Sussex Branch

Clouded Yellow

Small Copper

Going to and from my flu jab took me along the sea front and on the way back enabled me to have a nice chat with Dave Broxham who lives on the Goring side of George V Avenue. In the end we saw much the same. My count was 1 Red Admiral behind the Sailing Club, 3 Clouded Yellows on the shingle, 2 Small Coppers between George V and Wallace Avenues, and 2 Small Whites in the Lansdowne Road area. It is noticeable that the number of Small Whites has greatly diminished in the last 5 days and no butterflies at all flitted through my garden at lunch time. (John Heys, West Worthing)

Single Clouded Yellow and Small Copper enjoying the sunshine here this afternoon. 10 days earlier, on 26th Sept, there had also been a single Clouded Yellow here. (Robin Harris, Mountfield Church) - TQ735203

A late female Brown Hairstreak

Brimstone topping up on reserves ahead of winter

Autumnal colours of the Small Copper

Clouded Yellow - my 'Butterfly of the Year' award winner

The most surprising sighting in the Greenway Bank area of the Downs behind Seaford yesterday was a female Brown Hairstreak; this is remarkable, given that my first 2026 sighting of this species was way back on 29 June - a flight season of more than three months. Typically, for very warm and sunny days at this time of year, a couple of Brimstone were roused from their slumber to stock up on reserves, as aestivation transitions to hibernation. Small Coppers were enjoying the last of the summer wine, although the numbers of most species are now dropping off rapidly. That doesn't, of course, apply to the Clouded Yellow, which is still flying in remarkable numbers. In celebration of this winner of my 'Butterfly of the Year' award, I've appended an image taken here a few weeks back. (Neil Hulme, Greenway area, Seaford)

LTB (m) (1) 10.39am SOUTH CLIFF

LTB (m) (1) 10.43am SOUTH CLIFF

PART OF GARDEN AT RAVENS COURT, SOUTH CLIFF, EASTBOURNE

LTB (m) (2) 3.05pm SOUTH CLIFF

sun 04/10/2026 Ravens Court, South Cliff, Eastbourne, E,Sx. After an absents of three years the Long-tailed Blue butterflies are back at Ravens Court, South Cliff (TV 608 978) I managed four, three males and one female, (my first ever female) could had been more?, feeding on verbena flowers or the males chasing over a lawn area, this is someone's garden, also seen here were 3x Wall (m), 4x Common Blues, 1x Small White, 1x Clouded Yellow and 1x Humming-bird Hawkmoth resting on a rock, and masses of gone to seed Autumn ladies Tresses (last year I counted over two hundred plants) (PETER FARRANT, SOUTH CLIFF, EASTBOURNE, E,Sx) - TV608978

It was a perfect warm sunny day for a wander in the Lancing Ring area. It was great to bump into Kat and a couple from Hampshire, who were all interested in Long-tailed Blue. Sadly we couldn't find any in the chalkpit or up on the Ring. I did briefly see one in my garden, a middle-aged male with tails, but faded. Otherwise, 17 Clouded Yellow (including a helice), 9 Speckled Wood, 4 Wall, 4 Red Admiral, 2 Small Copper, 2 Common Blue, female Brimstone, Painted Lady, Small White (present but not counted), Humming-bird Hawk-moth. (Lindsay Morris, Lancing Ring area)

Took a walk around the Horseshoe Plantation this afternoon and spotted a single Chalk Hill Blue in quite good condition for October, I thought. (Vincent Oates, Horseshoe Plantation, Beachy Head.)

Stoke Bottom

Queen Of Spain

Clouded Yellow

Small Coppers

Decided to try my luck for the Queen of Spain at Stoke Down today and got lucky. The one I found has moved into the other valley and was about half way. It was very fast and hard to spot. There were also many Clouded Yellows, a number of Small Coppers, Common Blues, Small Whites, a couple of Red Admirals and a Brimstone. (Gary Norman, Stoke Bottom) - TQ043120

Clouded Yellow

Vestal moth

Common Blue

Val and I went up from Amberley village and on a circular walk which included the Stoke Bottom grid reference point given recently by Martin. The sun was not out all the time, but was quite warm and not too breezy. We saw 21 Small Whites, 20 Clouded Yellows, 6 Red Admirals, 3 Common Blues, 2 Speckled Woods, 1 possible Peacock, 1 Humming-bird Hawk-moth, 1 Vestal moth and a very brief glimpse (Val only) of a probable Queen of Spain Fritillary. We met a man who had seen one much earlier in the day and had a nice chat with Alan who had come from Havant to see a Queen of Spain but been unlucky. Photography was difficult - nothing would stay still! (John Heys, Amberley)

On Friday (2/10) I was lucky to find four fresh, camera friendly, Red Admirals at Lancing Ring. Today at Herstmonceux Castle an immaculate Painted Lady spent ages on the Verbena while the sun shone but took to the stone path during cloudy spells. Four Clouded Yellows were seen today, but one was not flying normally. Instead of fast, purposefull flight, this one was drifting around in a relaxed manner. When I examined my shots it was clear that both antennae were partially missing. (Trevor Rapley, Hailsham)

An early morning walk and I found four Common Blues roosting, four Small Copper roosting and also this beauty - can anyone help with whether a Small or Large White? (Jen Fellows, Saddlescombe Farm)