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IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS AND THAT MEANS IT WILL SOON BE CHRISTMAS QUIZ TIME! AS MOST OF YOU WILL ALREADY KNOW, THERE ARE 50 QUESTIONS, WITH TWO PARTS TO EACH QUESTION. THE FIRST PART REQUIRES SKILL IN IDENTIFYING BUTTERFLIES AND THE SECOND PART IS A TEST OF KNOWLEDGE. THE FIRST TWENTY QUESTIONS SHOULD PROVE TO BE FAIRLY EASY AND THEN THEY GRADUALLY BECOME A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. IT'S BOTH FUN AND EDUCATIONAL. I DO HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL GIVE IT A TRY. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
Worker Honey Bee deep inside a Red Camellia flower head
As for pic 1
Honey Bee feeding on Choisya flower head
When I am puzzled regarding an ID, I am usually put out of my misery within a day or two, and I am told that John' s mystery bee is most probably a Honey Bee (albeit with strange colours). Well that is one mystery solved, and it encourages me to show some photos of Honey Bees, taken in the past 2-3 years. Seen "close up", they are remarkably cute! (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
Bee (?)
Not a butterfly, but an unexpected bee, unless it's something which looks like a bee. Hopefully Martin can I D it. It was rather comatose even after I'd warmed it up a bit. (John Heys , West Worthing) - TQ131025
When I looked at this insect on Friday evening I thought it was a female Colletes heredae (Ivy Bee) but now I am not so sure, and so I will check it further. Martin K
In my North Lancing garden it was 7°C and very sunny either side of midday. Blow me down, a Peacock basked briefly. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
A Red Admiral flew across Bridgers Mill Road near Sainsbury's in Haywards Heath this lunchtime. It was about 14 degrees so not that surprising. Doubt it will be the last of the year as a mild Christmas is forecast... (Martin Buck, Haywards Heath )
Brown Hairstreak egg - Luke Parham
On Monday 16 December, 12 volunteers plus staff from RSPB Pagham Harbour were joined by Julia Smith and David Bridges from Sussex Butterfly Conservation on quest searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs. We focused our efforts on Yeomans Field were last year we found 3 eggs and two years ago an adult female was seen. The weather was very kind and everyone very keen, with the result of a very exciting 20 Brown Hairstreak eggs being located. We also came across 35 Blue-bordered Carpet Moth eggs. Many thanks to everyone involved, especially Julia and David for their knowledge, expertise and advice. (Roy Newnham, Yeomans Field, RSPB Pagham Harbour) - SZ85959690
A brilliant effort, and well done to everyone who was involved. There have been a few isolated records of Brown Hairstreaks in that general area over the past few years and I rather suspect the local BH population is rather more widespread than we realise (but thinly spread). I am intrigued that so many Blue-bordered Carpet Moths eggs were found. Between 2008-2013 I was obsessed with finding Brown Hairstreak eggs and probably counted around 600-700 eggs in total, but in contrast only found 4 Blue-bordered Carpet Moth eggs! Martin K
A message I received from a member who lives in East Sussex: "An egging Red Admiral in the garden at midday today. Five days away from the winter solstice and the temperature 14 degrees in the sunshine". (Martin Kalaher, East Sussex)
I wonder how many of these "winter eggs" laid by Red Admirals have a successful outcome? Martin K
Red Admiral
I walked a loop on the Kingston Ridge today, there was some sunshine and a little heat, enough for two Red Admiral to appear above Breaky Bottom Farm, near Rodmell. (Patrick Moore , Breaky Bottom) - TQ4054
In mostly cloudy conditions with minimal sunshine I was surprised to see a Red Admiral briefly fluttering against my bedroom window at around 2pm this afternoon. (James Arnott, Seaford) (James Arnott, Seaford)
Image by Paul Day
One of Two-fires' two fires
Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers (left to right in Paul Day's image) JC, John, Roy, Two-fires, Richard, Jason, Helen and Gerald, for another productive day on the reserves, and further thanks to all who brought along festive nibbles, which were washed down with Sloe Gin. There will be plenty to do in the New Year, so every hour you can contribute will be greatly appreciated and make a real difference. There's lots of tidying-up to do, following major forestry work to create new rides and coppice clearings, but if we can get all these areas thoroughly cleared, there will be plenty of new habitat for our fritillaries and other butterflies to enjoy. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. (Neil Hulme, Rowland Wood)
IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS AND THAT MEANS IT WILL SOON BE CHRISTMAS QUIZ TIME! AS MOST OF YOU WILL ALREADY KNOW, THERE ARE 50 QUESTIONS, WITH TWO PARTS TO EACH QUESTION. THE FIRST PART REQUIRES SKILL IN IDENTIFYING BUTTERFLIES AND THE SECOND PART IS A TEST OF KNOWLEDGE. THE FIRST TWENTY QUESTIONS SHOULD PROVE TO BE FAIRLY EASY AND THEN THEY GRADUALLY BECOME A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. IT'S BOTH FUN AND EDUCATIONAL. I DO HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL GIVE IT A TRY. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
A SUMMARY OF THIS YEAR'S SIGHTNGS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR READING. I APPRECIATE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND I WILL ADD A SENTENCE OR TWO, AS NEEDS BE. ENJOY! ALL THE ANNUAL REPORTS CAN BE FOUND ON THE MENU BAR UNDER ARCHIVES. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)
