Notes and Views - November 2017

[Vince Massimo]

The end of a disappointing Long-tailed Blue season was finished off with a sighting of two butterflies at Walmer Castle, Kent on 6th November by Margaret Smith. Reported on Twitter (with photo) https://twitter.com/statestudio/status/ ... pdates.php

Vince

[Vince Massimo]

Clouded Yellows had another late season this year with regular sightings throughout October and into early November in southern coastal areas. The most significant of these were at Southbourne Undercliff (near Bournmouth, Dorset) on 5th November by Mike Gibbons who reported that some of these butterflies were still pairing. This species has been known to be able to over-winter at this site in recent years. Reported on UKB sightings forum viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9571&start=20#p126275 . The last sighting from Southbourne was reported on the Dorset BC website on 26th November. https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/sight ... htings.php

The other notable sites for late Clouded Yellow were Mill Hill and Southwick Basin (both near Shoreham, Sussex). The last reported sighting for the species at Mill Hill was on 17th November by David Cook, when 5 were seen. Two others were also seen on the same day, just to the west at Cissbury Ring by Lindsay Morris. However one was later seen on 20th November at Newhaven cliffs by Sue Cross. All reported on Sussex BC website https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/

Clouded Yellow - Mill Hill, Sussex 16-Nov-2017 (David Cook)

Vince

[Vince Massimo]

A very late Meadow Brown was photographed at Mill Hill (near Shoreham, Sussex) on 10th November by Trevor Rapley and David Cook. Reported by Trevor on UKB Personal Diary forum viewtopic.php?f=29&t=7953&start=1660#p126313 and David on Sussex BC website https://www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/sightings/

Meadow Brown - Mill Hill, Sussex 10-Nov-2017 (David Cook)

Vince

[Vince Massimo]

Late sightings of Hilly Blue continue to trickle in. One was photographed at Wandle Park, SW19 on 12th November by David Element. Reported on Twitter https://twitter.com/davidelement1/statu ... pdates.php
Another photographed near Heathrow Airport on 16th November by Dave Miller. Reported on UKB Personal Diary forum viewtopic.php?t=6157&start=2040#p126440

Holly Blue - Middlesex 16-Nov-2017 (Dave Miller)

On 19th November one was also reported at Boscombe, Dorset. See Dorset BC website https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/sight ... htings.php

Vince

[Vince Massimo]

2017 has been a very good year for the Red Admiral, with many adults still flying in November. Whilst eggs and larvae could be found in many locations, egglaying was observed to still be taking place on 26th November in Southwick, Hampshire (by Paul Harfield) and Crawley, Sussex (by Vince Massimo).

12 Red Admiral eggs - Crawley, Sussex 26-Nov-2017 (Vince Massimo)

Reported on UKB forum posts viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9581&start=20#p126702 and viewtopic.php?f=8&t=9581#p126654

Vince