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m and f Silver-studded Blues
Val and I have been on holiday in The Lymington area of Hampshire. It was sunnier earlier in the week, but the only butterfly we saw was a Speckled Wood passing over the back garden where we were staying - until today. The New Forest centre in Lymington has a museum with several tableaux of animals and insects, including a pair of Silver-studded Blues, our first of the season. There is also a modern tapestry of the history of the New Forest which includes a lot of embroidered butterflies. (John Heys, West Worthing)
It was 15°C and sunny in my garden this morning and I ventured out locally in suburban North Lancing, but almost immediately a stubborn blanket of cloud made seeing butterflies very difficult! A couple of Darters and a basking Common Lizard were joined by 11 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
6 eggs
Not much migrating going on in hills behind Amberley/Burpham. Lots of Red Admirals milling around, basically looking like they were out for a Sunday afternoon flutter, but several females were seen egg laying. A few male Brimstones had awoken prematurely and behaving very 'springlike', patrolling and searching the undergrowth for females. Can't blame them, it could easily have been a sunny March day. The third species today was a weary looking Brown Argus, possibly the last of her kind this year! (Paul Atkin, Amberley Burpham hills)
We haven't seen too many third-brood Brown Argus this year and (as Paul tells us) this is a very late female, doing her bit for next year. I suspect she has another 3-4 days of life in her, yet. Patrick Moore reported a Brown Argus on Oct 9th, and in the county survey 2010-14 the average latest sighting was Oct 6th. So, Paul's record is clearly, very unusual. Martin K
4 Red Admiral on the garden buddleia in the bright sunshine today. (Jon Ruff, Crawley Down)
It was sunny and 15°C in the North Lancing area. 27 Speckled Wood, 17 Red Admiral, 2 male Brimstone, male Common Blue, Comma, Peacock. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing area)
An amazing number of Speckled Woods for the last week in October! Martin K
Long-tailed Blue - seen near entrance - photos attached - have Raw files (Gary Margetts, Warnham Nature Reserve)
Although very strongly linked with coastal locations (and with good reasons) I'm sure that many Long-tailed Blues do explore the hinterland of Sussex, but they are not recorded. Its a species that can be easily over-looked. Martin K
Circular walk around Castle Hill and Standean Bottom (back of Woodingdean), Bright and sunny with a light breeze. Red Admiral 5, Speckled Wood 2, Wall Brown 1, and on returning home one Peacock basking in the sun on the garage wall. I must say I am so pleased we now have the sightings archive back (with images) going back to 2016, I thought we’d lost it all ! - Well done and thanks to everyone involved in the updated site! (Graham Hubbard, Castle Hill NNR)
Thanks Graham. The new website is still evolving but it all takes time. Please be assured that none of the contents of the previous website has been lost. Martin K
It was 16°C and with a fair amount of sun in suburban North Lancing. Nine Butterfly species gratefully spotted. 20 Red Admiral,15 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 2 Large White, Common Blue, Painted Lady, Brimstone, Comma, Small White. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
An incredible number and variety, Lindsay, for October 24th. Martin K
Another visit later this afternoon by our fruit-loving Speckled Wood, this time feeding upon a container of sliced apples that I had put out. (Malcolm Le Grys, Keymer, West Sussex) - TQ314149
A Speckled Wood spent much time this afternoon feeding upon a half-apple that I had put out in a tree. (Malcolm Le Grys, Keymer, West Sussex) - TQ314149
I've never seen Speckled Wood feeding on fruit! Martin K
A 4 species day so far in West Worthing. First, around noon, in Rugby Road, the surprise - a Holly Blue, closely followed by the second, nearby, a Large White. Opposite our house on buddleia, the third, a Red Admiral. The fourth was in our back garden, a very brief visit from a Speckled Wood. (John Heys, West Worthing )
I think this might be our first "definite" third-brood Holly Blue (I remember LM said he might have had one but it was a very brief sighting). Excellent! It seems to me that Holly Blue has had a very poor season and so a few third-brood sightings would be nice. Martin k
Fox Moth caterpillar
Fox Moth caterpillar at Devils Dyke. (Jackie Lamb, Devils Dyke)
What a beauty! Martin K
Small Copper
Red Admiral
Speckled Wood
Painted Lady
It was a bright, sunny day and a good opportunity to see a few butterflies at Herstmonceux castle gardens and woodland. I saw 3 Small Coppers, 4 Red Admirals, 3 Speckled Woods and a Painted Lady. Unlike Trevor Rapley, who was also there, I wasn't lucky enough to see the solitary Wall Brown! (Maria Dixon, Herstmonceux Castle gardens)
I had lunch in the back garden - nice and warm. I'd disturbed a butterfly when I went outside but didn't see what it was. Luckily a Large White flying up & over our conifers caused it to fly up from where it was sunning itself out of sight - a Red Admiral. In the afternoon we walked into Worthing town centre but saw no butterflies despite the sunshine. The last lot of rain seems to have finished off the Speckled Woods. (John Heys, West Worthing) - TQ131025
Finding butterflies at Herstmonceux Castle gardens, this late in the season, was hard work today. Eventually I saw 4 Red Admirals, 2 Painted Ladies, 2 Small Coppers and a single male Wall Brown. I was lucky enough to get a Painted Lady and the male Wall in the same shot. (Trevor Rapley, Herstmonceux Castle.)
Once the morning rain had ceased it was 16°C in my garden with bright sun. 2 Red Admiral, male Wall, Speckled Wood. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)
Small Tortoiseshell in our garden this morning. Both wings missing numerous scales. This species is something of a rarity here nowadays. (Robin Harris, Mountfield) - TQ743202
'Pristine' looking Painted Lady seen in my mothers garden in Wartling Road, Wartling, between c9.30 and 9.50am this morning . (Ian Kehl, Private garden, Wartling Road, Wartling, c800 yards south-east of Herstmonceux Observatory)
Red Admiral on Ivy.
A morning visit to the cemetery with brilliant blue skies before the clouds rolled in. A Red Admiral on the ivy. There was also a Speckled Wood that I couldn't get into the shot. Also, the number of bees on and around the ivy was an amazing sight. (Lionel James Moth, Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne.) - TV5973699916
