Perseus:

Others in the past: Common Blue

That wasn't on my list of even remote possibilities. I would be delighted to be wrong!

Jack

Jack Harrison wrote:Perseus:

Others in the past: Common Blue

That wasn't on my list of even remote possibilities. I would be delighted to be wrong!

Jack

2 November 2009
When the sun emerged from from behind the frequent clouds a Peacock Butterfly emerged from
hibernation by the Ivy on the edge of the Pixie Path, looking slightly tatty. Four Common Blue
Butterflies were seen at the northern end of the lower slopes of Mill Hill; both these records were
the first for the month of November. There was also a probable Large White in Shoreham town
which would also be a first for the month.

Late October records for 2010 as well.

Photograph on http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2009.html

I don't think I will see one this year.