by Ian Bushell
After the article on Sunday about the Small Copper, I have noticed at the reserve that there are many Red Admirals flying around. I can guarantee seeing some almost every time I visit but I was stunned over this weekend to see so many. There is Ivy now in flower and the most I have seen around a flowering Ivy bush are at least a dozen.
I don’t know whether these are the latest hatchings [from the nettle beds] that will migrate or possibly over winter here, or if they are the latest wave of immigrants from mainland Europe. I suspect that they are hatchlings because they are all absolutely pristine and beautiful.
Southwick Country Park Nature Reserve 