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The Adur transect group is recruiting a sixth member to help walk the Transects at Mill Hill (LNR), Anchor Bottom (SSSI), and Lancing Ring (LNR), from next April. Each of the transects contains a rich variety of downland butterfly species and take about an hour to complete. With six in the group each member walks 13 transects between the beginning of April and the end of September. Full training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Julia at transects@sussex-butterflies.org.uk. (Martin Kalaher, Adur transect group)
First conservation work party of winter 24/25 - image by Paul Day
Many thanks to Richard F, Roy, Jason, Max, Two-fires, JC, Richard B, Debbie, Dave, Gerald and Paul (photographer) for attending the first conservation work party of the season. In now time-honoured tradition, our wonderful volunteers set about tidying-up after absentee contractors, clearing the huge volume of brash created by removing five very large Turkey Oaks from Parris Plateau; this alien invasive species has long been an unwelcome feature on the lowland heath habitat of Park Corner Heath. The next work party is at 10.00 am on Sunday 17 November - all welcome. (Neil Hulme, Park Corner Heath)
No fireworks in my garden, but a Speckled Wood was good to see during a slightly brighter 12°C interlude pm. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
Val & I had just walked past the sailing club by Goring beach when Val spotted a Red Admiral fluttering by low growing foliage on the seaward side of the tamarisk hedge. This was very unexpected - the sky was overcast and it was quite breezy with an easterly wind. The Red Admiral seemed unsettled & flew up over behind the hedge, then returned, then disappeared again. Maybe it really wanted to migrate south but wasn't satisfied that the conditions were right? (John Heys, Goring)
Singles of female Large White, Painted Lady and Humming-bird Hawk-moth on lingering Buddleia flowers at 1.15p.m today as the sunshine appeared. 15 minutes later the temperature had shot up to 15 degrees and half a dozen Red Admirals and a solitary Speckled Wood were seen egging. Then the cloud reappeared and everything stopped! (Sussex BC member, Newhaven garden)
It's very mild, for the time of the year! Martin K
It was lovely in the weak sunshine on my allotment to be joined by the seemingly ever reliable Red Admiral, a Peacock and a Painted Lady. They were busy on the last ragged aster, rudbeckia and ageratina flowers though I saw the Painted Lady and the Peacock also warming themselves on south facing stones and bits of wood. The sunshine was short lived and only the Red Admiral seemed to stay visible later in the afternoon. (Tessa Pawsey, Whitehawk Hill allotments, east Brighton) - TQ329046
Three species, including Painted Lady, on November 1st is "good going". No sunshine in Storrington, sadly, but I did have a very few wildflowers in bloom - Field Scabious, Nettle-leaved Bellflower and Dame's Violet. I even had Kidney Vetch in flower until around 10 days ago, when the "heavens opened" and most flowerheads in my garden were destroyed! I also had a white Camelia "in flower" in late October. When Mary and I moved in 31 years ago we had to wait until almost Christmas before we saw our first white Camelia in flower. It's got earlier and earlier, but I think October, this year, may be a first (I'll check with the boss). Martin K
Anticyclonic Gloom has set in and whilst butterflies might appreciate the mild days and nights, they regret, as I do, the lack of sunshine. It was 14°C in my garden where 2 Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood put in brief appearance. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
