All observations by Andy Horton, unless stated otherwise.

Link to the Butterfly List for 2007

17 December 2006
A Red Admiral Butterfly and large bumblebee were disturbed in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham.

16 December 2006
A Red Admiral Butterfly flew over the tennis court in Henfield, Sussex in the afternoon.
NB. On Shoreham Beach the air temperature was about 8.5 ºC.

29 November 2006
A Red Admiral Butterfly was seen today in a garden on Old Salts Farm Road, South Lancing. I may have disturbed it while trimming some Ivy. It was sunny for a spell recording an air temperature of 13.3 ºC at 2:08 pm. This may be the last butterfly of the year for the lower Adur valley?

26 November 2006
I spotted a good condition Red Admiral Butterfly around our south Lancing front garden (TQ 185 046) in the warm sunshine.

19 November 2006
The Red Admiral Butterfly seen flying around the top of flint wall, by the Vicarage in Kingston Buci (east Shoreham) underneath an Evergreen Oak as the sun came out between the clouds just before midday. The butterfly was in an average condition.

A Painted Lady Butterfly alighted on the Euryops bush in our south Lancing front garden (TQ 185 046) in the morning. This may be the last of the year of this species. The temperature outside was around 10 ºC.

14 -16 November 2006
Because of bad weather and other commitments, no butterflies were seen during this period.

13 November 2006
Four Clouded Yellow Butterflies and one Red Admiral were seen on Mill Hill. One of the Clouded Yellows rested on my finger. It was rather bedraggled.

A Painted Lady Butterfly and two Red Admirals visited my garden in north Shoreham (west of Kingston Lane). This is the first record of a Painted Lady in November on these Nature Notes pages.

9 November 2006
Eleven Clouded Yellows, including one form helice were seen at Mill Hill in the afternoon about 3:00 pm.  Despite the fair (11.8 ºC) weather they were rather sluggish, spending most of the time on either warm scree or the wooden boards of the steps and tilting themselves perpendicular to the sun's rays.

6 November 2006
About seven Red Admiral Butterflies were seen on a journey across Buckingham Park, Shoreham, to Mill Hill and back, although none were seen in town. Also, 11 (to 13*) Clouded Yellow Butterflies were seen on Mill Hill (6 -8* on the lower slopes and one on the ridge by the Reservoir) and on Old Erringham pasture (4). One of the Clouded Yellows had white upper wings but conventional (if slightly paler) underside, and one was a faded yellow and very tatty. They were very flighty, rarely stopping for more than a few seconds at each flower, and on the lower slopes of Mill Hill they visited Devil's Bit Scabious (in hidden places I had not noticed it before) and Autumnal Hawkbit and Wild Basil. On the Old Erringham pasture near the stile adjoining Mill Hill Nature Reserve, two of them were courting rising together vertically, and their preferred nectar plant was Dandelion.
(* The Clouded Yellow Butterflies were flighty, chasing each other at speeds of an estimated 10 mph and the lower figure of 11 seen means that no butterflies were counted twice. They appeared to be resident in the area, rather than just passing through. One of their caterpillar food plants, Common Bird's Foot Trefoil, is abundant on Mill Hill. )
The visit was in the late morning on a pleasant day when the air temperature reached 12.2 ºC at  2:04 pm.

4-5 November 2006
No butterflies were spotted in Shoreham or on the outskirts of town on a clear day.

2 November 2006
Four Red Admiral Butterflies appeared within as many minutes along the Riverbank by the houseboats on the River Adur estuary on the Shoreham Beach side. The rest of the Red Admirals around and about the residential area and outskirts of Shoreham town amounted to a further eight, at least three of them were flying relentlessly northwards in virtually no wind (Force 1) under a clear blue sky.

1 November 2006
A chill wind from the north-west made me wish I had worn gloves. Butterflies were predictably low with six Red Admirals and six Clouded Yellow Butterflies recorded. Two of the Red Admirals fluttered together under the copse on the top of Mill Hill. One was seen in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, and another one by the closed Furnitureland warehouse on the other (northern) side of Ham Road to the Hamm, Shoreham.
The Clouded Yellows were all seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. They were all bright yellow and this was the most seen together this year. Two were sparring or being amorous.

31 October 2006
Fifteen Red Admiral Butterflies were seen on a roundabout journey from Shoreham to Southwick to Shoreham Beach and Lancing and back to Shoreham again. The cycle journey time was about two hours for the measured 15 miles, with stops. The Red Admiral Butterflies were mostly being buffeted about in the south-westerly breeze and one in Lancing was seen flying towards the west before being blown off course towards the north. Some of the Red Admirals appear smaller than usual in flight, which I put down to an optical illusion caused by the butterflies being blown about in the strong wind.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

30 October 2006
Just the one faded Red Admiral Butterfly was seen on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.

29 October 2006
Two Red Admiral Butterflies were seen in Shoreham town, one around the closed Furnitureland store near the Hamm around midday and the other fluttering around a lamp post in the narrow West Street in the early afternoon, both in the central area of Shoreham. The afternoon air temperature reached 16.7 ºC.
 

Paul Graysmark rescued a 85 mm long caterpillar of the immigrant Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Agrius convolvuli, from being squashed as it slowly crawled across Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham. This specimen was the green variant. The caterpillars feed on Common Bindweed, but they cannot survive a British winter.
Picture Report
Adur Moths

28 October 2006
The only butterfly of the day was a Red Admiral visiting the Cosmos shrub in Ray Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 185 046).

27 October 2006
Immediately, I opened the door in the early afternoon, a Red Admiral Butterfly flew over my front garden and on to the roof. That was one of ten on the day, with two from the southern part of Mill Hill. But these were the only butterflies in an hour. A Silver Y Moth was disturbed, but there were no butterflies at all on the lower slopes.

26 October 2006
Three Red Admirals were seen blown about in the breeze on the wasteland near Old Shoreham (i.e. Coastal Link Cyclepath and the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road) in about half an hour. They were associated with Buddleia (no longer in flower) or Ivy.

23 October 2006
Eight Red Admirals were seen on a three hour walk round the Adur estuary, Widewater and Shoreham. Also one Painted Lady on Ivy by the houseboats.

After the rain, I would have been surprised to find a multitude of butterflies. The tally in one hour was two Red Admirals disturbed from amongst Stinging Nettles on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill, two Meadow Browns on the Devil's Bit Scabious on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and  a very bright yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttered across my view as I tried to photograph the Meadow Browns. Both Meadow Browns were damaged but did not look particularly tattered or old. In Lancing town an unidentified white butterfly fluttered across my view as I cycled along.
Link to a Clouded Yellow head shot (close-up) by Noel Cornwall

Six butterflies of four species (my tally only)

21 October 2006
A Red Admiral was buffeted about by the Strong Breeze (Force 6) in Shoreham town under a sky full of black rain clouds.

20 October 2006
Sightings at Mill Hill, Shoreham in the sunshine out of the breeze after a very wet morning: 1 Red Admiral; 1 Meadow Brown (very tattered) and an amazing 10 Clouded Yellows.

A close look at a white butterfly fluttering around the occasional Buddleia the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge revealed a Small White Butterfly. Five Red Admirals were seen as I weaved my way through the puddles.

18 October 2006
A close look at an extraordinary white coloured butterfly on the River Adur estuary towpath by the Ricardo Engineering Works at the west end of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, revealed a very pale yellow under-hindwing and a white under-forewing. Immediately, because of the colour scheme, I thought Large White but the butterfly remained still just long enough (one second) to recognise the distinctive pale yellow or grey-rimmed spot of the Clouded Yellow Butterfly. It would have remained still enough for a photograph if it was not disturbed by a walker and then later by a runner. In flight (seen for over a minute) this butterfly displayed totally white upper wings with black wing borders. This was a pure white, the same colour as Large Whites and Small Whites.
The question: was this a faded version of the normal Clouded Yellow Butterfly, Colias croceus, the variety 'helice', or the Pale Clouded Yellow, Colias hyale? or even Berger's Clouded Yellow, Colias alfacariensis, (=Colias australis).
Cockayne Collection of Colias croceus
I have picked as first thought an white variety of the the normal Clouded Yellow Butterfly. It does not seem to match the variety 'helice' in photographs. This is unlikely to be a different species: the Pale Clouded Yellow? or even Berger's Clouded Yellow? I think it was most likely to have been Colias croceus f. helice (although not matching in colour the Cockayne type examples). It is the female only that sometimes appears so pale that it is mostly white.

There was a familiar yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttering over the towpath south of the inlet by Cuckoo's Corner and a dozen Red Admirals in an hour over the Adur Levels and outskirts of town.  There was also a Silver Y Moth fluttering in the undergrowth just north of the Adur Riverbank Industrial Estate on the west side of the river.

17 October 2006
There were three Red Admirals in the light rain over Shoreham town.

16 October 2006
Under a cirrus, blue, sky, 19 Red Admirals were seen in an hour and a half (9 on Mill Hill), one unidentified White (over the Steyning Road, north of Old Shoreham), four Meadow Browns on the Devil's Bit Scabious on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and a Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttering over the pasture at Old Erringham (next to the stile). The first Red Admiral in Dolphin Road, Shoreham, was flying steadily westwards backed by a breeze from the east. Generally, the Red Admirals were either settled on Ivy, (a few on Buddleia and Stinging Nettles), or flying about randomly in all directions. The air temperature reached 18.5°C in the afternoon.

Four species, 25 butterflies

15 October 2006
The afternoon count was of about 25 Red Admirals in Shoreham town, but mostly on the wasteland on the Adur Levels. The best location was the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. A Peacock Butterfly fluttered around the Buddleia and Ivy near the buffer stop. The path and bushes north of Adur Riverbank Industrial Estate hosted a worn Large* White Butterfly and a large Painted Lady. Three Clouded Yellow Butterflies were seen, the first one over the Hamm near Adur Civic Centre and the other two just north of Old Shoreham. A single worn male Common Blue Butterfly appeared after about five minutes in a field west of the Steyning Road, Old Shoreham. The downs were not visited. (*probably a Large White, possibly a Small White.)

Six species, 32 butterflies

14 October 2006
A Red Admiral Butterfly flew steadily northwards under the eaves of the buildings in East Street, Shoreham, over the Farmer's Market in the late morning under a hazy slightly overcast sky.

13 October 2006
In the sunshine at a temperature of 18.7 °C, a surprise bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly fluttered over the hedgerow by the A27 Flyover on the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. This butterfly has been recorded in the month of October before though. In a half an hour detour on the edge of Shoreham I saw 21 Red Admirals, with the first four flying steadily south but most of them were flying in random directions, around Ivy mostly but also seen on the dead flowers of Buddleia and Stinging Nettles. The best location was the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge which did not record any the day before. At the extreme southern dead end of the Coastal Link Cyclepath (south of the tunnel of shrubs) I saw a slightly worn Peacock Butterfly with half a dozen Red Admirals on the Ivy on the eastern side of the path, and a Silver Y Moth fluttering amongst the ground vegetation (mostly now devoid of any flowers).
Later in the afternoon, a further two Red Admirals were seen flying strongly southwards and a Large White Butterfly flew rapidly northwards in central Shoreham. Even later another Red Admiral or two were seen flying north over the railway track near the Community Centre in Pond Road and it may have changed direction and flew south or it may have been a different butterfly?
Shoreham Weather Reports 2006

Three species, 26 butterflies.

12 October 2006
Under the midday sun a remarkable air temperature of 16.6 °C was attained which brought the butterflies out: Red Admirals (26), Comma (2), Large White (1), Clouded Yellow (3), Meadow Browns (9+), Common Blue (3) and a perfect condition Peacock Butterfly (1). This was the first ever record of a Peacock Butterfly during the month of October recorded on these Nature Notes.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
 

LOCATIONS:	BUTTERFLIES:
Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road	Red Admiral (4), Comma (1)
Pixie Path to Mill Hill	Red Admiral (7), Comma (1), Large White (1)
Lower slopes of Mill Hill	Red Admiral (4), Clouded Yellow (3), Meadow Brown (8+), Common Blue (3)
Pasture of Old Erringham (near the stile to Mill Hill Nature Reserve only)	Meadow Brown (1)
Mill Hill, north-west, central and upper slopes	Red Admiral (11), Peacock (1)

The Meadow Browns (8+) and Common Blues (3) were attracted to the Devil's Bit Scabious the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Over half of the Red Admirals were spotted flying steadily in a southerly direction, with the remainder discovered on and around Ivy. None of the Red Admirals were seen flying northwards. Four Red Admirals settled simultaneously on the wooden railing in the Butterfly Copse.

Seven species, 45 butterflies

10 October 2006
Three Red Admiral Butterflies were seen on wasteland around Shoreham.

9 October 2006
One Clouded Yellow Butterfly flew northwards over the small estate called The Curlews in the Shoreham residential area north-west of the Hamme Road Allotments.

8 October 2006
Thirteen Red Admirals were counted prior to their winter diapause (hibernation), all amongst Ivy along the on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge (3), on the Waterworks Road and the nearby Butterfly Copse (with one Comma Butterfly), and on the Ivy bordering the Pixie Path to Mill Hill, and one on the Ivy by the stile in the north-west of Mill Hill Nature Reserve. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, there were eleven Meadow Brown Butterflies all on or in the vicinity of Devil's Bit Scabious in the northern part.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
Three species of butterfly and 25 in number.

7 October 2006
Two Comma Butterflies, one Red Admiral, one Meadow Brown and one Clouded Yellow were seen on Mill Hill.

A half a dozen Red Admiral Butterflies were seen in about an hour in Shoreham town.

4 October 2006
Two Clouded Yellow Butterflies were seen on the upper part of Mill Hill.

Butterflies were frequently seen on an afternoon trip to the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill, and on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. In order of first seen they were 11 Red Admirals  (Butterfly Copse 4 Pixie Path 3 Mill Hill on Ivy near the stile 4), one pristine third brood male Holly Blue in the Ivy in the Butterfly Copse, one Comma sparring with the Red Admirals on the Pixie Path, eight Common Blues (one of the Pixie Path and the rest on the Devil's Bit Scabious on the the lower slopes of Mill Hill), 18 Meadow Brown Butterflies all on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and one Small Copper on the Devil's Bit Scabious. Only three of the Meadow Browns were males and at least one of the females, although looking fresh enough was badly damaged. All the Common Blues spotted with their wings open were the blue males, but half of them flew of too quickly to see what gender they were. They were all a bit ragged around their wing edges.

Nine species of butterfly and about 45 in total numbers

27 September 2006
On an overcast day hardly anything moved at all on an afternoon round trip from Old Shoreham to Botolphs on the Coastal Link Cyclepath and back via the Coombes Road. At most there were a handful of Red Admiral Butterflies south of the Toll Bridge, and a couple north of Old Shoreham.

26 September 2006
Amazingly, the small orange butterfly fluttering in the wind in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, was seen again (if it was the same one) and this time it settled on a grass verge and positively identified as a Painted Lady Butterfly which came as a bit of a surprise. More than a dozen (about 18) Red Admiral Butterflies were seen on a trip along the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, and on the on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill. A Speckled Wood Butterfly was seen in the Butterfly Copse and an unidentified white butterfly (possibly a Green-veined White by the jizz) on the Waterworks Road. The first Common Blue Butterfly was seen on the Pixie Path. It was small with a top wing colour a greyish blue but the spots identified it as a Common Blue.
 

I am not sure if this was a male or female  Common Blue on the Pixie Path	The unusual blue variety of the female Common Blue which occur at the beginning and end of their season	The female Common Blue (in the middle image) showing the unusual crescent shape spot on the fore underwing

The lower slopes of Mill Hill in the early afternoon produced frequent butterflies but slightly reduced in numbers and variety from nine days ago. Meadow Brown Butterflies (30+) led the way and most, but not all, were females. They were counted, but there were so many on the Devil's Bit Scabious that I lost count in the confusion. There was a mixture of male and female Common Blues (10+) and again they were difficult to count because nearly all of them were on or around the Devil's Bit Scabious. A Small Copper Butterfly settled on the Devil's Bit Scabious. A Large White Butterfly and another Meadow Brown was spotted near the stile. As I was feeling a bit weak with a cold (virus) I returned by the ridge route where I spotted another worn and damaged Small Copper Butterfly visiting Lesser Centaury, a definite Small Heath Butterfly and a Painted Lady.
Eight species of butterfly totalling about 69 butterflies.

22 September 2006
A aged Red Admiral Butterfly flew north over the railway crossing gates in Eastern Avenue, Shoreham. A white butterfly was also seen in the distance.
A small orange butterfly (or moth) fluttered in the wind in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, but I could not follow it to find out what it was. This was probably a Painted Lady Butterfly (although it could have been a Vapourer Moth).

20 September 2006
A passage journey in the afternoon sunshine up the incline on the western bank of Lancing Ring Nature Reserve was uneventful until the scrub at the top I quickly disturbed a Red Admiral Butterfly and a Painted Lady and spotted a settled Comma Butterfly. The meadows were covered in the young growths of Dogwood that looked like they could threaten the meadows unless the land is forage harvested this year.  Butterflies took at least three minutes before a female Meadow Brown was spotted flying rapidly (at a steady 12 mph) over the meadows and hedges, and in the distance a Common Blue Butterfly was seen. A Large White was recorded over Lancing Beach.

19 September 2006
There were a few Red Admiral Butterflies (three were noted) and single Speckled Wood in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road on a brief passing visit. Three unidentified white butterflies were seen in the vicinity. They were far too flightly to identify.
A small orange butterfly (or moth) fluttered in the wind and then settled for less a second on the cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. This was most likely a Vapourer Moth Orgyia antiqua (although Small Copper Butterflies have been seen in similar circumstances.)

18 September 2006
A middle of the day trip along the Coastal Link Cyclepath to Upper Beeding and back resulted in about twenty Red Admiral Butterflies attracted to Ivy and Buddleia, one Comma Butterfly, at least eight Speckled Woods attracted mostly to the Buddleia, one Clouded Yellow flying steadily north at about 8 mph, two unidentified Whites and four Meadow Browns (one was in Dacre Gardens). A 15 minutes walk around the western (Dacre Gardens entrance) part of Anchor Bottom, to the top on the south side, failed to locate a single butterfly.

Six species of butterfly

17 September 2006
As the wild flowers were generally dying out everywhere, I decided to make a note of where the diminished numbers of butterflies were seen and what nectar plants if any they were using. My first stop was the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham (part of Mill Hill, but now overgrown), and it was the Ivy (rather than the remaining Buddleia*) that was the attractant for too many many Red Admirals to count immediately, at least a dozen fluttering around and not remaining still for long all on the single large bush. One bright orange Comma Butterfly was also spotted quickly. (* I have been told by a bee keeper that the Buddleia has been denuded of pollen by this time of the year.)
The Pixie Path recorded a further Red Admiral but passage butterflies tend to decline at this time of the year. Passage over the southern (south of the Reservoir) part of Mill Hill was almost bare of flowers and just a Red Admiral and a Comma were spotted.
 

The lower slopes of Mill Hill are one of the only places worth visiting for butterflies in the middle to late September. The numbers were less than earlier in the month. 25 Meadow Browns were counted scattered evenly over the slopes, visiting the common Autumn Hawkbit, Leontodon autumnalis, one making a a visit to the occasional Wild Basil. Then on the northern part butterflies were all over the place settling on Devil's Bit Scabious. There was at least a further dozen bringing a counted (then estimated) total of 40+ Meadow Browns on the lower slopes. Generally, the females (about half of them) were to be found on the short grass, possibly looking for somewhere to lay their eggs. Adonis Blues were still around, but only nine of them were seen and the males were old. The Devil's Bit Scabious was also attractive to Small Heath Butterflies (11) , Common Blues (18) and one attractive Small Copper. Small Heaths were more widespread, but the Common Blues were concentrated at the northern end. There was at least one bright blue male that looked fresh. The female Common Blues (over half of them and mostly worn and tattered) seemed to be looking for somewhere to lay their eggs but there was so many leaves of Horseshoe Vetch that they did not seem to settle on any Bird's Foot Trefoil (their larval food plant). Most of them were brown all over with the orange fringe spots, but one had lots of bright blue on her upper wing. It is possible that at least one of about ten of these brown females could have been a Chalkhill Blue female. There were two further Meadow Browns on the pasture near the stile (where Autumn Hawkbit was frequently seen). I returned via the ridge route and a further six Meadow Browns were seen on passage.
Large White Butterflies were seen occasionally on passage through Shoreham town and one or two on the downs. These whites were much too flighty to identify for sure.

Down to eight species and just under 100 butterflies as the butterfly season draws to a close

A Clouded Yellow Butterfly is seen over a a pebbled garden on Lancing beach, an expected location for this immigrant butterfly.

16 September 2006
At least a dozen Red Admirals were immediately seen on the Ivy in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road followed by four Comma Butterflies in five minutes. Three of these Commas were orange and the other a dark orange-brown. Three Large White Butterflies were seen over the Waterworks Road and other were seen by the River Adur south of the Toll Bridge.

15 September 2006
After the rain and with all the spiders and Starlings, I was surprised to see any insects, but in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road a badly damaged Speckled Wood made a short flutter, a fresh Comma Butterfly rested for over five minutes in the same position on a Hawthorn, opening and closing its wings when disturbed by hoverflies, and at least three Red Admirals were seen on the Ivy. Over a field to the west of Spring Dyke by the Steyning Road, I spotted a Clouded Yellow Butterfly. There were a few whites in Shoreham town and over the Adur Levels but they could not be identifed and I think they were either Large Whites or Green-veined Whites, or both.

12 September 2006

The distinctive caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-moth, Deilephila elpenor, was discovered in the middle of Nicolson Drive in residential Shoreham (an area with large gardens). As it was imminent danger of being squashed it was removed to a garden. The caterpillar was not measured, but estimated to be about 70 mm in length.
Adur Moths

11 September 2006
A Small Copper Butterfly that landed on a path in front of me through the long grass on the Mill Hill gentle slope west of the upper car park came as a surprise with the ordinary fare of butterflies on a sunny early afternoon. The butterflies are fading earlier this year and the upper meadows on Mill Hill had only a small population of the frequent Common Blues. The lower slopes were much reduced as well. The overall numbers of the others were Speckled Woods (10+), Large Whites (15+), a few Green-veined Whites (probable), Clouded Yellows (8), Small Heaths (13), Adonis Blues (22), Chalkhill Blues (2), a few Red Admirals, a possible Brown Argus or a few (not confirmed, all photographs were of female Common Blues), one bright Comma in the Hawthorn wood of the north-west, and with the most numerous Meadow Browns (40+) that was it. Treble-bar Moths (25+) were frequently seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
Twelve species, but not positive about one of them, plus a possible

10 September 2006
A pair of Small Copper Butterflies were seen and photographed in a pebbled garden on Lancing beach, an unexpected location for this attractive butterfly.

A Common Blue Butterfly with anomalous broad dark borders to its upper wings escaped the camera as all the butterflies were very flighty in the early afternoon sunshine on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, and south of the railway buffer (in the area adjacent to the Adur Riverbank Industrial Estate). There were at least half dozen male and female Common Blue Butterflies seen and there were probably many more hiding. Most of the males were the usual bright blue as the butterflies were fresh, although the females looked a bit faded. Red Admirals were occasional on the Coastal Link Cyclepath and all but one of the half a dozen seen in town and wasteland were flying languidly or energetically due north. Large Whites were frequent, Green-veined Whites were probably frequently seen as well, but as the butterflies were reluctant to stay still for a minute so their identity could to be confirmed. One Comma Butterfly was seen near the railway buffer.

6 September 2006
With the sun out and the air temperature rose to 24.2 ºC at 1:15 pm, humidity 74%, I just could not stay in so I went for a small cycle ride after the gales of two days ago. Buddleia was still in flower bordering the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham, and immediately I was greeted with the simultaneous appearance of both a Brimstone Butterfly and a Comma feeding on the Buddleia. The first Brimstone stayed long enough for me to get my best photograph of this species (that is quick to hide and avoid my camera). The day was completed with frequent Large Whites over the town and downs, occasional Small Whites in Shoreham, occasional Green-veined Whites (only identifed by their jizz) on the Waterworks Road and Frampton's Field, and two more Brimstones, one in Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham, and the other on Mill Hill. The Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road hosted just one Red Admiral on a passage visit where I did not wait for other butterflies. The Pixie Path was rather devoid of butterflies, although a female Common Blue settled briefly.
 

 
     Brimstone Butterfly on the last of the autumn Buddleia

Mill Hill blown about by a negligible Moderate Breeze added a further selection of butterflies including 49 Adonis Blues, very frequent Meadow Browns on the lower slopes with, occasional white butterflies, occasional confirmed Brown Argus Butterflies, but just the two mating Chalkhill Blues. The scrub in the north-west added a Comma that flew over the lower slopes, and at least five Speckled Woods. Just a small part of the top area visited was attractive to three Small Heath Butterflies, another Brimstone Butterfly with a few mostly female Common Blues.
 

Adonis Blues		Males	Females
	Mill Hill lower	26	10
	Old Erringham pasture	1	0
	Mill Hill, middle & upper	9	3

Thirteen butterfly species

4 September 2006
A Small White Butterfly was quickly seen in Shoreham town followed by several others, but it was the Large Whites that were frequently seen in the town, on Lancing Beach and on the Coastal Link Cyclepath. Two Clouded Yellows were seen near Lancing Sailing Club (west end of Widewater), the second of these two immigrant butterflies visiting a Common Mallow and Dandelion in quick succession. Buddleia and fallen crab apples were the butterfly attraction in Ray Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 185 046) where a Speckled Wood Butterfly, a Comma and a Red Admiral were seen in five minutes. A Humming-bird Hawk-moth visited the Buddleia as it had been doing for the last two weeks. The Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road hosted another Red Admiral and another Comma opened its wings by the twitten to Frampton's Field at the of The Street, Old Shoreham.

A late afternoon trip along the Coastal Link Cyclepath to Upper Beeding and back saw about ten vanessid butterflies of which most were probably Red Admirals, but they included at least one Painted Lady. The verge meadows just south of the Cement Works was the best area where at least one confirmed Brown Argus and half a dozen Common Blues were seen, including one female (but late in the day they were likely to be hidden and resting). White butterflies fluttered around and at least a pair were confirmed as unmistakable Green-veined Whites, when one of them rested. A twelve minutes or so wander around the Dacre Gardens end of Anchor Bottom added 14 Adonis Blues, half attracted to the cow pats and four were females (one of the females was faded and could have been a Chalkhill Blue). There were two Common Blues and just one Meadow Brown and one Small Heath seen amongst the wiry grasses and cow pats of Anchor Bottom.
Twelve definite butterfly species

30 August 2006
Overcast and breezy and in the afternoon, I would not expect many butterflies, but there was a fresh Comma and a Red Admiral in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, another Red Admiral on the Pixie Path, frequent Meadow Browns, 15 Adonis Blues, 7 Chalkhill Blues, 5 Small Heaths, one Brown Argus, at least 2 Common Blues on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. I returned by the ridge and did not visit the upper part of Mill Hill. One of the Chalkhill Blues appeared to be dying. Many of the Adonis Blues were already showing signs of wear at the edges and there did not appear to be any fresh males. No females were spotted on a casual ramble.
Eight species of butterfly in unfavourable conditions

29 August 2006
A few of both Large Whites and Small Whites were seen in Shoreham town.

27 August 2006
Adonis Blues (128+) were mating on Mill Hill with a dozen other species of butterflies on a breezy midday. The count was 110 (about 13 females seen) on the lower slopes and 18 males above the ridge. This was the most I have ever counted on Mill Hill. There were occasional Common Blues on the lower slopes and they were still frequent on the upper meadows so distinguishing the species was not always automatic. The Adonis Blues were evenly spread over the lower slopes and I would estimate their numbers on Mill Hill at 350+. All the females were actually mating or I watched them until they were courted by a male. The males did chase after an occasional Meadow Brown though.

Chalkhill Blues were still frequently seen and the figure of 25+ (20 lower, 5 middle and upper Mill Hill) may be under their numbers as I lost count of them. Meadow Browns (70+) were still very frequent, but Small Heath Butterflies (6) were only occasionally seen, with one Wall Brown* that did not settle for confirmation over the lower slopes. Large Whites were frequent over the downs, and at least one Small White was seen in town. Almost all the whites, even the smaller ones were Large Whites (although it was not easy to be sure). About a dozen Speckled Woods were seen in the scrub in the north-west of Mill Hill. Faded Brown Argus Butterflies were confirmed occasionally flitting with the Common Blues on the top meadow. About eight Holly Blues and few Red Admirals were seen on the Pixie Path and a very faded and tattered Comma Butterfly on the Waterworks Road. (*I now think this was possibly a Meadow Brown?)
Twelve species possibly thirteen species, as one was not an absolute certainty

25 August 2006
Definitely both Small White Butterflies and Large White Butterflies in Shoreham town as the sun came out in the afternoon.

24 August 2006
The frequent Large Whites fluttering around the Sea Kale on Shoreham Beach are much bigger (25% larger) than the white butterflies inland (identified? as Large Whites).

21 August 2006
The Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the buffer stop at the extreme southern end in worth a look late in the year with the Marjoram, Fleabane and Buddleia still in flower. Common Blue Butterflies fluttered around despite the lack of sunshine.
My first Hummingbird Hawk-moth since 2 July 2006 and only my second of the year flew around the Buddleia on the Coastal Link Cyclepath just south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. Another one was seen around the Buddleia in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, where a Comma Butterfly and a Red Admiral were settled on the fence with their wings closed because the sun was behind the clouds. A handful of Holly Blues and Speckled Woods and a brief ray of sunshine caused the butterflies to open their wings for under a minute. A Painted Lady fluttered amongst the Buddleia. The white butterflies came in two sizes but I was only able to recognise Large Whites.
Adur Levels
 

Any rate, the rain did not seem to be imminent so I decided to cycle north up the Coastal Link Cyclepath towards Upper Beeding where Common Blue Butterflies and Meadow Browns were frequent, a couple of Comma Butterflies, another two Painted Ladies and occasional Red Admirals left the path on were spotted again on the Buddleia. Anchor Bottom (Dacre Gardens entrance) was a surprise: 24 Adonis Blue Butterflies were counted in a twenty minute circular walk, although ten of them were all on moist cow pats near the swing gate. There were about eight Common Blue Butterflies and two Small Heath Butterflies as well. There were two possibles on the cyclepath as well: a Small White and a Brown Argus could not be confirmed because they would not open their wings under the clouds.

Ten definite butterfly species and two possibles

20 August 2006
With the weather forecast predicting rain for the next week, I ventured up the downs even though the conditions (20.2 ºC at 11:00 am, 83% humidity, Wind Force 4 falling to Force 3, direction southerly at Azimuth 158º) were far from ideal for butterflies.

Predictably most of the butterflies were hiding and the numbers on Mill Hill actually seen were down from the last visit. The walk did not involve stopping and the count was Chalkhill Blues (50) and Adonis Blues (49). The Chalkhill Blues were thought to be undercounted as just north of the Reservoir on the upper part of Mill Hill, I instantly saw one Chalkhill Blue Butterfly, but I dawdled for a couple of minutes and a further seven appeared out of nowhere. Only about five female Chalkhill Blues were included and no female Adonis. Most of these were seen on the lower slopes. One Adonis Blue was very bright and pristine, but it was already damaged  with five nicks out of its hind wing.

Common Blues (100+) were the most numerous butterfly, but these were in far greater numbers on the meadow north of the upper car park where an estimated 60 were seen compared to about 30 on the rest of Mill Hill. These were only a fraction of the total as they were the ones disturbed from the tall herbs (with a large amount of Greater Knapweed) in the meadow. Some of the females were a very dark chocolate brown and much smaller, and there were a confirmed handful (probably many more) of Brown Argus Butterflies. Meadow Browns (75) were widespread with an estimated 50 on the lower slopes where a single pristine Wall Brown and a single Small Heath were noted. Red Admirals were occasional, one Painted Lady was seen in the central area, and four Small Whites* in the meadow north of the upper car park, all on Mill Hill. About ten Speckled Wood Butterflies were a familiar sight as I walked through the scrub on the north-west of Mill Hill. On the way home, a Large White Butterfly fluttered south over Gordon Road, Shoreham. (*Second thoughts on the ID, these might be Large Whites?)

A dozen species of butterfly were seen in far from optimum weather conditions

17 August 2006
Common Blue Butterflies (100+) were still common on Mill Hill and the downs, and both the second brood male Adonis Blue Butterflies (66+) and the worn Chalkhill Blues (72+) were very frequently seen on the downs and surrounding areas. The Adonis and Chalkhill Blues were counted, but the plus signs are included because if there as any doubt if it was an Adonis or a Common Blue it was put down as a Common Blue, and with Chalkhill Blues, possible duplicates were excluded and females are likely to have been overlooked. The Adonis Blues were seen mostly on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. They were nearly all in a bright pristine condition but many of them already showed nicks out of their hind wings. The list included very frequent Meadow Browns (75+) on grass and meadows, frequent good condition Speckled Woods (25+) in scrub and shady bits on Mill Hill, frequent Holly Blues (12+) mostly on the edge of town, occasional Green-veined Whites, Large Whites and a Small Whites on the downs and wasteland, at least one Red Admiral in the scrub of Mill Hill, one Painted Lady over the Canadian Goldenrod on the Slonk Hill Cutting south, one each of a Clouded Yellow, seen visiting a diminutive Hardhead, and a definite Small Heath, the latter two both on the Old Erringham pasture near the stile. There were probably more Red Admirals about in town as has been usual over the last few days.

This butterfly (right) caught my eye buried at the foot of some long grasses north of the upper car park on Mill Hill because it looked slightly strange. Close examination revealed it to be a Common Blue which promptly fell off the Knapweed leaf and died (instead of fluttering away) when briefly tickled.

Thirteen species is an expected fall as species have ceased and declined. The day was humid, cloudy with spots of rain and an early morning shower.

15 August 2006
Within ten minutes one of each of the Green-veined White, Large White and a Small White were seen on Buddleia in Ray Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 185 046). There were frequent white butterflies during the day, but I did not bother to identify them to species as it was far from obvious which were the most prevalent. A cycle ride home included a diversion through the Waterworks Road, Pixie Path, a brief visit to Mil Hill Cutting in the late afternoon (roosting time for the blue butterflies) and then straight home, brought approximately a handful each of Red Admirals (c. 6), Holly Blues (4), Chalkhill Blues (3+) and Common Blues (7+).
Seven species

9-14 August 2006
Immigrant Red Admirals continued to fly in under a cloudy sky (not so many, perhaps ten seen in a couple of hours around town and on Shoreham Beach), and one was even seen flying south helped by a northerly breeze.

8 August 2006
Butterflies around Edburton included three Clouded Yellows, a nice Purple Hairstreak in an Ash tree, a Silver-washed Fritillary, a Small Copper and a Painted Lady.

On a passage journey over New Monks Farm and through the Elm corridor there were occasional each of the expected butterflies: Whites (species not specified), Speckled Woods, Holly Blues, Meadow Browns and Red Admirals.  Around the Sea Kale on Shoreham and Lancing beaches, Large Whites were frequently seen as well as lesser number of Small Whites. Painted Ladies were frequent around the Buddleia on a swift passage over the Coastal Link Cyclepath south from the Toll Bridge to Ropetackle. I did not stop to look for butterflies. If I had the total would have been greater.
Seven species

7 August 2006
When the sun disappears behind the clouds, so do the butterflies and they are difficult to discover although on a brief afternoon passage journey there was a Small White over the Nettles of the Waterworks Road, five Painted Ladies, three Red Admirals, one Speckled Wood, one Comma and one Holly Blue in the nearby Butterfly Copse, four Meadow Browns on the Pixie Path, just one Chalkhill Blue seen on the Mill Hill Cutting (SW) and a Common Blue female on the Mill Hill Cutting road embankment at the top of Chanctonbury Drive.
Nine species

6 August 2006
 

It is strange how the Common Blue Butterflies of two days ago quickly diminished or dispersed and the estimate was now less than half at only 150. Chalkhill Blues were counted at 176 and the first second brood male Adonis Blue was seen on Mill Hill. The species count reached the equal highest confirmed day total of 17 different butterflies. Painted Lady Butterflies (50+) were mostly on Buddleia. Brown Argus (40+) flitted with the silver underwings, mostly, but not entirely, on Mill Hill.

NB: Chalkhill Blues can show the same dramatic short term rise and fall in numbers, so it makes me think I could again missed the main emergence this year?

  The list:
 

Small White  E 10+	Everywhere
Red Admiral  E  25+	Slonk Hill south 1 or 2, Mill Hill  a few, Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road  4, Coastal Link Cyclepath E 15+
Comma  1	Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road
Painted Lady  E 50+	Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road 2, Coastal Link Cyclepath E 40+, Slonk Hill meadow bank south, Mill Hill lower and middle and upper, Shoreham town on Buddleia.
Common Blue  E 150+	Slonk Hill south, Mill Hill, Coastal Link Cyclepath, in transit
Clouded Yellow  1	Old Erringham pasture near the stile
Adonis Blue  1	Triangle section of Mill Hill
Meadow Brown  E 40+	Slonk Hill south, Mill Hill, Coastal Link Cyclepath, in transit
Holly Blue  E  8+	Everywhere with hedges and scrub including a few on Mill Hill
Essex Skipper  1	Buckingham Cutting south
Green-veined White  6+	Coastal Link Cyclepath
Gatekeeper  20+	Pixie Path, Mill Hill, Coastal Link Cyclepath  (Last records this year)
Speckled Wood  E 8+	Coastal Link Cyclepath  5+  Mill Hill scrub and copse  3
Chalkhill Blue  176	Mill Hill Cutting 29+  Mill Hill lower 108, Old Erringham pasture near the stile 6, Mill Hill middle and upper 33
Brown Argus  E 40+	Mostly Mill Hill, but a few each from the Slonk Hill Cutting meadow bank south and the Coastal Link Cyclepath
Wall Brown  1	Triangle section of Mill Hill
Large White  6+	Coastal Link Cyclepath 5+  Mill Hill 1

 Seventeen species again equals the best day record of definite species ever.

5 August 2006
An unprecedented 23 Painted Lady Butterflies were seen on and around of the Buddleia on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham in the mid-afternoon (4:00 pm onwards). They were seen in about five minutes and not counted twice. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttered over the gravel path by the seat.

The List:  (Route: Coastal Link south of the Toll Bridge > Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road > Footpath to The Street, Old Shoreham) (Duration: passage journey of about 25 minutes.)
 

Painted Lady  25	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge  23  Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road  2
Meadow Brown  2+	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge  2
Small White  20+	Everywhere
Red Admiral  20+	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge  6  Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road  8 Town 6+
Common Blue  16+	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge  16+
Holly Blue 6+	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge  3+  Waterworks Road 3+ possibly more
Gatekeeper  1	Footpath at the top of The Street,  Old Shoreham
Clouded Yellow  1	Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge

Eight species in Shoreham town environs in a very short time period (10 minutes maximum plus travelling time)

4 August 2006
A male Brown Hairstreak was seen on Potentilla by my back door this morning in Steyning, and a female at Upper Beeding in the afternoon. This was the first report of the year of this butterfly that is not seen on the downs near the coast. There were five Clouded Yellows along 100 metre bank edge of Steyning.

Common Blue Butterflies (400+ in two hours) </