Yesterday afternoon (20/8/20) after work, i took a trip to Queensdown Warren, Kent.
Parked the car just before 5.00pm, looked out onto the reserve, an thought i saw a Clouded Yellow (my 1st CY sighting for the year/season).
Grabbed my camera, an took off fast...it was windy, the butterfly was super active, so for the next 10 minutes i shadowed this beauty.
Approx 150 shots later, the CY was gone...it took me on a "rollercoaster" across the reserve, i kept missing shots, you know how these fly from flower head to flower head! So i tried to second guess which flower it would land on next, all the while the CY was being taken by the wind.
This CY looks to be a Helice form to me............Ive only ever seen/photographed one CY helice before, an that was 7 years ago, i hope i dont have to wait another 7 years to see another!
Some highlights, Cheers Paul.
Bright sunlight, so i struggled a bit with the strong light, i didnt have time to check/adjust camera settings! The 1st 3 images are not cropped, but the last image is cropped some.
Clouded Yellow f.helice.
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Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Last edited by Testudo Man on Mon Aug 24, 2020 1:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Splendid butterfly, Paul - they are right so-and-sos to catch up with, especially when it's breezy, so you did really well to get the shots.
Cheers,
Dave
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Cheers,
Dave
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Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Thanks for the comment Dave, its appreciated.
Once the chase was over, my legs felt it some
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
Cheers Paul.
Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Very nice Paul ! (Helice ) and well captured ,i,ve seen a few in the past ,but have never managed to get near them !
Not been to good in my part of Kent for Clouded Yellows as yet ,and i,ve only had two (or same one twice ! ) from Temple Ewell ,but i do hear that they are now being seen at Reculver and Samphire Ho ! .......................So now all we need is some decent weather !
Regards Allan.W.
Not been to good in my part of Kent for Clouded Yellows as yet ,and i,ve only had two (or same one twice ! ) from Temple Ewell ,but i do hear that they are now being seen at Reculver and Samphire Ho ! .......................So now all we need is some decent weather !
Regards Allan.W.
Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
That's a lovely shot of the Helice, I've been lucky and I've actually got a shot of one, like you though I chased mine from Flower to flower
I saw mine at Temple Ewell in Kent, if your interested in seeing more CY and can make it "Seasalter" is a great place for them.
Goldie ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
I saw mine at Temple Ewell in Kent, if your interested in seeing more CY and can make it "Seasalter" is a great place for them.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Cheers for that Allan, this location always seems to have at least 1 sighting for me each year. The most ive seen here is 4 at once, but when you try to chase more than 1 at a time, you end up with no pics! So maybe just having the 1 to chase(with no other distractions) aided me in getting some decent images. Yes, some nice weather would be good, i would like the wind speeds to drop right back down too. Good luck in seeing some more CY's over your part of Kent too, cheers Paul.Allan.W. wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 6:46 am Very nice Paul ! (Helice ) and well captured ,i,ve seen a few in the past ,but have never managed to get near them !
Not been to good in my part of Kent for Clouded Yellows as yet ,and i,ve only had two (or same one twice ! ) from Temple Ewell ,but i do hear that they are now being seen at Reculver and Samphire Ho ! .......................So now all we need is some decent weather !
Regards Allan.W.
Thanks for that Goldie, glad you got to see one of these beauties as well. Im approx 35 miles inland from the nearest beach, but if i were to go looking for a good butterfly beach location, Seasalter looks great(ive never been there before). Cheers Paul.Goldie M wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 9:50 am That's a lovely shot of the Helice, I've been lucky and I've actually got a shot of one, like you though I chased mine from Flower to flower![]()
I saw mine at Temple Ewell in Kent, if your interested in seeing more CY and can make it "Seasalter" is a great place for them.Goldie
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Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Great images of a precious butterfly, TM. My heart always skips a beat when I see one on the continent so to encounter one on home soil must be extra special. ![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
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Re: Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Cheers David, it was one of those moments you dont forget in a hurry.
I returned to the site on Sunday, but no sign of the CY helice (i didnt expect to see it) but i hoped i might.
A lot can happen to a "flighty butterfly", in a 48 hour period, so who knows where that beauty is now?
Cheers Paul.