Unexpected visitor

My mum had an unexpected visitor in her room this morning.
A very beautiful butterfly that we didn't have in the UK came in through her french windows and couldn't find its way out again. I took advantage to get some photos and then caught it gently and opened my hands outside. It wandered up and down my finger opening and closing its wings for a while and then flew off.

It's a Southern White Admiral, and here are its underneaths ;)

Oh yes, that's pretty! I prefer its underside. You must be enjoying getting to know the new flora and fauna.

Yes, I like the underside too. Isn't the white furry body amazing? and the patterns on the wings are a delight. It's even more special in the flesh (as I suppose are most things)

Mmmm I love the new things to explore. There are loads of grasshoppers and crickets and the toads are HUGE!

What an incredibly beautiful butterfly! Never seen anything like it!

How wonderful to see pictures like this from other countries. Thank you,
philomel, for showing this lovely butterfly.
Maria

I was so lucky that it walked up the window pane so I could get the picture of its underside through the glass from outside. It's not quite sharp as it was taken through the double glazing

Thanks for your kind comments all

lovely photos, what a beautiful butterfly.
i was just thinking that I'd not seen one like that when i remembered that you'd moved to France!!..

Thanks Sue
They're a little similar to the White Admiral, which is found in the UK, but not common.
I believe the numbers are on the increase, particularly in the Forest of Dean area in Gloucestershire.
I'd never seen one in the UK

Philomel, What a lovely butterfly, another of Gods gorgeous creatures, I used to visit the San Diego Zoo a lot when all of theirs would be changing...they are from all over the world of course and it is a lovely butterfly exhibit....[actually fantastic but I love to see them fluttering around the garden in their natural habitat]
I did not realise when we planted all of our passion flower vines, that the vines are a host plant, so now, every year there are hundreds of butterflies [ Monarchs] and the leaves crawling with caterpillers [ maybe one of these days when I learn how to take pictures I can post] only a few of them left now, the caterpillars are getting big and fat. marion

Hundreds? I hope you are a quick learner and post soon!

Hello Imway2dumb...actually i'm way too dummer than anyone when it comes to computors philomel has already explained to me but was as clear as mud [ not her explanations...me]
I have a newly arrived lap-top not yet installed [ waiting on my son to set it up] right now I have webtv...o'k for emails but not much else...One of these days I will surprise everyone and post the best pictures [ I HOPE]...strangely enough I had intended a few years ago to visit San Fransisco to see their Monarchs..lovely sight as they all huddle together by the hundreds or maybe thousands on some trees [ sorry cannot remember the name of the trees] but now I have my own only they don't huddle, but
lovely to see......

Ahhh. You might be "dummer" about computers but, I run the full gamut of dumb!

Imway2dumb....I doubt that I couldn't even spell dumber properly and that still does not look right, but who is noticing ??? good that we can have a laugh about it tho, the world is too serious by far.... dumb dumb me

Maybe we are the real "Dumb and Dumber!"

You two are a panic, LOL
Maria

Imway2dumb....Isn't it lovely to agree...sigh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps HI MARIA LOOKING GOOD !!!!!

"Say goodnight, Gracie." ;-)

Goodnight Gracie :)

LOL

RETURNS !!!!

Oooh you're so lucky to have Monarchs peterson!!
I'd love to see one. Apparently they do turn up here sometimes if they take a wrong turning on migration, so I'll be keeping my eyes skinned if that's not too painful ;)
Here's a brill site about them http://www.monarchwatch.org/

I'm sure there's somewhere in the instructions for this site that explains how to post photos much better than I can - I just can't find it! If I do I'll put in the link :)

I just found it in the Forums FAQ