Mon 31 July

Patrick Roper reports on the Adastra recorders egroup White Admirals in all their normal locations he has visited this year in his area of East Sussex and in every case they have been present in noticeably greater numbers than in recent previous
years.  The impression is that they and the Silver-washed Fritillary are having a good year. Early butterflies however seemed rather poorer than usual or much the same as in 2005.  In Brede High Wood (TQ7920 and adjacent squares), for
example, Grizzled Skippers and Green Hairstreaks were only present in low numbers and there was no sign of the Pearl-bordered Fritillaries that were abundant in the early 1990s.
 

Meanwhile also on the Adastra egroup, Alan Gillham reports from Ashdown Forest (Old Lodge and Pippingford) that Large Skippers were late to start, but then in good numbers. Gatekeepers have been their best ever on the Old Lodge heathland.
Silver-studded Blues have had their best year since 1996 at Old Lodge. Ringlets have been numerous at Pippingford. White Admirals - a surprising sighting at Pippingford in early July, then two at Old Lodge (first record since 1984). Green Hairstreak - at Old Lodge we get a single sighting about every two years, usually mid-May.  This year we had one for a week in early June (delayed due to wet weather in May). Commas are more noticeable than usual

News for 24 July

Sun 30 July

On the scarp slope of Edburton/Truleigh Hill, today a worn Dark Green Fritillary, 4 Walls, 2 Painted Ladies, 20 Chalkhill Blues, 20 Marbled Whites, 30 Brown Argus, 100 Common Blues and 3 Chalk Carpets.  In the garden at Edburton 3 Brown Argus and a very spotty Large Skipper that had me going for a while (Tony Wilson)

Highlights from Thorney: 6 Clouded Yellow, 26 Painted Lady and 3 male Oak Eggars. (Barry and Margaret Collins)

The final event of Save Our Butterflies Week was a walk at High and Over near Seaford led by Nigel Kemp. The promised rain and overcast conditions failed to materialise, the sun came out, and so did 27 people including several young families and Norman Baker MP. The scarp west of the Alfriston road buzzed with butterflies, of which highlights were many Silver-spotted Skippers (perhaps 40+, pic below) plus some of their (relatively) huge eggs, numerous Chalkhill Blues, and Small Blue egg-laying on Kidney Vetch. Also one late Ringlet and one Clouded Yellow among the commoner species. (Adrian Thomas)

Chalkhill Blues showed just an average year on Mill Hill with just 243 recorded in the sunshine (151 on transect), with equates with an estimated day record on the wing on Mill Hill of about 650. The day total number of species was 17 which equals my best ever locally. Common Blue (95+) and Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were very frequently seen, Small Whites and Red Admirals were frequent enough, but the rest of the list, Small Blue (1) Holly Blue (2), Large Whites (4+), Green-veined Whites (3+), Speckled Wood (7+), Small/Essex Skipper (3+), Marbled White (10+), Comma (1), Wall Brown (1), Small Heath (1), Painted Lady (2) came in dribs and drabs in the space of two hours in the morning. (Andy Horton www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2006.html)

News for 29 July

Save our Butterflies Week walk, Swanborough Hill: Tallying up the species count we saw 25:  the best finds were Dark Green Fritilaries, and 2nd generation Small Blue and Wall, plus the large number of newly emerged Common Blues. Always good to see Ringlet 'hanging on in there' and of course the Clouded Yellow and Chalkhills. I think the Silver-spotted Skippers were probably there, and I will look at the bottom of the really steep valley on Monday if the weather is fine to see if they are out. Adonis in a week or two though? Where was the Holly Blue?!! Foodplants were pointed out for all species seen. (David Harris)

Addendum to Michael Blencowe's '31-in-a-day' story yesterday: plenty of Chalk Carpet (see Target Species link above) along the track up to Windover Hill - at least 10 but probably more.

Sat 29 July

Fri 28 July

Thurs 27 July

I found 18 species of butterfly from a walk starting at Birling Gap to the Eastbourne end of Belle Tout Wood. They were, 11 Silver-spotted Skippers, 200-250 Common and Chalkhill Blues, 1 Comma, 5 Dark Green Fritillary, 5 Brown Argus, 3 Painted Lady, 3 Clouded Yellow, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 12 Small Skipper, 6 Small Copper, many Small and Large White, 1 Large Skipper, 3 Marbled White and a lot of Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper. (Matt Eade)

2pm. A freshly emerged Brown Hairstreak was observed resting with wings closed on vegetation alongside Crawley
Railway station car park. Unfortunately, no camera available. Returned shortly after with camera, but no sign of butterfly, (Vince Massimo and Barbara Perry)

Further to my email yesterday, I got some more details from my son (he's 13), who was backpacking on the South Downs Way. He says that in fact there were 3 Swallowtails flying around on Firle Beacon. This makes me wonder if they are breeding in the area. Personally I have never seen a swallowtail in Sussex (or anywhere in the UK) despite having lived here for 30yrs. But my nephew saw one recently near Dover (Samphire Ho), and I saw a note of a sighting at Dungeness last year. Perhaps the increased temperature is having an effect? (Eldad Ben-Eliezer)

Various pieces of butterfly information have been reported to the new Sussex Recorders egroup in the past couple of days:

News for Weds 26 July

Weds 26 July

Recent News from Ashpark Wood, near Plaistow from Margaret Hibbard:

There have been suggestions that Marbled Whites have been expanding their range this year - if you have seen any in unusual places this year, let us know.

News for 25 July

Save our Butterflies Walk to Roman Wood

Over 30 people enjoyed the walk led by David Bridges through Roman Wood where 19 species were spotted.  It was amazing to see so many Silver-washed Fritillary - they were everywhere.  The other species were Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brimstone, Large and Small White, Green-veined White, Purple Hairstreak, Small Copper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, White Admiral, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet.  This certainly is a gem of a site (Karen Pritty)

News for 24 July

Firle Beacon (nr Lewes). Swallowtail brought in by young son in his hat!! Can anyone tell from the pics if this is the European or Norfolk subspecies? (Eldad Ben-Eliezer)

Tues 25 July

News for Mon 24 July

Just showing how butteflies and moths can turn up just when you are not expecting them, here is a Large Emerald photo'd by Michael Blencowe at Berwick station:

News for Sun 23 July

Save our Butterflies Week Event: A nice walk around Marline Wood on Sunday. The overcast conditions at the beginning of the walk meant fewer butterflies seemed to be on the wing, though this improved during the walk. We spent most of the time in  the meadows and woodland edge rather than the woodland itself. The most numerous butterfly we saw were Gatekeepers, though there were also plenty of Meadow Browns and Silver Y moths in the grassland. We saw at least 2 very fresh Painted Ladies and there could have been up to four enjoying nectaring on the knapweed. Other species seen were Peacock, Red Admiral, Large and Small White, Small Skipper, Small Copper and a probable purple hairstreak on an oak tree

A couple of photos from Mike Snelling from 28 June at Southwater - the first for the website of Purple Hairstreak, and does anyone know what the caterpillar is sat next to the White Admiral.

Mon 24 July

The Adur Levels provide a different mixture of butterflies from the downs, although many of the same species are recorded. A Clouded Yellow seen near the South Downs Way Bridge over the River Adur accounted for an increase to sixteen butterflies for the day (the most species seen this year). The other species of butterfly seen were Gatekeeper (20+), Meadow Brown (52+), Small/Essex Skipper (20+),  Marbled White (2), Large White (20+), Red Admiral (20+), Painted Lady (4), Comma (3), Holly Blue (31+), Green-veined White (3+), Small White (2), Speckled Wood (3), Peacock (1), Common Blue (40) and Chalkhill Blues (2). The Chalkhill Blues were seen at Anchor Bottom. (Andy Horton, http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2006.html)
 

News for 15th July -

White Admiral seen for the first time in garden in North Chailey (Graham Johnson, per Karen Pritty).

I took a photo of this Privet Hawkmoth which was on a post at Somerfield Garage at the Cophall Roundabout Polegate at 1.30pm on June 27th (Kathryn Dewhurst)

Sun 23 July

It was cooler and just about tolerable to observe 15 species of butterfly during one and a half hours of the morning on Slonk Hill and mostly on Mill Hill, Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex.  Chalkhill Blue led the way with over 163 seen and 136 of these seen within 20 minutes on the short herb sward of the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Also Gatekeeper (80+), Common Blue (20+), Meadow Brown (55+), Small/Essex Skipper (25+), Large Skipper (1), Marbled White (24), Large White (12+), Red Admiral (12+), Painted Lady (5), Comma (4), Holly Blue (2), Green-veined White (3), Ringlet (1) and Speckled Wood (3).However, in the long grass meadows and wasteland, this number of Chalkhill Blues was probably exceeded by Silver Ys in the undergrowth (Andy Horton http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2006.html)
 

Sightings at Ditchling Common: 30+ Gatekeeper, 1 Large White, 6 Small/Essex Skipper, 5 Meadow Brown, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 2 Ringlet, good view of 1 Purple Hairstreak on lower branches of oak. (Caroline, Miles and Edward Clarke)

All Galleries of images of butterflies and moths taken in Sussex, most this year, are now complete. Go to the Species page - each species of butterfly has its own gallery (28 species so far), and the moths are files according to the first letter of their name (33 species so far). As a little taster, here is a shot of Silver-studded Blue from Steve Wheatley on Ashdown Forest last week, and a moth ID challenge, the photo taken by Tony Wilson last week. Click on the photo to confirm. (AT)

Sat 22 July

Fri 21 July

The usual species seen at Cissbury today including 3 Clouded Yellow, 10 second brood Brown Argus and 1 second brood Small Blue. I today noticed your Target species note re Chalk Carpet. I saw one of these both today and yesterday at Cissbury. (Mike Snelling)

This is excellent, given the fears that Chalk Carpet might be extinct west of the Adur. One wonders if it is at any other western Downland site? Ed.

At 27.9 \BAC and 60 % humidity it was far too warm to go to the downs to see butterflies, but I was surprised to see a male Chalkhill Blue near the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. Fresh Peacocks appear to have emerged with one good condition butterfly seen. Nine species of butterfly were seen in and around Shoreham without looking for them. (Andy Horton, Adur Butterfly List 2006, http://tinyurl.com/peper)

This Pearl-bordered Fritillary was photographed flittering around Abbot’s Wood in 25 May 2006. Since it’s not in the Russwurm book, might I suggest we call it  McEvoy’s Pearl Bordered Fritillary?  (What, with the Latin name Boloria euphrosyne youdbesoluckius?! AT)

Unfortunately, the photos of the Queen of Spain Fritillary have returned, allowing Matthew to re-identify it as a particularly silvery Dark Green Fritillary. Oh well, we live in hope. Butterflies of course are one of the best indicators of climate change, and it will be interesting to see if some species on the near continent begin to turn up here more frequently. (AT)

Thurs 20 July

Peacehaven – 4.30. Peacock and Red Admiral on the buddleia in the back Garden. I was showing the creatures to my 5 year old daughter, along with a Gatekeeper (she can now identify them) when a large butterfly, with powerful flight flew around the garden. Twas not a Painted Lady, slightly bigger. It was pale orange with a yellow straw flash on either forewing. Never seen anything like it. It didn’t land, appeared, left, appeared again and left all within about a minute. This left me raving to my partner that I thought I’d just seen a Large Tortoiseshell. Her response: “Oh, can we fill the paddling pool now?"! (Danny McEvoy)

Binsted Wood area - TQ003070 and SU996072:
20th July: 9AM: Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small/Essex Skipper, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large White, Green-veined White, Silver-washed Fritillary, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Peacock, White-letter Hairstreak, Silver Y, Large Emerald, Vapourer moth larva, Cinnabar moth larvae.

18th July: 9AM: Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small Copper, Small/Essex Skipper, Large Skipper, Green-veined White, Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Peacock, White-letter Hairstreak (my first sighting), Six-spot Burnet, Cinnabar moth larvae.
8:30PM : Red-necked footman (Alexander Henderson)
 

Weds 19 July

So not many of you were out 'butterflying' on the hottest day of the year, then?! 32.5^oC in Peacehaven was the hottest recorded in five years of taking measurements here. The heat at least seems to make the Silver Ys in the garden very active by day on the Musk Mallow, and a Mother of Pearl moth was flying early evening here too. In a bit of a milestone, yesterday was the first when over 100 people visited the site in a single day, which is fantastic, so welcome to anyone logging in for the first time. (Adrian Thomas, Webmaster)

Tues 18 July

Park Wood at Piltdown 13.30 (down the footpath from near the golf course clubhouse). 1 Silver-washed Fritillary, seen at rest and in flight, and 3 White Admirals. (David Williams)

I have now found out about the Comma I saw on Sunday with the unusual markings - according to Steven Cheshire's website www.britishbutterflies.co.uk it is a Comma aberration in the form "reichstettensis". (Caroline Clarke)

News for 17 July

It was simply too warm and I gave up recording butterflies after about 30 minutes. I traversed the south side of Slonk Hill half way along only and gave up on the the lower slopes of Mill Hill, Shoreham, and returned by the ridge path, now overgrown.
Large White = common  (not many on Mill Hill); Gatekeeper  =  common; Meadow Brown = frequent; Small Skipper = frequent; Ringlet 1+  (Slonk Hill); Speckled Wood = frequent; Comma  3 = occasional (Slonk Hill south 1,  Mill Hill south of Reservoir 2); Chalkhill Blue  27 =  frequent  (Mill Hill Only) (Mill Hill Cutting 1, Mill Hill south of Reservoir 7, Lower Slopes 19); Marbled White  31 = frequent  (Mill Hill only) (South of Reservoir 15, Lower Slopes 16); Painted Lady 1 to 3  (Mill Hill only); Red Admirals  = frequent  (Mill Hill only); Six-spot Burnet Moths = frequent; Small White were possibles only. Late in the day, one of these possible was observed settled and it turned out that it was a smaller version of a Large White. It was the warmest morning of the year so far as the air temperature measured 29.6 \BAC at 11:39 am. (Andy Horton www.glaucus.org.uk)
 

Mon 17 July

A single Clouded Yellow at Ditchling Common. (Matthew Silk)

Sightings Monday 17th July - Pavilion Gardens, Brighton. Whilst waiting around for jury service at the Crown Court in Brighton, I had a quick walk round the Pavilion Gardens hoping to see a White-letter Hairstreak. No joy in the morning but did see 1 Comma, 1 Small/Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral plus several Small and Large Whites. Was more lucky in the afternoon with a very good view of a single White-letter Hairstreak. (Caroline Clarke)
 

Dan Hoare, Butterfly Conservation's Regional Officer, has provided us with an ID for Steve Wheatley's mystery moth caterpillar yesterday - Beautiful Yellow Underwing. A moth of moorland and heathland, caterpillars feed on the terminal shoots of Heather and Bell Heather. The adults fly between late April and August.

News for Sat 15 July

Sun 16 July

Dark Green Fritillary on the western side of Ditchling Common at TQ334193 briefly this afternoon (corrected from earlier report of it being a Queen of Spain). Several record shots taken but await processing. Also many Small/Essex Skippers and several Marbled Whites.
The other day I found two White Admirals in West Wood. (Matthew Silk)

Sat 15 July

Today I lead a small party of children from my sons' school on a butterfly hunt to Mill Hill, Shoreham. We saw 6 Large White, 5 Small White, 2 Large Skipper, 4 Small Skipper, 6 Red Admiral, 5 Clouded Yellow, 1 Speckled Wood and 1 Brimstone. Gave up counting large numbers (30+) of Painted Lady, Marbled White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Chalkhill Blue. (Caroline Clarke)

 I hadn't realised how good the meadows around the edge of Arlington Reservoir are for butterflies now. They were jumping with Marbled White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, and Small/Essex Skipper today. The plantation on the north bank was also good in the shelter for Comma (3), Red Admiral (5). Painted Lady (20 and Speckled Wood (2). Also one Ringlet. (Adrian Thomas)

Tony Wilson has sent in a really useful series of three pictures of Footman moths, all taken in the last week at Edburton in the Adur valley. All three come to light, so may be seen in porches or at conservatory windows. Common Footman (photo) is, unsurprisingly, the commonest, and probably turns up at some time in most Sussex gardens. Scarce Footman (photo) is not as scarce as it sounds - note how it folds its wings tightly, and it has an orange collar rather than grey. Dingy Footman (photo) is more of a wetland and damp woodland moth:

Tony has also sent a photo in of Kent Black Arches, found at his outside light on 11 July, a nationally scarce category b moth (Nb):

Fri 14 July

Thurs 13 July

A new national volunteer scheme to monitor the status of our wider countryside butterflies, and to complement the transect scheme currently running, is set to be piloted by Butterfly Conservation. You will need to be competent at identifying common butterflies, and willing to spend half a day surveying. Click here if you would like to know more or get involved.

If anyone has started a new transect this year, please contact Roy Neeve via chair"AT"sussex-butterflies.org.uk so that he can coordinate the forwarding of data at year end.

More of a none – sighting really. Has anybody noticed the lack of Small/Green-veined/Large Whites? Usually by this time they’re all over the place. I think I’ve seen 1 or 2 individuals of small white over the whole of Summer so far! (Danny McEvoy)

Kingston near Lewes: In garden today, 1 pristine Small Blue which seems rather between broods. We had several around from 23 May to 23 June so presumably this is a late first brood because it is too soon for a second brood. Also in garden today, 2 fresh Large Skippers, 3 fresh Small Skippers (just wondering if they were Essex, must look closely tomorrow), 2 
Chalkhill Blues, 1 fresh Small Copper, a probable Holly Blue (not close enough for good view), 2 Painted Ladies, one ancient one modern, Red Admiral ovapositing, 2 Commas, about twelve each of Marbled White, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper, several Large and Small Whites, 20+ Six-spot Burnets, 1 Silver Y but no Hummingbird Hawkmoth today though one has been seen on the last five days. (John Holloway)

Weds 12 July

News for 11 July

Visited Birling Gap/Horseshoe Plantation at 4pm – 4.45pm. Birling Gap – many Meadow Brown, and Marbled White. Some Gatekeeper (very small specimens) I note. 10+ Dark Green Fritillary among the gorse at the East Side, some looking a bit battered. Horseshoe Plantation – Walked to the trees from east to west. The meadow yielded 10 more Dark Green Fritillary and hundreds of Marbled White. At the elms on the east side of Horseshoe Plantation, spotted 6+ White-letter Hairstreak. Had to look quite hard though. They were around the Ash that is in between the Elms, rather than on the Elms themselves. Only one came down close enough for me to have a good look at it, otherwise they were small brown things fluttering at the top of the tree. (Danny McEvoy)

Tues 11 July

I have a plant nursery and have recently moved location to near Barcombe (near Lewes) and on site have a polytunnel which is often a temporary trap for butterflies. Over the last week I have seen 1 male and 2 female Purple Emperors. The site is situated amongst some fantastic habitat with woodland as well as a large field with a host of great butterfly attractants (Horseshoe Vetch, Teasel, thistle etc.). There is a multitude of species appearing lately, if they would only stay still for a moment I would learn a lot more! (Paul, House of Plants)

Seen in Pope's Wood, Mayfield, a large private wood managed by the owner for biodiversity and the subject of an acclaimed book "Portrait of a Woodland" by Charlotte de la Bedoyere: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary resting, 1 White Admiral & numerous Ringlets. Also at least 3 Golden-ringed Dragonflies. (Philip Webb)

A Red Admiral outside my front door in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, was an auspicious start to a day of weak sunshine in which a brief sortie to on Slonk Hill south and Mill Hill produced about 250 butterflies of eleven species with Gatekeepers 80+ leading the way from Small Skippers 60+ and Meadow Browns at about 45. 14 Comma were seen, most of them on Mill Hill. It is still too early for the Chalkhill Blues with only four seen. Others: Ringlet, Large White, Painted Lady (one), Large Skipper (one), Marbled White (38). Second brood of the micro-moth Pyrausta nigrata, the first one is seen. (Andy Horton www.glaucus.org.uk)

News for 10 July

An Elephant Hawkmoth found indoors (inside the house) at 22.00 on 10/7/06 in Worthing - TQ116 050. Released it outside near honeysuckle - was this the right thing to do? (was concerned that it had been raining and rained again later during the night although it was dry when moth released). Would be interested to know if the Elephant Hawkmoth is common or not in Sussex as this is our first sighting. (Ken Henson)

News for 9 July

My first confirmed 3+ Small Skippers of the year were seen on the Coastal Link Cyclepath, south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. A Broad-bodied Chaser (dragonfly) distracted my attention so much that I missed a
fleeting glimpse of a Comma in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road (Andy Horton www.glaucus.org.uk)

News for 4 July

Reading about the Elephant Hawkmoth spotted (and photographed) in Peacehaven, I can report that one flew into the Telscombe Tavern, Peacehaven on Tuesday night (4^th July) during Germany v Italy, thereby freaking out the bar maid who was scared of moths. I identified it as it went into a resting period on one of the beams on the roof, but nobody was particularly impressed with my lepidoptorial expertise! (Danny Macavoy)

Mon 10 July

Seen at Knowlands Wood, Barcombe Cross: 6 Silver-washed Fritillaries, 2 White Admirals, 2 Commas, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Ringlet, 1 Purple Hairstreak (resting on bramble). This private wood is managed for wildlife by the owners of Knowlands Barn with wide rides. Looks suitable for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. (Philip Webb)

News for Sun 9 July

Went on a walk with the Surrey branch at Oaken Wood (fantastic BC reserve a couple of miles over the Sussex border - Ed). A drizzle at 11am produced a Meadow Brown and a Ringlet. As the day progressed so did the weather and the butterflies came out in force. 100+ Silver-washed Fritillaries, 30+ White Admirals (more than I’ve ever seen, possibly 40+), Small and Large Skippers, Ringlets, Meadow Browns, Marbled Whites, a couple of Red Admirals, an abundance of Purple Hairstreaks around the tops of the oaks after the rain and (the highlight for me), two courting Purple Emperors in triangle meadow. Managed to find a Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth caterpillar on the fenced off honeysuckle too. Eventually left at 3.30, quite satisfied. The Silver-washed were very accommodating after the rain: they stayed completely still, wings open wide, charged up the batteries. At one point a hazel bush near the pond was home to about 8 individuals, male and female all displaying wonderfully. A privilege indeed. (Danny Macavoy)

Two Hummingbird Hawkmoths in our East Dean Garden (David Jode)

Sun 9 July

Unsurprisingly no sightings today after a day of wind and drizzle.

News for Sat 8 July

Joint walk with Chailey Commons Society on Chailey Common: 16 species of butterfly were spotted by the 24 people who came along to this heathland site in the centre of Sussex.  Meadow Brown, Small, Essex and Large Skipper were the most numerous, followed by Small Heath and Ringlet.  3 Purple Hairstreak flying atop a young oak tree were a treat.  Peacock, Red Admiral, Brimstone, Comma, Gatekeeper, Marbled White and Small Tortoiseshell were spotted.  A sighting of a blue caused a stir – but sadly turned out to be a Common Blue.  Despite many eyes searching we failed to find Silver-studded Blues.  Silver Y and Brown Silver-line moths put in an appearance.  There were also some vociferous Stonechats; two Common Buzzard circling overhead; Common Lizards scurrying through the undergrowth; Emperor and Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonflies; Bog Asphodel in flower and a tiny patch of Round-leaved Sundew to admire.  (Karen and Derek Pritty).

News for 5/6 July

Kingston near Lewes: 6 July first Chalkhill Blue this year in garden; 5 July first Gatekeeper this year in garden. (John Holloway)

Sat 8 July

Private woodland, Pickwell, near Bolney: 3 Silver-washed Fritillary, 4 White Admiral, 2 Brimstone (female), 1
Comma, 1 Red Admiral. Too many to count: Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Skipper. (Caroline Clarke)
 

Today at Park Corner Heath: 7 Silver-Washed Fritillary, 4 White Admiral, 4 Gatekeeper, 5 Comma, 3 Large Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, many Ringlet and Meadow Brown. 1SWF seen inspecting violets on woodland floor then crawled onto stem of large honeysuckle to lay eggs. Also today 4-5 Silver-Studded Blue near entrance to Old Lodge - Ashdown Forest. (Dave Mitchell)

Average number of people now visiting the site daily has topped 70 for the first time - thanks very much, folks!

Click for pic of Ringlet seen on BC walk at Chailey Common today. (Steve Wheatley)

Moth trapping session in small Peacehaven garden today much quieter than last weekend, many fewer moths, but nevertheless twenty species and three more garden ticks - Spectacle, Barred Straw and Elephant Hawkmoth (picture). I think the thing that is so riveting about running the trap (and I never expected to be using the word 'riveting' when I started!) is that you half know what to expect but there always seems to be some surprise, and to find that some really quite dramatic moths are in such a small garden (and presumably most gardens) is an eye-opener (Adrian Thomas)

Fri 7 July

Thurs 6 July

There are two new Target Species for July and August. Both are moths - the Chalk Carpet and Striped Lychnis - but both are distinctive enough to easily become familiar with them. The idea of Target Species is that it is not a full scientific survey, but they are species for which any extra data is welcome and may help in their conservation. Click here to find out about them and why information is needed. And if anyone has digital pictures of either Chalk Carpet adult, Striped Lychnis caterpillar, or Dark Mullein they would be happy to be used on the website, please send them through.

Seen at Snape Wood, Wadhurst, 2 White Admirals, 1 Comma, 1 Red Admiral and 20 + Ringlets in overcast weather. Also 1 Golden-ringed Dragonfly. After years of unfriendly (to wildlife) management, the FC have made many clearings and wide paths. Heather spreading everywhere along the paths. (Philip Webb)

News for 4 July

Would any moth experts out there like to a very brief bit of information to accompany the pictures now being regularly added to the Galleries on the Species page? The kind of details would be, for example, flight season, habitat where it is found, and how common it is in Sussex, as a way of helping people learn a little more about moths in the county. Please email webmaster"AT"sussex-butterflies.org.uk if you would be happy to give it a go.

Mon 26 June

News for 25th June

News for 24th June:  I walked a circular route (about 3 miles) around the village of  West Marden in the vicinity of Horsley Farm where I saw the following: Meadow Brown (12), Speckled Wood (9), Large Skipper female (4) male (2), Large White (3), Small White (1) and Silver Y (Richard Symonds, Hayling Island). Check out the Large Skipper gallery for Richard's pictures

Sun 25 June

It looked like the tropical butterfly photographed in a Horsham garden last week (see the pic on the 19 June entry) was going to defeat all-comers, but we now have an identification:

"We noticed your photo of a non-British butterfly escapee sent in by Richard Symonds for 19th June. This is a Parthenos sylvia, sometimes known as a Clipper.  It is from South East Asia and New Guinea and comes in other colours such as blue and green.  We are not experts on world wide butterflies but we did see them at the Butterfly House on the Isle of White last week and got some good photos! (Vince Massimo and Barbara Perry)

A single Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary seen at the usual damp pasture site near Old Lodge Warren, Jarvis Brook (TQ 543308) along with Small Heaths, Large Skippers and Meadow Browns. There were at least 8 Keeled Skimmers.
A small colony of Bog Pimpernel, Bog Asphodel and Round-leaved Sundew has also survived the trampling by cattle, but all seems under threat. The site was an SSSI until 1986. (Philip Webb)

Sat 24 June

Moth trap in garden in Streat, near Plumpton, overnight 24/25^th June produced 113 moths of 33 species.  Our favourites were Lilac Beauty (1), Elephant Hawkmoth (5), Small Elephant Hawkmoth (1), Blotched Emerald (2) and Burnished Brass (6).  The most numerous species were Heart and Dart (20) followed by The Flame and Large Yellow Underwing (7 each). (Karen and Derek Pritty)

News for Fri 23 June

A couple of hours this afternoon in Glovers Wood - White Admiral (4), Silver-washed Fritillaries (6), countless Ringlets, Large Skippers & Meadow Brown, several Speckled Wood and Comma (1).  Also female Black-tailed Skimmer
dragonfly (Andrew Burns)

Fri 23 June

After Patrick Roper's interesting note about Brown Argus away from the chalk downs near Hastings, he has sent in the following observation from 25 May: I found a White-letter Hairstreak larva found on, of all things, white dead-nettle, in the Preston area of Brighton on 25 May (TQ301060).  It was a very windy period and it must have been blown out of a nearby elm tree.  I photographed both the larva and subsequent pupa and they can be seen on one of my blogs: http://ramblingsofanaturalist.blogspot.com/

Thurs 22 June

First Marbled White of the year in garden at Kingston, near Lewes. (John Holloway)

News for 9 June

I saw a single male Brown Argus in the Marline Valley meadows on the western outskirts of Hastings at TQ782125.
The species has been noted here before, by Euslin Bruce in 1989, so it looks as though it may have a permanent colony.  There was also one Grizzled Skipper in the same valley on the same day at TQ778119 (Patrick Roper)

Tues 20 June

Click here for great flight shot of a Silver Y sent in by Jennie and David Norris of Wadhurst from their garden

Mon 19 June

From Adrian Thomas, Webmaster: My grateful thanks to Roy Neeve who has held the website fort while I have been away for a few days talking (about wildlife gardening, it has to be said!) at Gardeners World Live. The one thing I don't get Roy to do in my absence is deal with any photos sent in, and several interesting ones have come in this week. The first is a real tester for the experts out there, having been seen by Richard Symonds of Horsham in early June in his Horsham garden:

News for 18 June

A Green Hairstreak was at Belle Tout Wood this morning (Beachy Head), a bit tatty though. (Matt and Bob Eade)

Sun 18th June

Sightings at Laughton Common Wood: Thank you to everyone who came along to the field trip. We saw 10 Speckled Wood, 11 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, 2 Large Skipper, 1 Brimstone.  Possible fleeting view of a Silver-washed Fritillary.  (Caroline Clarke)

Sat  17th June

Sightings at Laughton Common Wood: 5 Brimstone, 2 Comma, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries, 1 Silver-washed Fritillary. The SWF looked very new and sat on my finger for several seconds. No sightings of White Admiral - hopefully better luck for tomorrow's field trip. (Caroline Clarke)

Was pleased to see my first Meadow Brown of the year at Furnace Meadow, together with a White Admiral in Ebernoe Common SU977277. Five minutes later realised that Meadow Browns were everywhere and gave up counting after 20 (Michael Blencowe)

Clouded Yellow at Pease Pottage (Chris Prince). 

Fri 16^th June

In about 3 miles from Steyning Round Hill to Chanctonbury Ring: 12 Painted Ladies, 8 Red Admirals, Common Blues, Large Skippers, Small Heaths, 2 Brown Argus, 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths. On way down through the woods, a few Speckled Woods, and in Steyning Rifle Ranges, more Common Blues, Small Heaths, Large Skippers, a few Meadow Browns and a Dingy Skipper. Mother Shiptons, Burnet Companions, Latticed Heaths, Cinnabars, Silver Ys and a few Burnets. Evening in my Steyning garden, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, and a Small Elephant Hawkmoth at dusk on Philadelphus and Honeysuckle. (Keith Noble).

Thu 15 June
About half of the 25 Adonis Blues on Mill Hill showed signs of  raggedness and age, whereas the Common Blues appeared fresher. Some of the Adonis females were coloured a dark brownish navy blue which is how they appeared to the naked eye. I spotted my first Meadow Brown of the year on the lower slopes, where I was surprised at a spotting a late Grizzled Skipper and I had a better look at a Large Skipper that did not settle. 69 butterflies of eleven species in an hour without trying. A Silver Y, a Burnet Companion, a Treble-Bar and a pretty brown moth (to be identified) were all seen on Mill Hill (Andy Horton)

East Dean - 1 male Common Blue, 20+ Painted Lady, 10+ Small White, 3 Hummingbird Hawkmoth seen together. 1 Elephant Hawkmoth disturbed whilst resting in our strawberry bed by me harvesting (David Jode ). 

Tues 13 June

News for 12 June

A brief visit to the scarp slope of Edburton/Truleigh Hill produced 1 Adonis Blue, 4 Dingy Skippers, 6 Common Blues, 20 Small Heath, 2 Meadow Brown, Large Skipper and 5 Painted Ladies + a Small Purple Barred.  In my Edburton garden in the evening the first Small Elephant Hawkmoth was visiting the first honeysuckle flower to open and a Cypress Carpet was by the outside light. (Tony Wilson)

Many thanks to those people who are sending in Sussex butterfly and moth pictures - I have a small backlog and am currently setting up Galleries on the Sussex species pages so that it does not make downloading the Sightings page difficult for visitors. New pictures will appear on the Sightings page for about a week, and then be transferred to the Galleries. Please note the ideal picture size is now 240x180 pixels. Galleries are up and running for a range of species, including some new pictures from Richard Symonds at East Dean Park on 10 June including Red Admiral, Comma, and Speckled Wood.

Mon 12 June

Sightings on Crowlink Transect (near East Dean) were 45 Common Blue (99% male) spread over all seven sections, 3M and 1F Adonis Blue, 6 Small White, 3 Red Admiral, 3 Silver Y, 1 Painted Lady, and 1 Speckled Wood. (David Jode)

Hummingbird Hawkmoth on Red Valerian (which is the garden's nectar plant of choice for Small White at the moment) in Peacehaven garden at 8am this morning, and then again at 8pm this evening! (Adrian Thomas)

Photo taken this evening (Adrian Thomas)

News for Sun 11 June

4-5 Pearl Bordered Fritillaries along the stony path in Vert Wood, near Laughton. All in good condition. (Matt and Bob Eade)

The day started well in my garden in Edburton with my first tiny Diamond-backed Moth.  Butterflies in the garden were a Wall Brown, Small Heath, Brimstone, 10 Painted Ladies, 5 Common Blues and a Peacock that I unfortunately disturbed from inside a bush.  On nearby Edburton Hill there was a Grizzled Skipper, Large Skipper, 15 Painted Ladies, 25 Small Heaths, 6 Red Admirals and 25 Common Blues.  About 40 Silver Ys during the day and also pleased to have Beautiful and Banded Demoiselle visit the garden during the day and a Grass Snake in the pond (Tony Wilson)

Sightings from Mill Hill: Meadow Brown (1), Dingy Skipper (1), Small Heath (10), Adonis Blue (many, including several egg laying females), Common Blue (20), Brimstone (2), Small White (4), Painted Lady (1). Possibly 1 very fresh Chalkhill Blue (forewings Chalkhill Blue colour, hind wings a little dark) (Andrew Burns)
 

A fluttering of red on the upper part of the Pixie Path was my first Cinnabar moth of 2006. Butterflies did not seem too varied and numerous but when I counted up afterwards, I saw nearly a hundred of ten species. This is the highest number of the year, most of them in less than an hour on Mill Hill and over half of them were Adonis Blues. Amongst the long grass meadow north of the top car park on Mill Hill, I had a brief sight of my first Large Skipper of the year (the only skipper of the day). The ten butterfly species of the day were: Adonis Blue (45 to 53 +), Small Blue (frequent), Common Blue, Small White, Large White, Speckled Wood (6), Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Large Skipper, Small Heath (8). (Andy Horton www.glaucus.org.uk)

Sun 11 June

Malling Down: numerous Common Blues, 1 Brown Argus, 1 Green Hairstreak, 3+ Painted Ladies, 2 Red Admiral, several Silver Y, 5+ Dingy Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 1 Speckled Wood, still no Meadow Browns, no Large Skippers seen, and if it hadn't been for the Common Blues it would have felt very much in that mid-season butterfly lull. Feeling hopeful that it will be a bit of a Painted Lady year though. (Adrian Thomas)

News for 10 June

Sat 10 June

There do appear to be relatively few Brown Argus about this year, I think they are also late starting off.  I saw 1 at Malling Down last week (28/5/06) and 5 today (10/6/06). There were also some in John Holloway's garden during the last week.

Pollard Transect @ Malling Down, Lewes, East Sussex (TQ 428 117). 11.45pm - 1.00pm.  27c, 100% sun. On transect, 100 sightings & 10 Species 

A noticeable increase of blues this week and a decline in the whites. Adonis are probably at their peak. If it was not for the wind I am sure I would have recorded more.

Dingy Skipper 2, Large White 1, Small White 1, Green Hairstreak 1, Small Copper 2 (one very tatty and one mint condition), Common Blue 31(m) 6(f), Adonis Blue 25(m) 19(f), Painted Lady 2, Small Heath 5, Cinnabar 2 (Crispin Holloway)

Actinic moth trap, Peacehaven, overnight 9-10 June

Over 125 moths or 12 species, including 3 new species for the garden (singles of Treble Lines, Shears and Figure of Eighty). 75 Heart and Dart dominated the trap. (Adrian Thomas)

Fri 9 June

Considering the weather, there were not many butterflies on a 2 hour walk around Edburton/Tottington Wood with the total sightings being 1 Large Skipper, 1 Brown Argus, 2 Painted Ladies, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 4 Speckled Woods and a Small White (Tony Wilson)

Thurs 8 June

Into the second week of June and just three records of Brown Argus so far in the spring brood reported to the website (Birling Gap, Malling Down and Cissbury Ring) - is this an accurate picture of the situation so far?

I stopped today, 08/06/06, close to the A27 south facing embankment between Falmer and Lewes (Newmarket area) and as expected saw a few male and female Adonis and about a dozen Common Blues. There is a lot of Horseshoe Vetch, plus Thyme, Dropwort and Bladder Campion. It was only a five minute stop. There has been a small colony of Adonis 
there for about twenty years to my knowledge. Also Chalkhills later on. (John Holloway)

Weds 7 June

In my Kingston, near Lewes garden today  I was surprised to see a rather old looking Peacock - very late. Also 1m and 1 f Adonis Blue, 2m Common Blues, 1 Small Blue, 1 Holly Blue, and a pair of fresh looking Speckled Woods enjoying a prolonged courtship dance. I didn't see the outcome because they disappeared behind a hedge - such modesty! (John Holloway)

A Small Elephant Hawkmoth in my trap last night (Michael Hawkins)

Tues 6 June

Night June 5-6: not a great haul in my Lewes garden moth trap, but it included 3 Treble Lines, an early Garden Dart and a Cream-spot Tiger (Michael Hawkins)

Mon 5 June

News for Sun 4 June

A walk along the path from Frog Firle over the back of Cradle Hill just North of Seaford (TQ 497013 to 488028) yesterday morning produced one Dingy Skipper sunning itself on the path plus two Red Admirals, seven Speckled Woods and about a dozen Walls. (David West)

Windover Hill (TQ031 540). Green Hairstreak, 2 Walls (1 male, other unable to verify), numerous Common Blues (male & female), Painted Lady (very poor condition). (Bob Coleman)

News for Sat 3 June

In our East Dean garden: 1 Painted Lady nectaring on white-flowered Valerian, 2 male and 1 female Brimstone, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Common Blue, 6+ Small White, plus Azure Damselfly egg-laying in our largest garden pond. 

Sun 4 June

Sat 3rd June

Laughton Common Wood:

4 Small White, 6 Speckled Wood, 9 Red Admiral, 2 Brimstone. Possible sighting of fritillary - couldn't get close enough! Also, numerous Speckled Yellow moths. (Caroline Clarke)

Ebernoe Common today: 2 Brimstone, 1 Mother Shipton, at least 4 Common Blue, 4 Small Heath, 3 Painted Lady (Michael Blencowe) 

At last a warm morning at Cissbury.Today (up to 12.15) I saw my first Adonis Blue there this year and also my first 5 Brown Argus. 5 Green Hairstreak, 4 Grizzled Skipper,5 Dingy Skipper, 36 Common Blue (incl a mating pair), 27 Small Copper (again incl a mating pair), and 9 Small Heath and another 7 species. There were also many day flying moths (Cinnabar, Mother Shipton etc) and also a Broad-bodied Chaser and a Beautiful Demoiselle) (Mike Snelling)

Actinic moth trap, tiny garden in Peacehaven – 6 Heart and Dart, 8 Shuttle-shaped Dart, 1 Common Swift, 1 Silver Y, 1 Brimstone moth. A small catch of all very common and rather unprepossessing species today, but as someone new to ‘mothing’, I remain amazed at the diversity and number of moths visiting my garden overnight when only a two or three butterflies of a couple of species visit by day. The garden macro moth list now exceeds 100, for a garden about 24 foot square, and the moth identification is beginning to not seem so daunting! (Adrian Thomas)

Thurs 1 June

Abbots Wood in dull conditions, hint of rain....10+ Pearl-bordered Fritillary (nectaring on Bugle), 20+ Speckled Yellow moths, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White. Also Red Admiral between Hailsham and Stone Cross on Ersham Road. (David Jode)

A summary of Pearl-bordered Fritillary sightings for 2006 so far can be viewed on the Target Species page. Please keep all records coming in of this species to help us keep tabs ion how it is faring this year, and that includes negative returns at recently occupied sites

What to look for in June:

• Butterflies: Meadow Browns and Large Skippers should be two of the earliest new arrivals in the month, with Ringlets appearing by mid-month and Small Skipper and White Admiral maybe a little later. June is the peak month for Small Blue. Rarer species to put in an appearance include Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries at their few Sussex sites. It is always interesting to hear of latest records of some of the spring broods going over too, such as late Brimstones, Peacocks, Green Hairstreaks and Orange-tips
• Moths: With many more moth species on the wing, it becomes more likely that you will find interesting species attracted to house lights and so resting on the outside of windows or around porches. Probably the most abundant species coming to garden traps will be the Heart and Dart, where even traps in small gardens can expect to turn up dozens. Day-flying moths to watch for include Speckled Yellows in woodland, and Burnet Companion, Mother Shipton and the first burnet moths (Five-spotted and Six-spotted) on downland

Earlier Sightings

• April-May 2006

• January-March 2006
   

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