This has been a big year for Red Admirals around here. The first ones I saw were very skittish and fluttered in jerks around the garden, rarely landing on anything for more than a second or two. I was not able to get any photographs. They seem to settle down with age and I was able to take these photos a couple of weeks ago on a walk along the Zumbro River and then also in our garden. 
They love the purple coneflowers and liatris.
Once they find a coneflower they like they will go from floret to floret like the big hand circling a clock face. I was able to get right up on the one in montage below as it made a complete circuit round the flower. 
This one was showing its age in its tattered wings and faded colors, but its appetite was undiminished!
Lovely photos of the Red Admirals, they seem to be identical to our species, do they lay their eggs on the Stinging Nettles ? it's the main food supply for the caterpillars over here in the British Isles
ReplyDeleteThey are a lovely species Wilma. That one is probably towards the end of its time as they hibernate through the winter and look pretty rough afterwards.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of one of my favourite butterflies. I like them because they are equally attractive with closed wings. I was really surprised that you have the same species as us!
ReplyDeleteHi Wilma,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful set of composed pictures, full of colours!! Just splendid. I hope we will have one day some butterflies over here ;-)
Hi wilma, sorry I've been a bit slack in visiting your blog. Great pics of the butterflys, and I just loved the Racoon post - I was horrified to think you'd had a break in..............
ReplyDeleteThese are great pictures Wilma. They are a beautiful butterfly. Like Phil, I was surprised you have the same species as us.....or we have the same as you lol
ReplyDeleteDavid - in North America, they lay eggs on many flowering plants. We do have plenty of stinging nettles nearby.
ReplyDeleteRoy - it was pretty rough looking. I am just impressed that they can make it through one of our winters!
Phil - This species is one of the most ubiquitous butterflies and is found around the entire Northern Hemisphere through Asia, Easetern and Western Europe, North America. They are real survivors.
Chris - I guess I should add they aren't everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere!
Tony - I appreciate your visits any time you get around to them! Glad you like the raccoon post. :-)
Keith - thank you. I knew they looked the same and good old wikipedia came through with the details!
cheers,
Wilma