Painted lady

A painted lady feeding on hardheads (Centaurea nigra) at Hawes Water in Silverdale.  This is the first I have seen this year, a year that was expected to be a very good one for them.  Have I just not been getting out enough, or have numbers not matched up to expectations - perhaps because of our wet summer?

This is a species that is unable to overwinter in the UK at any stage of its life cycle.  The appearance of adults in the north of England is a result of their irruptive dispersal from North Africa, their numbers multiplying when they stop to breed as they migrate up through Europe and Britain.  In good painted lady years, I have seen them flying over the tops of the Lake District mountains as they work their way north.  It is said to be the only species of butterfly that has been seen in Iceland.  The extra photo gives a better impression of her wing markings.

On a completely different subject, tonight Wifie and I went for a meal in No 17 - the date was meant to coincide with her birthday last Saturday, but we postponed it by a week because we were expecting visitors (who in the event couldn't come).  The meal was thanks to the lovely Sue and Chris who generously gave me a voucher for my significant birthday in June.  It was worth waiting for, and missing a rather good sunset for too!  Thank you, Sue and Chris, if you just happen to look in on this blip, you're the best.