Sussex Branch

Yellow Brimstone flying around and settling in the sunshine (Gwen Fermer, Cuckfield)

Red Admiral in my Daughters Burgess Hill garden during the warm afternoon sunshine. (David Cook, Burgess Hill)

It was so warm & sunny in Hove this morning that we did the Shoreham Port walk after lunch. A bit west of the oil tanks, while Val was looking towards the water for kingfishers (we saw none) I noticed a silvery-white butterfly exploring a large clump of ivy nearly at A259 level. After scrambling up a narrow muddy path, & with the help of a couple of loose flints chucked into the ivy, I disturbed a Holly Blue. I was lucky as it came round close enough for me to be able to identify it for certain. It even posed with slightly open wings so I could see that it was a very nice female. By the time I'd gone down & come back with Val's phone camera it had hidden again. (John Heys, Shoreham Port) - TQ251051

Just wanted to say that the AGM & talks went very well last night. Congratulations to all involved insetting it up & doing it. (Got to confess I'm more likely to attend on-line AGMs than the in-person versions.) I like the look of Alan's wildflower zone in Shoreham - well below the damp proof course too. Val & I have done the Shoreham Port walk several times this week, but there's been no sign of butterflies or moths & in yesterday's grey skies we didn't even see a kingfisher. (John Heys, Aldrington, Hove) - TQ270050

With a view to attracting a few downland species across the A27 from Mill Hill and into my garden, I started my own small wildflower meadow. A narrow south facing strip beside the house and not to prominent ( if it turns into a dandelion patch) seeded with an appropriate seed mix with crossed fingers for the coming years. (Alansalter , Shoreham by sea ) - TQ216062

On a walk that included High and Over this afternoon, I decided to have a very quick look to see if there were any early signs yet of the Wall Brown larvae. On the 2nd tussock I looked at there was a very tiny larva, probably the smallest one I have found, which is not too surprising as I believe this is the earliest one I have found in the Winter before. Another nearby tussock turned up a 2nd larva, this one although still very small was probably 3 times the size of the first one. Not bad for a 10 minute hunt!! Over the next 4 months they will be out on most of the milder days feeding up and growing slowly. (Bob Eade, High and Over)

One of the nice things about wildlife gardening is that it opens up unusual photographic possibilities. I particularly like the image of a butterfly nectaring on an unusual native plant. Corn Marigolds were doubtless common in an era before the widespread use of herbicides, but nowadays I rather think that the only place you will find them is in a wildlife garden. They are lovely and give us a riot of colour when establishing a new wildflower meadow. Within 3-4 years as the meadow matures these annuals will be lost, unless some bare soil is on offer. The seeds of wild flowers are rarely completely lost, they simply bide their time and take their opportunity, as and when it comes along. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

As a general rule, female butterflies are more difficult to observe and photograph, as once mated they tend to keep a low-profile and avoid the males. However, as their eggs continue to mature they need to top up their energy reserves and so they nectar a little and often, thereby making themselves available for a photograph or two. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

Solitary Red Admiral in our garden, close to the conservatory windows. Sorry, no photo. (Pam Hawkins, Battle, East Sussex)

A Red Admiral was flying around the parking area beside the heath, just before midday. (Andy Cotton, RSPB Pulborough Brooks)

The upperparts of female Small Skippers are a golden-brown, whilst the upperparts of female Essex Skippers, are much darker. The brown band at the rear edge of the wings is generally well-demarcated in Small Skippers, but is "fuzzy and blurred" in Essex Skippers, and the latter has darker, more prominent veins. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

If you cannot see the sex brand and the view of the antennae tips is far from clear, then the colour of the upperwings and the rear edge of the upper wings may sometimes help when differentiating between male Small Skippers and male Essex Skippers. In general, the upperparts of Small Skippers are a pale golden-brown, whilst the upperparts of Essex Skippers are more of an orange-brown (or at least that is how my eyes see them). The rear edge of Small Skipper are generally very "neat and tidy" and the dark brown band at the rear edge is well-demarcated. In Essex Skipper the rear brown band often looks rather more blurred, without that crisp demarcation. Also the veins of the upperwings of Essex Skippers are a little bit more prominent. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

Thank you Martin for having a go at identifying my skipper. I didn't know of that identification feature, but looking at photos in butterfly books I see what you mean. Unfortunately my camera focused on the grass below it not the fox & cubs / skipper. We were at several good ivy places in bright sunshine yesterday, but it was just too cold for any late butterflies. (John Heys, Aldrington, Hove) - TQ270050