Red Admirals in January? (1 Viewer)

[Gill Osborne]

I read in the Daily Mail yesterday that somebody in the South of the UK had seen a Red Admiral sunbathing in their garden on January 1st!

I was out birding at Alnwick's Hulne Park on Monday, January 1st 2007 and saw my first butterfly at 12.55pm. I'd spent the previous three hours in the Park watching various birds and deer and had a fabulous morning and was standing just outside the gates watching a Mistle Thrush guarding a berry-laden Yew Tree when I saw something flying towards me. As it approached I realised it was a butterfly and I id'd it as a Red Admiral as it flew over my head! :eek!:
It HAD been a wonderfully warm morning so this had most likely brought the butterfly out of hibernation.

Has anybody else seen a butterfly this year - or this early any other years? My previous earliest-date was 26th February 2005 when I had a Peacock in my garden.

 

[dbradnum]

Not seen one in person yet this year, but there's been several Red Admirals reported in my neck of the woods in 2007, including a Brimstone.

 

[Mark43]

At least 4 Red Admirals in the sightings book at RSPB Pulborough Brooks,Sussex for this week.

 

[Wildmoreway]

In "normal" years it is reasonable to see Small Tortoiseshells in places sheltered from the wind from the last week in February if the conditions are sunny and warm and to see the Brimstone during the second week of March, generally the next species I see (mid March) is the Comma and the peacock from around about the 20th of March.

I usually see at least a couple of pierids (either Small or Green-veined White) before the end of March and I have also seen my namesake the Speckled Wood around this time.

In my experience, door not expect regular butterfly sightings (even on warm Sunny days) until the last few days of March.

 

[Gill Osborne]

In my experience, do not expect regular butterfly sightings (even on warm Sunny days) until the last few days of March.

Yes, previous to my seeing the Peacock in 2005 all other butterfly sightings had been in mid-March/early April.

 

[MlZad]

I saw today (05.01.2007.) a Peacock. He managed to get into our vacation cottage (we don't know how) so I had to let him out again.

 

[stuart C smith]

I read in the Daily Mail yesterday that somebody in the South of the UK had seen a Red Admiral sunbathing in their garden on January 1st!

I was out birding at Alnwick's Hulne Park on Monday, January 1st 2007 and saw my first butterfly at 12.55pm. I'd spent the previous three hours in the Park watching various birds and deer and had a fabulous morning and was standing just outside the gates watching a Mistle Thrush guarding a berry-laden Yew Tree when I saw something flying towards me. As it approached I realised it was a butterfly and I id'd it as a Red Admiral as it flew over my head! :eek!:
It HAD been a wonderfully warm morning so this had most likely brought the butterfly out of hibernation.

Has anybody else seen a butterfly this year - or this early any other years? My previous earliest-date was 26th February 2005 when I had a Peacock in my garden.

i have a red admiral sunbathing in my back garden today at 2pm, also i have two lots of wild primroses in full bloom.

 

[aeshna5]

Yesterday I was birding at Lynford Arboretum, Norfolk + saw both Red Admiral + a female Brimstone in flight. It wasn't even sunny; mild (9 degrees) + overcast. Made a nice bonus to Hawfinches, Bullfinches, Siskin + Marsh Tit!

 

[Stranger]

On the Tarka Trail between Fremington and Instow a Red Admiral flew in off the sea today.

 

[Gill Osborne]

WOW!!! Butterflies everywhere....did I blink and miss winter?

 

[Tri-Counties Birder]

It was nice and sunny in most parts today so I suspect there were plenty of butterflies out. I myself saw a Red Admiral this afternoon in a wood in Sussex.

 

[da2m]

i saw one in torquay today. it was flying against a shop window. it must have been trying to get the last of the bargins!

 

[Kev Rylands]

My second Red Admiral of the year at the Warren today, also first Small Tortoiseshell of the year. Had Peacock there last week as well.

Red Admirals in Exeter and Gloucestershire last week as well.

 

[Saerwen]

While out walking around Lytchett Bay today we spotted a Red Admiral and saw another in our back garden a couple of hours later along with a 7 spotted ladybird. What a weird winter.

 

[Andrew]

Just had at least three Red Admirals in our garden.

 

[Johnny1]

I also had a Red Admiral flying around my garden on Sunday (14th)

 

[Imaginos]

Many of these sightings will be hibernating individuals confused by the higher than normal temperatures, there are also some queen bumblebees out and about already. Unfortunately, unless they can find a nectar source they will probably die of starvation before the inevitable cold snap kills them off. If you do find butterflies inside, try not to disturb them, but if you have to remove them, place them somewhere with plenty of shelter (e.g. a garden shed or similar). Some sugar water, or even honey may give them the energy to survive too.
With the increasing chance of warm winters this is going to become a more common phenomenon. Those with gardens may want to consider planting winter flowering plants (e.g. some varieties of heather and lavender) in order to ensure a food source for these individuals.

 

[Wildmoreway]

With these numbers of Red Admirals being seen and the mild conditions it would be interesting to know whether they are awakened hibernated specimens or freshly emerged from pupa, regardless it is increasing chances of some of them surviving through the winter and mating around the begining of April. It will be intersting to see if we get offspring from them in late May/early June.

Glad to see a few familiar names from another group.

 

[mothman]

Red admiral yesterday in Hungerford High St,looking around the eaves of buildings,trying desperately to find somewhere to settle presumably to continue hibernation.

 

[sphinx]

Red admiral yesterday in Hungerford High St,looking around the eaves of buildings,trying desperately to find somewhere to settle presumably to continue hibernation.

Hope they all find somewhere to continue hibernation as it looks like temperatures are going to fall next week.