Sussex Branch

During the very warm sunny 15 minutes around 11.30am yesterday (18 Nov) Val & I were doing the walk under the A259 near the power station in Fishersgate & Southwick, but we drew a blank in butterfly spotting. We did see a least 2 kingfishers although the clouds had already taken over again by then so they were dark rather than brilliant colours. In relation to the interesting information on the hawkish complex, from a single orange hawkweed which we allowed to stay in the lawn many years ago because it looked so attractive, we now have plenty. However it was only this year that I've ever seen a butterfly tempted by one and it was a very rare visitor to our garden - either a Small Skipper or an Essex Skipper. I didn't sent in a picture at the time as it was very out of focus, but here it is now as part of the narrative. I think the skipper may be resting on a dead flowerhead just behind the open one. Seconds later it was off up and away for ever. I agree with Martin that dandelions in gardens should be given no chance or else they just take over and once they are big only weedkiller or a JCB will get rid of them. (John Heys, Shoreham Harbour)

Lancing extra mural cemetery was blessed by a Holly Blue, which fluttered over the ivy at half past eleven in a brief sunny interval! (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

A Red Admiral passed through our East Dean garden around 1230 today. It appeared to be heading South in completely overcast conditions. (Carole Jode, East Dean) - TV562984

In my garden, Nipplewort is particularly favoured by Essex Skippers. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

When I began my wildlife garden in 2004, I had little idea of what I was doing but I decided that a good variety of wildflowers was a sensible starting point. In 2020 I would amend that statement slightly to, “include as many different wildflowers as you can” . A second maxim would be to include as many types of habitats as possible, which for meadows and herbaceous borders means varied sward heights. Many of our native butterflies prefer a short sward. To achieve this, we need infertile soil and a willingness to weed out the more dominant grass species. The problem with very short swards is that it encourages certain wildflowers such as Dandelions and Plantains, and these can readily take over and thereby reduce the variety we seek. The dandelion-type family is huge but you do not need to name them all to manage them, for if you can recognise the basal rosette of Common Dandelions and selectively remove them, then the rest can be (mostly) left alone. An example of the Hawkish Complex is Nipplewort, an annual that readily colonises disturbed soil. The small butterflies in my garden just love this wildflower. It is not a weed! (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

Red Admiral in my Storrington garden today. It was in flight and heading west when I saw it, although it may have been seeking out shelter in the garden shrubs. Vince Massimo contacted me as he had problems accessing the website. Regarding the mystery caterpillar he is leaning towards a Ruby Tiger caterpillar. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

Lancing extra mural cemetery had 2 Red Admiral and a fresh male Holly Blue. The latter flew off high and strongly in a south easterly direction. Perhaps he had heard about Trevor's female at Southwick! (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

Ken Brindle's caterpillar may be a Buff Ermine, Spilosoma lutea (Colin Knight, none)

Whilst watching Wall lizards this beautiful Clouded Yellow just appeared. It was flying around next to the fort and just in front of the coast guard tower. (christian moss, Shoreham Fort) - TQ233046

A Red Admiral was nectaring on ivy and a Peacock sunning on dead leaves in Slindon Wood. (Ken Hearne, Slindon Wood)

A Red Admiral, sunbathing on the Weigela in my garden today. (Maria Dixon , Bexhill-On-Sea )

I snapped this caterpillar on the pavement in Bewbush, Crawley today. I have tried to identify it, but without success. Does anyone know what it is? Many thanks. (Ken Bridle, Bewbush, Crawley)

A Red Admiral sunning itself on a concrete post at lunch-time was the first I have seen in my Fishbourne garden in nearly a month. (Robert Watson, Fishbourne) - SU8305

Another female Holly Blue at Southwick/Shoreham Harbour today. Took some finding!. (Trevor Rapley, Hailsham)

NOVEMBER RECORDS 2006-2020: Recording Holly Blues in November appears to be a recent phenomenon and has prompted me to do some analysis of the data held on the Sussex BC website. It may surprise the membership that since 2006 there have been records for 18 butterfly species in the month of November. It may also be a surprise that in a single year (2018) there were sightings of 15 butterfly species in November. That is a lot of different butterflies for what can often be a wet, windy, cold month. The calendar years with the number of butterfly species recorded in November, are as follows: 2006 (6), 2007 (11), 2008 (5), 2009 (7), 2010 (6), 2011 (6), 2012 (7), 2013 (6), 2014 (8), 2015 (8), 2016 (12), 2017 (14), 2018 (15), 2019 (7) and 2020 (11, so far). The problem with retrospective studies is that there are too many variables in play. Ideally, one would prefer a prospective study with a degree of constancy, with the same observers checking the same sites year-on-year. Even so, it does seem reasonably clear that the numbers are increasing with double figures for six out of the past seven years (including 2020). So, which butterflies are most regularly seen? The league table for the years 2006-2020, is as follows: Red Admiral (all 15 years), Peacock (all 15 years), Comma (13 years), Brimstone (12 years), Painted Lady (11 years), Speckled Wood (11 years), Clouded Yellow (9 years), Small White (7 years), Small Copper (7 years), Common Blue (6 years), Holly Blue (5 years), Large White (4 years), Small Tortoiseshell (4 years), Meadow Brown (3 years), Brown Argus (2 years), Long-tailed Blue (2 years), Wall Brown (1 year), Continental Swallowtail (1 year). (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

A new site for third brood Holly Blue was a garden in Boundstone Lane, while warmth and sun gave Lancing extra mural cemetery 3 Red Admiral, 2 male Holly Blue and a Peacock (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)

The relative lack of springtime nectar, in my garden, is currently on my mind and this week I have begun to do something about it. One group of native or naturalised plants that fits the bill are the Stocks, and in particular I would mention Cuckooflower, Honesty and Dame’s Violet. Cuckooflower is native to Sussex and is found on damp grassland and verges but as most of my garden is just too dry it hasn’t done well (and I don’t currently have any). There are a few areas close to the garden pond where it might flourish and that is where I intend to plant some. Honesty is a garden escape and widespread throughout the county. It is a biennial which means that every year the next crop of seedlings has to do battle with the surrounding vegetation, which needs to be kept fairly short if it is to do well. Dame’s-violet is another garden escape and is described as a perennial, but in my garden, it usually behaves as a biennial. It self-seeds readily enough but only if there are adjacent patches of bare soil. It is easy to lose it as a garden plant. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

Dame's Violet is very popular with our native butterflies and a large number of species are attracted to its nectar. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

That's eight butterfly species nectaring on Pink Honesty and Dame's Violet, making them a very worthwhile addition to any garden. These two Stocks are also larval food plants to Orange-tip, Small White, Large White and Green-veined White. (Martin Kalaher, Storrington wildlife garden) - TQ082140

While working in my garden this morning (well that's a bit of poetic licence, I was filling the bird feeders) a Peacock flew over, high and fast. (Nigel symington, Newick)

This morning a Red Admiral was fluttering beside the wall on the side of the road from the NT car park to the hamlet of Crowlink. (Stuart Ridley, Crowlink) - TV547975

Not a single flutter on our Monday walk from Shoreham to Worthing this morning so I fiddled about on the laptop to produce a mosaic of images captured on our Sussex walks over the last few months. Capturing a half decent image of what I have seen has proved as challenging as some of the walking. (Alan Salter, Shoreham-by-sea) - TQ216063

Single Peacock at the Knepp Castle Estate, this morning. (Andy Cotton, Andy Cotton)

A short sunny spell in Lancing extra mural cemetery brought out 2 male Holly Blue and 4 Red Admiral (Lindsay Morris, North Lancing)