Butterfly Conservation - Sussex Branch

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WINTER WORK PARTIES AT HEYSHOTT ESCARPMENT

Keep fit this winter without having to pay exorbitant gym fees! At the same time help Murray Downland Trust and BC Sussex in further improving one of the best Duke of Burgundy sites in the country. Work party dates as follows: October 12, 19, 26 November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 December 7, 14, 21 January 4, 11, 18, 25 February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and March 7, 14, 21. Meet 9.30 hrs at Grid Ref SU900176 at the southernmost point of Heyshott village, where a track leads off from a sharp bend in the road. Parking is difficult in the area - please consider residents and agricultural traffic. Work parties continue until 13.00 hrs (option to continue if in a group). A reasonable level of fitness is required as the slopes are steep here. Bring hand-saws, loppers etc if you have them, although some tools will be available. Please remember the importance of gloves, strong footwear and eye protection.

Wednesday 1 February 2012

This morning at Heyshott Escarpment I joined six Murray Downland Trust members. We had good dry conditions for clearing more scrub from the hillside. The Dukes should be pleased with our efforts as we continued creating more territory for the lady Dukes to find during their search for new pastures. The cold biting wind demanded hats and scarves, but the work kept us warm and we were rewarded with the sight of five fallow deer bounding away in an adjacent field when we returned to the village. (Colin Knight)

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Now that winter's finally upon us, some cheer from warmer climes...

Here are some lovely pictures taken by my daughter Hannah who has been living in Costa Rica for the last three years. I think the big blue one is a Morpho and the brown furry one is a moth (no idea what sort) can anyone ID them? Hope they bring some sunshine to the last freezing day of January. (Celia Curtis)

Sunday 29 January 2012

Opened the back door here in Hove to clean the windows so we could take part in the bird count and disturbed a battered Red Admiral. It might even be the last one I saw in 2011 (15 November) as it seemed to be damaged in similar places. (John A Heys)

Friday 27 January 2012

I have spotted one Red Admiral on the 27th January in my Garden in Steyning. (Mrs Denice Clitheroe)

Red Admiral (above) seen in Rowland Wood today. Two Spring Ushers were also seen. (Nigel Kemp)

There was a Red Admiral at the Burgh this morning. I assume it had hibernated locally, but what an exposed location to choose? (Martin Kalaher)

News for Wednesday 25 January: On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of joining Neil Hulme, and several volunteers from Murray Downland Trust and BC Sussex branch for our Burns Day work party at Heyshott Down. The weather was cloudy but mild and dry and we continued to make good progress at this splendid site. With Buzzards and briefly a Kite overhead, we continued until early afternoon and thanks go to everyone for their help - an enjoyable day spent in very good company.
This site is already excellent and has even better potential, so come along and help if you can! (photos above) (Mark Bunch)

I joined Mark Colvin on Wednesday at the RHS Wisley butterfly exhibit. There were plenty of fresh butterflies on the wing and I thorouoghly enjoyed my 5 hour visit. The Indian Leaf butterfly has the best camouflage I have ever seen on a land animal. The exhibit closes on 26 February and is open daily 10am to 4pm. There is a butterfly photography class on 8 February: http://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/what-s-on/butterflies I recommend being there for 10am so you get time before the daily crowds gather. (Colin Knight - more photos at www.seapic.com)

Tuesday 24 January 2012

I discovered a Peacock butterfly fluttering against the strip light in my garage in Coldwaltham today at 2:00pm. On switching off the light and opening the door, it flew out into the garden and away. Presumably it is too mild for this beast to hibernate properly. (Chris Skinner)

Monday 23 January 2012

News for Saturday 21 January: Red Admiral seen flying around the garden near the heather which is in bloom. The Avenue, Lewes TQ4114 1018. (Colin Tingle)

Sunday 22 January 2012

My moth sightings normally come from RSPB Pulborough Brooks when we've set a moth trap, but this one comes from the hallway of my flat close to Hove seafront. Having not done any trapping for a few months over the winter period a brownish moth in my hallway presented a challenge; having found a pot I had a closer examination...
The most likely candidate seems to be a Bloxworth Snout (photo above), but a second opinion would be greatly appreciated given the scant records for this species. (Anna Allum)

As I'm writing this at 1130 a Red Admiral is basking in the sun about 2 feet away on the other side of the window. (Alan Loweth)

Recent news: Some welcome news from our far-eastern friends, The Rother Guardians...
A Red Admiral flew into our sunroom this lunchtime. The first of the year! (Alan Dengate)
Click on the RG link to see photos from Keith and Wendy Alexander of foraging bumblebees in their garden too.

And finally... I came across this wonderful experiment by a young scientist on the Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui which I'd like to share as it is so interesting. She shows how the butterfly shows a preference for nectaring on purple and clustered flowers. http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/katelyn.html. (Colin Knight)

Friday 20 January 2012

No Red Admirals for a few days now, so here's something to help banish the winter blues...

I decided to visit RHS Wisley midweek making the assumption that a weekday would be much quieter, particularly as I was hoping to get some pictures... WRONG... it was very busy right from doors opening at 10am which made camera work a little difficult at times. For those that haven't visited I highly recommend a trip, though do allow time for your camera equipment to acclimatize. As you would expect, it is very hot and humid in the glasshouse so do take a cold drink with you and dress sensibly if you are planning to stay for any length of time (photos above). (Mark Colvin)

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Recent news: 2nd January 2012 - We saw a Red Admiral flying in Truslers Lane, Albourne - outside of No.4 Wick Farm;
11th January 2012 - On a circular walk around Woodmancote/Blackstone we counted 24 Brown Hairstreak eggs on Blackthorn. (David & Pauline Batchelor)

Sunday 15 January 2012

Today seven of us from Friends of Bevendean Down took part in our annual January ritual of raking up sheep poo from the south facing chalk slope overlooking the houses of Bevendean in north Brighton. Our woolly friends had done a lovely job of shortening the grass at the end of last year but always leave some big patches of poo behind. So for the sake of the Adonis, Chalkhill Blues, Small Blues and Grizzled Skippers we like to get on our hands and knees and scrape off the worst of it using a variety of home implements. I favour an onion hoe and plastic dustpan though one member of the group finds that a grill pan is an ideal receptical (I always refuse the offer of toast when I go to visit him). It is then transported enthusiastically in big bags to various allotments! It may not be the easiest way to get manure to one's vegetable plot but this urban fringe site is very lovely and Geoff Stevens' transects over the last fifteen years show that it is an important butterfly site. We are also learning some new technology and have started a blog for the site http://bevendeandown.wordpress.com though it is in its early days yet (photo above by Geoff Stevens). (Tessa Pawsey)

A Red Admiral, fluttering against the windows, interrupted Sunday lunch in Battle today. (Bob Foreman)

News for Friday 13 January: Our first butterfly of 2012. A Red Admiral (possibly two) seen in bright sunshine at Wakehurst Place, TQ339310 around mid-day on Friday. (Cassie and David Jode)

Saturday 14 January 2012

A Red Admiral was on the wing in my garden today. Perhaps not surprising, in view of other reports - but, although it was sunny, this was the coldest day of the year so far. The shade temperature at the time was just over 5°C, and there had been frost overnight. Another demonstration that Red Admirals don't hibernate properly? (John Kerby)

Thursday 12 January 2012

A Red Admiral, seen along the banks of the River Arun in Littlehampton, today. (Celia Curtis)

News for Wednesday 11 January: Today, along with Colin Knight and Neil Hulme and seven members of the Murray Downland Trust, we recommenced our weekly work party activities at Heyshott Escarpment. After a cold start, we continued to make great progress from where we left off before the seasonal break and were blessed with a beautiful day of pastel blue sky and golden winter sunshine (it's great to be back!). I appreciate that Wednesdays do not suit everyone but if you are able to find time, even for just a couple of hours, the rewards of helping out on a work party at Heyshott far outweigh the effort. Give it a go, you wont be disappointed (photos above). (Mark Colvin)

Wednesday 11 January 2012

While walking on the Steyning Coombe, (TQ164110), I saw two pristine Red Admirals (above) basking in the unseasonably warm sunshine. (Pete Varkala)

One lone Red Admiral today while working on Graffham Down at 11.45am, bright sunshine. Landed on Biddy's coat and the tractor for warmth! (Paul & Biddy Dimmer)

A Red Admiral was fluttering around the entrance gate to Rushfields Garden Centre at Poynings early this afternoon. (Stuart Ridley)

One Red Admiral today flying round Manor Royal Industrial Estate, Crawley enjoying the lunchtime Sun! (Damian Pinguey)

News for Tuesday 10 January: I saw a single Red Admiral flying in a garden in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, on Tuesday, January 10th. (Rob Bogue)

News for Saturday 7 January: Last Saturday morning, I had just returned home from shopping (!!!) when I saw a lovely Red Admiral fly into our Eastbourne garden settle briefly and then fly off. It was a lovely warm, sunny, still morning at the time. This was the earliest in any year that I have ever seen a butterfly (John East)

Monday 9 January 2012

A pristine Red Admiral on the wing during one of the brief sunny periods this morning - the butterfly was flying around a front garden in Dale Avenue, Hassocks and nectaring for a considerable time on flowers of Viburnum tinus. (Malcolm Le Grys)

News for Saturday 7 January: A Red Admiral seen flying along boardwalk at Brighton Marina. (Happy New Year. (David West)

Sunday 8 January 2012

With 19 people and 3 horses in attendance at today's Park Corner Heath work party it felt like I was in charge of a small army! The troops certainly put in a lot of effort and with rakes, bowsaws, loppers, shovels and harnesses as we continued our ongoing battles against pine, birch and bramble. We managed a victory at Park Corner Heath and went on to start widening a ride in Rowland Wood. A big thankyou for all who came to help us in the wood today (all humans unless otherwise noted); Dave, Nigel, Chris, Natalie, Dave, Sherie, Lucy, Roger, Keith, Dale (Horse), Colin, Gary, Teresa, Ben (Horse), Ree, Carole, Jack (Horse), Carlton, Jenny, Carole, Paul, Pencil (Dog) and Graham. I had accidentally left my camera at home today - so apologies for the lack of photos. The next work party will be on February 12th. (Michael Blencowe)

News for Saturday 7 January: Whilst sitting at home in Southwater yesterday I was delighted to see a lovely Red Admiral taking advantage of the midday sunshine in the garden. Here's to many more butterfly sightings for everyone in the coming twelve months! (Robin Bassett)

Saturday 7 January 2012

A Red Admiral flew around in my garden in Coldwaltham on Saturday 7 January at 2:00pm, much to our surprise. (Chris Skinner)

A Peacock flew past our conservation work party group at RSPB Broadwater Warren today and settled in a sunny spot with its wings open. It looked in very good condition but unfortunately folded it wings before I could get a decent photo. (Alan Loweth)

News for Friday 6 January: Red Admiral butterfly seen flying in Cuckfield Holy Trinity Churchyard (near Haywards Heath). (Malcolm Redford)

Friday 6 January 2012

Dave Sadler reports an early Small Tortoiseshell near the dew pond on the Downs north of Burpham. Another birder I spoke to had also seen a Red Admiral near The Burgh. (Neil Hulme)

Wednesday 4 January 2012

I met Mark Colvin at Heyshott Down yesterday to hunt for Brown Hairstreak eggs. We hunted on a patch of Blackthorn that John Murray had indicated as a possible target. Mark found the first egg of the day, a pin-head sized, oval shaped egg of the Blue-bordered Carpet moth, Plemyria rubiginata. This discovery spurred us to greater efforts and Mark soon found our target - the sea urchin shaped, pin-head sized egg of a Brown Hairstreak. A Bramble Stem Gall, Diastrophus rubi, was found in the hedgerow. Mark also pointed out the tracks of Roe and Fallow Deer in the mud. We then called at Harting Down and found an excellent stand of Blackthorn, but failed to find BH eggs. Instead Mark spotted the larva of The Drinker moth, Euthrix potatoria. It was 4 feet up a stem of Blackthorn and was stationary so I assume it was hibernating. We also saw quite a few ladybirds, including a cluster of four. We enjoyed the hunt and I have an incentive to find something next time as I am well behind (not that I'm competitive!). More photos at www.seapic.com and Mark Colvin's Personal Diary at http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/phpBB. (Colin Knight)

News for Monday 2 January 2012: During my annual new year bird count here at Knowlands Farm (42 species recorded, plus two possibles), my brother and I found a Peacock butterfly basking in the sun on the base of an oak at Church Farm (OS 417175). The date was 2nd January and the time 12.10pm. I've never had a red entry in your records before - perhaps this will be my first? (indeed it will! ed.) No photo, I'm afraid, but one other witness. Perhaps we should not be surprised - a primrose was in flower on the nearby old railway track. (Nick Lear)

NEW YEAR'S DAY 2012

What better way to start the year...? - Happy New Year to all our readers! ed.

What a start to 2012. Rain tipping down in my Eastbourne garden and a Red Admiral seems oblivious to it as it flutters around the Laurel hedge. Happy New Year to all. (Bob Coleman)

Earlier Sightings