Having never seen
Pearl-bordered Fritillary before and sadly missing them at Glasdrum Wood
earlier in the week, reports of a number of individuals on the wing at Eyarth
Rocks near Ruthin saw me and Alex plan a visit during half term to try and catch up
with them.
Eventually arriving on site,
we made our way up the steep woodland slopes to the start of the reserve,
navigating the many un-signposted tracks in the wood (with a few wrong turns)
before the trees opened up to reveal the sunny hill top summit. Surrounded by open
stands of bracken, the area was clearly being managed with Pearl-bordered
Fritillaries in mind, and within a matter of minutes we had seen our first
individual gliding majestically by.
Despite exploring the summit,
it transpired the small patch of ground right at the start near the gate and
entrance sign was the most productive, and we had up to four individuals
feeding on the buttercups and Birds-foot Trefoil in the vicinity.
