We’ve lived down here for 30 years and I’ve run, walked and cycled the bridleway from Locks Heath cricket club grounds to Brownwich Beach many hundreds of times. I have read the Hampshire County Council notice board that tells me about the local fauna and flora, but I never seen one of the ‘white admiral’ butterflies they claim can be seen in and around the woods. That was until last Saturday on the return leg of my run. Across my path fluttered a large black butterfly with white banded wings. A beautiful creature, perfectly formed. I watched it for a minute or so until it flew away.
The next day, Fiona and I walked the path to the beach. It was a long walk, we were out for almost 3 hours. On the way home we again spotted a white admiral which made the long walk in the hot weather well worth it. However, we had forgotten to bring the camera along.
I was determined to get a photo of such a beautiful creature so returned again to the woods on Thursday armed with my camera and plenty of patience. This is what I saw:
White Admiral 
White Admiral 
White admiral
Link to more butterfly photos: butterflies