Back to Sussex Butterfly Report 2004 Index

2004 : The Blues & Duke of Burgundy

The Small Copper was recorded from 162 squares, widely distributed throughout both Counties. Compared with 2003, it was present in 82 new squares but unrecorded from 35 old squares. The first brood started in the second half of April and lasted until mid-June. The strong second brood started in mid July and the flight season continued throughout September and into October.

The Small Blue was recorded from 30 squares with a distribution following the line of the Downs. The first brood flew from mid-May to mid-June and the weaker second brood from mid-July to mid-August.

The Silver-studded Blue was recorded from only 12 squares. In East Sussex most records are derived from transects and the colonies appear to be stable. In West Sussex strong colonies are situated at Iping, Stedham and Chapel Commons but that at Heyshott is very weak. It is possible that another colony exists at Lavington Plantation.

The Brown Argus was recorded from 52 squares. Compared with 2003, it was present in 27 new squares but unrecorded from 20 old ones – mainly on the downs. Its range appears to expanding northwards, particularly in East Sussex.

The Common Blue was recorded from 182 squares and was widely distributed throughout both Counties. Compared to 2003, it was present in 68 new squares but unrecorded from 44 old squares. The first brood peaked at the end of May - beginning of June while the second brood lasted throughout August and well into September.

The recordings of the Chalk Hill Blue show a definite eastern skew; heavily wooded slopes and agriculture probably deterring further westwards spread. The flight peak lasted during the second half of July and most of August. The Steedmans recorded 543 at Ewe Dean on August 6^th – amazing but wonderful no doubt!

The most westerly sighting of the Adonis Blue was at Kithurst Hill by Alice Parfitt. There were 323 records in 2004 compared with 99 in 2003, the distribution remaining essentially unchanged.

The Holly Blue was recorded from 179 squares, a full 100 more than in 2003.The first brood flew from the beginning of April until mid-June while the second brood began four weeks later and lasted until early August.

In 2004 the Duke of Burgundy failed to show up at Moon Copse but to the extent that new sightings were made from Harting Down, Hill Land, Springhead Hill and Rackham Hill it could be said that, compared with 2003, this was a better season. The situation however, is still very fragile.