All observations by Andy Horton, unless stated otherwise.

  Adur Moths                                                                                          British Lepidoptera on  flickr

Adur Butterfly List 2008

30 December 2007
An active butterfly was seen in a warm sheltered area of South Lancing, flying was near a house wall with plenty of green shrubbery near by. I can't confirm species but most likely to be a Red Admiral. The Red Admiral is the only species of butterfly that has been spotted flying locally in December.

16 December 2007 The photograph on the right shows the complete destruction of the considerable wildlife interest on the embankment which was the old railway track by the Riverside Business Centre.

> 7 December 2007
I was extremely disappointed to discover that the extreme southern end of the Downs Link Cyclepath had been trashed for its wildlife interest (the railway company had previous sold off the land at auction to a private owner).
 

The area has featured frequently on Adur Nature Notes and it was noteworthy for Brown Argus and Common Blue Butterflies with Grass Snakes occasionally recorded in the vicinity. The Small Blue Butterfly was recorded here on at least one occasion, only one of two locations in Shoreham where it has been seen and at least one Large Skipper, Small Skippers, Holly Blues, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admirals, Painted Ladies, Peacock Butterflies, Comma, Clouded Yellows, Large Whites, Small Whites, Green-veined Whites and Speckled Woods were regularly seen during their flight periods. It was only known area in Shoreham and the downs north of the town where Wild Marjoram grew in profusion. Wild Marjoram is an important nectar plant for butterflies. Wild Thyme, Hemp Agrimony, Fleabane, Meadow Vetchling, Bird's Foot Trefoil and Kidney Vetch and many common wild flowers also grew there.
Google Search on Nature Notes for some Wildlife Entries for this area
Adur Levels 2007
 

Butterfly Habitat Notes   Observations of the habitats of the Small Heath Butterfly Observations of the habitats of the Small Copper Butterfly Some Notes on the local Meadow Brown Butterfly populations Notes on the Wall Brown Butterfly Bird's Foot Trefoil & the Common Blue Butterfly Some other notes on resident butterflies and moths in the Adur area (Part One) Some other notes on resident butterflies and moths in the Adur area (Part Two) Adonis Blues notes from the downs near Shoreham Chalkhill Blues notes from the downs near Shoreham Skippers of the downs near Shoreham Observations of the other Butterflies of the Adur district area and a few absentees Observations of some of the smaller Moths in the Adur district area   Lead Agencies for designated Local Nature Reserves   Clouded Yellow Butterfly  (Link to a recommended photograph by Dave Appleton)

22 November 2007
A probable Red Admiral Butterfly was seen in the Lancing town centre car park during a warm period in the day. Food and shelter was available nearby from the Hedera (Ivy) on the wall of the car park area.

9 November 2007
A Red Admiral Butterfly left the fallen leaves at the top of The Street, Old Shoreham.

6 November 2007
A Meadow Brown Butterfly fluttering around the green herbs over the northern part of the lower slopes of Mill Hill was the first ever of this species recorded locally in the month of November. This is the sixth species of butterfly recorded in this month. I think it was a male, but I did not get a closer look because I was buzzed by the first wasp.
About a minute later the faster wing beats of a Silver Y Moth were spotted.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

5 November 2007
A Red Admiral Butterfly fluttered around a tree on Southwick Green.

4 November 2007
One Red Admiral Butterfly was spotted near the Buckingham Cutting (south) and another one on the Pixie Path and these were the only butterflies seen on the day in the sunshine which included a trip to Mill Hill and a cycle to the Cement Works along the Downs Link Cyclepath.

2 November 2007
Two Speckled Wood Butterflies and something white and quite large (a butterfly, only seen from a distance) were flying near the Blackthorn Sloes on Lancing Ring.
These are the first records of Speckled Wood Butterflies recorded in the month of November. Five species of butterfly have been recorded in this month.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

A Red Admiral Butterfly was spotted near the Lancing Manor Leisure Centre buildings followed by two flying together in the sunshine near Lancing Ring dewpond. A  Red Admiral flew in off the sea by Widewater Lagoon.

1 November 2007
A Painted Lady Butterfly was seen in my south Lancing front garden. And a Red Admiral was seen at St Bernard's Court, Sompting Road, north Lancing.

There was a late Wall Brown Butterfly seen on the downs near Lancing. This was the first ever of this species recorded locally in the month of November and only notified later to be the seventh species recorded in the penultimate month of the year.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

Two Red Admiral Butterflies were seen flying over Shoreham town as I cycled by. There were no butterflies on Mill Hill in the weak sunshine.

31 October 2007
A Red Admiral Butterfly and a Holly Blue were seen in Lancing.

29 October 2007
A quick trip to Mill Hill and a return via the Pixie Path failed to yield a single butterfly.

27 October 2007
There were two late Meadow Browns on my transect near Upper Beeding with a further two flying nearby. Also, there were two Clouded Yellows on the transect.

A Red Admiral Butterfly was blown and flew rapidly over Ray Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 185 046) in the breeze.

23 October 2007
There were occasional (probably about five, I did not count) Red Admiral Butterflies on the footpath on the eastern fringe of the allotments separating Southwick (Fishersgate) from Portslade (and West and East Sussex) north of the Stanley Arms. This path is the last southern arm of the Monarch Way.

22 October 2007
On a towpath cycle ride to Cuckoo's Corner and back, not a single butterfly was seen on an overcast day.

21 October 2007
There were still 23 Meadow Browns on my Upper Beeding transect, including a mating pair.

20 October 2007
There were two Red Admiral Butterflies on the Ivy on the Pixie Path. There were just three butterflies seen on Mill Hill: a Comma and a Red Admiral in the north-west scrub and a Speckled Wood in the copse at the top. There was another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths that flew up and away over the Hawthorn.

19 October 2007
In the early afternoon we visited Mill Hill for about an hour and saw the following butterflies: two Red Admirals, one Peacock, one Meadow Brown (probable) and a Holly Blue (probable).

A dozen or so Red Admiral Butterflies were seen in about two hours most of them along by Lancing Beach by Widewater and others in Lancing town, on Lancing Clump and a few over urbanShoreham. On the approaches to Lancing Clump (eastern car park) there were a few brown butterflies that were flying too high to be identified (possibly Wall Browns) but it was Speckled Woods that were occasionally seen over the edge of the scrub areas on Lancing Ring Nature Reserve. There was a Small White Butterfly fluttering over the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.
Three definite species (my tally only)
 

The caterpillar of the Pale Tussock Moth, Calliteara pudibunda, crawled across the pavement on the approaches to Lancing Clump (eastern car park). I put it on the grass verge for the photograph.  Adur Moths

18 October 2007
There were a few Red Admiral Butterflies in the Williams Road area and a few others on the outskirts of of Shoreham town. On Mill Hill I saw just the two butterflies on a pleasant afternoon; a Peacock Butterfly on Autumnal Hawkbit by the steps leading down to the lower slopes and a male Common Blue visiting Autumnal Hawkbit at the northern end of the lower slopes.
Three species

17 October 2007
Fluttering strongly above my head, I saw two Red Admiral Butterflies in the Williams Road area of Shoreham town. A Large White fluttered across a Shoreham street.
Migrating Red Admirals in Devon (UK Leps)

16 October 2007
There was just a single Red Admiral Butterfly seen in Shoreham town.

15 October 2007
There were two Red Admirals on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge and another one on the towpath on the west side of the river near the A27 Flyover.

14 October 2007
In Buckingham Park, Shoreham, a Large White Butterfly fluttered over, followed one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths (which may be Vapourer Moths?) and a Speckled Wood at the top. The lower slopes of Mill Hill produced another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths, three Meadow Browns of both sexes, with a Speckled Wood in the scrub in the north-west and another Meadow Brown in the Old Erringham pasture. One Large White and one Red Admiral were spotted in passing on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.

11 October 2007
I was surprised to see a Holly Blue Butterfly fluttering around at the eastern end of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge. The second butterfly was a Peacock in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road. These two were followed by a few Red Admirals on the Pixie Path Ivy with the wasps, hoverflies, and flies. The lower slopes of Mill Hill hosted a handful of Meadow Browns of both sexes, with another one on the top plateau. There was a surprise bright yellow Brimstone on the edge* of the lower slopes by the path and a Speckled Wood over the steps in the scrub in the north-west and a Comma over some Brambles on the upper part of the hill, and another Red Admiral, and then a courting couple of Red Admirals seen later over the Pixie Path as I cycled down Mill Hill Road. (*By the scrub in the north-west but fluttering over the lower slopes where it was seen from.) There was another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths over the Pixie Path, but it would not settle. I did not recall spotting any white butterflies.
Seven species of definite butterflies

10 October 2007
I saw a Large White Butterfly in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, as I left my front garden and a Red Admiral later in the day.

8 October 2007
A few Red Admirals, at least one Large White and one bright yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly were spotted in passing on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge and north of where the path narrows and veers sharply west for the winding narrow route to Ropetackle.

7 October 2007
As a fret rolled across the Adur valley, a slightly misty lower slopes of Mill Hill showed a few Large White Butterflies, one male Meadow Brown and a male Adonis Blue. There was another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths that flew up and away from amongst the Hawthorn on the western side of the steps leading down to the the lower slopes of Mill Hill. There were more Large White Butterflies and at least one Red Admiral on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. There may have been a Small White Butterfly as well, but I was unable to be sure about this one.
Four definite species

6 October 2007
On the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, a bright yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttered over the path south of the thorn tunnel at the extreme southern end. A few Large White Butterflies were seen around the town and outskirts of Shoreham.

5 October 2007
A thorough search of Mill Hill gave us a minimum count of nine Wall Brown Butterflies, differentiated on the basis of sex and varying degrees of wear and tear (only one male had undamaged wings). This is the highest count I have ever had at Mill Hill and represents a strong, third brood emergence - I don't remember ever seeing more than four in the summer here. Second brood numbers are typically about three times greater than the spring emergence, and a third brood is often restricted to warmer sites such as this and/or following a hot summer. This may explain the absence of the species on the north facing slopes of Steyning Round Hill, which we had searched earlier in the day. Also present at Mill Hill were 3 Clouded Yellow , 1 Adonis Blue (female), 1 Small Copper, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Brimstone, 3 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood and 8 Meadow Brown.

4 & 5 October 2007
There were still a few Red Admirals  and Large White Butterflies around on the outskirts of Shoreham on both days.

3 October 2007
There were still a few Red Admiral Butterflies and a Peacock on the the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. A few Large Whites and at least one Speckled Wood Butterfly seen around the outskirts of Shoreham town.
There was one fresh Meadow Brown Butterfly seen and Speckled Wood by the steps down to the lower slopes of Mill Hill from the south.
Five species

2 October 2007
A bright yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttering over the grassy bit of the towpath by Adur Riverside Industrial Estate (north of Ropetackle, Shoreham), was the only definite butterfly on a cloudy day. On the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, there was another of the small orange butterflies which would not settle in five minutes. I am tempted to think these are mostly Small Copper Butterflies. There was also another brown moth which was completely different, with a large dark brown abdomen as it whirred away.

30 September 2007
On the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, I recorded four white butterflies and at least one was a confirmed Large White, an unidentified larger brown butterfly over Brambles which was thought most likely to be a Comma, plus five clearly seen Clouded Yellow Butterflies. The Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, hosted a Speckled Wood and three Red Admirals.  The Pixie Path added another Red Admiral, a Large White and another Speckled Wood.
 

Three more of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths, and they looked much like moths, flew up and too quickly away from amongst the Brambles on the western side of the steps leading down to the the lower slopes of Mill Hill. The lower slopes still had at least six Meadow Brown Butterflies and one Peacock Butterfly. The scrub in the north-west added a Speckled Wood Butterfly, and there were no more butterflies as I returned by the ridge route. There was another tatty Peacock Butterfly in Ray Hamblett's Lancing front garden.
Six definite species plus one other

29 September 2007
Another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths was blown across New Road, Shoreham. (I had this same identification problem in 2006.)

27 September 2007
On a breezy day, just two definite butterflies were noted: a Red Admiral Butterfly and a Clouded Yellow on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. Over New Road in central Shoreham, there was another one of the small orange or brown butterfly or moths was blown about and showed no signs of settling.

25 September 2007
A Red Admiral Butterfly and a Large White Butterfly were seen in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham.
A Speckled Wood was seen in the spinney part of the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting. On a blackberrying visit to the hedgerow part, a Comma Butterfly and a Silver Y Moth fluttered amongst the Brambles. The next visit was to the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge where a Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and two Peacock Butterflies were recorded. The Pixie Path added another Red Admiral and three Peacock Butterflies. A Clouded Yellow flew over the path from Frampton's Field and away. The white butterfly seen was not positively identified and it seemed like a Green-veined White and the small orange or brown butterfly or moth flitted away too quickly as well (this might be a Small Copper?). Another Comma settled amongst the Holly berries.
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, there were just one male Adonis Blue Butterfly, 17 Meadow Brown Butterflies, one Large White, two tatty female Common Blues and a Treble-bar Moth. I returned via the ridge with a Speckled Wood and another Meadow Brown recorded in the scrub in the north-west and another Meadow Brown seen on the exposed ridge.
Nine definites species of butterfly, with two others unidentified

24 September 2007
I recall seeing a Red Admiral Butterfly as I cycled through Shoreham town.

23 September 2007
In Shoreham town there were at least two Large Whites and a Holly Blue, on the western Adur towpath under the the A27 Flyover there was a Peacock Butterfly, but that was all on an unpromising day for butterflies.

22 September 2007
A 20 minute cycle jaunt on the outskirts of Shoreham, on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, recorded a few Peacock Butterflies, occasional Red Admirals, a few Large Whites, at least one Small White and one Clouded Yellow. A Green-veined White could not be confirmed because it would not settle. A few Speckled Woods were added on the path that ran along the south of Frampton's Field.
Six definite species

21 September 2007
Under an overcast sky, a cycle ride along circular route from old Shoreham up the Coombes Road to Botolphs and a return via the Downs Link Cyclepath was longer than usual (via the Annington Sewer) because the South Downs Bridge was closed for repairs. Butterflies seen on route were frequent (30+) Speckled Woods, six Peacocks, occasional Large Whites and Red Admirals, at least one Small White, one Comma (Coombes Road), one Wall Brown (Upper Beeding east of the South Downs Bridge) and one Clouded Yellow (Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge).
Mill Hill was breezy with frequent (15+) Meadow Browns, two Large Whites, three Wall Browns, two Small Heaths and one female Common Blue.
Eleven species

18 September 2007
A two and a half hour walk around Beeding Hill on a beautiful afternoon produced the following butterfly sightings: Clouded Yellow 3, Large White 2, Small White 2, Brown Argus 2, Common Blue 1, Adonis Blue 3 (one ovipositing), Peacock 1, Wall 1 (fresh female), Meadow Brown 40+, Small Heath 2.

There was just a hint of autumnal chill in the air but the sun shined briefly on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, where a few Speckled Woods, Large Whites, Red Admirals, and Holly Blue Butterflies were seen. A Clouded Yellow Butterfly fluttered over the vegetation on the east back of the River Adur at low tide. A Small White Butterfly was seen over the grass by the new Dunelms Furniture Store near the Hamm in Shoreham town.
Six species (personal tally)

16 September 2007
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill,  there were just three male Adonis Blue Butterflies and 30 Meadow Brown Butterflies noted, but I made my exit from the downs earlier than I normally would under an overcast sky. At least half of the Meadow Browns visited the Devil's Bit Scabious. Other butterflies on the day included another dozen more Meadow Browns, at least four Red Admirals (two on Mill Hill, two on the Pixie Path), five Speckled Woods (mostly in the scrub on Mill Hill), one Comma Butterfly (on the Pixie Path) and frequent Large Whites almost everywhere.
Six Species

15 September 2007
Another one of these strong-flying small orange moth or butterflies was seen on the Coombes Road near Cuckoo's Corner with a Speckled Wood Butterfly. I was unable to stop for a closer look. Two Red Admirals were seen in Shoreham town with frequent Large Whites in the sunshine.

14 September 2007
A breeze-blown Red Admiral collided with me as I cycled up Eastern Avenue in Shoreham, and I saw another one later. Large Whites were frequent in town.

12 September 2007
There was a small orange moth or butterfly over Buckingham Park in Shoreham, but it would not keep still for identification. At the top of The Drive, Shoreham, there was my first two Speckled Woods of the day.
It seemed like an exceptionally large Peacock Butterfly that fluttered around the Ivy on the Pixie Path followed by a handful of good condition Red Admirals.
Not in the mood for counting butterflies, but there were 13 Adonis Blues (including 3 females) on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, with seven Common Blues, five Small Heath Butterflies, an estimated 50+ Meadow Browns, occasional Large Whites, one more Speckled Wood in the Hawthorn, and one Clouded Yellow, possibly two, south of the Reservoir.
Nine species confirmed

11 September 2007
By the Old Fort on Shoreham Beach, a male Common Blue Butterfly fluttered by and then settled. Large Whites were common on Shoreham Beach, with one recorded every minute. Small Whites were seen on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, and there may have been Green-veined Whites, but these would not settle for identification.

10 September 2007
As well as the frequent Large Whites there was a Speckled Wood and a Painted Lady Butterfly on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.

9 September 2007
There were three Red Admirals on the Ivy on the Pixie Path. Mill Hill produced one Holly Blue around the hedge north of the bridge at the top, plus the first Adonis Blues were seen on the steps down to the lower slopes with a total of 35 (32 males 3 females) with two of the males seen on the upper plateau, 7 Common Blues (2 females on the lower slopes and 5 males on the middle and top part of Mill Hill), 9 Small Heath Butterflies, 5 Chalkhill Blues (all on the lower slopes), frequent Meadow Browns, frequent Large Whites and occasional Small Whites. A damaged Peacock Butterfly was seen at the western end of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge.
It was notable that the butterflies were exiguous both in the long sward in the meadows at the top of Mill Hill, and even more scanty in the verge meadows of the Downs Link Cyclepath where Large Whites were frequent and another Common Blue was recorded south of the thorn tunnel at the extreme southern end.
Ten species

8 September 2007
There were three Red Admirals on the Ivy in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road, but the neighbour had chopped down all the Buddleia. Otherwise there were frequent Large Whites and occasional Small White Butterflies around Shoreham town.

7 September 2007
Large Whites were every five minutes or so in Shoreham town, at least one Small White Butterfly, with a Speckled Wood over Buckingham Park and another was seen in the woody area at the top of The Drive, Shoreham. There was a Holly Blue Butterfly fluttering over the Ivy on the Pixie Path followed by the first male Common Blue Butterfly. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the count of Adonis Blues was 19 (14 males and 5 females), 11 Common Blues (1 female), frequent Meadow Browns, just three Small Heath Butterflies, and one or two Chalkhill Blues (the male may have tried to mate with a female Chalkhill or perhaps an Adonis by mistake?) and one Clouded Yellow Butterfly. The small pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata was occasionally seen. I returned quickly by the ridge route and only another male Common Blue Butterfly was added to the total under a black cloud that had covered the whole visit in the shade. A Red Admiral Butterfly fluttered over the twitten between Ropetackle and Victoria Road, Shoreham-by-Sea.
Eleven species of butterfly

6 September 2007
Butterflies seen on passage were a Red Admiral on Buddleia by the Eastern Avenue Railway Crossing Gates in Shoreham town, and frequent Small Whites and Large Whites every five minutes or so in Shoreham town and on Shoreham Beach.

5 September 2007
A faded Painted Lady Butterfly fluttered over Shoreham Beach Green on the green open space by the toilet block.

4 September 2007
A tatty Red Admiral was the only butterfly over the Pixie Path. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, male Adonis Blues were immediately seen amongst the dewy grass by the steps and later all over the Horseshoe Vetch. The count was 36 (33 males and 3 females) in the acre transect area. A third of them had tatty wing edges. The same area produced 30 Meadow Browns with a further 21 were seen on other parts of Mill Hill giving a total of 51. Eight Small Heath Butterflies were seen on the lower slopes with a further two on the upper part of Mill Hill. And one Large White Butterfly settled on Hawthorn on the lower slopes.
 

Just a single Chalkhill Blue Butterfly fluttered around Old Erringham pasture near the gate to Mill Hill Nature Reserve. A Speckled Wood was seen amongst the heavy Hawthorn scrub in the north-west. 18 Common Blue Butterflies were bright but not pristine in the middle area of Mill Hill, most of them congregating to the north of the Triangle area and only a few in the top meadow. One Small White Butterfly was seen amongst the scrub on the plateau. A probable pyralid moth Pyrausta purpuralis was seen in the short sward north of the Reservoir.
A Holly Blue Butterfly was seen on Buddleia in Victoria Road, Shoreham and a Red Admiral flew up the same road. On the Adur Levels, there was a relative paucity of butterflies with frequent Large Whites and a few Small Whites as well, and one Red Admiral, but that was all that were seen in passing. The verge meadows on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Cement Works did not produce any visible butterflies at all.
On an acre trek over Anchor Bottom, Upper Beeding, I recorded 42 Meadow Browns on the southern slopes, but no other butterflies were seen.
Ten species of butterfly

3 September 2007
At least one Small White and occasional Large White Butterflies and a handful of Red Admirals were seen on the cyclepath by Widewater. One small (the size of a Holly Blue) orange or brown butterfly was seen flying over the pebbles on the beach.

31 August 2007
A handful of Red Admiral Butterflies flew around the Buddleia on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, with a few Large White Butterflies over the road as I cycled past in Shoreham town.

30 August 2007
The largest of the Large White Butterflies around the Sea Kale, next to the Coastal Link Cyclepath as it goes through Lancing, were spectacularly marked with large black spots and black wing edges. I watched one of these butterflies flitter around a patch of the Sea Kale to the west of Lancing Yacht Club for a few minutes and the restless butterfly only landed for less than a second before immediately taking off again. The Large Whites were frequent on the shore above the high tide mark.
In the last few days,  I have made four sightings of an orange moth or butterfly rising from hedgerows or bushes in Shoreham.

29 August 2007
Butterflies were just about frequent by the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, with a fresh Comma Butterfly, and a Common Blue north of the Buffer Stop and a Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady south through the thorn tunnel where around the remnants of Marjoram there were a handful of Common Blues, including a miniature brown female, about half the size of the largest Common Blue females and about the size of a Small Blue. Large Whites were frequently seen in Shoreham town with the largest numbers over the allotments.
Five species

27 August 2007
During brief walk along top of beach between Widewater and South Lancing, I saw four Painted Ladies in flight, basking in sun on pebbles and nectaring in a seafront garden, a single Small Tortoiseshell and Clouded Yellow nectaring in a garden, and many Small Whites around.

The count of Adonis Blues in the acre transect of the lower slopes of Mill Hill was 44 (28 males, 16 females) with another one by the gate to the Old Erringham pasture. Chalkhill Blues on Mill Hill were just six, including one female, with four male Common Blues, 7 Small Heaths, one Clouded Yellow on the lower slopes, frequent Meadow Browns, one Speckled Wood in the scrub of Mill Hill and a few Large Whites. A Red Admiral was seen on Buckingham Bank south and Large Whites were frequently seen over Hamm Allotments in Shoreham. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the small pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata was again frequent enough to be overlooked.
My tally of nine species

26 August 2007
A quick look at Mill Hill about 9.30 am yielded a Clouded Yellow Butterfly. I saw two more together east of Southwick Tunnel later. When I returned to Mill Hill late afternoon for a short walk I had 1 Brimstone, 6+ Adonis Blues about one third of the way down the slope from the car park (just above the steep steps), together with several Small Heath and faded Chalkhill Blues.
Along the Shoreham bypass, I saw relatively few butterflies: Buckingham Bank south just 2 Red Admirals and a Holly Blue flew over, with 1 Speckled Wood in the bushes behind. Slonk Hill south produced one Hornet Moth, 2 Treble-bar Moths,  2 Silver Y Moths; 4 Meadow Browns; 1 Red Admiral; 1 Small Copper; 1 male Common Blue and 2 Large Whites.
Twelve butterfly species

I spent an hour on the lower slopes of Mill Hill at midday in pursuit of Adonis Blues. As well as seeing my first ever Clouded Yellow, I also saw about 5 to 10 Common Blues amongst the 30 Adonis Blues (beneath the footpath).

A Painted Lady Butterfly, a Brown Argus, a few Speckled Woods, a few Holly Blues, occasional Red Admirals and occasional Common Blue Butterflies were seen in vegetation by the verges of the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. The butterflies were sparser north of Old Shoreham where a few more Red Admirals, occasional Large White Butterflies, and one Brimstone Butterfly, that emerged from Buddleia, were seen. A Comma Butterfly was not confirmed at the time, but accepted later.
A half an hour trek on the southern (north-facing) slopes of Anchor Bottom (Dacre Garden entrance), Upper Beeding, produced 52 Meadow Browns, two male Adonis Blues, and one male Common Blue. A Small Heath Butterfly settled briefly at the top on the southern boundary. At least two pairs of mating Meadow Browns were seen.
My tally was twelve species.

25 August 2007
 

On the Slonk Hill Cutting south embankment, the meadows were still in shade in the morning and there were two Red Admirals and a few Meadow Browns. A Silver Y Moth flitted through the herbs on Buckingham Cutting south. On the Mill Hill Cutting a single female blue butterfly fluttered around the Cotoneaster and Horseshoe Vetch and I think this was a Common Blue. On the Pixie Path there was a male Common Blue, a few Holly Blues and more Meadow Browns.
The lower slopes of Mill Hill were bathed in weak sunshine, which resulted in a few more butterflies in flight including frequent Meadow Browns, four Chalkhill Blues (including one female), 48 second brood Adonis Blues (including five females, four in mating pairs), 7 Small Heath Butterflies, a few distinctive Large Whites and frequent small pyralid moths Pyrausta nigrata. The scrub in the north-west added a few Speckled Woods and few Red Admirals. The Triangle area added two male Common Blues but the top meadows and plateau were only sparsely populated by Meadow Browns. There was a Holly Blue seen amongst the scrub on the upper part of Mill Hill.
Nine species of butterfly

24 August 2007
Still overcast, but better than the last 12 days of inclement weather: Butterflies were frequent but much less than in previous years. Large White Butterflies were occasional in Shoreham town. A Meadow Brown was seen in Buckingham Cutting south. Meadow Browns were the commonest butterfly of the day with about 36 seen on Mill Hill, with more than half of them were the females. A single good condition Red Admiral visited the yellow flower of Ragwort south of the Reservoir on Mill Hill. The blue butterflies were not generally in flight, but on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, I disturbed two Chalkhill Blues (one male and one female) and 14 Adonis Blues (13 males and one pristine female) as well as 22 Meadow Browns, a Large White Butterfly and at least four Small Heath Butterflies. On the lower slopes, very faded versions of the small pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata were frequently seen with over twenty recorded before I stopped counting. I returned via the ridge and did not visit the top meadows and plateau of Mill Hill.
Six species of butterfly

21 August 2007
On another overcast day, there was a Holly Blue Butterfly and a Large White seen in passing at Kingston Buci.

16-17 August 2007
A few Large White Butterflies, Meadow Browns and Red Admirals were blown by the breeze in Shoreham town and the outskirts.

15 August 2007
After the rain, and in the breeze, there were a few Large White Butterflies and Red Admirals and at least one Peacock Butterfly on Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. A brown butterfly remained unidentified as it flew away. It could have been a Meadow Brown or a Painted Lady.

13 August 2007
Occasional Large White Butterflies, a Red Admiral and a Holly Blue were seen in Shoreham town.

12 August 2007
Large White Butterflies were seen in Shoreham town, especially near allotments. A Red Admiral left a grassy area in Buckingham Park and another one was seen on the Buckingham Cutting south. The first two Chalkhill Blue Butterflies were seen fluttering amongst the Horseshoe Vetch on the Mill Hill Cutting south. The Pixie Path hosted a Meadow Brown, a Common Blue, a Holly Blue and a Large White Butterfly.
By the time I reached Mill Hill it was breezy and cool approaching midday. Frequent butterflies of both Chalkhill Blues and Meadow Browns were searching for females on the lower slopes and these were well hidden and the only ones seen were disturbed. The male Chalkhill Blues did not seem to having much success finding the females either.
 

Species	Lower Slopes	Scrub + Ridge	Total (all sites)
Chalkhill Blue	43 (M 34 F 9)	1	46
Adonis Blue	1		1
Small Heath	1	2	3
Meadow Brown	27	11	41
Peacock		1	1
Common Blue	1		3
Pyrausta purpuralis moth	1		1

After about 25 minutes it began to rain and I returned quickly via the breeze-blown ridge of Mill Hill.
Nine species (just over 100 butterflies)

11 August 2007
Butterflies were only frequent in Shoreham and on the outskirts with frequent Large Whites and Holly Blues leading the way, followed by occasional Speckled Woods, one Red Admiral, and a pair of Chalkhill Blues on the Mill Hill Cutting south. One pair of Holly Blues were spotted mating in the hedges at Buckingham Cutting south.
Five species

10 August 2007
A cycle jaunt along the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham produced mostly 20+ Meadow Browns each way and the majority of these were the larger females. Large Whites were frequently seen but only the occasional Small White in town and country. Occasional Red Admirals were noted settling on Hemp Agrimony on the path verges. Holly Blues and Speckled Woods were seen occasionally. At least one bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly stood out on the return journey and the white butterfly was most likely a Brimstone as well.
On Anchor Bottom, Upper Beeding (Dacre Garden entrance) a mating pair of Chalkhill Blue Butterflies were seen immediately and there were at least a dozen more Meadow Brown Butterflies and about the same number of  6-spot Burnet Moths were seen in about 30 minutes. There were probably a few Small Heath Butterflies but only one was definitely recorded. A Painted Lady Butterfly flew eastwards and eventually up the slope.
The only Gatekeeper seen on the day was underneath the Railway Viaduct near Ropetackle.
Adur Levels
Eleven species of butterfly

9 August 2007
A Speckled Wood Butterfly fluttered by the hedge section of the twitten between Corbyn Crecent and Adelaide Square, Shoreham. Holly Blues were frequent on the day and occasional on the Pixie Path.
There was one male Chalkhill Blue Butterfly on the Mill Hill Cutting south, a mere 17 males on a rushed visit to the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and a further seven males as I returned by the most direct route by the ridge. Four Adonis Blues and a female Common Blue were seen on the lower slopes where the one pair of the frequent 12+ Meadow Browns were seen mating. The larger female Meadow Brownswere most noticeable resting, and seeming to be ready for the males which did not seem to be present in their usual numbers. An attractive small Pyrausta purpuralis moth was again seen in the main Tor Grass area on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. There was a Speckled Wood in the scrub. Occasional Large Whites were seen on the downs and in Shoreham town. Two Red Admirals and two Small Whites were seen on Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.
Adur Pyralid Moths
Nine species

6 August 2007
A Red Admiral Butterfly was seen in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham.

5 August 2007
A couple of Speckled Wood Butterflies were courting rising up to a height about five metres fluttering around each other over the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. This behaviour was seen on a few occasions in the last few days.
The first Chalkhill Blues were seen on the Mill Hill Cutting, but only six males were seen. There was a Holly Blue on the top part of the Pixie Path.
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the Chalkhill Blue Butterfly count was the highest this year (but still about half the numbers in an average year) where 92 males and 4 brown females were noted in the acre transect area. This figure only represents an estimated 275 Chalkhill Blue Butterflies on the hill, which is a very poor total. The frequent (over a dozen) visits of the male Chalkhill Blues to pale brown (probably beech) leaves was noticeable and may demonstrate the use of of colour cues in the initial search for a brown female. The visit was fleeting, the landing male immediately realising its mistake. The 11 male Adonis Blues were seen clearly and one female Common Blue, with about 6 Meadow Browns and one Large White Butterfly.
In the scrub to the north-west there was a Red Admiral, a Speckled Wood, and two Common Blues. Looking over the gate to the Old Erringham pasture a further three Chalkhill Blues were spotted. In the Triangle area of central Mill Hill, another five male Chalkhill Blues were recorded. Gatekeepers were seen occasionally in the top meadow of Mill Hill.
Eight species

4 August 2007
A male Common Blue Butterfly fluttered across the road outside my gate in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham. In Lancing as I passed through by car, Holly Blues, Large Whites and Gatekeepers were seen occasionally.

3 August 2007
Buckingham Cutting south was below expectations with a Common Blue and a Chalkhill Blue sparring in the sunshine. There were also four Speckled Woods in the shaded are at the top of the Drive. On the Mill Hill Cutting only seven male Chalkhill Blues were seen fluttering around. The Pixie Path (northern section only) recorded a few Meadow Browns and a surprise Small Blue Butterfly.
The lower slopes of Mill Hill were again disappointing. The tally of Chalkhill Blues in the transect acre was 49 (43 males and 6 females), but it looked like fresh males had appeared. There were three definite male Adonis Blues and occasional Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers. The scrub in the north-west added a Peacock Butterfly near the gate and another few Speckled Woods, Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers. The Triangle area of Mill Hill hosted 7 Chalkhill Blues (6 males and 1 female). The top meadows added three each of male Common Blues and Chalkhill Blues as well as surprise Small Blue, plus a Large White, a few more Meadow Brownsand Gatekeepers.
The Downs Link Cyclepath in the section south of the Toll Bridge immediately produced a Red Admiral amongst the Buddleia and a Comma Butterfly. The path by the river as it narrows and winds towards Ropetackle produced a surprise faded and definite Wall Brown Butterfly. A few more Large Whites were seen around Shoreham town.
In the late afternoon I cycled briefly along the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham and added two Green-veined Whites and a Holly Blue to the species list.
Fourteen species.

2 August 2007
Overcast and breezy with just a female Common Blue Butterfly, a Large White, a Silver Y Moth, and a 6-spot Burnet Moth on the Buckingham Cutting south. On the Mill Hill Cutting the Chalkhill Blues did not show at all, so I decided against visiting Mill Hill. Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were in low frequencies on the Pixie Path, where there were frequent Holly Blues (12+), occasional Red Admirals and one Small/Essex Skipper.
Seven species of butterfly

1 August 2007
On the southern area meadows of the Slonk Hill Cutting there were frequent Meadow Browns as a Large White flew past with distinct black spots and wing edges. In the clearing by the path I added occasional Gatekeepers. On Buckingham Cutting south I added one each of a Small Blue and a small male Common Blue. On the Mill Hill Cutting 13 Chalkhill Blues (12 males and a female mating) were lively visiting Eyebrights and Hardheads. The first Holly Blue of the day was seen around the roadside hedge just south of Mill Hill, and they were occasional in Shoreham town.

Chalkhill Blues at the beginning of the month were recorded on the lower slopes of Mill Hill at the lowest number this century with just 61 (59 males and 2 females) in the transect acre counted. The bright blue butterfly was finally positively identified as an Adonis Blue (pic). In the scrub to the north-west of Mill Hill there was a bright Peacock Butterfly, followed by a Cinnabar Moth caterpillar on a Ragwort plant by the gate and three Speckled Wood Butterflies were noted with a further one under the copse at the top of Mill Hill. In the Triangle area of Mill Hill a positive Brimstone Butterfly appeared and there was another possible, with one Chalkhill Blue, at least four Gatekeepers and two Meadow Browns. In the meadows north of the car park, my passage was brief, but two Brown Argus Butterflies and another male Common Blue were seen immediately with six Meadow Browns and probably more. No Small/Essex Skippers were seen. Occasional 6-spot Burnet Moths were seen scattered over Mill Hill. The plateau at the top also hosted a Common Blue and a Chalkhill Blue Butterfly. A large (vanessid-size) grey butterfly (or moth) with one small eye spot seen on each wing took off from the upper plateau. I do not what it was. I assume this is a mistaken sighting of a common species. Altogether the numbers of butterflies were much less than expected in the sunshine.

On the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham in the warm (25.0 ºC) afternoon sunshine along with the frequent Gatekeepers, and Meadow Browns and occasional Holly Blues, I found two Common Blues visiting a mud pool north of the Cement Works, recorded a few Peacock Butterflies (plus two in the Butterfly Copse next to the Waterworks Road later), two Red Admirals, one Small White, one Green-veined White Butterfly and a 6-spot Burnet Moth and a Silver Y Moth disturbed in the verge meadows. I expect there were many more of these large moths.
Fourteen species of butterfly

31 July 2007
A long trip from Mash Barn Lane, up the western slope of Lancing Clump and a return through the meadows in the warm sunshine (23.7 ºC) produced only a moderate amount of butterflies: frequent Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and faded Small/Essex Skippers, occasional Large Whites, Speckled Woods, Holly Blues and Red Admirals, and a few 6-spot Burnet Moths, and that was the lot. There was a possible Wall Brown and a possible Small Tortoiseshell, but neither remained still enough to be sure.
Seven confirmed species

30 July 2007
It was still some way from peak emergence for the Chalkhill Blues with 73 (72 males, 1 female) seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. There were a further five males on the upper area and an three males and one female seen on the south side of Mill Hill Cutting. There was the large Adonis Blue seen again and again it flew off rapidly. This was only positively identified later as the first Adonis Blue seen in July. The Pixie Path hosted more than a dozen fresh looking Holly Blues of both sexes. Gatekeepers were present everywhere and I would estimate about forty seen in an hour. Meadow Browns were frequent as well, about half the number seen of the Gatekeepers. Large Whites and Small Whites were occasionally seen. One large creamy white-pale green butterfly on the lower slopes of Mill Hill turned out to be a Brimstone Butterfly.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
 

There were a few Brown Argus Butterflies and one confirmed Green-veined White flitting about the meadows on the top of Mill Hill perching on the top of herbs and long grasses, but no Small/Essex Skippers were recorded. A few Peacock Butterflies chased each other around. At least one Red Admiral was seen. Occasional Speckled Woods were seen in amongst the scrub in the north-west of Mill Hill. 6-spot Burnet Moths were frequently seen on Mill Hill. On one very small Ragwort plant that had not flowered, there were three stripy Cinnabar Moth caterpillars.
Thirteen species of butterfly

29 July 2007
The Chalkhill Blues had still not emerged in numbers on Mill Hill as only 37 were seen including the first mating pair of the year and this was the only female. It was overcast and the butterflies were not in flight and had to be disturbed which would reduce the numbers seen. Other butterflies seen on the day from Slonk Hill south to Mill Hill included frequent Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, Large Whites and Small/Essex Skippers. In the scrub to the north-west of Mill Hill, a Small White and a Peacock Butterfly were seen immediately. The wildlife meadow north of the car park on Mill Hill added four immaculate Brown Argus and two definite bright Common Blue Butterflies, plus a Silver Y Moth.
 

Frequent 6-spot Burnet Moths were seen on the breeze-swept plateau most often visiting Greater Knapweed, which also briefly attracted a visit of a Wall Brown Butterfly, but this flighty butterfly flitted off in under a second. A few Yellow Shell Moths and at least one Treble-bar Moth was recorded over the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Occasional Red Admirals were seen on the downs. A Holly Blue Butterfly was seen in Shoreham town.
Eleven species

27 July 2007
A cycle around the Adur Levels (Cuckoo's Corner - Coombes Road - Annington Sewer - Downs Link Cyclepath - Old Shoreham) produced the usual butterflies: frequent Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and Red Admirals, occasional Peacocks, Large Whites and Holly Blues. A few Small Whites were seen in residential Shoreham town.
Seven species

26 July 2007
On the south side of the Slonk Hill Cutting when the linear wood path opens up into some meadow-like vegetation, a few Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, one Small Blue Butterfly, one Small/Essex Skipper and a Large White Butterfly were recorded. On the Mill Hill Cutting there was the first Chalkhill Blue, a Holly Blue and a few more Gatekeepers.
The major emergence of Chalkhill Blues still has not occurred on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, as I only recorded 19 males under an partially overcast sky, with a Red Admiral on the steps at the southern end, and a few Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns. The bright blue butterfly appeared again and I got a look at its orangey-brown spotted underside. This first Adonis Blue Butterfly seen in July was later confirmed by a photograph.  As the winding path enters the scrub to the north of the lower slopes a Peacock Butterfly appeared followed by a Wall Butterfly and another Gatekeeper. There was another Chalkhill Blue as I returned by the ridge route and over a dozen 6-spot Burnet Moths seen on Mill Hill. A few Small White Butterflies flew over residential Shoreham.
Twelve species of butterfly
Adur Butterfly Monthly Flight Times

25 July 2007
I made an unusual route circling Frampton's Field from the south at the entrance from The Street, recording a few Holly Blues and Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood in the Butterfly Copse, a few Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns and one Small Skipper as the path leads down to the Mill Hill Cutting.
On a breezy and completely overcast day, the Chalkhill Blues remained completely hidden on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, and only when I nearly stepped on them did they take to flight, so only six males were seen taking off from the abundant Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa. There were a few Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and two Treble-bar Moths. In the scrub in the north-west of Mill Hill there were a few more Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns and a Red Admiral. A Wall Brown Butterfly settled on the chalk path near the gate to Old Erringham. I returned by the quickest route along the ridge.
Seven species

24 July 2007
In the intermittent spells of sunshine, the usual butterflies appeared, but there were not so many when a cloud went over.
The first butterfly of the day was a Holly Blue seen in Crown Road, Shoreham. On the southern bank of Slonk Hill, Meadow Browns were frequent a few Holly Blues and a Red Admiral were seen, but no Ringlets made a show. I met Dr David Blakesley on Buckingham Cutting who surprised me by immediately discovering a male Chalkhill Blue which I also saw and this was only the second one I had ever seen here and the first one in good condition at the beginning of the season. The were a few Large Whites fluttering across, a few resident Small Skippers, a few Meadow Browns, a few Gatekeepers, and 6-spot Burnet Moths. David Blakesley said there were frequent Small Blue Butterflies near the roadside all along from Slonk Hill, so I decided to wait for five minutes before I saw one for myself. Another male Chalkhill Blue was seen on the Mill Hill Cutting (south side). The first Peacock Butterfly and a few 6-spot Burnet Moths showed on the Pixie Path.

On the lower slopes of Mill Hill the count of Chalkhill Blues in the one acre transect was 32, (31 males and one female). In addition there was a very bright blue butterfly. This first Adonis Blue Butterfly seen in July was later confirmed by a photograph. Gatekeepers were frequent, Meadow Browns occasional, two Peacock Butterflies and a Large White. (This number of Chalkhill Blues would be equivalent to a total of some 100 Chalkhill Blues of the whole of the Shoreham Bank recorded by Bryan H on 21 July 2007.) The scrub in the north-west of Mill Hill added a further two Peacocks, a Small White, a handful of Gatekeepers, two Large Whites, a Holly Blue, a Speckled Wood and a deep orange Comma Butterfly. The grass and herb Triangle area of the middle slopes produced two Small Skippers, another two Peacocks, and a few Gatekeepers. The Wall Browns were looked for in their normal place but they could not be seen. On the the top long sward of the wildlife meadow north of the upper car park, another Peacock, occasional Gatekeepers, just the one male Chalkhill Blue, a few 6-spot Burnet Moths and a fresh definite Brown Argus put in an appearance under the overcast sky. It was seen clearly perched on top of a herb. My passage across the plateau area on the top of Mill Hill was rather hurried and the only butterflies noticed were another Peacock and one male Chalkhill Blue.
Fourteen species of butterfly

Slonk Hill and Buckingham Bank
Along the top of Slonk Hill Cutting south, I recorded one Essex Skipper, 21 Meadow Browns, 7 Gatekeepers, and one Large White. Along the bottom right next to the road, I recorded 11 "Sussex" Skippers (three of them identified as 2 Essex Skipper, 1 Small Skipper), 10 Meadow Browns, 2 Peacocks, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Common Blues, 2 Small Blues, 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood 1 (end in cover); plus 1 Silver Y Moth; and one 6-spot Burnet Moth.
The total for one zig zag transect along Buckingham Bank was 2 Meadow Browns, 2 Small Blues, 2 Chalkhill Blues, 1 Small White, one 6 spot Burnet Moth, 2 Silver Y Moths with 2 Speckled Woods and a Holly Blue along the path at the top.
Twelve species of butterfly

22 July 2007
Sunshine in the late afternoon brought out the familiar butterflies on the Downs Link Cyclepath. These were frequent Peacock Butterflies and Gatekeepers, occasional Red Admirals, Large Whites, Meadow Browns and Small Skippers. The possible Green-veined White was a probable Large White. On Anchor Bottom, Upper Beeding (Dacre Garden entrance) there were at least a dozen more Meadow Browns, one Marbled White and over twenty 6-spot Burnet Moths.

21 July 2007
Once the sun came out, Mill Hill was jumping with Chalkhill Blues!  I also noted three Wall Browns.
In between the showers, I saw one Chalkhill Blue and 30 Gatekeepers near vegetation on mid-slopes. Then when the sun came out there were an estimated 100 Chalkhill Blues (including two females); 80 Gatekeeper; 10 Meadow Browns; 3 Wall (well-spaced sightings); 2 Peacock; one Comma; one Red Admiral and one Small White, all on lower slopes.

19 July 2007
As the sun came out so did the butterflies with 35 Chalkhill Blues on Mill Hill, all but one on the lower slopes, and the first brown  female of 2007.
 

Other notables included faded Ringlets on the south side of the Slonk Hill Cutting, Wall Browns on Mill Hill in the same place as three days earlier, a Clouded Yellow by the River Adur at Upper Beeding (just north of the Cement Works) and a Small Copper visiting an Ox-eye Daisy on the Downs Link Cyclepath north of the A27 Flyover. The last one was was the most unexpected and spotted in the meadows south of the Cement Works as I cycled along the bumpy path.
 

	Shoreham Town	Slonk Hill south	Mill Hill	Pixie Path/ Waterworks Road	Adur Levels
Meadow Brown	Occasional	Occasional	Frequent		Frequent
Peacock	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	2	Frequent
Red Admiral	1		2		Occasional
Small Skipper		Few	Few		Few
Holly Blue	Few	Few	1	2	Few
Ringlet	2
Large White	Few	2	Few		Few
Marbled White		1 (Buckingham Cutting)	6		Few
Chalkhill Blue			35 (34 + 1)
Gatekeeper	1	Few	Frequent	Few	Frequent
Speckled Wood			2	1	Occasional
Wall Brown			2
Small White					Few
Comma					1
Clouded Yellow					1
Small Copper					1
Green-veined White					1 (confirmed later)
6-spot Burnet Moth		Few	Occasional		Occasional
Silver Y Moth		1 (Buckingham Cutting)

 Seventeen butterflies was the most in a day this year

18 July 2007
In breezy Shoreham town, I saw a Large White and a Comma Butterfly in the twitten between Corbyn Crecent and Adelaide Square, followed by Red Admirals and Holly Blues in Buckingham Park. The Buckingham Cutting added more Holly Blues, Gatekeepers, Speckled Woods and a Small Skipper.
An afternoon visit to the woods and meadows of Lancing Ring Nature Reserve produced the expected frequent Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Large Whites and Peacock Butterflies, but no more than occasional records of Speckled Woods, Red Admirals, Small/Essex Skippers, Marbled Whites and 6-spot Burnet Moths. A more diligent look would have discovered more. At least two Wall Browns alighted on the path in front of me. A Comma Butterfly was settled on a bare earth path at the top of McIntyre's Field. A Small White was seen near Shoreham Airport.
Twelve species

17 July 2007
A Peacock Butterfly alighted on the lorry park near the Withy Path, Lancing, as a Large White flew by, and there were two Red Admirals and a Comma in the Butterfly Copse, and two Gatekeepers (one in the Waterworks Road and the other in the path running along the south side of Frampton's Field) nearby.

16 July 2007
At Mill Hill in virtually no sunshine a brand new second generation Dingy Skipper was spotted, plus four Chalkhill Blues and another ten species. These were two Marbled White (at top), one Small White, quite a lot of Gatekeepers, a few Meadow Browns, one  Red Admiral, 3+ (possibly 7+) Peacock Butterflies, 3 Small Heath, 4 Chalkhill Blues, one Wall Brown and 4+ Small/Essex Skippers (all but one at top in long grass). There were several 6-spot Burnet Moths, and a lot of other moth species I could not identify.  Most of these reports came from the upper part of Mill Hill.

On Lancing Ring, I met local recorder Bert Laker on a transect walk across the Nature Reserve. I joined him for part of his walk, several species in flight including Marbled White, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown and Large Whites. Marbled Whites were most numerous, in one small patch of Scabious plants in the Chalkpit a dozen individuals were basking.

On Mill Hill, the Chalkhill Blues were just beginning with sixteen on the lower slopes followed by a surprise yellow-white Brimstone Butterfly as the path led through scrub towards the gate to Old Erringham pasture. Two of the second brood Wall Brown Butterflies were sienna the path running through mixed scrub and meadows (the glades). They settled to confirm their identity. Gatekeepers were frequent. Occasional 6-spot Burnet Moths were spotted both on the downs and on the Adur Levels.
Twelve Species plus one possible

14 July 2007
My first Clouded Yellow Butterfly since the beginning of May was seen in one of the their most likely spots on the verge meadow south of the Cement Works on the Downs Link Cyclepath. The observation evidence leads me to the possibility that they may breed here amongst the proliferation of herbs including Bird's Foot Trefoil. I cycled to Bramber Bridge and back in the midday sunshine and along the route spotted frequent bright Peacock Butterflies, frequent Meadow Browns, frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Red Admirals, occasional Large Whites, occasional Small Whites, occasional possibly Green-veined Whites (not confirmed), occasional Speckled Woods, occasional Comma Butterflies, occasional Small Tortoiseshells, but no Small/Essex Skippers were disturbed in a few minutes amongst the Melilot and Knapweeds etc. A faded Painted Lady showed on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge with a handful of 6-spot Burnet Moths whirring around the herbs on the verges.
Ten species plus one possible
Adur Levels

13 July 2007
Between Steyning Kings Barn and Priory and Saltings Fields, Upper Beeding, in the afternoon: 15 Small and Essex Skippers, 1 Large Skipper, 1 Clouded Yellow, 1 Brimstone, 11 Large White, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Small White, 2 Small Copper, 1 Holly Blue, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 10 Peacock, 3 Speckled Wood, 9 Marbled White, 16 Gatekeeper, 86 Meadow Brown. Eighteen species, none of them unusual. And about 40 Six-spot Burnets and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

I started a usual route along the path through the spinney on the south side of the Slonk Hill Cutting and after spotting a handful of Speckled Wood Butterflies and one Ringlet, I changed my mind and crossed the bridge over the A27 to take the footpath to New Erringham and Mill Hill passing by Slonk Hill Farm. The route past the farm was gated, so I saw my first Marbled White Butterfly of the day on the vegetation shorn detour (it is usually too overgrown). The bridlepath up to Stonechat Junction produced occasional Gatekeepers, Peacocks, and a few Large Whites, Meadow Browns and Small Tortoiseshells and one Comma Butterfly. By the time I had got to New Erringham Farm I had added Red Admirals and Small Skippers with another Marbled White on a Creeping Thistle on the side of the top road by New Erringham Farm. I only made a hurried cycling trip across the top of Mill Hill disturbing occasional Small Skippers in the meadows and a Chalkhill Blue over the edge of the ridge (top of the lower slopes). The Pixie Path added more Red Admirals and the first Holly Blue of the day.
I enjoyed a leisurely pedal along the Downs Link Cyclepath noting the frequency of bright Peacock Butterflies on the path, frequent Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers on the verges, occasional Small Whites and Large Whites, and a few more faded Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Comma Butterflies. I stopped at the Downs Link Cyclepath verge meadow just south of the Cement Works where there were frequent Small/Essex Skippers flitting about, but they never settled long enough for a photograph. There were also a handful of 6-spot Burnet Moths whirring in between the herbs. In Dolphin Road, Shoreham, another Holly Blue Butterfly fluttered across my path.
Fourteen species of butterfly

11 July 2007
A fresh air detour on and around the Downs Link Cyclepath by the Toll Bridge produced a bright Peacock Butterfly, two Small/Essex Skippers, a few Large Whites, a few Gatekeepersand a few Meadow Browns in a peruse of about 15 minutes.

Late in the day I made a trek along the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting where a Speckled Wood settled on the path and one pair of Ringlet Butterflies where seen mating in the Common Spotted Orchid meadow and flew off in tandem when tickled. There were also a few Meadow Browns, a few Gatekeepers and one Small Skipper. On Buckingham Cutting south I spied a clear Small White and a couple of amorous Red Admirals.
Nine species

9 July 2007
A few Gatekeepers and Large Whites, one Meadow Brown and one Small Skipper on Creeping Thistle were seen on the western towpath to Cuckoo's Corner. On the footpath section of the Waterworks Road I added an orange Comma Butterfly and a Speckled Wood, with a few Red Admirals fluttering around the Buddleia seen in the nearby Butterfly Copse.
Seven species

8 July 2007
The first Chalkhill Blue Butterfly of the year was seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill on a cloudy day. Other species seen were frequent Red Admirals (12+), occasional Holly Blues (3+), occasional Large Whites (10+), a few Small Whites (3+), occasional Meadow Browns (10+), occasional Peacocks (7+), occasional Gatekeepers (10+), frequent Small Skippers (15+) (mainly on the Downs Link cyclepath south of the Cement Works), six Marbled Whites (only on Mill Hill), a Speckled Wood (in the Mill Hill scrub), occasional Comma Butterflies (8+) and two 6-spot Burnet Moths. The route taken was through the Waterworks Road via the Pixie Path to Mill Hill. Later in the afternoon I cycled down the Downs Link path to the Cement Works and back.
Twelve species.

Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Skippers
Adur Burnet Moths
Adur Levels 2007

7 July 2007
A Comma Butterfly fluttered around my Privet hedge in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham.

5 July 2007
A round trip to Cuckoo's Corner produced occasional Large White Butterflies, a few Red Admirals, a few Small White Butterflies, at least one Gatekeeper on the towpath, one Meadow Brown underneath the A27 Flyover, and north of Cuckoo's Corner on the path between the drainage ditch and Oil Seed Rape field there were at least two Marbled Whites and a good condition Peacock Butterfly.
Seven species
Adur Levels 2007

4 July 2007
On the footpath section of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, I recorded my first two sparring Gatekeeper Butterflies of 2007 on another breezy (Force 6) overcast day when butterflies were generally not flying. In the same area I spotted a Speckled Wood and a Small White and the first of of the occasional Large Whites seen on the day. On the Pixie Path to Mill Hill I added occasional Red Admirals, at least one Holly Blue (by the Ivy at the north-west corner). Mill Hill was disappointing with only two more Gatekeepers over the lower slopes, a few Meadow Browns and a Small Tortoiseshell, and a Comma in the scrub of the north-west.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Eight species

3 July 2007
 

The southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting produced about six Ringlet Butterflies and about a dozen Meadow Browns. A Cinnabar Moth fluttered over the vegetation. In the area where the path forms a small clearing, I encountered half a dozen Marbled White Butterflies and one Comma. Occasional Large White Butterflies were seen along the trail. As an ominous black cloud loomed in the west, I saw my first Small Copper Butterfly of the year at the top of the Pixie Path. Another Comma Butterfly was seen in Corbyn Crescent, Shoreham, at the southern end of the twitten to Adelaide Square.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Six species

2 July 2007
 

On an overcast day there was one Red Admiral and a few Meadow Brown Butterflies on the Buckingham Cutting, north Shoreham. On the towpath on the western side of the River Adur from Old ShorehamToll Bridge towards Cuckoo's Corner there was at least one more Red Admiral, the first of the Large Whites and at least one Small Tortoiseshell visited Mallow amongst the Stinging Nettles and other plants underneath the A27 Flyover. Apart from regular but only occasional Large Whites that was the extent of the butterflies until I detoured a passage route through the Butterfly Copse near the Waterworks Road and came across a Comma Butterfly basking on the wooden railing. Amongst the shrubbery at the back of the gardens and over the Stinging Nettles adjoining the path on the south side of Frampton's Field, there was another Red Admiral and a pair of Holly Blues. The latter are assumed to be the first of the second brood.
Six species

1 July 2007

Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Skippers
Adur Burnet Moths

28 June 2007
On an overcast middle of the day, the first butterfly seen was a persistent (it seemed to be following me) Painted Lady on the Downs Link path south of the Toll Bridge. Large White Butterflies were particularly noticeable with half a dozen fluttering around the Creeping Thistle underneath the A27 Flyover by the western towpath on the way to Cuckoo's Corner. I disturbed a few Meadow Browns on the towpath and a pristine Red Admiral just before Cuckoo's Corner. Directly north of Cuckoo's Corner on the path that runs by the drainage ditch there were more Large Whites and two good condition Small Tortoiseshells seen and there may have been more as conditions were not very good for butterflies. Lastly in the field south of the junction to Applesham Farm a Marbled White Butterfly was seen with its wings closed on a Spear Thistle flower.
Five species
Adur Levels 2007

27 June 2007
 

On the orchid-covered southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting I spotted the languid flight of my first Ringlet Butterflies of 2007. It is was difficult to be sure at first as I followed the butterfly around for over three minutes before it settled at a distance for a mere  second. Then I disturbed a few Meadow Browns of both sexes so I was no longer sure of my identification. Luckily, after two minutes a few more Ringlets appeared and I was able to get a closer look and poor photograph. There were about half a dozen of each species and there may have been many hiding on an overcast breezy day where four Large White Butterflies also took flight.
There were no Small Butterflies seen on the Buckingham Cutting (but they very well have been in hiding).
Adur Butterflies: First Dates

26 June 2007
A worn Large White Butterfly fluttering around the exterior refurbishment of the furniture store near the Hamm in Shoreham was the first butterfly seen after an absence because of bad weather in the last few days.

25 June 2007
Five Marbled Whites seen on Southwick Hill in the evening in poor weather.

20 June 2007
Between Steyning and Upper Beeding in the afternoon I saw my first Clouded Yellow of the year, and roughly 30 Meadow Browns, 20 Large Skippers, 10 Small Tortoiseshells, 5 Commas, 2 Red Admirals, 2 Large Whites and one Green-veined White.

A Large White Butterfly was seen in Corbyn Crescent, residential Shoreham,and about a dozen were seen during the day in town and on the outskirts and downs. My route on the day took me to Buckingham Cutting south, the Pixie Path, to Mill Hill and I returned by the short stretch of  public footpath on the Waterworks Road and the Downs Link south of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge. There were at least seven Small Blue Butterflies and one Silver Y Moth on the Buckingham Cutting, Many of other butterflies tended to be evenly spaced out along the route with about ten faded Painted Ladies, about ten Red Admirals, a few Holly Blues, and about eight Meadow Browns. There were two fresh looking Comma Butterflies flutteringaround the Stinging Nettles at the top of the Pixie Path. Yellow Shell Moths were noticed here as well.
Mill Hill produced 19 Marbled Whites all over the hill and as I only made a circular passage route, I anticipate I would have missed most of them. They were attracted to Greater Knapweed and Musk Thistle, but both these plants were only just beginning to flower.The lower slopes recorded a few Small Heath Butterflies and two male Common Blues in addition to about half of the Marbled Whites. The middle section of Mill Hill including the paths added either a Green-veined White (most likely) or a Small White (but I was unable to be sure to species), and a surprise tatty bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly which was clearly seen and a definite. The upper plateau was poor but there was nothing more than a glimpse of a faded Small Tortoiseshell and only a possible Large Skipper which was quickly lost in the long grasses.
Thirteen personal butterfly species and a possibly one more.

18 June 2007
I was surprised by a male Meadow Brown Butterfly that settled in my small front garden in Corbyn Crecent, in residential Shoreham.

17 June 2007
Butterflies were much fewer than expected. On the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting, there were just two Meadow Browns seen with a very quick look with one of the three Large Whites (probable ID) seen in the morning. Buckingham Cutting added 11+ Small Blue Butterflies which were seen only after a couple of minutes and later a Cinnabar Moth revealed itself. The lower slopes of Mill Hill were not particularly productive although 9 Marbled Whites was above average for this short sward area with 8 Small Heath Butterflies, at least one confirmed intact male Adonis Blue and a male and female Common Blue and two Pyrausta purpuralis moths around the edge of the largest Tor Grass patch. This was the first positive record for this small pyralid moth. My passage was swift on an overcast day and I would have missed many butterflies. In the small area of scrub between the lower slopes and the gate to Old Erringham, I added one Meadow Brown, one Red Admiral and another Marbled White that seemed to have just emerged from the long grass on Nature Reserve side of the gate to Old Erringham with 3 Silver Y Moths seen in this small area. I returned via the ridge and added another Marbled White Butterfly. A Painted Lady left the path south of the Reservoir.
Nine species of butterfly
 

15 June 2007 At the southern end of the Downs Link Cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge and south of the Buffer Stop at least two very small and pretty Common Blue Butterflies fluttered amongst the grasses near where Bird's Foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch and Red Clovers were prominent. When flying they looked blue but when settled their upper hindwings showed orange markings surrounding the spots.

My first Silver Y Moth of the year was seen in the same area. Later an unidentified white butterfly was seen. This was followed by four Red Admirals (two on the Pixie Path), a Cinnabar Moth and a Large White Butterfly, and lastly a male Meadow Brown on the Mill Hill Cutting by Chanctonbury Drive where another Silver Y and another Cinnabar Moth fluttered amongst the long grasses.
I did not visit Mill Hill.
Four species of butterfly identified

13 June 2007
A faded Painted Lady Butterfly left a Hawthorn bush just south of the Toll Bridge. A pristine Comma Butterfly and a similarly fine condition Speckled Wood Butterfly and Red Admiral were seen in the southern footpath section of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. A Meadow Brown Butterfly fluttered over the path and Stinging Nettle on the southern boundary of Frampton's Field leading up to The Street. This was just a passage journey.
Five butterflies, five species

12 June 2007
In the breezy (Force 5) warm (>21.9 ºC) sunshine, butterflies on the Adur Levels were blown about considerably. I had time to note a Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly on the towpath adjacent to Shoreham Airport, followed by a Red Admiral and a Painted Lady, before cycling across the Toll Bridge and joining the Downs Link (cyclepath) going north. On the cyclepath there were occasional Red Admirals, and Painted Ladies, but mostly there were about a dozen Meadow Browns, including a female.
A detour to Anchor Bottom recorded a surprise Small Blue Butterfly, two Small Heath Butterflies and about ten Meadow Browns.
On the return trip along the Downs Link I spotted four Large Whites (one so yellow it could have been a Brimstone?) and a restless Marbled White Butterfly. The latter was fluttering over the meadow (as the verge widens) south of the Cement Works.
Eight species

11 June 2007
Immediately, I turned on to the Downs Link Cyclepath from Old Shoreham Road, I disturbed a Red Admiral Butterfly and within three minutes I had chalked up two Large Skippers, two slightly faded Painted Ladies and a Holly Blue Butterfly. These were all seen on and around the path south of the Toll Bridge. Along the towpath south of Cuckoo's Corner I disturbed a resting and yellowish Small White Butterfly and much to my surprise as I neared Cuckoo's Corner two pristine Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies rose from the path adjacent to a large bed of Stinging Nettles.
Adur Levels
Six species of which four were not recorded the previous day

10 June 2007
Two female and four male Small Blue Butterflies were seen on the verge opposite the car park of the old Cement Works, north of Shoreham,  in the afternoon, together with some Marbled Whites and a Large Skipper.

My first butterfly of the day was a Large Skipper in a clearing next to the path that runs through a spinney and hedgerows/scrub on the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting. This was my first this year. Small Blues with 19+ on the Buckingham Cutting (south) were the most frequent butterflies.
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill Local Nature Reserve the first brood of Adonis Blue Butterflies were almost finished and some of the males had tatty upper wing rims and with an influx of Common Blue Butterflies the identification could be tricky. In the one acre transect there were about seven of each species (4 males and 3 females each). My first Marbled White Butterfly of the year fluttered across the lower slopes. There were about a dozen Small Heath Butterflies to be seen on Mill Hill, most of them on the lower slopes. A Speckled Wood was seen amongst the scrub in the north-west. The first male Meadow Brown was seen in the Old Erringham pasture by the gate, the rest of them, about six, on the upper meadows of Mill Hill. A Painted Lady Butterfly was disturbed at the top of the Pixie Path.
 

10	Slonk Hill South	Buckingham Cutting	Mill Hill Lower	Mill Hill Upper and Scrub  (Pixie Path)
Small Blue		19
Large Skipper	1	1
Large White	1
Adonis Blue			7+
Common Blue			7+
Marbled White			1
Small Heath		1	10+	2
Speckled Wood				1 (scrub)
Meadow Brown				7+
Painted Lady				1 (Pixie Path)
Yellow Shell Moth	2	3	3
Cinnabar Moth		1
Burnet Companion Moth		1

Ten species of butterfly and skipper

Adur Butterflies: First Dates

9 June 2007
A Painted Lady Butterfly fluttered around and landed on the Red Valerian just south of the Footbridge.

8 June 2007
 

On the southern side of the Buckingham Cutting, north Shoreham, I spotted the first local Small Blue Butterflies of 2007. At least five were seen flitting amongst the mixed vegetation and there may have been more as these very small butterflies are easy to miss. Although both Horseshoe Vetch and Kidney Vetch were in flower the butterflies were not seen amongst these plants in the afternoon after the rain, shown on the Lady's Mantle, Alchemilla. A larger Holly Blue fluttered out of the nearby hedge/scrub.
A Red Admiral was seen on the Waterworks Road (southern end) and later another one on the Downs Link Cyclepath.
I also recorded my personal first of two Painted Ladies and my first Meadow Brown Butterflies of the year on the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham. It was the darker brown male. A Large White Butterfly flew over the Ox-eye Daisies on the path's meadow-like verges. The yellow skipper-like flutterings were a Yellow Shell Moth which settled on the stalks more like a butterfly.
Anchor Bottom was rather bare, but after about 15 minutes, I spotted a Large White Butterfly flying strongly, immediately followed by at least two Small Heath Butterflies and later by two Meadow Browns.
Seven species of butterfly

Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Levels

7 June 2007
In Shoreham town I noticed one Large White Butterfly, one Holly Blue and two Red Admirals.

5 June 2007
A couple of Painted Lady Butterflies in Lancing were the first seen locally this year.

Adonis Blues, Small Heath Butterflies, my first Meadow Brown and Painted Lady of the year plus one Red Admiral and Drinker Moth, Euthrix potatoria, larvae were all seen on Mill Hill.

4 June 2007
In the humid sunshine I spotted five Small Heath Butterflies on the Lancing Ring Nature Reserve, two at the top of the western slopes and two at the eastern end of the meadow and another one in McIntyres Field. A Wall Brown and a Holly Blue flew up from the reeds in the dewpond, and a male Common Blue was disturbed on the western edge of the Chalk Pit. A Red Admiral was seen near Hoe Cottages. A Large White was seen around the Sea Kale on the beach margins by Widewater.
Six species

3 June 2007
At last I was able to get out in the recent sunshine where in the town and on the Adur Levels, butterflies were infrequent, with a few Holly Blues, at least one Large White, one Green-veined White and two or three Small White Butterflies. There was a pyralid moth on the northern bank of Slonk Hill, but no Small Blue Butterflies were seen and no Kidney Vetch either. On the footpath that runs along the southern part of Frampton's Field (near The Street) I briefly spotted a fresh orange butterfly which was probably a Comma Butterfly (but it could have conceivable been a Small Tortoiseshell) and it was seen near a large path of Stinging Nettles. I also spotted a Cinnabar Moth somewhere on the Adur Levels.
Five species

2 June 2007
Mill Hill Nature Reserve produced 25+ male Adonis Blues, 14 Small Heath, 3 male Common Blue, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock. Peacock Butterfly larvae were seen on Stinging Nettles. The female blues about equal to males (I am not sure what this means in the context of the report?). One Speckled Yellow Moth was noted.

1 June 2007
Four Meadow Browns were seen near top of Beeding Hill in the afternoon. These were the first local reports of the year. One Clouded Yellow was also recorded.

31 May 2007
In a rare glimpse of sunshine, a Red Admiral flitted over Portslade between the houses in St. Andrew's Road.

25 May 2007
65 Adonis Blue Butterflies fluttered around in the late afternoon sunshine on Mill Hill. That was 37 males and 16 females on the lower slopes plus 10 males and 2 females above the ridge. One Grizzled Skipper was seen briefly (too briefly: could this have been a Mother Shipton Moth? Probably not though). I did not visit the upper plateau or the middle area.
I covered the one acre transect on the lower slopes and returned via the ridge. About a dozen Small Heath Butterflies were seen with five them above the ridge, and a Wall Brown Butterfly was seen in the scrub to the north of the lower slopes.
I spotted my first Cinnabar Moth of the year in the long thick grass south of the Reservoir on Mill Hill. A Peacock Butterfly was spotted earlier over the Pixie Path. The butterfly over the Waterworks Road was probably a Small White.
Six species of butterfly.

24 May 2007
It made a pleasant change to watch well in excess of 50 Adonis Blues, collecting to roost on the upper slopes of Mill Hill. Most of these are still pristine, and as the last rays of evening sun played on their wings, they shone like sapphires amongst the tall grasses. Low numbers of Wall, Grizzled Skipper, Common Blue and Small Heath were rather overshadowed by comparison.

A Speckled Wood Butterfly fluttered across the road in Kingston Buci as I cycled past. A Small White Butterfly was seen next to Widewater.

23 May 2007
Occasional Holly Blue and Small White Butterflies were seen in town plus a female Adonis Blue on Horseshoe Vetch on the northern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting, In the shade of the linear copse on the southern side of the Slonk Hill Cutting (eastern end) a Speckled Wood Butterfly fluttered as I cycled past. A Large White Butterfly flew over the grass and herb bank.
After 5:00 pm a Small Heath Butterfly was disturbed by a photographer on the Downs Link Cyclepath north of the the Toll Bridge and a Red Admiral settled south of the Toll Bridge.
Seven species.

22 May 2007
The Adonis Blues were flying around on the lower slopes of Mill Hill with 37 males and 4 females seen (23 males and 2 females in the one acre transect). They were not observed mating in the early afternoon. A flirting pair of Brimstone Butterflies were seen over the bottom scrub, two Small Heath Butterflies, just one Dingy Skipper, one Grizzled Skipper, one female Common Blue (which was more of a greyish-brown colour) a few Burnet Companion Moths and a few bees that went unrecognised, one a dark red in colour. I only visited the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
Elsewhere in the sunshine, Small Whites were frequent, Holly Blues occasional in the town and outskirts, with a few Red Admirals fluttering around the towpath by the Airport, and a very worn Green-veined White settled at the top of the Pixie Path.
Nine species of butterfly.

20 May 2007
A mild day and the breeze had died down so the downs were amicable for butterflies, if far from ideal. Adonis Blue Butterflies were mating on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. The count in one acre was 31 malesand 13 (41%) females. I recorded by first Common Blue Butterfly if the year which was a faded and slightly battered female visiting Horseshoe Vetch, and my first definite Wall Brown Butterfly left the path by the side of the wild flower meadow north of the northern car park.
In bushes on the Pixie Path there were frequent Holly Blues, at least three Green-veined White Butterflies and at least two Red Admirals.
 

On the northern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting, I recorded just a single male Adonis Blue amongst the Horseshoe Vetch, one Burnet Companion Moth and the yellow fluttering was a Yellow Shell Moth and not a Clouded Yellow Butterfly. No Small Blue Butterflies were spotted. On the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting, there were a handful of Holly Blue Butterflies.
There was another Yellow Shell Moth on the lower slopes of Mill Hill where just the one Dingy Skipper was noted, another Burnet Companion Moth and a large white butterfly which was probably a late female Brimstone Butterfly (although it could have been a Large White Butterfly).
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Seven species of butterflies and skippers.

16 May 2007
 

After nine days of gales and showers, the sun made a feeble show. A few Small White Butterflies and one Large White showed on the Downs Link path (the name has changed from the Coastal Link Cyclepath) south of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge, a dozen Red Admirals mostly on the Pixie Path, and the first female Adonis Blues on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Both male and female Adonis Blues were amongst the Horseshoe Vetch and they made short flights when disturbed. The acre count was 39 with about 36% (14) females which is a high proportion, especially as they were not seen mating. The females appeared smaller than normal and smaller than the males. I noted two males were attracted to dog's faeces. Adonis Blues seem more keen on excrement than other butterflies. Just three Dingy Skippers were noted and a Burnet Companion Moth. There were three probable female Brimstone Butterflies and a one Red Admiral seen in twenty minutes on Mill Hill. Occasional Holly Blues fluttered around the Ivy on the Pixie Path and on the outskirts of town.
Seven species.

15 May 2007
We saw about six Adonis Blues in the afternoon in Anchor Bottom between Shoreham and Upper Beeding.

13 May 2007
Some warm late afternoon sunshine (on a generally overcast day) prompted us to take the dog for a walk on Mill Hill at Shoreham. Several Adonis Blues were showing well along the bottom path but the only other butterflies encountered were a single Dingy Skipperand a female Brimstone.

8 - 15 May 2007
Gale force winds, showers and a few minutes of hailstones; I wonder if a demise in the butterfly population could be surmised when the fine weather returns?
Shoreham Weather Page

6 May 2007
Conditions were unpromising on an overcast day with a south-westerly blowing about 23 mph (Force 5) in the late morning with the air temperature measured at 14.8 ºC at 11:30 am (the heatwave of May had faded) and these conditions were unfavourable for any butterflies to show. Still, I thought I would check the lower slopes of Mill Hill and I was not surprised that the only butterflies I actually disturbed in twenty minutes were two Small Heaths and one Treble-bar Moth. The Small Heaths were seen to shelter amongst the scrub including the Privet. In their short hurried flights buffetted by the breeze, they went straight for the nearest shelter.

5 May 2007
The butterfly most often frequently seen on the Adur Levels, as my bicycle trip just took me to the Cuckoo's Corner area and back, was the Small White. Holly Blues were frequent in town and country, but otherwise the butterflies in and around around town in about an hour were one Speckled Wood, one Clouded Yellow and one Red Admiral on the Downs Link Cyclepath south of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge, and a male Orange Tipthat flew by Ladywells on the Coombes Road (north of Cuckoo's Corner). I did not visit the downs or even nearby.
Six species

3 May 2007
Green-veined White Butterflies were frequent on the Adur Levels as far as Cuckoo's Corner as my route took me. There were occasional Large Whites, one Peacock and one Speckled Wood. Small Whites and Holly Blues were in the Shoreham town area.
Six species

2 May 2007
Holly Blue Butterflies were common in Shoreham town with frequent Small Whites and the occasional Red Admiral Butterfly. On the outskirts of town including the Waterworks Road, Green-veined Whites were frequently seen and some of them settled to make sure of their identity, and there was one male Orange Tip Butterfly seen.
Only occasional Burnet Companion Moths, Dingy Skippers, Grizzled Skippers and the pyralid moth Pyrausta nigrata with just about eight of each seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill in thirty minutes. It was blowing a Force 6 at times so this may have discouraged the butterflies. The temperature was warm enough for butterflies although slightly overcast. The male Adonis Blues were now starting with seven seen (usually by almost stepping on them), one Holly Blue, a few Peacock Butterflies were still in flight, at least one Red Admiral, one male Brimstone Butterfly, one Large White and I disturbed a resting Clouded Yellow.
Eleven species

1 May 2007
I made a quick trip to Lancing Clump and the meadows to compare the flora and fauna with Mill Hill. Alas, early in the year meadows are not as good as rabbit warrens and the only butterflies I saw associated with this habitat was one Small Heath and two probable Wall Browns (which if confirmed would be my first of the year). The flew rapidly away without settling. Speckled Woods were frequent in the woods. There were frequent Red Admirals, Holly Blues and Large Whites and occasional Peacocks over the meadows and paths. A Brimstone Moth flew strongly in the sunshine.
On the Adur Levels there was one Brimstone Butterfly, one Orange Tip, frequent Green-veined Whites and occasional Small Whites.
Eleven species

30 April 2007
On passage journeys I saw a few Small Whites in town and as I neared the north of town, I added a few Speckled Woods, Holly Blues, Red Admirals, at least one Large White, one Green-veined White and a Peacock.
No butterflies were recorded on the north bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting, despite the considerable amount of Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa.

29 April 2007
At Mill Hill 20+ Dingy Skippers, 6 Grizzled Skippers, 5 Adonis Blues, 2 Clouded Yellows, Peacock, Holly Blue and Small Heath. Seven species.

My tally for the lower slopes of Mill Hill only was 32+ Dingy Skippers (over two acres instead of the usual one), 8+ Grizzled Skippers (difficult to find at first), 14 Burnet Companion Moths (easy to mistake for the skippers), about a dozen of the small moths Pyrausta nigrata, another pyralid moth Scoparia pyralella, one Peacock, three Brimstone Butterflies, one or two Clouded Yellows, at least one male Adonis Blue, a Large White, and a Speckled Wood in the scrub to the north. Aided by the eyes of Jim Steedman we both spotted the first local report of a probable Brown Argus for this year. Aided again by the eyes this time of Lawrie Keen who was first to spot an Orange Tip over the western scrub, and he has also the first to see the Small Heath Butterfly in the Old Erringham pasture near the gate.

Add to this 15 Red Admirals (mostly on the Pixie Path [part of Mill Hill] and Adur Levels), 13 Small Whites (Adur Levels), 4 Green-veined Whites, one Comma (Pixie Path) and 20+ Holly Blues (mostly Adur Levels).