www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Clouded Yellow - Favourite Photo of 2017

Week 3 and onwards into the 'C's'...Another one I won't be participating in, still no Cloudy for me but there is still the slightest of chances.

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As like last year details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Only seen one fly-by Cloudie in the UK this year, but as per usual there were hundreds in France, both in the Pyrenees during late Spring and in the Alps in July. This one is from the lower reaches of Mt Canigou, in the Pyrenees:

I had an enjoyable few hours watching Clouded Yellow activity on Pevensey Levels last week, where there has been a good autumn emergence of this species. Numerous males quartered clover rich pastures in search of freshly emerged females. I watched two pairings, one of which was this slightly worn male mating with a helice female.

more images at http://eastsussexwanderer.blogspot.co.uk

My female Clouded Yellow was seen in the South of France on October 15th. Each year there is a sudden appearance of fresh individuals aound this time. Chris

I was so lucky this year to see an helice ab for the first time, The weather had been very windy but quite Sunny when we went to Temple Ewell on the 25th of July, it was spotted on the lower field at first, it gave me a real run a round when it flew up the hill quite quickly with me in the chase I thought I'd lost it when I got to the top of the hill and couldn't see it, I was just about to go back down the hill when I spotted it quite still on a flower ,it moved from flower to flower with me trying to get the best shots I could in the circumstances Goldie

My favourite Clouded Yellow photos were taken during a family holiday down on The Lizard in Cornwall in August. During the week that we were down there I saw them at a number of spots including Kynance Cove and behind the beach at Kennack Sands.
Cheers,

Neil.

Like a lot of UKB,ers I had a good season with Clouded Yellows and managed to find them at around a dozen different sites ,the first at Lydden in late July ,the single one was from Reculver ,and shared the plant with an unusual bee (Long horned .....Longicornis ,I believe ) .The pair ,I like the way the female has raised her legs and ,s making a play for the male was taken near the old lighthouse at Dungeness ,and Dungeness was probably the best site of all ,I saw ten + on four occasions, several "Helice" turned up but alas not for me ! Going back to the pair ,I watched them for some time following each other about and was hopeful of them pairing,but sadly didn,t happen ! Regards Allan.W.

For me the favourite was the individual I came across immediately after leaving the car park at Mill Hill just a few weeks ago on 26th September. I also fondly remember the one I saw over several days in August on my local patch and finally caught up with on 31st.It felt like a real achievement!

Dave

My one from yesterday! The best one I have seen this year, and perhaps the last-thought hopefully not! Taken at Canvey Island, Essex.

Held off from posting on this thread since I was still chasing them on the south coast when it started but here's three that stand out for me from this years crop down on the Sussex coast

I'm so envious of those of you who see this species on home soil almost routinely.

A Clouded Yellow is a notable visitor to Wales, and if I see even one I feel elated!