Orange-tips in a woodland ride

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

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This afternoon we braved a 30 minute queue at the notorious Crossbush roundabout at Arundel to visit the bluebell woods on the Angmering Estate. It turned out to be an worthwhile decision as we quickly saw a male Orange-tip, my first of the year. It nectared on Bluebells and Wood Anemones. Then a female Orange-tip came into view. They briefly met, and the female indicated she had already mated and was not receptive by bending up the tip of her abdomen. There was a carpet of Wood Anemones beside the main rides and a few bluebells among them.

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines female

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines female

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines female

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines female

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Orange-tip, Anthocharis cardamines male

Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa

Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa

This ride is where the Orange-tips were nectaring

Wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa