Admiring Admirals

A short wander around the patch this morning.

I was surprised how windy it was upon stepping outside of the front door, and wondered whether this would affect the activity of the flying insects during my walk.  It did for a large part, except for a small flush of water mint (Mentha aquatica) along the River Len, which was absolutely buzzing with life!  It was here that a flight of Red Admirals were busy feasting on the nectar – one our most striking of butterflies.

It certainly seems a good year for Red Admirals locally, but I am not complaining, as although they are one of our most bold and easily identified butterflies, they are definitely a favourite of mine.

The bird-life in Mote Park remains fairly quiet at the moment as autumn begins to creep in, but the hedgerows are busy highways of activity with Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps feeding up before their migration south.  It was lovely to see a female Kestrel feeding over the parkland west of Mote House, a Grey Heron was stood at the mouth of the River Len patiently waiting for fish to drift past.  Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, and Goldcrests were all heard.