With yesterday's temperature struggling to reach 15C, and with a nasty wind and a grey overcast, we couldn't really expect to see any butterflies in the garden but when this morning dawned bright and warm I set out to record what was coming in to the garden, starting with the butterfly which, this year, has consistently been around, a beautiful painted lady. I expected 'her' to be joined by the other species which has been a regular visitor, the red admiral, but none appeared, their place being taken by....
....this tortoiseshell, a butterfly we haven't seen in some time. It was joined by another butterfly which I didn't expect to see again this season....
....a rather moth-eaten peacock, again a butterfly which hasn't been around for a week or so.
They were joined by a day-flying moth, one which was in the garden not many days ago, a silver Y, this picture showing well how it obtained its name.
It does seem that the butterflies are on the wing as long as the temperature is 15C or over, and as long as there is some sunshine. I'm determined to record the last butterfly of the season which I am betting will be what I have voted in as the 'Butterfly of the Year', the painted lady.
A superb picture of the Silver Y, Jon. I tried photographing one earlier this year and the only time it settled to chance a photograph, it retreated deep into the grass. The four Clouded Yellow butterflies we had in our garden this autumn disappeared after six weeks of almost daily appearance. Another visited us last week and I saw another up in the village. I'm sure this will designated a Clouded Yellow year, and certainly is my 'butterfly of the year' in Devon.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely no clouded yellows up here.... sadly. Jon
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