It has snowed a lot over the last few days, though at my altitude the snow has alternated with rain too. This photo was taken on my morning walk:
Despite the snow and the low temperatures I thought it was probably worth looking for butterflies in the valley, so Minnie and I headed off, later than usual, to see what was about.
Midday temperatures were around 4°C - 5°C, with a constant breeze making it feel colder. In exposed places there was no snow ...
... but wherever there was shade snow persisted:
This is the field where I get my late autumn butterfly photos:
Unsurprisingly, then, butterflies were very thin on the ground. To be exact, I saw two small coppers, one clouded yellow and one Queen of Spain. The clouded yellow flew across the track from a clover field with a laboured flight, but despite obviously having difficulties remaining airborne in the low temperatures, never stopped. The Queen of Spain appeared and disappeared suddenly as I was walking home, flashing silver briefly in the sunlight. Only the two coppers posed for photos. Here is one of them:
Ravens and buzzards guarded the cliffs:
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/buzzard12nov2016b.jpg)
(buzzard)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/buzzard12nov2016a.jpg)
(buzzard)
![Image](http://www.guypadfield.com/images2016/raven12nov2016b.jpg)
(raven)
Minnie zoomed all over the place, following countless scent trails, and worked up quite a thirst during the afternoon:
Tommorrow will be cloudy and probably wet but temperatures are on the rise again so there may be more to see next week.
Guy