Tag Archives: Red Admiral

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

Red Admiral. Photo: Mark Hardaker

Mark sent in this photo telling us:

In the short break between storms on 15/11/2023 the warm sunshine brought out three Red Admirals in my Verwood garden. At one point they were all feeding on the same flowering bush but I missed being able to photograph them together.

A brown butterfly with some white markings on a blue flower

Red Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

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

Red Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

Two photos from Donald sent in tellings us:

We went to Kingston Lacy today, 11/11/2023 to see some trees changing colour and saw four Red Admirals. Two were in the kitchen garden feeding on the flowers and two in the house grounds. I managed to get a few photos of one feeding on a Salvia and the second one of those shows how long their proboscis is.

A brown butterfly with creamy white markings on a green leaf

Speckled Wood. Photo: Brian Arnold

A red, black and dark brown butterfly with white and blue markings on a tree trunk

Red Admiral. Photo: Brian Arnold

Two photos from Brian sent in telling us:

I have not seen any butterflies in our garden at Harman’s Cross for the past 2 weeks, possibly due to the dreadful weather. Today, 07/11/2023 is sunny and a bit warmer, so I went out in the garden to take a look and saw a Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood. The weather is due to be wet and windy again from tomorrow so maybe these will be our last garden sightings of 2023?
An orange butterfly with black, white, yellow and blue markings on a pink flower

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Warren Port

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

Red Admiral. Photo: Warren Port

Two photos, both taken in Shaftesbury and sent in by Warren – the Small Tortoiseshell was seen at Park Walk on 24/10/2023.  He also mentioned that he had seen a Peacock yesterday, 23/10/2023 and that he was still seeing quite a few Red Admirals.

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

Red Admiral. Photo: Donald Simcock

This Red Admiral, seen by Donald in his Bournemouth garden on 20/10/2023, is just one of many seen in Dorset in recent weeks.

He told us that he has seen two mass movements of them this year.  The first was in North Devon in early September just south of Hartland point on the coastal grassland where they saw many hundreds flying south along the coast in ones and twos, just at the cliff edge and they continued to see them for the rest of the days walk and also on the following day.

His next encounter was in early October just north of Royan at St Palais sur-mer in Western France. They were walking the coast path in this sprawling urban area and saw the same thing again. Hundreds of Red Admirals flying south just at the cliff edge.

A red, black and dark brown butterfly with white markings on the sandy beach

Red Admiral. Photo: Shona Refoy

A yellow butterfly with some black and white markings amongst some green and brown vegetation

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Shona Refoy

Two photos from Shona sent in telling us:

At Southbourne yesterday, 22/10/2023 I saw this Red Admiral sunbathing on the beach! It is also taking in something, probably nutrients or water, from the sand.  I also saw two Clouded Yellows whizzing around at speed (at least one of them was male) as well as this rather worn female. She was fluttering slowly above and among the undergrowth, because she was ovipositing, as can just be seen in the photo.

A red, black and dark brown butterfly with white markings on white flowers

Red Admiral. Photo: Brian Arnold

Several red, black and dark brown butterflies with white markings on a bush with white flowers

Red Admirals on white flowering shrub. Photo: Brian Arnold

Brian sent in these two photos telling us:

Our Colletia Hystrix flowers at this time of year, and has a very strong scent. It has become the flower of choice for the many Red Admirals still in our garden at Harman’s Cross.  On 15/10/2023 I counted up to 7 at a time nectaring on it. The only other butterflies we are seeing now in our garden are Speckled Woods and an occasional Small White.