Yellow Admiral Butterfly

The first Yellow Admiral in my garden and also blipped for my journal.

The Yellow or Australian Admiral (Vanessa itea) is a butterfly native to Australia, New Zealand, Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. The Maori name is kahukowhai, which means "yellow cloak".

It is a medium-sized butterfly, with a variable wingspan of 48 to 55mm in New Zealand. The upper side of the forewings are dark brown to black toward the outer edges, with three small white patches and a wide, bright yellow bar, and dull red nearer the body. The rear wings are dull red with a black border, and a row of black circles with light blue centres near the edge. The underwings are very different - the rear wing is various shades of brown with cryptic, irregular markings; the underside of the forewing has a blue 'eye' on a black background that is highlighted by a yellow area above and below.

It is a strong, fast flier, and is thought to survive wind-blown travel from Australia to New Zealand, across the Tasman Sea.

Being long lived they often end up with damaged wing tips as this one has. The flight period of the adult covers all the warmer months of the year and so varies with location.

A much better day today, a day of pottering which I always enjoy and a very quiet neighbourhood, I think most are away.

Thought I'd get some practise using the 70-300mm lens as I'm meeting another blipper tomorrow for hopefully some bird photography.

Two things I would like to achieve this year with photography is using this lens on manual and getting the hang of the 50mm which at the moment is a bit hit and miss - we'll see how we go.

Its been another warm day, a bit breezy but most pleasant - great start to the week.

Happy Monday blippers :)