November 2016

[David M]

Still relatively benign, so one hopes a few sightings can still be posted on here (albeit mainly towards the south coast).

[trevor]

Two maybe three near pristine Common Blues at Shoreham Harbour this morning.
A first sighting of this species, for me, in November !.

[Vince Massimo]

The day started well with 2 Red Admiral in the garden at 10.15am nectaring on Bowles's Mauve and my late-flowering Buddleia.

Red Admiral - Crawley, Sussex 2-Nov-2016

By 11.15am I was at Southwick Basin, Shoreham.

Southwick Basin, Shoreham

This sheltered site continues to produce late sightings, with the following species seen during my 3 hour stay:
1 Small White (a fresh male)
3 Clouded Yellow (2 males and a fresh female)
2 Red Admiral
6 Common Blue (5 male and 1 female) One male was very fresh.

Clouded Yellow male - Southwick Basin 2-Nov-2016

Clouded Yellow female - Southwick Basin 2-Nov-2016

Common Blue male - Southwick Basin 2-Nov-2016

Common Blue male - Southwick Basin 2- Nov-2016

Common Blue female - Southwick Basin 2-Nov-2016

In the sunny conditions the temperature reached 12C despite a cool northerly wind.

Vince

[MikeOxon]

I was surprised to see a Red Admiral in the garden at around 2:30pm, busily exploring all around the shrubs as though searching for a roosting spot. It chose to pause for a few moments in a sun-spot, allowing me a through-the-window grab shot.

garden, Abingdon - 2nd November 2016
Olympus EM-1 with 40-150mm lens - 1/1250s@f/5.6 ISO640

There seems to be just a hint of white spots within the red bands (Bialbata)

Mike

[bugboy]

A Peacock and Small Copper seen at Bookham Common today

[trevor]

Apart from two Clouded Yellows, a Red Admiral ab.bialbata was seen near the foot crossing
over the railway at Tide Mills this morning.

[David M]

Some amazing sightings on here already. I'm not sure if this is a good thing though. This particular time of year seems to be more removed from the norm than any other, and of course, unlike the more southerly European latitudes, the UK (even in the far south) will eventually be hit by cold and/or wet and stormy weather meaning that these unusual additional emergences don't actually have any productive value long term.

[Jack Harrison]

5th November Lethen near Nairn, Highland.
Peacock disturbed from behind window blinds; it became very active. Now out in shed where temperature 5C.

Jack

[David M]

Good to see you back on here, Jack (I was becoming a little concerned).

Nice sighting for northern Scotland on Bonfire Night....beats my three Red Admirals in south Wales today.

[Brian Arnold]

Despite the near freezing temperatures last night and heavy frost this morning there were 3 Red Admirals in my garden at Harman's Cross near Swanage this lunchtime 6th November. They were settling on our Sassafras tree, and on Hazel, and on our flowering Colletia Ferox. Quite a sight with the Autumn colours. Brian Arnold

[NickMorgan]

I have received quite a few records of Red Admirals feeding on ivy this month. A Peacock on Friday was a pleasant surprise, but then a Painted Lady was reported to me from Longniddry, also on Friday. We have had a few frosts already and now low temperatures and rain, so I guess it will have to try to stick it out in Scotland this winter.

[Nigel Cottle]

Sunday 6th November.
My daughter and I found an egg-laying Red Admiral at Roughmoor, Taunton today. I saw one egg-laying in the same area on 16th October, unfortunately those eggs that I kept an eye on failed to hatch.

[David M]

I went looking for Red Admirals yesterday on the coast but today one came to visit me.

At 11.45am I spotted a shadow moving like it was alive outside my patio door. Sure enough, it was a Red Admiral looking for a bit of warmth in the south facing area at my front.

[Scott Barron]

7th November: three Red Admirals seen today in and around Penzance, West Cornwall today.

[trevor]

Another pristine male Common Blue at Shoreham Harbour this morning.
It opened up during a brief spell of sunshine, but was otherwise very lethargic.
The temperature was only 8c.

[Vince Massimo]

A visit to Southwick Basin, Shoreham between 11am and 1pm today produced 2 male Clouded Yellows and 2 Red Admirals. A male Common Blue was photographed before I arrived on site, but I failed to re-locate it.

Clouded Yellow (male 1) - Southwick Basin 13-Nov-2016

Clouded Yellow (male 2) - Southwick Basin 13-Nov-2016

The Clouded Yellows were patrolling different parts of the site during the long sunny spells. The temperature in this sheltered location reached 12C and there was a light northerly breeze.
Male No.1 was the same individual first seen by me on 26th October, while the other was in much better condition. Given that there is no frost forecast on the site for the next 10 days and the continuing availability of nectar sources, it is likely that sightings of this species could continue here for a while.

Vince

[millerd]

A Red Admiral and a Small Tortoiseshell seen today (13th) down at Southbourne (near Bournemouth). Pics of the Red Admiral in my pd.
/viewtopic.php?t=6157&start=1400#p115579

Dave

[David M]

Another late Red Admiral seen in the car park outside Linda Vista Gardens in Abergavenny on Sunday 13th at 11.40am.

[Testudo Man]

Yesterday (13/11/16) i sighted a Peacock basking on my garden fence.

Location - Kent, cheers Paul.

[lee3764]

Speckled Wood butterfly at Probus, near Truro, Cornwall in the morning at 10:50am yesterday (13th November)