Butterflies

The rocky summits of Buttermilk and Rosewall Hills near St Ives, Cornwall are not the type of places you’d normally expect to find migrant butterflies!

So the two Painted Lady and two Red Admirals seen basking on the huge granite summit stones of Buttermilk Hill came as quite a surprise.

This has to be one of the most exposed places along Cornwall’s north Atlantic coastline.

Surrounded by rugged moor and heathland we were expecting to see migrant birds not butterflies!

Buttermilk Hill and the adjoining Rosewall Hill overlook St Ives Bay and can be excellent places to see migrant birds such as Ring Ouzel.

Migrant birds on the day included several Wheatear, lots of Common Whitethroat and a Cuckoo.

On a clear day the views over St Ives Bay to Godrevy Point Lighthouse and Trevose Lighthouse in the distance are worth the walk alone.