Sussex Branch

On a walk this morning, Val & I took in the footpath section of Barrington Road to see if Bellway, the developers, have made an effort to restore the rural nature of the path as they promised. The east end is nearer finished and, yes, they have planted some small trees (I think they may be a species of disease resistant elms) and there's a lot of wild flower planting under them which has taken well in this wet year (see first photo). Just as we looked at this a Large White flitted past. A little further along, a hedge of various shrubs has been planted - see second picture, which also shows the remains of the old fence and hedge, all of which must be scheduled for removal and, hopefully replacement with something similar. Back home, as I investigated a Speckled Wood, a Red Admiral appeared from nowhere and disappeared over the fence before I could take a picture. The Speckled Wood wasn't going anywhere - it had met its fate in a spider's web. The spider was scared off when I took a picture, but by the afternoon it had removed all trace of the butterfly. (John Heys, West Worthing)

An absolutely fantastic day at Herstmonceux on Oct 1st. The Wall Browns put on a good show, including three females. Also three fresh Speckled Woods, a species not often seen in the gardens. Fresh Peacocks and Red Admirals were frequently seen. To complete my visit a single Painted Lady, two Small Coppers and a few ' Whites '. (Trevor Rapley, Herstmonceux Castle.)

I was very lucky that the sun appeared just as I arrived at Cissbury Ring, bringing with it; Meadow Brown 3, Wall Brown 4, Small Copper 9, Small Heath 1, Common Blue 2, Brown Argus 1 and a Red Admiral. (Patrick Moore , Cissbury Ring area ) - TQ1408

Thank goodness for Red Admirals. At least two on my allotment today and a Painted Lady with wings spread wide over a south facing stone out of the wind. A bonus was a flicker of rusty red brown on my neighbours allotment which resolved into a female Redstart for a few minutes. Yesterday despite it being damp and windy a Humming-bird hawk-moth spent time visiting the Erysimum Bowles Mauve flowers in my home garden near Elm Grove in Brighton. (Tessa Pawsey, Whitehawk Hill allotments east Brighton) - TQ329046