Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

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2023 photographs highlighted in green. Click on any photograph to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.

43034_male_Côte-d'Or_01Jun17 48856_male_Aisne_28Jul21 48868_male_Aisne_28Jul21 38115_male_Hautes-Alpes_6Jul15
     
18319_female_Isère_13Jul09      

A beautiful butterfly, especially when fresh, a jet black upperside ground colour with a velvety appearance. I saw very few in 2006 until late September when there was quite an influx of what I assume were migrants.

This northerly migration continued with exceptional numbers seen in the UK in October 2006, no doubt assisted by the mild weather in the UK. In 2007 to 2015 there has been a very late influx in southern Var in late September/early October, although in relatively small numbers.

 

As a post-script, 2023 was an exceptional year for atalanta in England, with record numbers being seen almost everywhere.

ref sex

observations

alt. m
43034 M a rare opportunity for an upperside shot, even though it was constantly moving while taking salts from the ground. 430
48856 M a male, based on its behaviour of taking salts from the ground. It was one of three skitting around in close proximity. 48868 may or may not have been the underside. 50
48868 M also a male, if not the underside of 48856, then one of the other two in close proximity. 50
28115 M a male, puddling at rather high altitudes. 2020
18319 M

a male underside, showing the complex patterning. If it were rare, we would be gasping in admiration.

1120

 

43034_male_Côte-d'Or_01Jun17

 

48856_male_Aisne_28Jul21

 

48868_male_Aisne_28Jul21

 

38115_male_Hautes-Alpes_6Jul15

 

18319_female_Isère_13Jul09