Tag Archives: Alners gorse

A yellow butterfly with some brown, white and black markings on a green leaf.

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

A yellow butterfly with some brown, white and black markings on a pink flower

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in this photo telling us:

I was really pleased to catch this beautiful pristine Clouded Yellow today, 06/10/2025 at Alner’s Gorse. Shortly afterwards found a second nectaring on the last of the scabious.

A dead brownish butterfly on the ground amonst some green vegetation

A just killed Peacock. Photo: Nick Galer

A rather different photo sent in by Nick telling us of the final moments in the life of this butterfly:

At Alner’s Gorse on 16/09/2025 I witnessed this Common Hawker dragonfly unsuccessfully chase a Painted Lady which managed to out-manoeuvre it and survive. The dragonfly then turned its attention to a nectaring Peacock which wasn’t so fortunate and it took it to the ground. The picture isn’t too clear but the wing of the Peacock is just visible.

An orange butterfly with black, white and blue markings amongst some green vegetation

Small Tortoiseshell. Photo: Nick Galer

An orange buttterfly with black and white markings on some green vegetation

Painted Lady. Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in these two photos with the following comments:

With today, 15/09/2025 meant to be dryest day of week, I ventured out again to Alner’s Gorse. There was still a good variety, mainly nectaring on the Scabious  – Clouded Yellows, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and numerous Red Admirals and Speckled Wood.

 

An orange and greenish yellow butterfly with black, brown and white markings on a blue flower

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

An orange and brown butterfly with black markings on some green vegetation

Wall. Photo: Nick Galer

Two photos from Nick sent in telling us:

Yet another lovely morning spent at Alner’s Gorse on 11/09/2025. There were a number of pristine Peacocks, Commas and Red Admirals, together with the highlights for me of Wall and Clouded Yellow.

A brown and orange butterfly on a blackberry

Comma. Photo: Nick Galer

A red butterfly with black, white and blue markings on a green plant stem

Peacock. Photo: Nick Galer

Nick sent in these two photos with the following comments:

Alner’s Gorse continues to deliver during this latter part of summer. Today, 08/09/2025 there were numerous fresh Peacocks, fresh Commas, Painted Lady and a few Clouded Yellows still on the wing.

A greenish and orange butterfly with some brown, black and white markings

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Andrew Lee

An orange and black butterfly (flying)

Clouded Yellow (flying). Photo: Andrew Lee

Andrew sent in these two photos telling us:

I visited Alners Gorse on 04/09/2025 around 9.30am. The dew was heavy but there were plenty of butterflies about and I was really pleased to catch the Clouded Yellows, much reported in recent weeks, but until yesterday I kept missing them. The second shot “in flight” was accidental so a bit out of focus but kept it as you don’t often see the upper side.

A greenish and orange butterfly with some brown, black and white markings on blackberries

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

A greenish and orange butterfly with some brown, black and white markings on green leaves

Clouded Yellow. Photo: Nick Galer

Two photos from Nick sent in saying:

I visited Alner’s Gorse this afternoon, 02/09/2025 and once the day brightened a little was pleased to see a number of Clouded Yellows still on the Reserve.