Search Results for: White Admiral

Black butterfly with white markings on some green-painted wood

White Admiral. Photos: Penny Hawes

Penny spotted this unusual sighting at Compton Acres in Poole on 17 July. It’s the first one she has seen there, and the venue is a bit surprising, but we hope it’s a genuine sighting, not a release.

Interestingly, White Admirals are often recorded on Brownsea Island, which is not that far away. There are conifers around the Compton Acres area, and butterfly expert Jeremy Thomas says: conifer plantations provide “good breeding conditions for the White Admiral, albeit for a relatively short period in their middle age, when the trees are beginning to close up, but before the woodland floor is cast into deep shade.

 

A brown and orange butterfly with blue, black and white markings nectaring on a pink flower

Painted Lady. Photo: Mark Pike

A brown and white butterfly with orange and some black markings on white flowers

White Admiral. Photo: Mark Pike

Mark sent in these two photos of a Painted Lady and White Admiral he saw at Garston Wood on 07/07/2023 commenting that the latter in particular seem to be very thin on the ground at this location this year.

A black butterfly with white and some russet colour markings on a green leaf

White Admiral ab. rufoannulata. Photo: Mark Pike

Two orange butterflies with black markings on a white flower

Silver-washed Fritillaries. Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos sent in by Mark with the following comments:

Thought I had better have a look at Alners today, 23/06/2023 as others have said there is a good show going on there at the moment.  The White Admiral is ab. rufoannulata that has the rusty colours at the tips and bottom of the wings, and is not that uncommon.

A brownish black butterfly with white markings on white bramble flowers

White Admiral. Photo: Mike Kirby

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

White Admiral. Photo: Mike Kirby

Two photos from Mike sent in with the following comments:

It was great to see such a good variety of butterflies at Alners Gorse yesterday, 21/06/2023 including Marbled Whites, Small Tortoiseshells (welcome back!), Green Hairstreak, fresh Silver-washed Fritillaries and a minimum of 8 White Admirals.

A white and orange butterfly with black and brown markings on a white flower

White Admiral. Photo: Tracy Whincup

Tracy sent in this photo of White Admiral telling us:

I’ve visited Piddles Wood in Broad Oak near Sturminster Newton several times over the last week and saw my first White Admiral there on Saturday 10/06/2023 but today, 15/06/2023 was the first time I was able to get a photo.

A brownish black butterfly with white markings on green vegetation

White Admiral, Photo: Brian Edge

Brian sent in this photo he took at Alners Gorse on 10/07/2022 telling us:

Stupefying number of butterflies here today. Don’t know what BC do but it’s spot on.  Gave up at 80 Silver-washed Fritillary.

A blackish brown butterfly with white and red markings on Alder Buckthorn flowers

White Admiral ab. rufoannulata. Photo: Mark Pike

An orange and brown butterfly on a green leaf

Small Skipper. Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in telling us:

Managed to get a couple of hours in at Alners Gorse this morning, 06/07/2022 before the usual mass of cloud put the lights out!

This lovely fresh White Admiral ab. rufoannulata (note the red markings) plonked itself down almost in front of me and proceeded to take nectar from the tiny Alder Buckthorn flowers, something I have often seen Purple Hairstreaks (and a few other species) do but never a White Admiral until today.

I also came across this weird Small Skipper that is almost displaying spots on its upper forewings, and also check out that white antenna!

A blackish butterfly with white markings on a whitish flower head

White Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

A blackish butterfly with white, brown and orange markings nectaring on a white flower

White Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

Two photos from Donald sent in telling us:

Whilst at Alners Gorse last Wednesday, 29/06/2022, I took the opportunity of walking off the reserve and onto the Ridge Drove track and bridleway heading north toward Rooksmoor. Although heavily wooded there were field gateways with pools of sunlight and banks of bramble and luckily lots of butterflies.

I am always taken aback when I see my first Silver-washed Fritillary of the year, they are so big and bright and not easily disturbed when feeding with other butterflies. Ringlets and Meadow Browns were also competing for the best flowers and often bumping each other off. Suddenly a flash of dark appeared – it was a White Admiral and only the second time I had ever seen one, the first was at Piddles Wood the previous week. Three more White Admirals appeared mostly flying in low to feed and then back up high into the trees. I just stood in awe watching these antics and their beautifully marked underwing.

Luckily they pose well and will sometimes move around in a circle whilst feeding.