Author Archives: John East

A brown and red butterfly with black and white markings resting on some pink flowers

Red Admiral. Photo: Penny Hawes

Penny sent in this photo telling us:

This is my first butterfly for 2024 – seen at Holme for Gardens on 12/02/2024.  I was hoping for a Brimstone in the Purbecks so a bit disappointed it’s only a rather tatty looking Red Admiral!

An orange butterfly with black and white markings resting on some green vegetation

Painted Lady. Photo: Paul Freedman

Paul sent in this photo telling us he was delighted to see a Painted Lady in his Ulwell garden on 15/02/2024 adding that it was the first one he has seen this year.

Editor’s Note:

Dorset BC has now received 9 sightings of a Painted Lady so far this year – this is a butterfly which migrates here from the continent in varying numbers each year and is now known to migrate back to the continent in the autumn.  However, as mentioned in a news item on our website earlier today, we can only presume this individual was one of those that did not return south and the winter has been mild enough for it to survive so far.

A brown and red butterfly with black and white markings resting on a metal pipe

Red Admiral. Photo: Brian Arnold

Brian sent in this photo telling us:

A bit like buses, not one, but two butterflies seen today, 12/02/2024 – they are the first I have have seen this year. This morning in our garden at Harman’s Cross, this Red Admiral posed on a piece of water pipe put there to tie plants to.  Perhaps it liked the warm metal surface of the pipe in the sunshine. Then in the afternoon we went to Kingston Lacy gardens to see the snowdrops and we got a fleeting glimse of a Red Admiral by the Japanese Garden.

A greenish butterfly resting amongst some brown vegetation

Brimstone. Photo: Shona Refoy

Shona sent in this photo of our first Brimstone for the Gallery this year telling us:

I saw my first Brimstone of the year today, 12/02/2024 beside the track to Badbury Rings – a female.  She sat in the sun, shivering slightly, then fluttered around for a short while before hiding in the undergrowth nearby.

An orange butterfly with black and white markings nectaring on on white snowdrops

Painted Lady. Photo: Gary Holderness

An orange butterfly with black and white markings nectaring on on white snowdrops

Painted Lady. Photo: Gary Holderness

Gary sent in these two photos telling us:

I went to RSPB Arne yesterday, 01/02/2024 primarily to see birds but I was astonished to see this near pristine Painted Lady nectaring on Snowdrops by the shop and cafe there. I’ve never seen one nectaring in winter before and never on Snowdrops. There were also Red Admirals flying as well.

Editor’s Note:  A very rare butterfly to see in England in the winter – the British population of this species depends on migration and effectively dies out here each winter with recolonisation dependant on immigration the following Spring.

There have however been very, very occasional sightings of a Painted Lady over-wintering in England so Gary was extremely fortunate to spot this one.

A brown butterfly with creamy yellow and black markings resting amongst some green and brown vegetation.

Speckled Wood. Photo: Brian Edge

Brian sent in this photo of very early sighting of a Speckled Wood with the following comments:

Keeping an eye out for Brimstones at Durlston Country Park today, 30/01/2024 when up popped a Speckled Wood. My first of the year!  From it’s hindwings it looks like it’s emerged this morning.

A brown, red and black butterfly with white markings resting on the bark of a tree

Red Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

Donald sent in this photo telling us:

Val and I went birding at RSPB Arne on 26/01/2024 – walking through the wood we stopped to listen to the bird song and there I noticed this Red Admiral basking in the warm sun. This is the first time I have ever seen a butterfly in January.  We are looking forward to the warmer days with more butterflies but in the meantime it’s back to more birding.

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on a green leaf

Peacock. Photo: Shona Refoy

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on some vegetation

Peacock. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent in telling us:

My first butterfly photos of the year – these two Peacocks, seen this afternoon, 28/01/2024 by High Wood near Badbury Rings, basking in the sunshine.  I had seen a Red Admiral further along the track in early January, but it didn’t hang around for a photo!

A brown, red and black butterfly with white markings on a yellow gorse flower

Red Admiral. Photo: Mark Herbert

Mark sent in this photo telling us:

It’s 15/01/2024 – a crisp, cold day in the middle of January and 4C at lunchtime according to my car dashboard. Nonetheless, in a sheltered fold behind Woolsbarrow Hillfort in Wareham Forest, it was warm enough for this Red Admiral to be feeding on the flowering gorse.

The butterfly was flying strongly and looked in good condition. The area it was active in was out of the cold northerly wind, and in sunshine. There’s plenty of gorse in bloom for it to feed on. Good to see, especially as no other insects were spotted during my 90 minute walk.

A red butterfly with brown, black, white and blue markings on some  green vegetation

Peacock. Photo: Clare Slade

Clare saw and photographed this butterfly at Morden on 07/01/2024 – the third butterfly photo for the Gallery this year and great to see the vibrant colours of this Peacock in early January.