Encore - Red Admiral Migration

April 25, 2015

EPOD_EncoreRed Admiral Migration

Take a look back at some of the EPODs our viewers found particularly eye-catching. Today, and every Saturday, EPOD invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers’ Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.
_________________________________________________


Photographer
: Jeanette Stafford
Summary Author
: Jeanette Stafford

The photo above shows a brilliant Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterfly alighting on fall foliage near Glasgow, Scotland. Red Admirals used to be only summer visitors to the U. K., seen between May and September. However, since the 1990s they’ve been overwintering in greater and greater numbers and are now noted in every month of the year, although generally in the more southerly and warmer parts of the U.K. Red Admiral numbers fluctuate from year to year depending on migrations from central Europe, but the resident population remains quite small. This (2009) has been an especially good summer for seeing Red Admirals in Scotland; many of which could be observed feeding on common nectar sources such as the butterfly bush or buddleia (Buddleia davidii). Most of these gorgeous butterflies are now migrating southward, in response to the shorter length of day and more frequent northerly winds. Photograph taken at Mugdock Country Park on a brisk October day a few years back, not far from Glasgow, Scotland.