All observations by Andy Horton, unless stated otherwise.

Sussex Butterfly Reports (Butterfly Conservation Society)
Adur Moths                                                                                                       British Lepidoptera on  flickr

 
4 -5 September 2008
There was more atrocious weather with heavy rain intermittently on both days.
 
3 September 2008
In a brief spell of weak sunshine, Large White Butterflies were frequent in Shoreham town and the outskirts, with a faded male Common Blue on Buckingham Cutting south, a Speckled Wood, a Meadow Brown, two Holly Blues, and a good condition Common Blue were seen on the Pixie Path to Mill HIll, and on the southern part of Mill Hill, a Red Admiral settled before I had to turn back prematurely.
Six species

1 September 2008
A male Meadow Brown Butterfly was seen in Corbyn Crescent in Shoreham town, and only my third Painted Lady of the year in good condition settled in front of me adjacent to the Middle Road Allotments, Shoreham. (Unusually, I did not have my camera with me.)

31 August 2008
On a day that began with thunder and lightning, frequent Large White Butterflies were seen in Shoreham town gardens, town outskirts and on the towpath to Cuckoo's Corner. There were also occasional Green-veined Whites and a few Small Whites.

24 - 30 August 2008
I have been pre-occupied but I have noticed both Large White and Small White Butterflies fluttering around in mostly murky weather. At least one male Meadow Brown was seen in Shoreham town.

20 - 24 August 2008
A few Red Admirals, Green-veined Whites and Large Whites were seen in four days of poor overcast weather conditions. There was a male Common Blue Butterfly on a seeding Creeping Thistle on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of Old Shoreham on 21 August 2008.

15 August 2008
After four days of poor weather, the butterflies were out again. They were common on the lower slopes of Mill Hill with 25+ Chalkhill Blues including a few females, 62 male Adonis Blues, an estimated 75+ Meadow Browns of both sexes, frequent Common Blues (estimated 12+) including very small ones, one confirmed Gatekeeper, a few Large Whites, at least one Green-veined White, two Speckled Woods on the southern steps, and a Wall Brown. I returned by the ridge route where I saw two more Speckled Woods, a pristine female Adonis Blue on Marjoram, and a further two Chalkhill Blues fluttering around the very short grass on the rim of the ridge. The only other butterfly species seen on the hill were Holly Blues with at least two fluttering around the large hedge on the side of the road south of Mill Hill Nature Reserve.
On the outskirts of town including the Slonk Hill southern route to Mill Hill via the Pixie Path were one male Gatekeeper, at least four Meadow Browns, at least seven Common Blues, four Holly Blues, two Speckled Woods, two Large Whites, and on the Mill Hill Cutting in the south-west corner there were two female and a male Chalkhill Blue seen.
Nine species

10 August 2008
A second brood Dingy Skipper fluttering around in the herb undergrowth at the the northern end of the lower slopes of Mill Hill was difficult to spot on a day on a day too breezy for the flowers to remain still enough to photograph. (This skipper may have been around for a week or more.) I had to virtually to tread on many of the blue butterflies to make them take flight so the numbers recorded were low: 26+ Chalkhill Blues including a few females, 48+ Adonis Blues (with no females discerned), and frequent Common Blues (estimated 20+) with almost as many females as males. Meadow Browns (estimated 50+) were the most frequent butterflies with both males and females in roughly equal numbers. A Wall Brown paid me a visit when I attempted to photograph a collection of mixed blues on a Carline Thistle waving frantically in the wind. Gatekeepers were recorded at just three, one Green-veined White settled for identification out of two and there was a Large White by the hedgerow. The small pyralid moth, Pyrausta purpuralis seen on the lower slopes. Unusually I retraced my steps along the return path of the lower slopes and added another Chalkhill Blue and five more Adonis Blues.

7 August 2008
In the early evening about 6:00 pm, a few Red Admirals, at least one Peacock and one Comma Butterfly danced around the Buddleia on the Coastal Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham. It is interesting that two of the above species were not recorded the day before when 16 species were seen. A Common Blue was seen amongst the tall herbs on the verges. Earlier in the day Large Whites (probable ID) were seen and a pair of sparring Speckled Woods in Southwick.
Six species

6 August 2008
With the weather conditions ameliorated enough to make a trip to Mill Hill worthwhile, it seemed as though I have missed the main emergence of Chalkhill Blue Butterflies for 2008 as the very poor showing of 43 (with one female) on the 1.2 acre transect on the lower slopes indicated. There were a further three male Chalkhill Blues seen on the upper part of Mill Hill and another six on the Mill Hill Cutting.  There were nearly as many fresh male Adonis Blues with 37 noted on the lower slopes, not to be confused with Common Blues with 29+ recorded on Mill Hill, including six on the lower slopes, as well as three on the Pixie Path and at least one on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of Old Shoreham. A small butterfly flitting about a long grass meadow on the top of Mill Hill turned out to be a pristine Brown Argus Butterfly when it settled. A total of nine of this species were recognised on Mill Hill with six of these occurring over the lower slopes. Mill Hill hosted frequent Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.Gatekeepers were becomong less in number and Meadow Browns increased.
Wall Browns appeared in the front of me on four occasions, three on Mill Hill and one on the Pixie Path. A Marbled White was a welcome surprise over the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
 

Pyrausta purpuralis Moth on Mill Hill	Male Adonis Blue 2nd brood on Mill Hill	Speckled Wood on Lesser Burdock in Buckingham Park

Speckled Woods were noted for their frequency (18+) at the top of Buckingham Park, Shoreham. This butterfly is not often seen on flowers but were repeatedly attracted to Lesser Burdock. There were two more of these butterflies on Mill Hill and more on the outskirts of Shoreham. White butterflies were everywhere in small numbers, notably four Green-veined Whites at the top of Buckingham Park and this was the most frequent of the whites on the day, although both Small Whites and Large Whites were also identified, most of these whites were not identified as they fluttered around much too quickly. Two pristine condition Peacock Butterflies  and three of the small Small Heath Butterflies settled on Mill Hill. Seven Holly Blues were seen in Shoreham town and the outskirts. Another surprise was a good condition Small Tortoiseshell on Buddleia at the top of the Drive, Shoreham.
Sixteen definite butterfly species

Chalkhill Blues  The maximum transect day count for 2008 was 81 on 30 July 2008, which was even lower than 2007 when the maximum 1.2 acre day count was 96 on 5 August 2007. In 2003, the Chalkhill Blues were too many to count and the estimate for the 1.2 acre transect was at least 375 and possibly double that.

A Silver Y Moth was noted in the dense meadows north of the upper car park on Mill Hill, and the small pyralid moth, Pyrausta purpuralis seen on the lower slopes. One faded Six-Spot Burnet Moth was noted on Greater Knapweed, but there could have been more. At least three Treble-bar Moths were fluttering around on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

4 August 2008
In the breezy conditions, a visit to the downs was contemplated but not undertaken because of the unfavourable conditions. Butterflies were frequent in Shoreham town and at the top of Buckingham Park amongst the Lesser Burdock and Stinging Nettles, both Large Whites and Small Whites were identified; both species were quite large and the identification was made by the greater amount of black on the wing tips of the Large White. However, the most prevalent white butterfly was the Green-veined White with at least six noted and there may have been more. There were also occasional Speckled Woods (4+) and a fresh lot of Holly Blues.
 

Common Blue (male) Butterfly	Large White Butterfly	Green-veined White

A Red Admiral Butterfly was seen at the top of The Drive, and a further one in the Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road), with a Gatekeeper Butterfly first recorded in the twitten between Corbyn Crescent and Adelaide Square, and another one noted on Buckingham Cutting south, with a Meadow Brown noted and at least three more Holly Blues and fourCommon Blues, including a female. A hurried passage trip down the Pixie Path produced two male Chalkhill Blues (one on the Mill Hill Cutting south-west) with four Common Blues in the long grass in the north-west corner of Frampton's Field, and a few more Holly Blues. Finally, only my second Painted Lady of the year was a pristine butterfly in the twitten between Ropetackle and Victoria Road in Shoreham town.
Ten species

1 - 5 August 2008
It was too breezy and overcast to assess the Chalkhill Blues on Mill Hill.

1 August 2008
With rain showers and mostly overcast as well as a breeze blowing, it was unsuitable conditions for visiting Mill Hill at what should be the peak time for the Chalkhill Blue Butterflies. I did a brief test ride along the Slonk Hill Cutting to fossick apples and blackberries and in this area and outskirts of Shoreham town and recorded the expected species of Large Whites, Small Whites, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods and Common Blues, Holly Blues and Small Whites, with two Comma Butterflies in the Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road) and one Red Admiral on the Waterworks Road. There were also two Six-Spot Burnet Moths on Buckingham Cutting south.
Ten Species
 

Small White on Fleabane	Six-spot Burnet Moth on Greater Knapweed	Comma Butterfly

The photograph above has been identified as a Small White and some of the the Large Whites of the previous few days may have been Small Whites.

30 July 2008
The Chalkhill Blues were slow to appear this year, as the count of a mere 81 (including two females) plus two male Adonis Blues on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, indicated. Another 15+ Chalkhill Blues were present over the south-west corner of the Mill Hill Cutting. I was not in mood for counting butterflies, but the other butterflies seen in the middle of a sunny day were Large Whites, Small Whites, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, Speckled Woods and Common Blues all frequently seen on the downs and outskirts of Shoreham town, plus the occasional Marbled Whites (five on Mill Hill), Small Skippers (on Mill Hill), Wall Browns (two courting pairs), Peacock Butterflies (3) and Holly Blues, as well as a pristine new Small Blue on Buckingham Cutting south, a Red Admiral on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of Old Shoreham, and a Comma Butterfly in the Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road). On the Buckingham Cutting (south) a few pairs of Common Blues were mating and there was one colourful female shown in the photograph below.
Sixteen butterfly species without trying
 

Synaphe punctalis	Common Blues	Common Blue (female)	Red Admiral

However, the most interesting lepidopteran observation were the frequent occurrence of a small brownish moth on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. At least twenty flitted about in a five metre square patch.
The small moth was Synaphe punctalis, a pyralid moth associated with shingle and sand dunes as well as other dry habitats such as chalk downland. Not a common species, but it seems to have spread its range in Sussex in recent years. The larvae feed on mosses.

The flash of grey was a Treble-bar Moth. Six-Spot Burnet Moths were frequently seen mostly on the upper meadows of Mill Hill.
Adur Moths

29 July 2008
After the rain there were the usual butterflies out and about on the Coastal Link Cyclepath to Upper Beeding: Large Whites, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, courting Comma Butterflies (5+) and courting Speckled Woods (5+), plus at least three Peacock Butterflies, at least two Holly Blues, one Small Skipper and one Common Blue.
Nine species

28 July 2008
Even more spectacularly, the number of butterfly species seen on 27 July 2008 has to be increased by one to 22 species, as a second brood male Adonis Blue was identified on the lower slopes of Mill Hill and one was seen there yesterday as well. My visit was to look for the main emergence of Chalkhill Blues and make a count on the 1.2 acre transect of the lower slopes, which came to 68 males. There were also 15+ Chalkhill Blues on the Mill Hill Cutting (south-west corner), two seen by the stile to the Old Erringham pasture, and another six as I returned by the quickest ridge route through the tunnel of Hawthorn. There were frequent Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns everywhere, with an occasional prevalancy of Speckled Woods in the shade, plus a Peacock and at least one Small Heath on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. A Marbled White flew amongst the long grass south of the Reservoir on Mill Hill. On the ridge path a single Marjoram plant attracted five Gatekeepers and a Peacock Butterfly. Large Whites were seen in Shoreham and a Wall Brown in Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham, next to the Pixie Path. Typically the Wall Brown chose to land on the bare earth amongst a horse pasture of grass. Six-Spot Burnet Moths were frequently seen mostly on the upper meadows of Mill Hill.
Ten butterfly species

27 July 2008
On warm (21.5 °C) sunny day, an unprecedented 21 species of butterfly were seen (three more than the previous largest day tally in the last eight years of 18). Nineteen were seen in two hours in the morning on Mill Hill and its approaches. There were very frequent Large Whites (50+), Gatekeepers (75+), Meadow Browns (50+) and Chalkhill Blues (70), frequent Common Blues (18), occasional Small Skippers (6) and Speckled Woods (8), with just a few of most of the others like Brown Argus (2), Wall Brown (3), Holly Blue (4), Red Admiral (3), Small Heath (3), Brimstone (3), Small White (3), Comma (2), Peacock (2), and just the one confirmed each of Green-veined White, Small Blue and a Ringlet.
In the afternoon I visited Anchor Bottom and added one Marbled White and a faded Small Tortoiseshell as well as a Common Blue, two Peacocks and frequent Meadow Browns, but no Chalkhill Blues. I was too tired to monitor the butterflies on the Coastal Link Cyclepath to Upper Beeding, but noted in passing frequent Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, and a few Comma (2) Peacock (3) Red Admiral (2) and at least one Speckled Wood and one Small Skipper. There was even a possible Small Copper at Anchor Bottom, but I was too exhausted to chase it around to make sure. If I see any more in the next few days, this butterfly may be added to the list for the day.
Tabular List
A Silver Y Moth was recorded on the upper part of Mill Hill, with the small pyralid moth, Pyrausta nigrata seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and Six-Spot Burnet Moths were frequently seen both on Mill Hill and over the verges of the Coastal Link Cyclepath to Upper Beeding.
Adur Moths

22 Butterfly species (a new day record tally exceeding the previous best day tally of 18)

26 July 2008
Several newly emerged female Wall had boosted the total to c.15 on Mill Hill and we watched them ovipositing, locating several of the greenish white, globular eggs. The second brood Dingy Skipper was again located, along with the first couple of pristine, second brood Adonis Blue.

25 July 2008
Unfortunately the Chalkhill Blues numbers continue to disappoint on Mill Hill. The Wall is doing considerably better here and I counted 12, comprising 9 males and 3 females. Also of note was a second brood Dingy Skipper on the lower slopes.

24 July 2008
I walked from the bridge at Mill Hill along the north bank of the A27 dual carriageway almost as far as the footbridge at New Barn Road. Also the stretch eastbound from the link road opposite Tesco towards the tunnel entrance, the stretch from Mile Oak to Foredown. And I walked Southwick Hill, Cockroost East and Benfield Golf course.
The best record was two male Chalkhill Blues on Buckingham Cutting north. One Wall Brown was seen in the first field on the right after crossing Mill Hill bridge heading north. Small Blues were seen in small numbers on most sites.

I visited Anchor Bottom where there were just the occasional Meadow Browns and a Peacock Butterfly and no Chalkhill Blues on the south-facing hill.

23 July 2008
Over 200 butterflies of 15 species were seen in about two hours on Mill Hill and the approaches with 37 Chalkhill Blues (including two females) seen mostly on the lower slopes. Another notable was the first two of the second brood Brown Argus Butterflies in amongst the long grass and herb meadow north of the upper car park. The day was sunny but the period spent on the 1.2 acre transect of the lower slopes was overcast by passing clouds and the blue butterflies were mostly resting and a third of the ones in flight were disturbed. (The count would have expected to be higher if the sun was out.)
 

Gatekeepers led the count with over 50 seen. Large Whites were close behind with 44+ and Meadow Browns were the only species in double figures with 35.
Tabular List

In the late afternoon I made a brief journey to Old Shoreham and added a Comma Butterfly to the species tally from the Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road) and a few minutes later added a confirmed Green-veined White from the Coastal Link Cyclepath north of the Toll Bridge, making seventeen species of the day and one short of my all-time day record. Although I was not counting out other butterflies, there was also an additional Peacock, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue in the Old Shoreham area.  As I had reached 17 species I thought I would cycle to Upper Beeding to try and increase the species tally. As is often the case, I was out of luck and although there were about five more Peacock Butterflies taking their count into double figures for the day, as well as three noted Speckled Woods, more Large Whites taking their day count to over fifty, and uncounted Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns.

Seventeen species (best of the year)

21 July 2008
A trip across the downs north of Shoreham yielded over 200 butterflies of 14 species, with special note of six Wall Browns at six different locations and the first two male Chalkhill Blues on the upper meadow of Mill Hill which was dominated by Peacock Butterflies. My journey took me from Slonk Hill Farm to Mossy Bottom where I saw my first Painted Lady of the year.
My journey over the top of Mill Hill only was a hurried cycle ride only briefly being stopped by the dense herbs in the meadow north of the car park which was the most fruitful location for butterflies. The most numerous butterfly of the day were Gatekeepers with an estimate of over 80 in two hours. There were frequent Meadow Browns and Large Whites.
Tabular List
Fourteen species, 200+ butterflies

20 July 2008
 
 

Butterflies are recorded as common (135+) for the first time this year of 14 species (one less than five days previously) of which the most notable was the first second brood Common Blue Butterfly on the upper meadow of Mill Hill, three Wall Browns on Mill Hill and a Chalkhill Blue count of 17 (including one female) on an acre of the lower slopes. The male Chalkhill Blue in the photograph above on the far left appeared as dark as illustrated. Gatekeepers had the highest count of 47.
Tabular List
Fourteen species, 135 butterflies

19 July 2008
A sort half and hour leisurely cycle trip along the Coastal Link Cyclepath around Old Shoreham produced a Green-veined White Butterfly not seen on the last two recording days, with frequent Peacock Butterflies (12+), frequent Speckled Woods (12+), occasional Gatekeepers, occasional Meadow Browns, frequent Large Whites, one Comma, and one Red Admiral. A Holly Blue was seen in St. Mary de Haura churchyard in the centre of Shoreham town.
Nine species

15 July 2008
As so often happens when one butterfly species ceases (the Small Blues were not recorded) than fresh butterflies appear with a new brood. The new ones were the occasional Holly Blues in Shoreham town and the outskirts, one Wall Brown over the A27 dual carriageway north of the Dovecote Estate, and a Brimstone Butterfly on the the lower slopes of Mill Hill. The occasional Peacock Butterflies were fresh as well. Chalkhill Blues were just beginning on Mill Hill with 24 strong flying males noted. All but one were seen on the lower slopes and the other one in the Triangle middle slopes area.
 

6-spot Burnet Moths were occasionally seen on the meadow southern bank of Slonk Hill and all over Mill Hill, with most on the upper meadows where a Silver Y Moth was also spotted.
Adur Moths

Fifteen species of butterfly (the most in a single day this year)
(Three species seen on 14 July 2008 and another one from 13 July 2008 were not recorded)
(The unrecorded species were Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White & Small Blue)

14 July 2008
In the early afternoon, butterflies were common on the Adur Levels in the weak sunshine. I recorded frequent Meadow Browns, occasional Small Skippers, frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Comma Butterflies, one Small Tortoiseshell (on the towpath near Botolphs), occasional Peacock Butterflies, occasional Red Admirals, one Marbled White (on the river towpath) a few Small Skippers, one Speckled Wood, one Small White and frequent Large Whites. The Marbled White flew strongly, without settling, from the towpath by the River Adur over a hay meadow which was being cut and baled.
 

Dacre Gardens and the Ragwort-covered basin of Anchor Bottom at Upper Beeding added more frequent (20+) Meadow Browns, occasional (7 -10) Peacock Butterflies, a few Comma Butterflies, one Red Admiral and a few Small Tortoiseshells.
The first confirmed Six-spot Burnet Moths were spotted on Greater Knapweed on the south-facing Horseshoe Vetch slope of Anchor Bottom.
Adur Burnet Moths
Eleven butterfly species

13 July 2008
On rather dull day, the expected smattering of butterflies put in appearance on the southern meadow bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting with frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers, plus a few Large White Butterflies and at least one Burnet Moth. On the Buckingham Cutting south, the one Small Blueseen was rather ragged and worn. The Pixie Path added a Comma Butterfly.
 

By the time I arrived at Mill Hill about 11.45 am, the sun had disappeared behind a cloud for the whole duration of my stay of about 45 minutes. Not suprisingly the butterfly tally was low: frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Meadow Browns, two Chalkhill Blues (including one female), one Marbled White, one Small White (could have been a Green-veined White?) and one Small Skipper on the lower slopes, plus another Burnet Moth. The small pyralid moth, Pyrausta nigrata was frequently seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill in the afternoon. Most of them were so faded that they were originally mistaken for one of the other pyralids. A Speckled Wood was seen in the tunnel of Hawthorn as I returned by the ridge route.
Eleven butterfly species

11 July 2008
Blustery conditions (Force 5 gusting to Force 6), but at least the rain held off: a few butterflies were in flight, firstly a Large White and two pairs of Gatekeepers on the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, followed by three Meadow Browns, and then two sparring Red Admirals over the nearby Butterfly Copse.
 

Another two Chalkhill Blue Butterflies flew over the lower slopes of Mill Hill, with occasional Gatekeepers, a Large White, and two small pyralid moths, Pyrausta nigrata and Pyrausta despicata. There was a Red Admiral in the scrub to the north-west of Mill Hill Nature Reserve as I returned by the ridge route where the wind was too great for anything other than a few more Gatekeepers.
Five species of butterfly

6-10 July 2008
Four days of continual gales and heavy rainfall prevented any visits to Mill Hill. On the fifth day the planned trip was interrupted by a heavy rain shower.

5 July 2008
The first two Chalkhill Blue Butterflies flew over the lower slopes of Mill Hill, late in the afternoon. They may have been in flight for a few days as the first reports from Sussex of this butterfly was on 1 July 2008. The first Small Purple-barred Moth, Phytometra viridaria, of 2008 was seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, with a probable Ringlet Butterfly from the scrub in the north-west of Mill Hill Nature Reserve which would be (if confirmed) the first from the Hill and the only one of the 32 species of butterflies seen in Shoreham that has not been recorded on the hill. The Small Blues were not seen on the southern part of Buckingham Cutting, but a fresh Peacock Butterfly was a surprise. These small butterflies can be elusive and the late afternoon visit may account for their absence. However, they are also right at the end of their flight period.
 

Species	Buckingham Cutting south	Lower Slopes of Mill Hill	Scrub, middle slopes, top meadow and plateau of Mill Hill	Pixie Path and Butterfly Copse (next to the Waterworks Road)	Total
Ringlet			1 (?)		1 (?)
Chalkhill Blue		2			2
Peacock	1	1			2
Gatekeeper			7	1
Large White		2	few		2+
Small White				1 (Old Shoreham)	1
Marbled White		6	8	1	15
Green-veined White			1		1
Meadow Brown	1	6	4	2
Small Heath		1	1
Speckled Wood			1	4	5
Comma				1	1

 Twelve species

4 July 2008
My first definite Gatekeeper Butterfly of the year spent a long time fluttering around the Privet on the Coastal Link Cyclepath (north of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge) and it never did settle for a close look. There were at least two more along the cyclepath to Upper Beeding which also hosted occasional Meadow Browns (6+), two Marbled Whites, frequent Large Whites, a few Small Whites, three Small Tortoiseshells, occasional Ringlets and a Cinnabar Moth caterpillar on a Ragwort plant, on a rapid cycle ride which did not involve stopping.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Seven adult species

3 July 2008
Nine species of butterflies and skipper  were seen in as many minutes from the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting embankment to the southern Buckingham Cutting, included my first Small Skipper of the year, see clearly as it settled on a flower and opened its wings. Earlier a Large Skipper had settled, but it still needed a practised eye (in the absence of the camera which was broken) to differentiate them. On the orchid-covered north-facing bank Ringlets (15+) outnumbered Meadow Browns (10+) with a few undetermined Skippers, a few Large Whites, one sparring with a Marbled White and a Comma Butterfly. On the Buckingham Cutting, south, there were the usual frequent Small Blues (15+) two Speckled Woods in the overgrown hedgerow area, with the first Silver Y Moth of the year.  Later a pristine Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly settled by Old Shoreham Toll Bridge. No Gatekeepers were seen.
Adur Skippers
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Moths

Ten Species

1 July 2008
A small orangey-brown butterfly fluttered over Dolphin Road, Shoreham. It could have been the first Gatekeeper Butterfly of the year, but it was flying too high in the breeze to be sure. A Burnet or Cinnabar Moth fluttered rapidly over the shingle and vegetation near the Old Fort on Shoreham Beach.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

30 June 2008
In the breezy sunshine I recorded over fifty (88+) butterflies for the second day this year with nine species seen on the Adur Levels and Anchor Bottom, Upper Beeding. The fresh Comma Butterflies were the most impressive. The Ringlets were confirmed on the Coastal Link Cyclepath with a positive view of the ringed spots on the underwing. Meadow Browns, including courting pairs, were the commonest species with half of all the butterflies seen. At least nine Marbled Whites were seen on the wing, but I have not yet seen one settle this year. A Cinnabar Moth fluttered rapidly on the towpath next to the River Adur halfway between Cuckoo's Corner and the Cement Works.
Adur Moths
 

Species	Coastal Link Cyclepath (east)  Old Shoreham - Upper Beeding	Anchor Bottom & Dacre Gardens, Upper Beeding	Total
Ringlet	12 +	1	13+
Meadow Brown	30+	12+3 = 15	45+
Small Tortoiseshell	-	1	1
Marbled White	5+	4+	9+
Large White	6+	-	6+
Small White	2	-	2
Comma	6	2	8
Large Skipper	1	1	2
Speckled Wood	2	-	2

 Nine species

29 June 2008
There was a surprise Speckled Wood Butterfly in the twitten between Corbyn Crescent and Adelaide Square in Shoreham. In Buckingham Park there were two Large Whites and a Small White with a few other Large Whites seen around the allotments in Shoreham town. On the south side of Buckingham Cutting, I spotted a few Small Blues, one Red Admiral and a Speckled Wood in a few minutes.
In the late afternoon, two fresh Comma Butterflies courted over the Waterworks Road with a Large White and another Speckled Wood nearby. One day far too breezy for butterflies, I was blown about on Mill Hill and on the lower slopes managed to spot just one Small Heath, an unexpected (they should have ceased in mid-June) pristine male Adonis Blue, a male and female Common Blue, a Marbled White and a Meadow Brown on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
Ten species

26 June 2008
A few Large White Butterflies fluttered around Shoreham town and were seen on passage.

24 June 2008
A Red Admiral flew over Shoreham Library and a Small White over the railway line near the Eastern Avenue Crossing Gates, Shoreham. Despite the shirt sleeves sunshine there were the number of butterflies on the wing was only in the order of low frequency (about 13), with three Large Whites in Lancing, one on the approach road and two over the long grass meadows of Lancing Ring in the late afternoon joined by one Large Skipper, a handful of Meadow Browns and two Marbled Whites.
Six species

23 June 2008
My first half a dozen Ringlet Butterflies of 2008 were discovered on a long grass verge on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Cement Works, Upper Beeding, on the more sheltered western side of the cyclepath. They had not been recorded on the Adur Levels before on these Nature Notes pages. Over fifty butterflies were seen for the first time this year of six species.
 

The Small Tortoiseshell Butteflies were seen near the Stinging Nettle beds by the towpath on the western side of the river between the South Downs Way Bridge over the Adur to Botolphs (3), by a large patch of Stinging Nettles in the middle of Anchor Bottom (3) and at the back of the houses by Dacre Gardens, Upper Beeding (2).
 

Species	Coastal Link Cyclepath (east)  Old Shoreham - Upper Beeding	Coastal Link Cyclepath (west) Upper Beeding & Botolphs	Anchor Bottom & Upper Beeding	Total
Ringlet	6 +	-	-	6+
Meadow Brown	8+	7	18+	33+
Small Tortoiseshell	-	3	5	8
Marbled White	1	-	-	1
Large White	2	3	1	6
Common Blue	-	1	-	1

Six species

Adur Butterflies: First Dates

22 June 2008
On the southern side of Buckingham Cutting, three Speckled Wood Butterflies, one Red Admiral, an estimated 25+ Small Blue Butterflies and one Large Skipper were seen. The Small Blues were about to mate on one occasion and the number seen represented much less in numbers than there actually were as the vegetation was dense enough for these smallest of English butterflies to hide successfully. Another Red Admiral was spotted flying over the tall hedge that borders the two houses north of the bridge over the A27 dual carriageway on the approach to Mill Hill.
 

A Strong Breeze (Force 6) gusting toGale Force 8 was not compatible for watching butterflies especially on the exposed slopes of Mill Hill. One male and one worn female Common Blue Butterfly, three Small Heath Butterflies, my first definite sightings of two Marbled White Butterflies blown about in the breeze, and just a single male Meadow Brown Butterfly was the tally. A further Meadow Brown was seen on the southern part of Mill Hill as I was blown sideways by a south-westerly gust of wind.
Eight species

21 June 2008
A Large White Butterfly fluttered over the twitten between Gordon Avenue and Rosslyn Avenue in Shoreham town.

19 June 2008
Only 18 butterflies were seen on my Upper Beeding transect walk in the afternoon in sunny but quite windy conditions, but they included a beautiful pristine Dark Green Fritillary sheltering in long grass. This was the first report from the Adur area this year. This species appears to be no longer recorded from the downs near Shoreham.

On a day too breezy and cool for many butterflies my first Meadow Brown Butterfly of the year was spotted on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill with two Speckled Woods. Mill Hill recorded ten Small Heath Butterflies, a Large Skipper on the lower slopes amongst the Brambles and Tor Grass, four Common Blues including one female, and a further four Speckled Woods amongst the Hawthorn scrub. A worn Red Admiral settled on the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Six species (my tally only)

17 June 2008
In the late afternoon, it seemed that the butterflies were likely to be at rest as on a passage trip to the Buckingham Cutting, southern bank, only a few of the Small Blue Butterflies were seen in a few minutes.  A dirty white butterfly was seen in the distance on the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting, and this could have been the first Marbled White of the year, but this was not confirmed.  An unidentified large brown butterfly or vanessid was seen over the Middle Road allotments, Shoreham.

11 June 2008
One White Admiral Butterfly was seen on the wing in Hoe Wood at Woods Mill, Small Dole.

This butterfly is not normally recorded on these Nature Notes pages as it is not to be found in the lower Adur Valley.

9 June 2008
A very rare Spurge Hawk-moth, Hyles euphorbiae, was caught at Shoreham.

About a dozen Common Blue Butterflies were seen fluttering over the Bird's Foot Trefoil on Shoreham Beach near the Old Fort, and a Large White Butterfly in the same area and a Small White in Shoreham town.
Three butterfly species

8 June 2008
At Mill Hill, I spotted five very active male Adonis Blues, one Large Skipper and one Speckled Wood.

There were two Small Blue Butterflies in a clearing on the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting, frequent 20+ Small Blue Butterflies seen on passage on the Buckingham Cutting, southern bank, with my first Cinnabar Moth of the year and a Burnet Companion Moth in the same area.
 

Common Blue Butterflies (30+) were fresh and at least one pair were mating in the thin strip of intermittent horse pasture to the east of Mill Hill. There were at least three Small Heath Butterflies seen on the edge of the swathes of Bird's Foot Trefoil.
Three butterfly species  (my tally only)

7 June 2008
A Small White Butterfly and a few Holly Blues and a few Speckled Wood Butterflies were seen over the Coastal Link Cyclepath.
Three butterfly species

6 June 2008

A Red Admiral fluttered rapidly over the Coastal Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, and later one settled in the copse at the top of Mill Hill. A Holly Blue was seen over the Pixie Path.
My first Large Skipper of the year looked very fresh and quite lively on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, but one of the two Dingy Skippers was very dingy and worn. The lower slopes produced 16