Painted Lady butterfles are in the news. These African migrants (no jokes about asylum seekers please) have pitched up on our shores in their thousands, even reaching the BBC news today. Apparantly the warm weather has driven them up in larger numbers than normal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8068050.stm
I've received word that these lovely beasties have been spotted in their droves in three or four locations in central Dover and down Samphire Hoe way in the last couple of days. It's not the first time we've had these in large numbers around Dover, in August 06 the Hoe was awash with them on the buddleias. Keep an eye out, here are a couple of pictures from then from the files:
Also keep an eye out for the spectacular Humming Bird Hawk Moth. Another migrant, these fantastic little moths have also been spotted locally and are a much rarer sight than the Painted Lady. These little moths look exactly as their name suggests, hanging in mid air above flowers whilst dipping their exceptionally long tongues into the nectar. Once seen, never forgotten. The following photo is one I saw in Calais in October 06, one of only three I've seen in my life, the others that year being in Dour Street, Dover, and in Portmeirion of all places! Apologies that they are not too good, but the flipping things just don't stop moving!
More info:
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2198
See, Dover isn't always a negative place to be!