plenty of white admirals today

[Naturenutz]

Saw plenty of white adnirals in a wood in gloucestershire today .But trying to photograph them in this hot weather was almost impossible ,they were very active.

[Jason Claxton]

I saw quite a few today,same problem they wouldn't stay still,I didn't even see any nectaring on Bramble flowers yet either,which is a good way to get a photo.

Cheers Jason

[aeshna5]

I found 12 White Admirals in Ruislip Woods today- my first for the year.

[Naturenutz]

The ones i saw on saturday would fly along the low brambles along the woodland edge until no more brambles, and then fly up in the oak trees all the way along the tree line then back down along the brambles , a repeating flight path without ever landing.Is this territorial behaviour,if not what are they doing ? ,do ANY butterflies set up territories? ,or is it they just defend where ever they may have landed. Would you see the same butterfly in the same spot day after day ?
cheers
vic

[basquesteve]

Speckled Woods are notorious for setting up a territory sitting on the same same twigs /leaves. It has been known to "attack" birds and get away with it.

I think your Admiral was looking to mate, what sex was it?

[Naturenutz]

All the admirals i saw were doing the same steve.Although i was often not close enough to see clearly ,once you've seen one you can spot the flight pattern from a distance.

[Susie]

Yes, white admirals have territories to a degree and will search the same area of trees and along woodland rides looking for a mate.

There were at least 50 plus of these today at Southwater Woods.

[Za]

I got lucky and had some later in the afternoon that were probably tired out and I got some pictures




Same with these silver Washed Fritillaries, active all morning, calmed down later in the afternoon and hung around





Za

[Naturenutz]

Well done Za you have had more luck than me photographing them,i have a few shots of them high up on branches,but i never got anywhere close to getting a close up.I am planning another trip early or late to hopefully catch them feeding on the brambles,luckily they are not too far from me .

[Susie]

I managed to get a couple of shots today but already they are starting to look tatty.