Holiday Butterflies (3): White Admiral, Holt Country Park

 

In my previous post I mentioned Holt Country Park, where we saw our first Silver-washed Fritillary butterflies last month. In fact I also saw my first White Admirals. David had seen a single White Admiral days before at NWT Hickling Broad Reserve, where we were really looking for Swallowtails. I had missed it, so was particularly pleased to find these striking butterflies at Holt. I was surprised, however, to discover how (relatively) small they were, but perhaps that is in comparison with the Swallowtails and Fritillaries. I reckon they are about the same size as a Red Admiral. 

I love the almost tiger-like markings in the photo below.

The larvae only feed on Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). Adults can be found on nectar-rich brambles. At the present time these butterflies can be found in shady areas roughly from Lincolnshire to Devon.