Red Admiral Nettle Butterfly ?

I think this is a Red Admiral Nettle Butterfly. We were sitting out on the deck and noticed a couple butterflies and bees swarming a place on the Red Southern Oak Tree in the back yard, They all seem to want to be in the same spot. So at a closer inspection we noticed that there was a small hole in the tree. The butterflies and bees and some ants were eating from this spot and fighting each other to get to what ever was there. Can someone explan this to us and verify that this is truly a Red admiral Nettle butterfly. This has been going on for a couple of days now. In the spot it seems to be red inside the hole that all so desperately want to stay.
Here is a picture of the butterfly

Sami

Yes, it's a Red Admiral. They are notorious for feeding on sap so perhaps the oak tree is leaking sap. You might find several of them clustering around the area as well.

~ Cat

TexasPuddyPrint

So far have only seen two at a time on the tree, we are having a good time watching them though. The bees are also trying to get the nectar too so they are fighting for the same spot.

Sami

Sami, have you put out a dish of rotting fruit like bananas? I bet they would really put on a show for you

We have Red Ads everywhere. For us they like the echinaceas.

I love these Butterflies! I only get them now and then, though! Lucky you, girls!!

Adrienne

Yes, do what Cordeledawg said - put out some fresh or rotting fruit...bananas, peaches, citrus etc. They do love coming to fruit.

~ Cat

Cordeledwag I havent put out any fruit yet but will try that. We notice yesterday when we came home down the driveway that there were several on another large oak tree. I really think these are beautiful butterflies. I also noticed when I got to my house in NC that I had some there too. They were around my butterfly bushes.

Sami