FEATURES
WILDLIFE
REPORTS
31
August 2018
Adonis
Blue Butterflies
Another
visit was made to Mill Hill, this time
to the lower slopes in the early afternoon, where 40+ Adonis
Blues
were
the leading butterfly
of eight species, including three mating pairs.
A
Clouded
Yellow flew past.
Mill
Hill Report
30
August 2018
In
the intermittent sunshine, I made an extended visit to the upper plateau
of Mill Hill in search of the autumn flowers:
Round-headed
Rampion, Hoary Plantain,
occasional small spikes of Autumn Lady's
Tresses and the first Autumn
Gentian. I was surprised at the number
of butterflies
with 50+ Small Heaths,
and 40+ very noticeable Adonis Blues
including
16 females.
Mill
Hill Report
12
August 2018
Larva
of the Privet Hawk-moth, Sphinx
ligustri
Connaught
Avenue, Shoreham
Photograph
by Mikey Unsted
Adur
Hawk-moths
Adur
Moths
6
August 2018
Carline
Thistle, Adonis
Blue
Common
Blues
An
early afternoon truncated visit to the lower slopes off Mill
Hill was just too uncomfortable with the excessive
warmth
and drenching humidity. In a one third
of an acre transect, I
counted 133+ lively male Adonis
Blues, an estimated 30+ Chalkhill
Blues
including
five brown females,
25+ Common
Blues,
60+ Meadow
Browns
15+ Gatekeepers
15+ Small Heaths,
occasional Small Whites,
four restless Clouded Yellows,
two Wall Browns,
a few Speckled
Woods (over
the southern steps) and
a Treble-bar Moth.
At one stage thirty Adonis Blues
surrounded me. On the southern top part of Mill Hill, there were occasionally
more Chalkhill Blues,
Meadow
Browns
and
a pyralid micro-moth:
a Pyrausta despicata.
Adur
Butterfly List 201
1
August 2018
Chalkhill
Blue, Adonis Blue
I cycled
up to Mill Hill about midday
for the annual count of Chalkhill
Blues
on the fixed one acre transect
on the lower slopes.The 30 minute count recorded 51 male Chalkhill
Blues.
This
was a very low day count but not the worst recorded which was 30
in
2016.
They were even outnumbered on the parched downs by male Adonis
Blues which were counted at 58.
Mill
Hill Report
August
2017 Reports
Shoreham
Weather 2018
EasyTide
(Shoreham)
Adur
Nature Notes 2013 |
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