Clouded Yellow

Now the title has grabbed your attention, here is the reality. On what was a beautiful warm day - thankfully not too hot, I visited  Anchor Bottom in search of a Clouded Yellow. Parking at the Beeding Hill car park I wandered down the fence line past the rabbit warren. Of course I located my first specimen just behind Dacre Gardens, should have used the lower car park!  A second specimen showed soon after and try as I might I couldn't get close, finally one settled about 15ft away and I managed a record shot.

 

Apart from the usual Common Blues and Meadow Browns there was little else moving, the occasional Marbled White flew past. Near the rabbit warren I stumbled upon this Wall basking in the sunshine.

 

 

Also it was nice to see some of the flowers, especially the thistles, in bloom.

 

Common Centaury, Centaurium erythraea

Carline Thistle, Carlina vulgaris



 

Unfortunately all the Ragweed and thistles that were so abundant next to the lower entrance have been cut down.

 

I also noted the vast number of Grasshoppers present, they seem to have a peaceful time of it with no predators about.

 

Field Grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus

  



So, eventually recuperating after the long uphill walk back to the car, I visited Mill Hill, parking in the car park next to the A27 bridge, and walking down the path to the lower slopes. The place was alive with butterflies, mainly Meadow Browns but also a large number of Chalkhill Blues. What I believe to be a "blue" female Common Blue caught my eye. also the Small Heaths were posing well.

  

A "blue" female Common Blue - many thanks to Colin Knight for the ID



The final list was:

Red Admiral
Peacock
Clouded Yellow
Brimstone
Large White
Small White
Common Blue
Chalkhill Blue
Marbled White
Small Heath
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Wall
Dark Green Fritillary
Painted Lady