On Fri, 5 Jan 2018 13:23:10 +0000, Jeff Layman
wrote:

On 05/01/18 11:52, Chris Hogg wrote:

"The name ‘red admiral’ apparently comes from a corruption of the
original 18th-century name ‘red admirable’."

and on the same page:

"The first admirals to be spotted here in spring, sometimes as early
as February, may well have managed to overwinter in the south of
England as adults,

Yes, I had identified it before posting, but thought it would make an
interesting surprise. I have seen them in March, but never so early in
the year. And this winter has been a lot colder and wetter than the four
previously we've experienced here in south central Hampshire. It was
pretty warm yesterday (12 deg C), so maybe that's what brought it out.

Not yesterday but i saw one in the weeks leading up to Christmas on a
couple of occasions when the Sun was warming the air, lives in one of
the sheds.
Hampshire- Dorset border.


I guess it must be finding nectar somewhere (ivy flowers?) but can't see
it surviving for long.
There is some Winter Honeysuckle out plus some Heathers.
And a marsh marigold in the edge of the Pond has never really stopped
flowering so there is some sustenance around.

Seen a couple of bees around as well.


G.Harman