Red Admirals enjoying nectar in Romsey. Although only 12oC, the welcome return of sunshine encouraged us to go for a walk at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey. There are several Colletia species that flower at this time of year and with their abundant flowers and rich nectar supply they always prove a magnet for any butterflies that are around. The genus Colletia (from temperate South America) are very spiky shrubs that belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, and are thus relatives of buckthorn. On a single plant of Colletia paradoxa in the Winter Garden we found 4 Red Admirals and a Peacock enjoying a nectar feast. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Red Admiral on Colletia paradoxa Photo © Andy Barker | Peacock on Colletia paradoxa Photo © Andy Barker | Colletia paradoxa Photo © Andy Barker |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. After virtually eight days of rain and strong winds I wasn't particularly hopeful of sightings during my walk from noon to 1.20 pm. The sun was trying to be helpful but with the temperature at 10 degrees it didn't augur well. However, it turned-out ok. All the sightings less one Red Admiral were in the Ham Lane, eastern section of Monks Wood ie the area with longer sunshine and a total of three species were recorded. Again it was the sticky ivy flowers that seemed to be the main attraction. Red Admiral (9); Comma (2); Speckled Wood (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Comma Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood Photo © Francis Plowman |
Brimstone resurrection at Great Fontley. A male Brimstone witnessed emerging from the bowels of a bramble bush to enjoy this morning's sunshine at Great Fontley. Strangely, no other species were tempted to take to the air. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Plenty of October Butterflies at Southwick. After what seems like weeks without seeing any butterflies, I was glad to get out in the sunshine today. There was plenty of butterfly activity at Southwick. At least 13 Red Admirals, 2 Painted Lady, 2 Comma and surprisingly 2 fresh looking Peacock. As has become the norm here in October and beyond over recent years there were at least 3 female Red Admirals actively involved in egg laying. [Posted by Paul Harfield]
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| Freshly laid Red Admiral egg at Southwick today Photo © Paul Harfield | Fresh Peacock at Southwick today Photo © Paul Harfield | Red Admiral & Painted Lady soaking up some rare October sunshine Photo © Paul Harfield |
Painted Lady in Lee on the Solent. A nice surprise after all the recent rain - a well worn but very active Painted Lady in our Lee on Solent garden this afternoon. [Posted by Mark Wagstaff]
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| Painted Lady - Lee on Solent Photo © Mark Wagstaff |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. Nothing much doing on the Hill Head seafront this morning. Monks Hill, Seafield Park and the Meon Shore cliffs produced just three Red Admiral and we felt lucky to see them in the stiff SW breeze. But returning to the warmer and less turbulent glades of Monks Walk realised four species in an hour's walk from 1pm. No whites seen and most of the butterflies show significant late-season wear and tear. But numbers were good and food still plentiful; if only the sun will keep on shining! We saw: Red Admiral (11); Comma (3); Speckled Wood (10); Painted Lady (1). The latter with bi-lateral loss of antenna clubs but otherwise in good condition. [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Painted Lady minus antenna clubs Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral on ivy floret Photo © Francis Plowman |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. Finally it stopped raining! Well, at least for 50 minutes before yet another biblical deluge brought my 11 o'clock meander to a premature closure. However, after so many weeks of rain I was pleasantly surprised to record three species still very much in evidence, particularly Red Admiral, five of whom - and all in nice condition - were competing with a Comma on the sticky buds of an Ivy busy. There was probably more to find but for that wretched weather! Noted: Red Admiral (7); Comma (1); Small White (M)(1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Comma Photo © Francis Plowman |
Testwood lakes. mid October and still the butterfly season is going strong 7 Speckled Woods,3 Red Admirals, Peacock, Small White, Common Blue(f) and best of all 7 Small Coppers Inc 2 mating pairs only feet away from each other. [Posted by Mark swann]
Last of the Summer Wine at Great Fontley Farm. Painted Lady (2) and Peacock (2) still enjoying the nectar of Buddleja auriculata at Great Fontley Farm. The scent has been likened to Chanel No.5, certainly more refined than that of the commoner Buddleja davidii, and also appeals to many bees. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
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| Painted Lady 1 on Buddleja auriculata Photo © Andrew Brookes | Painted Lady underside Photo © Andrew Brookes | Painted Lady 2 Photo © Andrew Brookes |
Another Portchester Clouded Yellow. A pale Clouded Yellow seen on the grassland flanking the smaller car park at Portchester Castle in this afternoon's brief sunshine, the third seen in the vicinity of the castle this year. Meanwhile at Great Fontley, Peacocks continue to nectar on the South African Buddleja auriculata. [Posted by Andrew Brookes]
Abbotstone Down. There were 3 Comma butterflies plus a Red Admiral, all with wings open, basking on a sunlit bramble bank at 2pm. A male Common Darter dragonfly was also whizzing around. [Posted by Robert Bryant]