Still plenty of the ever beautiful Clouded Yellow butterflies around at Cliffe Pools RSPB, mainly along the seawall skirting the River Thames, witness this (abeit slightly out of focus) photo taken yesterday the 26th of October.
The clouded yellow butterfly is a migrant species, unable to survive the winter here, in spring it flies north from its breeding areas near the Mediterranean. Some years large numbers arrive on our shores, other years it's completely absent.
The best places for clouded yellows is along the south coast of England, particularly in flower-rich meadows where they pause and feed, possibly laying eggs on clover or trefoil, however they can be spied throughout the the British Isles in any habitat, even gardens.
A long distance migrant, this beautiful yellow butterfly is a strong flier, in flight we get a glimpse of the orange-yellow upperwing with its broad black margin. At rest it invariably closes its wings only showing its, still stunning, underside. Underneath it is deep yellow with a pair of silvery spots in the centre of the hindwing with a dark spot in the centre of the forewing.
Early migrants arrive in May and June, their young combined with later migrants can boost numbers significantly during August and a further brood can be seen on the wing during September and October.
I have used this photo before, but it's a brilliant (and rare) shot of the butterfly open winged. Well done to Rob Budgen!
So much for summer migrants, even though some are still with us, familiar winter visitors are already here on the reserves, Brent Geese and Redwing as previously mentioned.
On Thursday a flock of about thirty Fieldfare were washing and drinking in a track-rut puddle by the seawall just north of Flamingo Pool. This time of year when food is plentiful they are very wary and not very approachable and quite difficult to get a decent photo of (well that's my excuse anyway) so this is my best shot so far.
Another migrant we welcome back is the Pochard a very handsome duck of which there are several drakes on Conoco amongst the several hundred Coots. It is also nice, as it is every year to note the extra influx to the local population of Lapwing.
As we know there is a sizeable count of these really colourful waders on the North Kent Marshes, it is always gratifying to see a substantial group roosting in the shallow margins of Flamingo.
At a distance, flying they are black and white.
A little closer, the greenyishness starts to kick in.
Really close, they are really stunning.
It is worth noting that both Lapwing and Pochard are Red listed, but you are assured good veiws of both at RSPB Cliffe Pools.
Thanks to Eliza Saunders and Rob for the images.