Sussex Branch

Val saw a White in our back garden, probably a Large White, before we went to Woodside Road for Worthing's match against Tonbridge Angels. Val's powers of noticing butterflies are much better than mine. She spotted 3 or 4 Red Admirals. One kept flying around just above the front of the stand - even I saw that. 4 or 5 Large Whites / Small Whites drifted by at distance - I saw 2. Good game - Worthing came back from 0-1 to win 3-2. (John Heys, Worthing)

On the transect at Beacon Hill, Rottingdean today was a remarkably fresh Meadow Brown. Other butterflies around were Small White, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Copper and 23 Red Admirals, the vast majority of which were heading for France. Presumed incomers were Rusty Dot Pearl, Silver Y and L-album Wainscot. (Heather Ball, Beacon Hill, Rottingdean)

Our morning walk took in a Red Admiral at the south end of George V Avenue, then a Speckled Wood behind the Sailing Club in Goring and a Peacock in middle George V Avenue + 3 Whites (probably all Large Whites) at various stages between start and finish. Something smallish and brown flew past Val back near home, maybe a moth rather than a butterfly. In the afternoon we walked from the town center to Lyons Farm and came across another 3 Red Admirals. The last evaded us by flying up and over Sainsburys. We were the only occupants of the rather late and last-of-the-day number 16 bus back from there to the Pier - almost like being chauffeur driven. Lots of starlings were gathering just below the shingle line on the beach. The tide was very low and a digger was working at the far end of Worthing Pier, so the emergency works needed to reopen it appear to have started. (John Heys, Worthing)

It was 16°C and bright sun in North Lancing and the adjacent Ring. Nine butterfly species were identified. 14 Speckled Wood, 13 Red Admiral, 4 Large White, 3 Common Blue, 2 Peacock, female Wall, Small Copper, Comma, Brimstone, Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 3 Silver Y. A couple of blues couldn't be verified, a probable Holly Blue (would definitely have been third brood) and a possible Long-tailed Blue. Perhaps rather than wait around an hour for the return of these two I should have gone to the allotments and staked it out for Small White! (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing area)

Still lots of whites still about today - including this very pale one. (Paddy Boyle, Cuckfield) - TQ306245

One very pale Common Blue, 1 Peacock, 6 Speckled Wood and 7 Red Admirals. (Barry and Margaret Collins, Thorney Island) - SU760030

Long-tailed Blue report. Given the glorious autumn afternoon, Sue and I were able to make headway with readying our garden for winter, maintaining a vigilant eye as we worked. Taking a break just before 3pm we spotted an individual flying above and between our stands of BLEP. Settling to nectar on one of the few flowers present, we chose to observe rather than chase indoors for the camera. A male, somewhat worn with damaged wings, he was most likely to have been an immigrant still on his northerly migration. His stay on the BLEP was short lived, flying up and out of the garden he reappeared shortly afterwards as if he had been surveying the neighbourhood. We lost sight of him when he took flight again and abandoned hope of his return. A watchful eye was maintained on the BLEP from the kitchen window with activity around the Lespedeza deserving of investigation with camera in hand at 3.45pm to no avail. A further window alert occurred 10 minutes later and we were fortunate to find him resting on a leaf of our Lablab purpureus and I was able to photograph him. He took flight once more and was lost from sight. The working supposition is that he has hunkered down to roost in our garden because it was too late in the day for him to journey any further and that with fine weather forecast for tomorrow, we will stand a chance of seeing him again. It is expected that he will then move on if another individual does not arrive in the garden. With viable flower buds still avaible on our BLEP, Lespedeza, Lablab and Bladder Senna we remain hopeful of a gravid female dropping in! (Brian Birch , Felpham )

I didn't spot any butterflies either in our back garden or when I went for a late-ish afternoon walk. However, Val saw a Red Admiral when she left our house to pick up our granddaughter and another at The Gallops in Findon, where our granddaughter was doing her athletics training. (John Heys, Worthing)

On the main path that runs through Amberley Wildbrooks, watching a nice variety of raptors. Whilst there, JC and I saw a dozen or more Red Admirals over two hours or so on a southerly reverse-migration. They were all singles and heading more-or-less due south. Also an unidentified white butterfly and a Small Copper (I think - not 100% sure as it was in flight). At home there was a brief view of a Speckled Wood and a rather longer view of a Roe Deer (at 5.30pm). I'm not sure I am pleased to have Roe Deer in my garden but ..... (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden at 1.15 on Verbena. (Vince Massimo, Crawley) - TQ268352

An enjoyable day at Herstmonceux Castle gardens yesterday. Among the butterflies seen, was a very fresh female Wall Brown with quite a few males around too, enough for several squabbles to break out. The real surprise sighting was of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth darting around a salvia. Also seen were two fresh Peacocks, and singles of Red Admiral and Small Copper. (Trevor Rapley, Herstmonceux Castle.)

Val and I missed the local opportunities as we went up to London. T-shirt weather - very warm. (Large White at Embankment and Red Admiral near Covent Garden.) (John Heys, Worthing )

A Peacock and Comma butterfly appeared during a brief sunny spell on our walk along the old Crowhurst railway track in Combe Valley country park today. The Red Admiral was sunbathing on Rudbeckia in my garden. (Maria Dixon, Bexhill )

Suburban North Lancing saw 20°C and strong sun, but by the time I had reached Lancing Ring (14.00) and south-east Steep Down, the cloud set in for well over an hour and it was then too late to revive the butterfly day. 27 Speckled Wood, 17 Red Admiral, 6 Small White, 3 Common Blue (males), 3 Peacock, 3 Brimstone, Small Copper, Comma, 2 Silver Y. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing area)

I walked a large loop in the Horsham and Nuthurst area today setting out in drizzle which soon totally cleared. I managed to find Small White, Green-veined White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Brimsone (3m, 1f). Just like spring already. (Patrick Moore , Horsham Nuthurst area) - TQ1926

Walking through Deep Dean this afternoon I was somewhat taken aback when a Meadow Brown took off and flew around in front of me! Definitely the latest I've ever seen one. Also saw a couple of Small Whites. (Chris Hooker, Deep Dean and Windover Hill)

Wall update: a fresh-looking female skipping around our garden just now. (Chris Bird, Berwick station)

2024 PHOTOGRAPHIC QUIZ: PLEASE SEE THE HOME PAGE FOR DETAILS. WE HAVE SOME OUSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHERS IN SUSSEX, SO LET'S SEE SOME OF THE VERY BEST PHOTOS TAKEN THIS YEAR. ENTRIES HAVE TO BE RECEIVED BY NOVEMBER 9TH AND SO PLEASE DO NOT DELAY. Martin Kalaher (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)

Mainly cloudy, but warm in my Lancing seaside garden today and surprised to see a Painted Lady and a Red Admiral on the verbena. No photos though. (Vince Massimo, Lancing) - TQ189038

At about 2:15 pm, Val looked up and a Speckled Wood had landed, wings spread, on the glass window of our patio door. Of course as I got ready to take a perfect picture of its underside, it flew away. (John Heys, West Worthing) - TQ131025

Some weak sun this afternoon was enough to get me out in my garden and adjoining chalk pit to see the state of play. 4 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, Wall (female), Small White, Silver Y. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

I RATHER SUSPECT THAT MOST OF US (ME INCLUDED) GO STRAIGHT TO THE SIGHTINGS PAGE AND MISS OUT THE HOME PAGE ALTOGETHER. NOTHNG WRONG WITH THAT (AND I AM GUILTY AS CHARGED) BUT THAT COULD MEAN THAT MANY OF US ARE MISSING OUT ON THE LATEST NEWS ITEMS. ONE OF THIS WEEK'S NEWS ITEMS IS ABOUT ARCHIVES. UNTIL THIS WEEK, ARCHIVES ON THE MENU BAR HAS BEEN AN EMPTY SHELL BUT NOW YOU CAN PERUSE THE SUMMARIES OF THE PAST FOUR YEARS AS WELL AS REMIND YOURSELVES OF SOME VERY NICE PHOTOS. THE INTENTION IS TO GO BACK IN TIME AND REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FOR THE YEARS FURTHER BACK. IF THE MEMBERSHIP WOULD LIKE OTHER ITEMS TO BE INSERTED IN THE ARCHIVES THEN PLEASE SEND IN A POST WITH SUGGESTIONS. Martin Kalaher website editor (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden)

The Adur Valley Transect Group currently consists of four volunteers who have agreed to share two butterfly transects at Mill Hill and Anchor Bottom in the Adur valley. Each member of the group has agreed to walk two transects a month between April and September. Because the sites are so close together it is possible to walk two transects on the same day. Following the retirement of John Gilbert after 7 years’ excellent service we are looking to recruit a new member for the 2025 season. If you are interested in helping us monitor the butterflies in the lower Adur valley please contact transects@sussex-butterflies.org.uk (Jonathan Crawford, Adur Transect Group) - TQ211073

Just following up on the theme of Wall sightings. Yesterday we saw one or perhaps two in our garden near Berwick station. They've been present on sunny days throughout their third generation. None seen today though (13th). (Chris Bird, Berwick) - TQ525066

At Pagham Harbour on Saturday we were lucky it brightened up for a couple of hours and was quite warm early afternoon. Butterflies seen were 1 Small Copper, 4 Speckled Wood, 30+ Red Admiral and around 15 or so Small White. Also seen were about 10 Migrant Hawkers and around 30 Common Darters (Jan, Pagham)

A walk around Malling Down this lunchtime was surprisingly warm but only a few butterflies on the wing. 4 Red Admiral, a couple of Small Copper and a Small White. Later in the town there were several whites enjoying the warmth and a pristine Red Admiral on the railway lands. (Martin Buck, Malling Down and Lewes town)

Female Wall Brown seen on the Adur by New Inn Farm. Also plenty of Speckled Wood and Red Admirals on the downs link. (Charlie Crump, Nrw Inn Farm Henfield) - TQ189154

A sunny morning gave way to cloud about 14.30. By then I had made my way round the sheltered parts of North Lancing, but saw virtually nothing else as I carried on round Lancing Ring. 36 Speckled Wood, 26 Red Admiral, 7 Small White, 5 Comma, 5 Large White, 2 Common Blue, 2 Peacock, Small Copper. The famous Flailbot was doing a bit of brutal scrub bashing, but only for a few hours as it in in great demand. A few Bison would do the job better, but rewilding hasn't reached Lancing yet! (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

This afternoon, by the community raised beds in the playing fields north of Chichester Festival Theatre, 3 Speckled Woods. Down by the Theatre, a Large White. (John Heys, Chichester)

Strong westerly movement of Red Admirals low along the top of the beach at Lancing this morning. Between 11.30am and 1pm we watched in total some 50 Red Admirals, all flying west with strong purposeful flight. A lovely Brimstone in front garden when we got back to Keymer. (Malcolm Le Grys, Widewater, Lancing)

We were waiting for our granddaughter to do her cross country training at Findon Gallops around 3:45pm when a Red Admiral dropped down into the grass nearby. I wondered if it was injured, but just as suddenly it took off and disappeared. (John Heys, Findon)

Not exactly a butterfly day, but a Red Admiral graced my garden, and so out came my camera. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

A lovely start to the day. Sitting on the kitchen steps into my garden at 7:15am eating my bowl of cereals a flicker of movement catches my eye. A Humming-bird hawk-moth is breakfasting on the pale flowers of the Abelia grandiflora. (Tessa Pawsey, Elm Gove area, Brighton) - TQ320051

A small window of sunshine resulted in six butterfly species being seen in my North Lancing garden. 4 Red Admiral, 2 Peacock, 2 Large White, 2 Small White, Comma, Speckled Wood. Also a late-ish Humming-bird Hawk-moth (though I have seen them in every month except December and January). Common Lizards are still basking in double figures, but what seems to be the last surviving female Wasp Spider is laying moribund by its egg case. (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

During several brief sunny spells in my Lancing seaside garden today, there was a Large White, Small White and a Painted Lady all on the Verbena. (Vince Massimo, Lancing) - TQ189038

I sympathise with Martin about the wind - our Red Admiral yesterday was sunning itself on the sheltered side of the conifer. I wondered what effect the rain in the evening & overnight might have today. It's still pretty mild here and quite sunny. The sun came out as we walked up Heene Road and past Heene Cemetery around 11:30am. We spotted 2 Speckled Woods in the roads before the Cemetery & over the Wall another two, spiralling together, in the Cemetery. Shortly after Val saw a Red Admiral and we both noticed a Large White fly through our back garden. There seemed to be fewer Whites around today than we'd expected. I don't know it they reverse migrate, but that might explain it. (John Heys, West Worthing)

The Amberley Downs were disappointing today, the usual late summer, early Autumn butterflies were simply missing. However Red Admiral Small White, Small Copper and Brown Argus still put in an appearance. (Patrick Moore , Amberley area) - TQ0411