On December 23rd a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) was seen flying about the Mahonia near the entrance to the Dinosaur Trail. The butterfly didn’t stand still for long, but when it did finally settle, it did so twenty some feet up on the trunk of a Loblolly Pine. It was a stretch, but I managed to get one shot of the butterfly.
Red Admirals may overwinter as adults, venturing out on relatively warm winter days.
Red Admirals are just one of a handful of butterflies that can be seen in winter. Question Mark, Eastern Comma, American Snout, and Mourning Cloak are other species which may be encountered on a warm winter’s day stroll through the woods in our area.
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