Trevor

[trevor]

Just over a week ago I was about to dispose of an over ripe banana,
but instead of putting it in the bin I placed it on top of the bin.
Now completely rotten it attracted a pristine Red Admiral this morning.
After an initial sitting it flew up onto the gutter of the house to bask before
returning to the banana for a thorough feed, before continuing it's journey south ?.

[Wurzel]

That's a great return for rotten fruit Trevor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Great use of unwanted fruit, Trevor. Numbers of Red Admirals are way down on last year so you did well to attract that fine individual.

[trevor]

Thanks Wurzel & David. The now rancid banana continues to attract Red Admirals.
Yesterdays visitor was possibly the same specimen as the other day, but it was a
different one this morning.

[trevor]

At Herstmonceux today were the surest signs that the 2024 season is coming to an end.
I was there from mid morning until 2.30 and all I saw, after much searching were..........

Two Small Coppers.
Two Painted Ladies.
Four Red Admirals.
And a single Male Wall Brown.

And this was in almost perfect weather.

[millerd]

Now I know where the sunshine was, Trevor! Good to see those Painted Ladies refueling before the hop across the Channel - and as I said before, the Walls seem to go on forever.

Cheers,

Dave

[trevor]

Cheers Dave. Yes i was very sunny here yesterday, and very warm
by the south facing wall at Herstmonceux.

Time to buy some more bananas !

[millerd]

Word has obviously got round the local Red Admiral community on the butterfly equivalent of Facebook...

Yes, you need more bananas Trevor!

Cheers,

Dave

[Wurzel]

Your return on the rotten fruit is almost exponential Trevor I wouldn't mind a haul like your last from Hermonceux this late into October

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Wonderful to see them having such a great time on that putrid fruit, Trevor.

There are nowhere near as many about as there were this time last year. I fear that things might prove tough sightings-wise in November.

[trevor]

Many thanks Dave, Wurzel & David.

When the sun was at it's best, with a clear blue sky, this morning a very
late Peacock chose my south facing rear garden wall to soak up the warmth.
Also seen in my garden, but not photographed, this month, two Red Admirals
and a probable Speckled Wood ( by no means a positive ID ).

[Wurzel]

I reckon that Peacock has crawled out of bed for one snack before the big sleep Trevor

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[trevor]

Cheers Wurzel. Not much sustenance in my garden for butterflies now,
but it found an ideal spot to bask. Last seen perched on top of a hedge.

[David M]

..When the sun was at it's best, with a clear blue sky, this morning a very
late Peacock chose my south facing rear garden wall to soak up the warmth...

Nice to see one at all during November, Trevor, but even better posed so nicely like that one.

[trevor]

Thanks David. An even later sighting today............

A post apocalyptic Red admiral ( one of two seen today ) chose my sunny south facing wall
to warm up. No doubt due to the milder weather after ' Bert ' passed through last night.
It did take off initially for a circuit around the garden, but returned to the same wall for
a further basking session. It was also one of my latest ever butterfly sightings.








9

[Goldie M]

Wow! that's a great sighting Trevor Goldie

[trevor]

Thanks Goldie. And a few others were seen in Sussex today.
The sun, for about an hour around lunch time, was strong enough to warm sheltered areas.

[Wurzel]

Good work with the November Red Admirals Trevor They're all tucked up in bed round this way at the moment due to the frosts we've had over the last couple of nights

Have a goodun

Wurzel

[David M]

Thanks David. An even later sighting today............

A post apocalyptic Red admiral ( one of two seen today )...

Impressive stuff after that storm, Trevor.

I've got to the stage where if it's 8 degrees or more and the sun is shining and winds falling light, I can have an outside chance of seeing Red Admirals throughout the winter if there are a few nectar sources about.

[trevor]

Wishing everyone at/on UKB a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great 2025 butterfly season.

An unseasonal view from my garden, Primroses in full bloom before Christmas.