Gary Holderness has just sent in these photos telling us that along with fellow volunteers he has been monitoring the Southbourne butterfly transect this winter specifically looking to see if they could find any Clouded Yellow larvae. Continue reading
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Gary has just sent in this photo telling us:
After a tip off from fellow transect walker who saw it yesterday, I went to Southbourne today, 03/12/2025 hoping to see probably my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for this year.
As luck would have it around lunchtime when the sun was out and it had warmed up a bit it appeared. Briefly nectaring and sunning itself before more cloud rolled in, it then disappeared into the undergrowth. A British December Clouded Yellow – a first for me.
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Clouded Yellow Caterpillar and Egg. Photo: Gary Holderness
Two photos from Gary sent in telling us:
We eventually had a few hours of sunny weather at Southbourne Undercliff today, 13/11/2025 and butterflies were still on the wing – 7 Clouded Yellows plus a Peacock and a Small White seen with fellow transect walkers Andy, Mike and Sue. Also, evidence of Clouded Yellow eggs and caterpillars. Not bad “butterflying” for the middle of November.
Clouded Yellow f.helice. Photo: Mike Kirby
Small Copper. Photo: Mike Kirby
Mike sent in these photos telling us:
The excellent Autumn sunshine yesterday afternoon, 12/10/2025 brought out the butterflies at Southbourne. There are still plenty of flowers for nectaring on and plenty of Clouded Yellows still around – in fact they were the most numerous species seen. Certainly in double figures and there was some egg laying taking place too.
Highlights of the visit were a beautiful female Clouded Yellow of the helice form and several pristine Small Coppers. I was very pleased to finally catch the helice with open wings!
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Clouded Yellow Caterpillars. Photo: Gary Holderness
Two photos from Gary sent in telling us:
I had a great day in the sun down at Southbourne yesterday, 09/10/2025. Among the highlights for me were 20 plus Clouded Yellows on the Undercliff and seeing this pair mating. Also great to find some Clouded Yellow caterpillars on Bird’s-foot trefoil.
Long-tailed Blue. Photo: Tracy Whincup
Long-tailed Blue. Photo: Tracy Whincup
Two photos of a great butterfly to see sent in by Tracy telling us:
It was great to spot a Long-tailed Blue at Southbourne yesterday, 09/10/2025 and my husband Gary managed to get a slight open wing shot confirming that it was a female. Also it was good to bump into Andy and Gary doing the transect but a shame that they missed her.
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Mike Kirby
Clouded Yellows. Photo: Mike Kirby
Two photos from Mike sent in telling us:
I paid a late afternoon visit to Southbourne Undercliff on 28/09/2025 given the lovely weather. The target species was Clouded Yellow, but also seen were Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Painted Lady & Common Blue.
I was astonished at the number of Clouded Yellows on show, all the way from SOBO Beach, east to the end of the path. Certainly 20+ and well spread out along the stretch. Well worth a visit – they’re hard to miss!
Mike also mentioned that he saw the female on the right in the bottom photo rejecting the advances of a male.
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Tracy Whincup
Tracy sent in this photo saying:
It was lovely to see good numbers of Clouded Yellows when I visited Southbourne this afternoon, 30/09/2025. The settled females were getting lots of attention and I witnessed this female laying with her wings open for several minutes after two males had harassed her.
Clouded Yellow. Photo: Gary Holderness
Clouded Yellow Egg. Photo Gary Holderness
Two Clouded Yellow photos from Gary sent in telling us:
I spent the day at Southbourne Undercliff today, 30/09/2025 and had a great day. Along a mile long section, I counted 20 Clouded Yellows and in that total there were two f.helice.
The highlight however was seeing a few of the females egg laying and getting some photos of it was a top highlight. One of the females was completely exhausted after all the effort and just sat there with her wings open in the sun. What a day, fantastic!
Clouded Yellow (male). Photo: Rod Jenkins
Clouded Yellow (female). Photo: Rod Jenkins
Rod sent in these two photos both taken yesterday, 26/09/2025 at Southbourne. The top one shows a male Clouded Yellow and the bottom one a female Clouded Yellow – the yellow spots on the black wing markings distinguish the female.