Summer Babe

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Thames wall nr Egypt Bay, Hoo Pen., N Kent 21/8/11

I had a superb walk across the marshes at the weekend; warm, hazy weather, lovely company, a picnic largely consisting of crisps and pastries and not another soul for miles. There was a good opportunity for a bit of bird watching too; but with my eyes mostly on the lookout for migrating birds I nearly missed the small but equally impressive migrant at my feet.  It was one of my friends who spotted it basking among the weeds and debris lining the Thames wall – my first Painted Lady of the year.

It’s easy to forget that these attractive butterflies are remarkable migrants too. In fact, considering their size and apparently fragile nature, it’s astounding that they are capable of crossing mountains and oceans just like Wheatears and Whinchats and many more of our other feathered summer visitors.

Although classed as a native butterfly, Painted Ladies cannot survive our harsh, changeable winters and therefore the ones we are likely to encounter spend our winter months, in some form, in the warmer climates of southern Europe and North Africa. When summer temperatures soar in these regions and food plants die off they migrate in search of suitable conditions to feed and lay eggs. They are among the great migrants of the butterfly world and in 2009 were recorded reaching as far afield as Iceland - over 1000 miles from their natal colony. Although they regularly appear on our shores, that same year appears to have heralded one of the most incredible mass migrations in memory with the UK population being estimated at 20 MILLION Painted Ladies.

A look at the excellent Butterfly Conservation website suggests that 2011 will not be seeing any such irruption and instead they appear rather scarce. This record is one of only a handful in Kent this month.

Seen one? Add it to the list here. Next time I’m out birding, I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for these lovely ladies.