The ivy is starting to flower and combined with some sunshine it lures in the pollinators. This pristine red admiral butterfly (Vanessa Atalanta) sunned itself on the nearby laurel leaves.
It tried a variety of poses so that I could get its best side.
Most of these butterflies migrate to the UK from central Europe in May and June. As the climate has become generally milder some hibernate in the south of England.
The butterflies that are emerging now are the brood that have hatched here.
The adults feed from a variety of nectar sources, they are also partial to rotting fruit.
They lay their eggs on the larval food plant, nettles.
Having posed sufficiently, the butterfly then had a tasty snack of ivy nectar.
The ivy also attracted a rather tatty comma butterfly, along with some bees and hoverflies.
….and what a lovely sight to see. I only seem to see the white cabbage butterflies around my area.
I’m certainly seeing less variety than I used to 😦
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom and commented:
Amazing 🙂
What a beauty 🙂
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Beautiful photos.
Thank you. A lot of them were blurred as it was so windy, I don’t know how they fly in it!
The red admirals we get won’t sit still long enough to have their photos taken!
I have the same problem with the blue and the white ones!
Wonderful captures, Ratty.
Thank you 🙂
Such beautiful colours and such fragile wings. 🙂
Yes, I think this one must be newly emerged, they usually look much tattier. I’m always surprised by how little wing they need to be able to still fly about.
I guess Nature knows what its doing. 🙂
Hopefully 🙂