Red Admiral in October

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Red Admiral in October

October 15, 2020 by Mike Powell

Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) are quite common in my area, but for some unknown reason I have not seen very many of them this year. I was therefore quite happy to spot this one during a recent visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In this image, the red leaf in the bottom of the frame helps to remind us that we are well into autumn and more and more of the foliage is changing colors or dropping to the ground—after a recent heavy rainstorm, the grown was covered with fallen leaves.

Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red Admiral, Red Admiral butterfly, Tamron 180mm, Vanessa atalanta, Woodbridge VA | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on October 15, 2020 at 10:41 am | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

I recommend everyone open this large. Quite the photograph.
- on October 15, 2020 at 10:52 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ted, for the recommendation. I post almost all my photos larger than necessary, specifically to allow viewers to double-click them and see them in greater detail.
  - on October 15, 2020 at 11:14 am Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
    
    That’s why I do most work on a PC, large monitor.
on October 15, 2020 at 3:06 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

Beautiful markings! Our red admirals are just getting going 🙂
- on October 15, 2020 at 5:39 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. I just checked and it looks like your red admirals are a different species from ours, although they seem to be closely related.
  - on October 15, 2020 at 6:05 pm Ms. Liz
    
    Yes, although I didn’t check it out myself I thought ours are different!
  - on October 15, 2020 at 6:16 pm Mike Powell
    
    They are both of the genus Vanessa–yours is Vanessa gonerilla, while mine is Vanessa atalanta. 🙂
  - on October 15, 2020 at 6:26 pm Ms. Liz
    
    What odd names!
on October 15, 2020 at 5:37 pm | Reply Reed Andariese

Beautiful image Mike! Great shot!
- on October 15, 2020 at 5:40 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. I have to snag all of the butterfly shots that I can while they are still around. 🙂
on October 15, 2020 at 6:19 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

Wow, fantastic colour!
on October 15, 2020 at 7:13 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Great photo, Mike. There is so much of interest at this time of year.
on October 16, 2020 at 5:52 pm | Reply Steve Gingold

Lovely shot, Mike. Our numbers are dwindling and I did not see an admiral this year at all. The only Vanessa I have seen is our neighbor down the street. 🙂
- on October 16, 2020 at 11:20 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  🙂
on October 18, 2020 at 7:13 am | Reply mitzybricker

Such a wonderful butterfly! I see them often around the flowers in the garden!

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- on October 18, 2020 at 9:16 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy. I suspected that there were lots of them around and I may merely have been looking for them at the wrong times or in the wrong places.
on October 18, 2020 at 3:01 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Oh my! The pattern on the antennae is mimic-ed on the legs! Wonderful, Mike!