Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Photo: Clive Hill
Clive sent us this photo of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth which he spotted along the Wimborne Road in Poole on 15/09/19.
This is a migrant species but this year we have had a lot more sightings in the South of England, so with global warming maybe it will start breeding here if it doesn’t already do so occasionally. They like warmth but do not appear to mind rain as they have been seen on more than one occasion nectaring during a shower.
Posted on: 13 October, 2019
Red Admiral, Comma and Painted Lady. Photo: George McCabe
George sent us this photo he took on 06/10/2019 when he was walking on the Old Coach Road from Upwey to the Ridgeway. He added that there were plenty of Red Admirals about together with Painted Ladies and Commas and also a Peacock which he tried hard to get into the photo as well. The butterflies were all brought out by the warm, sunny day and like so many found the Ivy a great source of nectar.
Posted on: 10 October, 2019
Peacock and Red Admiral. Photo: Shona Refoy
Painted Lady and Comma. Photo: Shona Refoy
Following a recent very productive butterfly visit to Kingston Lacy Kitchen Garden, Shona wrote in to tell us that she went back there again on 02/10/2019 and on a Eupatorium in the corner found the favourite nectar source where she saw 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Large White, and at least 2 Peacocks and Commas just on this one plant. Shona has sent in these photos of some of them to share with us adding that she loves photos of non-matching pairs of butterflies – with results like these we can understand why.
Posted on: 9 October, 2019
Red Admirals. Photo: Brian Arnold
Whilst he was on a Dorset Council Archaeological walk from Maiden Castle on 06/10/2019, Brian saw lots of Red Admirals, plus Comma, Painted Lady and Clouded Yellow in a sunny sheltered lane near Maiden Castle, Dorchester. The Red Admirals were mostly on the Ivy flowers and Brian tells us were quite a sight with at least 15 of them on the ivy – this photo he sent us really captures the moment showing 5 of them plus a Comma.
Posted on: 9 October, 2019
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Martin Wood
The beautiful golden yellow Clouded Yellow is an annual migrant with numbers varying from year to year. Martin found this one at Longham Lakes on 05/10/2019 and the super photo he sent us shows it in all its glory.
Posted on: 9 October, 2019
Red Underwing Moth. Photo: George McCabe
Red Underwing Moth. Photo: George McCabe
George was walking at Bincombe on 27/09/19 looking for Red Admirals when he spotted what he thought was a large butterfly around an Ivy covered wall, so took a couple of photos. He was thrilled to ID it as a Red Underwing moth when he got home and says it made his day!
This species is nocturnal, but can be disturbed during the day. It flies in August and September, quite common in many places over England and Wales and is gradually increasing its range northwards.
Posted on: 3 October, 2019
Lime Hawkmoth Caterpillar. Photo: George McCabe
George tells us that on 23/09/19:
l was up on Southdown Ridge today looking out for Red Admirals, as it started to rain l was rushing home and spotted on the pavement what l thought was a piece of bright lime green plastic, then l noticed it moving l took a quick picture.
George moved it to a safe place getting very wet in the process but #MothsMatter so that was a worthwhile act of kindness.
This caterpillar can be found from June-Sept, feeding on Lime tree leaves, whilst the adult moth is on the wing during May and June but does not feed at this stage.
Posted on: 3 October, 2019
Red Admiral. Photo: Edmund Mackrill
Edmund sent us this photo which he took at RSPB Radipole on 01/10/2019 on a dull autumn morning – this super, bright Red Admiral adds a touch of brilliance to the green willow leaves.
Posted on: 2 October, 2019
Large White. Photo: Shona Refoy
Just before she went to Norfolk for a few days Shona visited Kingston Lacy on 17/09/2019 and in the kitchen garden there she saw several Large Whites as well as many Small Whites. This superb photo she sent us is of a very handsome looking Large White she saw there. Shona also mentioned that whilst in Norfolk saw over 50 Commas in 5 different locations – the most she had ever seen. Quite remarkable as it seems that most of us only see one or two of them at any one time.
Posted on: 29 September, 2019
Red Admiral. Photo: John East
John sent in this photo of a Red Admiral and told us that on a very wet and windy afternoon, 27/09/2019, he was looking out over his garden wondering when the torrential rain would stop. Suddenly it did and 3 minutes later he noticed a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. Looking through the window more closely he then saw this Red Admiral which had settled on some gravel. It was In very good condition particularly bearing in mind the hostile weather for butterflies and must have found a very good place to shelter in out of the rain.
Posted on: 27 September, 2019
Painted Lady. Photo: David and Frances Lonsdale
David and Frances sent in this photo taken on 20/09/2019 of a rather tatty Painted Lady which they tell us has been in their garden for a few days. It has spent it’s time re-fuelling on Buddleia and despite it’s condition has still been capable of strong flight – this is one determined butterfly battling to survive for as long as possible.
Posted on: 23 September, 2019
Speckled Wood. Photo: Roger Peart
Roger sent us this photo of a Speckled Wood taken in his Merley garden on 21/09/2019 – the butterfly was high up on the leaves of a tree hence the slightly unusual angle. It is a common butterfly of woodland rides and glades but can also be found in hedgerows and some gardens.
Posted on: 23 September, 2019
Small Copper. Photo: Clive Hill
Clive sent us this photo of a rather nice example of a Small Copper he found on a visit to Brownsea Island on 19/09/2019.
Posted on: 20 September, 2019
Small Copper aberration. Photo: John Elliott
John spotted this fairly rare albino form alba of the Small Copper at Bronkham Hill at the weekend on 15/09/2019. He did well to get this photo as he told us that It’s usual hyperactive behaviour made anything other than a long range photo impossible.
Aberration is fairly frequently met with in this species and even quite small colonies can produce interesting forms year after year. It is always worth having a close look at any Small Copper that you see in the field to look for possible aberrations – 140 named aberrations of the species are known to occur in Britain.
Posted on: 20 September, 2019
Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Clive Hill
Clive saw this beautiful Small Tortoiseshell in Stourpaine on 07/09/2019 – a super photo showing the lovely colours of the butterfly against the stunning pink flower of a Buddleia.
Posted on: 18 September, 2019
More photos: Gallery Archive
