2003 was an exceptional year for cardui and huge numbers arrived in the UK. At the very end of September 2003 and they were still arriving in numbers at the Dorset coast on the cliffs. In 2006 in southern France they were present everywhere in huge numbers, especially on buddleia bushes where they could be counted in tens on each bush. They have mass migrations from north Africa in exceptional years and may even be semi-resident in the extreme south of Europe.

All of this was dwarfed by 2009 - the "Painted Lady Year" - when the migration was enormous, with a billion estimated to have reached the UK. I witnessed the start of the migration in southern France with a trail where one was flying overheard every three seconds for hours on end and this was being repeated all across the south coast of France. On my route back to the UK in July I saw hundreds on Buddleia bushes just south of Calais.

observations

a fresh specimen, showing the beautiful fiery orange of the uph.

a slightly worn individual, perhaps not surprising for a migrant.

I suspect this is a female based on body shape and length, but cannot say I have seen what is clearly a male.

I would guess this is male, without any convincing reason. It is rather worn but even so the unh marking seem quite dark and dull.

the body shape suggested this was a female.