www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

As I took in the beautiful scenery on Rodborough Common yesterday morning in the lovely sunshine my thoughts wandered on to Clouded Yellow - was 2006 the last 'proper' Clouded Yellow year? If it was could this year be potentially another I wonder, they have been in short supply in recent years, even allowing for reasonable numbers seen on the southern coast. I'd love to see another 'proper' Clouded Yellow year...their like winged sunshine!!!

Bill

Just read on the National Trust's, Collard Hill, Large Blue blog that there have been Clouded Yellow seen there by visitors in the past few days.

Bill

Hi Bill 2009 was the last good Clouded Yellow year down in Sussex when they bred extensively and were still about in early November .

Saw one at the BBOWT reserve Warburg,north of Henley, last week.A first for me..and what a beautiful creature!!
cheers
rob

It really could be turning into a Clouded Yellow year after all, lets all hope that the weather stays kind and we get lots more sighting reports in. Here in South Wales they've even been seen on the Brecon Beacons. I've been at coastal locations this past week in South Wales but unfortunately haven't yet seen one, having said that the weather has been decidedly changeable here compared to last week.

Bill

Hi Bill
I think it is a Clouded Yellow year! 140 noted on a Lucerne field on Thorney Island in Sussex according to the Sussex bc sightings page.
Mark

Tuts wrote:Hi Bill
I think it is a Clouded Yellow year! 140 noted on a Lucerne field on Thorney Island in Sussex according to the Sussex bc sightings page.
Mark

Great news. I believe we're in for some warm weather again next week with another ridge of azores high pressure making its presence felt. Let's hope this precipitates an even greater invasion!

Tuts wrote:Hi Bill
I think it is a Clouded Yellow year! 140 noted on a Lucerne field on Thorney Island in Sussex according to the Sussex bc sightings page.
Mark

Great Stuff!!! Its enough to make you rub your hands together in glee lads...bring em' on and some warm weather promised as a bonus...luv' it

Regards

Bill

Not one I get to see every year so when I heard there were 3 in Little Scrubs Meadow, Chambers Farm Wood yesterday, I'm afraid I abandoned the Brown Hairstreak hunt (they were not playing anyway) and scuttled over to nab a pic.

More Clouded Yellow than Painted Lady seen in fact

I am fortunate to live on the south coast and have been deliberately checking coastal sites to see what they turn up and I haven't been disappointed on the clouded yellow fron, seeing at every place I have looked, including another three today with yet another Helice I have been checking these very carefully ........just in case.
I also found some common blues fluttering around some everlasting pea which caused a bit of a stir."....
Swallowtial was photographed in Portsmouth garden recently adjacent the coastal site I was checking today and I found lots of wild fennel - who knows
Mark

Rosalyn wrote:I'm afraid I abandoned the Brown Hairstreak hunt (they were not playing anyway) and scuttled over to nab a pic.

What a decision to have to make Ros...Clouded Yellow or Brown Hairstreak perhaps your decision was the right one cos' that sure is a lovely image.

Regards,

Bill

Willrow wrote:
What a decision to have to make Ros...Clouded Yellow or Brown Hairstreak

The surest sign ever that we've had a decent summer.

Thank you Bill. The first one we saw was rather skittish but this one was a little more obliging. Plenty more opportunities for Brown Hairstreak if we get some nice weather but who knows when I would catch a Clouded Yellow again it's a lot more unpredictable,

BW Rosalyn

Rosalyn wrote:Thank you Bill. The first one we saw was rather skittish but this one was a little more obliging. Plenty more opportunities for Brown Hairstreak if we get some nice weather but who knows when I would catch a Clouded Yellow again it's a lot more unpredictable,

BW Rosalyn

The way things are going, I feel you may be sick of the sight of them come September.

They have finally turned up on North Norfolk coast. Yesterday (14th) I counted around 8 along a flowered headland at the well know birding site of Choseley barns & also managed a record shot of a ringtail Hen Harrier & a poorish part open wing shot of a CY, not many morings come better than that as CY was one the 2 outstanding I needed to complete the British list. Just have to make that big trip down to Dorset now! Eric[/attachment]

David M wrote:

Rosalyn wrote:Thank you Bill. The first one we saw was rather skittish but this one was a little more obliging. Plenty more opportunities for Brown Hairstreak if we get some nice weather but who knows when I would catch a Clouded Yellow again it's a lot more unpredictable,

BW Rosalyn

The way things are going, I feel you may be sick of the sight of them come September.

Sick of seeing 'winged sunshine' ...David...please get a hold of yourself

Eric nice to hear of Clouded Yellow now in your area, can be tricky subjects - so well done with your photo's

Regards,

Bill

I'm very pleased to say that I've now seen two of the current influx of Clouded Yellow at Shipton Bellinger in Hampshire, yesterday. These are the first I've seen (anywhere) since 2010 if memory serves.

Bill

None yet in coastal south Wales, Bill (and believe me, I've been looking).

I'd like to think the Abergavenny CY I saw 10 days ago won't be the sole representative I encounter in 2013.

Having been tied to my desk for what seems like ages, I have the chance to get out for a couple of days butterflying very soon.

Where o where is the nearest place to Shropshire that I am likely fo find any clouded yellows?

Or are there any other good sites that can hopefully guarentee me some sucess on others butterflies.

Am willing to travel...

KR Deb

Debbie wrote:Where o where is the nearest place to Shropshire that I am likely fo find any clouded yellows?

They've certainly reached Oxon in quantity - see viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7041&start=180#p76051 but I expect there are sites nearer to you than that!

The first time I ever saw a Clouded Yellow was at Smardale in Cumbria, back in 1992. Not sure if they have got that far, this year.

Mike