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Was walking past the Haven so I called in to do a transect. Not quite the excitement of last week's Clouded Yellow and Brown Hairstreak. Four Small Coppers looking very fresh including one in what we are now calling Rob's meadow, two Common Blues, two Small Whites and one Red Admiral. (Gary Fuller, Liz Williams Butterfly Haven) - TQ30920724
I think Small Copper has had a "solid season", and is finishing strongly with it's third brood. As yet, we do not recognise a fourth brood, but it wouldn't surprise me if we have one this year. My garden "third brood" have disappeared (a few days ago) and if I see fresh specimens at the end of October/early November, I shall be thinking of a fourth brood. This has been an exceptional year for early emergences, and extra broods are very likely (inevitable). All to play for, especially on the balmy coast of Sussex. Martin K
Wall Brown
A record shot of a rare Wall Brown on Ashdown. I saw two individuals plus Speckled Woods, Holly Blue & Peacock. Grid reference provided (apologies for my laziness) (Christian Moss, Ashdown Forest - Old Lodge) - TQ464305
The increase in records for Wall Brown over the past 3-4 years is very exciting. Between the county surveys of 1990-1994 and 2010-2014 this species suffered a severe contraction of distribution, in Sussex. There is increasing evidence that it is now expanding. It will take10 years or so, but every year appears to be better than the last. My apologies to you, Christian, as I should have posted a separate editor's note about grid references and not added it to your last post. Martin K
Another walk around Horse Eye Level today and it was very productive. There were 30+ (probably nearer to 50) each of Clouded Yellow and Wall widely spread across the area as well as about 20 Small Heath plus odds of Red Admiral, Common Blue, Speckled Wood and Small White. There are 2 STTS colonies that I know of in this area but neither produced any today. (Chris Hooker, Horse Eye Level) - TQ615090
30-50 Wall Browns at Horse Eye Level is truly remarkable. In recent years we have had small (or very small) numbers recorded at Abbot's Wood, Polegate and Hailsham. 30-50 at Horse Eye level suggests a very significant colony (or more probably a meta-population) in that area. I presume this is all very new. It's very exciting and yet another piece of evidence that this species is bouncing back, rather well, from a major contraction over the past 30 years or so. This is great news! Martin K
Out and about between West Worthing, Worthing and Durrington on a very warm day for October, but not many butterflies. Two or three Small Whites and two Red Admirals in town. Two Speckled Woods and a blue, likely a Holly Blue, by Heene Cemetery and a Clouded Yellow flying up and over Tescos in Durrington. (John Heys, Worthing)
Well, you did rather better than me, John, as I saw just one butterfly in my garden, today, a Small White, that flew through and didn't stop. Some of my Michaelmas Daisies are in flower, but no butterflies have nectared, as yet. Maybe tomorrow? Martin K
Clouded Yellow foraging amongst blue swathe of Michlemas Daisy in their Prairie Garden. Delightful. (Robert Ludman, Wakehurst Place Ardingly)
Queen of Spain Fritillary (male 1)
Queen of Spain Fritillary (male 2)
Clouded Yellow feeding on Round-headed Rampion
Third brood male Common Blue
Went to Stoke Bottom with JC and we got lucky with two different male Queen of Spain Fritillaries. For those who know Stoke Bottom, there is a gate which says "no access to the South Downs Way", go through there (it's all open access, by the way), and you will see a tall hedge on your left for the first 50-60 metres. Just as it opens up (to open downland) that's where they were, on the track itself. They like the bare soil. Neil Hulme has confirmed images 1 & 2 are different males (thanks Neil). Otherwise, a very significant emergence of Clouded Yellows, say 35-40. Apart from one or two older specimens they were all immaculate. I'm sure they emerged on the south-facing slope of Stoke Bottom (very recently) and the majority appeared to be females. Species seen with approximate numbers: Clouded Yellow (35-40), Small White (12), Small Copper (12), Brown Argus (1), Common Blue (15), Red Admiral (4), Queen of Spain Fritillary (2) and Small Heath (1). Wildflowers still in bloom, included: Devilsbit Scabious, Small Scabious, Round-headed Rampion, Rough Hawkbit, Wild Mignonette, Common Toadflax, Vipers Bugloss. Common Eyebright - and much more besides. Good going for October 1st (Martin Kalaher, Stoke Bottom, Amberley Downs) - TQ042116
Following my sighting of a Queen of Spain Fritillary on 25th September, I and others have returned to the field, but as far as I know without success. After an hour searching today I bumped into Karen Galtry and we were busy nattering when I suddenly saw a fresh female Queen of Spain settle a few feet from us on the footpath. Wow! It stayed long enough for Karen to get some great phone shots and then disappeared north into the Sompting Abbots grounds. Even the subsequent arrival of Neil Hulme could not attract further sightings, but it looks like they have bred in this field, so more may emerge. Also seen were 19 Clouded Yellow, 7 Small Copper, 8 Common Blue, 4 Wall, 4 Red Admiral, 2 Humming-bird Hawk-moth. (Lindsay Morris, Sompting)
Female Queen of Spain Fritillary
Female Queen of Spain Fritillary
While standing talking to Lindsay Morris in the area he saw a Queen of Spain Fritillary on 25th September a butterfly land on the path just ahead of us. To our surprise it was a female Queen of Spain Fritillary. It stayed long enough for me to get a couple of record shots with my phone before flying off north over the hedge. A fantastic sighting for us both. (Karen Galtry and Lindsay Morris) (Karen Galtry, Sompting)
In my brother's garden in East Preston this afternoon, there were several Speckled Woods and a few Small Whites plus a Red Admiral. At East Preston's sea front there was less to see - just one Small White. There was quite a breeze. None of them wanted to pose for pics. (John Heys, East Preston)
