This morning there was a blue sky with fluffy clouds so we decided to visit Hope Gap in search of Clouded Yellows. I spotted a male Clouded Yellow on the lower slope near the cliff edge. I chased him around for some time and he landed frequently and nectared for much longer than the Mill Hill specimen. I had to be careful in the bramble area as there were lots of rabbit holes hidden in them. Eventually cloud cover took him down for ten minutes so I was able to get close up and personal. I cannot imagine a more scenic place to search for butterflies than the Seaford Head Reserve.
he is an older specimen missing scales and the tip of a wing
I think the Clouded Yellow is one of the most beautiful butterfles in flight. The bright orange colour is spectacular against the green background. But when he goes down suddenly you can lose him as he looks like a yellow leaf, perfect camouflage at this time of the year.
Common Blue
Small Heath
Small Copper
Brimstone Moth
rabbit heaven
Viper's-bugloss, Echium vulgare
a dying stand of Viper's-buglos
Musk Mallow, Malva moschata
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