Hi Colin and Sheila,
Your choice of 'late' as in 'late Peacock' is a little unfortunate on an essentially birding website. A December 'late Swallow' is indeed late regarding departure south but a 'late Peacock' in December is, of course, really an 'early' one - forced by some disturbance (including unseasonal temperatures at its hibernation site) to rouse itself early from settled hibernation.
After fluttering/flying around for a time these 'early' butterflies, such as Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals, soon return to hibernation mode......better late than never but, we all agree, better never late.
Freddy
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