Hinton Ampner NT - Red Admirals. Visited to Hinton Ampner and our late morning arrival was greeted by sunshine. A total of 7 Red Admirals were seen in and around the gardens. [Posted by Nic Burns]
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| Red Admiral Photo © Nic Burns | Red Admiral Photo © Nic Burns | Red Admiral Photo © Nic Burns |
Moth trap on in my Garden at Leigh Park. I had my moth trap on overnight in my garden at Leigh Park from 27th Oct into the following morning. I caught 23 species which is a good selection for late Oct. Some of the highlights included Scarce Bordered Straw, Small Mottled Willow, Vestal, 2 Green-brindled Crescent, Blair's Shoulder-knot, 4 Rush Veneer, Red-green Carpet, Merveille du jour, Mallow, Black Rustic, Feathered Thorn, L-album Wainscot etc. [Posted by Barry Collins]
Chilling to Brownwich Shore & Cliffs, Titchfield. Just three species seen this afternoon on a blustery walk along the cliffs towards Brownwich returning via the Chilling Woods' pathway, past Brownwich Pond and then back to the cliffs and car park at Titchfield Haven foreshore (1310-1500). The temperature stood at 17.5C throughout but the southerly breeze was strong along the shore and cliff top path. Only one Clouded Yellow seen here but it was soon swept away inland on the wind. Total: Red Admiral (1); Speckled Wood (F)(1)(M)(1); Clouded Yellow (M)(1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Speckled Wood male faded and worn Photo © Francis Plowman | Female Speckled Wood in excellent colour Photo © Francis Plowman |
Hillier Gardens. Another visit to Hillier Gardens in warm sunshine rewarded us with a brace of Red Admirals and a late Painted Lady. At this time of year we always head for the 'Winter Garden', where an unusual and very spiky looking plant, Colletia paradoxa (native to South America), is in full flower. The numerous small flowers this plant produces are clearly nectar-rich, as there's almost always a butterfly or two to be seen. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Red Admiral on Colletia paradoxa Photo © Andy Barker | Painted Lady Photo © Andy Barker | Colletia paradoxa Photo © Andy Barker |
Clouded Yellow (Southampton). Although the 2022 butterfly season is drawing to a close, it's still worth watching out for late species of interest. Clouded Yellow in particular is still doing well. In today's warm sunshine, a brief visit to Southampton Common and the Old Cemetery gave a lovely view of a Clouded Yellow nectaring on Common Ragwort. If you haven't seen this species yet, your best option is to head to the coast, or go to a sheltered meadow or chalk downland, where there are still a few flowers about to provide nectar. If the weather stays mild, this species can keep going right through November, and into early December. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Clouded Yellow on Ragwort Photo © Andy Barker |
Small Coppers at Miller's Pond, Southampton. Popped down for a short return visit to Miller's Pond early afternoon while the sun was still out. I was looking for a "blue" I had seen yesterday which I only managed a quick phone camera shot of (Common Blue or a very late Chalk Hill Blue?)
Needless to say I didn't find it again but did see two Small Whites on the wing and came across two Small Coppers which were happy to pose for me. [Posted by Nic Burns]
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| The Photo © Nic Burns | Small Copper Photo © Nic Burns | Small Copper Photo © Nic Burns |
Hillier Gardens. A visit to Hillier Gardens in warm sunny conditions was rewarded with Red Admiral (3) and Brimstone (2 male, 1 female), Small White (2) and Speckled Wood. The Red Admirals were seen nectaring on Abelia 'Pleasant Surprise' and Colletia sp. At the same location the day before I was lucky enough to see a male Clouded Yellow. [Posted by Andy Barker]
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| Brimstone (male) Photo © Andy Barker | Red Admiral on Abelia Photo © Andy Barker | Red Admiral basking Photo © Andy Barker |
Southampton Common late entries. A brief walk (20 mins.) around the northernmost paths of Southampton Common revealed Speckled Wood (4); two in mid-courtship dance. [Posted by Jon H-D]
Chilling to Brownwich Shore & Cliffs, Titchfield. Under clear blue skies and virtually zero wind a walk to the cliffs at Brownwich between 1130-1410 was a real pleasure. The temperature rose from 16.5C to 18.5C and the butterflies seemingly took as much advantage of the weather as I. Still the field of winter fodder on the cliff-top remains extant where Small White predominates with only two Clouded Yellow (one a female) seen here. The picture changed markedly on the shore at Brownwich at the point where the cliff pathway descends to the beach. Here three male Clouded Yellow were putting up a spirited tussle and regularly patrolled up and down the base of the cliffs as if aware of the presence of a female. Sure enough, an f. helice variety emerged and settled on a dandelion but only for a few seconds before she was chased by one of the males. Without changing my camera setting (1/1600) when trying to get a mid-air shot of the three mobile males, I clicked away as the female landed and rejected the intrusion of her suitor. I was very pleasantly surprised at the resulting - very flukey - photograph! Red Admiral numbers were up with most feeding in the sunshine on ivy floret. It's quite a trek from the Chilling car park to the shoreline but always rewarding. Total: Large White (4); Speckled Wood (3); Red Admiral (8); Small White (15); Clouded Yellow (M)(4)(F)(2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Clouded Yellow male on cliff side Photo © Francis Plowman | Female Small White & Large White caterpillar Photo © Francis Plowman | Clouded Yellow f. helice (left) & male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. The non-forecasted but most welcome sunshine from midday allowed a short walk (1230-1345) by the end of which the temperature was 16.5 degrees Celsius. The overnight downpour was apparent in heavy ground and puddles but three species were still found. Sadly, the end of season here is nigh. Total: Red Admiral (4); Speckled Wood (5); Small White (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Wing-damaged Red Admiral Photo © Francis Plowman |
Meon Shore & Brownwich Cliff Top Path towards Solent Breezes. A glorious weather-day with temperatures reaching 16.5 degrees on a walk from 1130-1430 realised sightings of five species. Initially there was hardly a hint of a breeze and The Solent was millpond calm. I was hoping to see Clouded Yellow today and was not disappointed! At least 18 were counted but likely I missed many more. At one time 4 were in sight at once and turning around saw another 3. The farmer has yet to cut the cliff-top-long field edge with its brassica and strewn with wild flowers. The last yellow seen was another female f. helice which was feeding on the cliff-top edge. Quite a remarkable walk. Total: Small White (53); Speckled Wood (M)(2); Red Admiral (4); Clouded Yellow (F)(3)(M)(15); Large White (M)(2). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Clouded Yellow male Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Clouded Yellow female on cabbage Photo © Francis Plowman |
Seafield Park & Monks Hill Promenade, Hill Head. Just three species seen today on a warm walk (18C) from 1215-1330. One solitary Common Blue was found today in the enclosed park. Unusually the Clouded Yellow was also seen here quartering the area but it did not stop. Only two Small White were found along the promenade field where the strong wind off the sea was disruptive. However, returning through the park the Clouded Yellow was found settled and allowed brief distant photography before once again disappearing at speed! Total: Common Blue (M)(1); Clouded Yellow (1); Small White (3). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Common Blue male Photo © Francis Plowman | Same butterfly Photo © Francis Plowman | Clouded Yellow Photo © Francis Plowman |
Portsdown Hill, Paulsgrove. An extended walk along the top paths from opposite Fort Widley, westwards and returning by a lower path (above the chalk pit area) realised sightings of six species. From 1200-1450 the sun shone throughout, hardly a breeze and with the temperature rising from 15.5C at the start to 17.5C back at the Fort Widley car park. Top honours go to Meadow Brown - 24 females recorded. A lovely surprise was seeing four Brimstone, three males and one female and one of each sex of Clouded Yellow. The male had a brief and pointless encounter with a Brimstone male which allowed a grainy photograph that at least determined the sex of the Colias crocea. No sign of any blues. The view across The Solent today was nothing less than spectacular. Total: Large White (3); Meadow Brown (F)(24); Red Admiral (6); Brimstone (M)(3)(F)(1); Clouded Yellow (M)(1)(F)(1); Small White (5). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Brimstone male Photo © Francis Plowman | Meadow Brown female shimmering in the sun! Photo © Francis Plowman | Meadow Brown female Photo © Francis Plowman |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. A 'perfect' 7 species recorded today on a breezy expedition from 1140-1415 with sunny intervals and temperature around 17C. Numbers are falling-off markedly but it was good to see a late Holly Blue (likely a male) on the wing in the butterfly meadow. Speckled Wood was represented by some immaculate males with no confirmed sighting of a female today. Total: Small White (M)(2)(F)(1); Speckled Wood (M)(7); Comma (1); Red Admiral (2); Small Copper (1); Large White (M)(3); Holly Blue (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White female and incoming bee! Photo © Francis Plowman | Small Copper male Photo © Francis Plowman |
October Blues on Portsdown Hill. It really didn’t seem like a butterfly day as I watched the torrential rain fall throughout the morning but at lunchtime the the sun came out and so did a few butterflies. A dog walk along Portsdown Hill threw up at least two Clouded Yellows and and October Common Blue. The Clouded Yellows were manic when the sun was out but with temperature still only about 14c, so as soon as the cloud came over they became very torpid and approachable.
Certainly brightened up the day. [Posted by Mark Tutton]
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| October Blue Photo © Mark Tutton | Torpid Clouded Yellow Photo © Mark Tutton |
Browndown (South) Gosport. An amazing transformation in the weather today saw us head for Browndown (1300-1500) when the temperature was around 17 deg C (rising later to 19 degrees) with light westerly breezes. Apart from the whites, numbers of species have dropped away and it was pretty hard going to find four. Nevertheless, the heather has returned to splendid colour and a sleepy fox added further interest. Also, a really large and intact Small Copper was found egg-laying deep in the grass. Total: Large White (M)(3); Small White (19); Small Copper (M)(1)(F)(1); Speckled Wood (M)(1)(F)(1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Small Copper female egg-laying Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood female Photo © Francis Plowman | Small White male Photo © Francis Plowman |
Monks Walk, Frater Fields & Woods, Gosport. October's account started with just five species on my wander around Monks Walk from 1120-1330 when the temperature was 18.5 deg C with occasional warm sunshine. The strong westerly breeze was not a problem here but most butterflies were found sun-loving in protected glades. Total: Red Admiral (3); Speckled Wood (M)(7)(F)(2); Large White (M)(3); Small White (3); Comma (1). [Posted by Francis Plowman]
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| Large White male Photo © Francis Plowman | Speckled Wood male Photo © Francis Plowman | Red Admiral male with left hind-wing damage Photo © Francis Plowman |
Eastney Beach. Bright but breezy conditions greeted me on the eastern flank of my local beach and the Clouded Yellows were still in evidence with about 6 seen. They are unfortunately looking a bit tired now and they are so tame I even had one on my index finger. I even had a wasp photobomb the picture as the Clouded Yellow refused to move, however when the wasp decided to attack it it soon moved! Other species seen were a few Large Whites and a few Small Whites, the Common Blues seem to have disappeared and the Small Copper still hasn't made an entrance. Along the beach I did see a couple of Common Terns patrolling up the shingle, which was a surprise. [Posted by Ashley Whitlock]
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| Clouded Yellow being attacked by a wasp... Photo © Ashley Whitlock | Close up of a Clouded Yellows head Photo © Ashley Whitlock | Peace at last Photo © Ashley Whitlock |