Not a great image, even with the dSLR. :-\
But I don’t see many of these species, so I have to go with this to document that Vanessa virginiensis was here this year.
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* “This species is considered to be an extremely rare natural migrant, first seen in the British Isles around August 1828 at Withybush, near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. There are less than 100 records of this species, all of which are confined to south and west coasts in both Ireland and England.
“Those reaching our shores are believed to either come from the east coast of the USA, or from the Canary Isles, Madeira or Portugal, where this species is also found in small numbers. Given the similar appearance to the Painted Lady, this rare migrant is almost certainly overlooked.”
Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
Gorgeous butterfly. We get a similar one which has irruption years when conditions are right across its ridiculously long migratory path from sub Saharan Africa to Britain and sometimes even further north. 1996 was a famous irruption. Think of the Monarchs dispersing in Spring from Mexico...we shuffled, didn't walk for fear of trampling them. A most marvellous year but sadly no photos - instamatics couldn't do the job!
In 2009 we learnt that they returned to Africa, a mystery solved at last, but not completely. Recent investigations say they go all the way back to sub Sahara. A long trip but not as long as that tiny DRagonfly whose name i STILL can't remember!!!
![Atrium [Filler]](https://media.365project.org/1/9509519_aklmny0158_sq.jpg "Atrium [Filler]")
In 2009 we learnt that they returned to Africa, a mystery solved at last, but not completely. Recent investigations say they go all the way back to sub Sahara. A long trip but not as long as that tiny DRagonfly whose name i STILL can't remember!!!