Adur Valley Wildlife

Butterflies, Larger Moths and other Arthropods 2016

Dragonflies & other Flying Insects of Note

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All observations by Andy Horton, unless stated otherwise.

It would be tedious to list all sightings on the main pages,  but for flight times purposes the following butterflies and moths include ones not recorded on the main Nature Notes pages:

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BUTTERFLY LISTS   2010

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Sussex Butterfly Reports (Butterfly Conservation Society)
UK Butterflies: Sightings
Adur Butterfly Species
Adur Moths
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Skippers
Adur Nature Notes 2011
Adur Butterfly List 2010
Adur Butterfly List 2011
Adur Butterfly List 2012
UK Butterflies & Moths (alphabetical order by common name)
Sussex Moth Group Sightings
Diapause (=hibernation)

  British Lepidoptera on  flickr

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WILDLIFE REPORTS
(Narrative):
 

Adur Butterfly List 2017

11 November 2016
I cycled to Shoreham Harbour (northern canal bank at Southwick & Fishersgate) in the late afternoon but I failed to see any butterflies.

10 - 11 November 2016
No doubt the same individuals that both I and Trevor have seen during the passed few days at Southwick but never the less good seeing them surviving at this time of year, although both are now beginning to show their age a bit. The Common Blue sharing some warm sunshine with a hoverfly and the Clouded Yellow just before the 'heavens' opened and we all got drenched in the afternoon.

Report by Dave Cook on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

2 November 2016
 

Common Blue	Common Blue	Clouded Yellow

A wind chill under the clear blue sky in the morning but by midday the sun shone on the steep embankment of Shoreham Harbour opposite Shoreham Power Station. With the sun came some late butterflies, at least three male Common Blues, at least two of them fresh and intact amongst the longer grass and nectaring on Hawkweed Ox-tongue. Examination of the photographs indicated there were many more than three.
After five minutes a Clouded Yellow flew past and although I only saw one at a time, I thought there could be at least three of them. Last but not least, a Peacock Butterfly flew rapidly up the steep bank by the steps as I was about to leave. At least I thought it would be the last butterfly (possibly the last of the year?) until another Clouded Yellow fluttered by.
Three butterfly species

1 November 2016
Two, possibly three, near pristine male Common Blues seen at Shoreham Harbour in the morning.

Report by Trevor Rapley on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

22 October 2016
A Red Admiral fluttered over the disused railway track at the east end of the Toll Bridge.

21 October 2016
A Red Admiral fluttered past the Civic Centre in Shoreham.

15 October 2016
Two Red Admirals were seen in Shoreham town, one over Shoreham Railway Station

14 October 2016
No butterflies were seen on Mill Hill in the afternoon and scarcely anything wild that moved.

13 October 2016
A fabulous visit to Shoreham Harbour today, 10 Clouded Yellows, a Painted Lady, male and female Common Blue, and a Small White

Report by Trevor Rapley on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

Mill Hill lunchtime. Intermittent sun but more chilly than of late. A Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, a handful of Whites and Red Admirals.

Report by Lindsay Morris on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

10 October 2016
An unidentified tattered vanessid butterfly was seen at the top of The Drive, north Shoreham.
 

8 October 2016 "A very odd garden find in Cross Road Southwick: a Small Copper Butterfly, sadly almost dead." Report & Photograph by Nick Carpmael

8 October 2016
I was already looking for the last butterfly of the year: a Red Admiral was seen over Riverbank by the houseboats around midday in very weak sunshine between the gaps in the clouds. .

7 October 2016
No butterflies on Mill Hill and no butterflies anywhere in the afternoon, but it was cloudy and not butterflies weather.

5 October 2016
A Small White Butterfly was seen in Shoreham town near Dunelm.

3 October 2016
A Red Admiral was seen amongst the dead heads of the Buddleia (one spike of flowers remained) just north of the Eastern Avenue railway crossing gates, Shoreham.
 

2 October 2016 A Speckled Wood Butterfly was seen on Brambles on the verge of the Downs Link Cyclepath, south of the Cement Works. A Small White Butterfly visited a Dandelion near Dinlle, Shoreham town.

30 September 2016
A white butterfly was seen on the other side of Upper Shoreham Road by Southlands Hospital, north Shoreham.
 

23 September 2016 Sunshine shined weakly in the afternoon. Six Red Admirals led the way with five probable (seen at a distance only) Small Whites on the outskirts of town. I only ventured to the southern steps leading down to the lower slopes on Mill Hill and spotted a good condition female Meadow Brown.  No butterflies were seen on the Devil's Bit Scabious, but on my return two Wall Browns squabbled over the two Greater Knapweeds with drooping flowers on the steps. Lastly, I saw a Speckled Wood on the chalky grass patch at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham.  Five species

22 September 2016 At the time of the Autumn Equinox the subdued colours of autumn were evident with falling leaves exceeding fluttering butterflies of which three Red Admirals blown about on the breeze was the day total from the verges of the Downs Link Cyclepath north of Old Shoreham. 21 September 2016 Eventually, I spotted my first Small Copper Butterfly of the year in Old Shoreham by the River Adur. Typically, it visited the small amounts of Fleabane still in flower next to the towpath north of the Tollbridge, but only for a few seconds before it disappeared. Small White Butterflies were still frequently seen in the sunshine, especially over Shoreham Beach. 14 September 2016 Autumn was over a month old and the butterfly season was winding down. In Steyning on a warm (21.4 °C) late afternoon there were very few wild flowers on show (just an occasional Ragwort) and the butterflies were restricted to frequent Red Admirals (11+), frequent Small Whites and one Meadow Brown.

12 September 2016 Mill Hill Small White Butterflies were seen occasionally with the first of four Clouded Yellows, the first over the top of the hill and the first of a few Common Blue Butterflies seen in the afternoon. Silver Y Moths fluttered amongst the taller vegetation with a few Meadow Browns and a few Small Heath Butterflies. Amongst the scrub there were seven Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood and a dark Comma Butterfly. On the lower slopes two tattered male Adonis Blues chased after two females, one in fine fettle. Meadow Browns were frequently seen with occasional Small Heaths and two more Clouded Yellows. Devil's Bit Scabious was flowering in a large clump on the west side of winding path below the Holly Tree. This attracted more worn Adonis Blues bringing the total to eleven including five females.  Nine species of butterfly and two macro moths

11 September 2016 In the autumn sunshine there were frequent butterflies and they were almost all Small Whites, with some of them Large Whites, with a few Red Admirals, and at Anchor Bottom there was a Small Heath and a couple of Meadow Browns. Five species Left:  Small White Butterfly on Ragwort In the area of Lancing Ring I saw an amazing 77 Red Admiral, mostly nectaring on Ivy. 57 of them were in the chalk pit. 13 species altogether including a female Brown Hairstreak, 2 Small Copper, 7 Comma, 2 Painted Lady and 2 Humming-bird Hawk-moths. Fantastic warm sunny day. Deep joy!  Blue Text Report by Lindsay Morris on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

6 September 2016
There was a very autumnal look to the downs with wild flowers going to seed and the first berries. Large Whites, Small Whites, and definite Green-veined Whites were all identified in five minutes at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, north Shoreham with amorous Speckled Woods. There were no butterflies at all on Mill Hill Cutting (SW) despite the weak sunshine. A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) cruised over the Pixie Path (NW of Frampton's Field) where I recorded a Holly Blue amongst the Ivy and Holly, Ten minutes later, a Red Admiral settled on the chestnut fencing right in front of me.

 

Meadow Browns

Butterflies on the lower slopes of Mill Hill were appreciably less than at the beginning of the month in overall numbers and with the same variety, with 24 Meadow Browns, 14 Adonis Blues (including four females), an estimated 12 Small Heaths, a few more Large Whites*, two Clouded Yellows, a few Treble Bar Moths, at least one Common Carpet Moth, and occasional faded pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis and Pyrausta nigrata, on the incomplete (75%) transect walk. On the middle slopes and top I counted a dozen Common Blues, more Meadow Browns, more Large Whites, four more Clouded Yellows, two more Red Admirals, a few Silver Y Moths, and a Common Darter (dragonfly).
(* PS some of these could have been female Small Whites?)
Eleven butterfly species, three macro moths and two dragonflies

3 September 2016
Large Whites, Small Whites, and definite Green-veined Whites were all seen for sure on the towpath by the houseboats in the morning.

2 September 2016
A few Meadow Browns were seen at Anchor Bottom before rain curtailed my visit.

1 September 2016

 

Common Blue,  Meadow Brown
Adonis Blues
 

A quick visit in to Mill Hill in good afternoon conditions, sunny but not too warm, was rewarded over hundred butterflies of the expected small selection of species on the lower slopes.  I only completed a half acre lower slopes transect and I saw an estimated 50+ Meadow Browns, a counted 31 Adonis Blues (including nine females) (and including eight males and a female all seen together near but not settled on Devil's Bit Scabious near the winding path), six Common Blues (all but one were bluish females), an estimated 20+ Small Heaths, six separate sightings of at least two Clouded Yellows, occasional Silver Y Moths, and frequent faded pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis. A Holly Blue Butterfly was seen by an Elm tree next to Frampton's' Field (south) seen from the footpath. A few Speckled Woods were seen at the top of Chanctonbury Drive. Large Whites were seen in Shoreham.
Eight butterfly species and one macro moth

30 August 2016
A Red Admiral Butterfly flew over the St. Mary de Haura church yard in the centre of Shoreham. (This was another species not seen four days ago.)

29 August 2016

 

On a cloudy overcast day scores of white butterflies were seen in flight, mostly Large Whites and Small Whites, but I saw at least two definite Green-veined Whites (not positively seen three days before). Most were seen over Adur  Recreation Ground where a Southern Hawker (dragonfly) cruised by. A male Common Blue was seen at the entrance to the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. PS: On examining the photographs there were butterflies that I identified as Large Whites in the field that turned out to be Green-veined Whites (so I expect they were overlooked three days ago).

A brief lunchtime visit to Mill Hill - sightings included at least 3 Clouded Yellow, many Adonis & many Small Heath plus the star of the show for me - my first (and maybe only!) Silver-spotted Skipper of the year.

Blue Text Report by Lindsay Morris Sussex Butterfly Sightings

27 August 2016
An erratically fluttering Clouded Yellow Butterfly was seen over the Eastern Avenue railway level crossing in Shoreham and then as I waited for a train to pass it changed direction and was seen over the crossing for a second time before flying eastwards up Dolphin Road.

26 August 2016
I made a morning visit to Mill Hill to avoid the humid warmth of the midday sun. Specked Woods sparred in the shade at the top of Chanctonbury Drive on the way. The first Meadow Browns were seen on the top of Mill Hill near the covered Reservoir, where a Painted Lady visited one of the minority Greater Knapweed remaining in flower. The sun was behind a cloud for most of the one acre transect count and the butterflies appeared immediately but were lacking in variety and numbers at first. An old and tattered male Chalkhill Blue visited a Carline Thistle flower, the first butterfly on the lower slopes and only the first of two males. This followed quickly by the first of 104 fresh male Adonis Blues in the lower slopes transect area, with about the same or even more Meadow Browns, frequent 25+ Small Heaths, and frequently seen both Large Whites and Small Whites, eight Common Blues (including two females), definitely two strong flying Clouded Yellows, one Brimstone Butterfly and frequent bright fresh and faded pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis and at least one Pyrausta nigrata. A Southern Hawker (dragonfly) cruised by. Carline Thistle was the usual popular nectar flower, but there did not seem to be as many live plants as usual. The Clouded Yellows fluttered rapidly from one Basil flower to another and made a visit to a Dwarf Thistle for at least three seconds. As I sat down on the bank after finishing my one acre transect count my first female Adonis Blue (probable ID) landed next to me.

Butterflies on Mill Hill
Meadow Brown, Clouded Yellow, Adonis Blue
Adonis Blue, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow

Despite the warmth, I decided to ascend the steep slopes which were now covered in more fluttering Adonis Blues in the sunshine, at least another two dozen. There were three more fresh Chalkhill Blues one which visited a brown female but it did not stay long enough to be sure it was the same species. Common Blues increased in frequency near the top of the steeper slopes. I clambered up the steeper slopes at its lowest climb and then it opens up into ridged middle slopes of largely grasses and Ragwort which I was relatively unfamiliar with this area. Three more Clouded Yellows were seen simultaneously including two sparring in the sunshine. There were frequent Large Whites and Small White Butterflies, at least another ten Small Heaths, frequent Meadow Browns, a probable Holly Blue, two Treble-bar Moths, and more micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis. The top of the hill added many more of the butterflies already mentioned as well a Common Carpet Moth and a Silver Y Moth.

Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Clouded Yellow, Small Heath
Chalkhill Blue, Green-veined White, Adonis Blue, Clouded Yellow
Meadow  Brown, Common Blue, Speckled Wood

In the late afternoon I spotted a Small Tortoiseshell in Old Shoreham by the river.
Thirteen species of butterfly identified plus one probable another one. Three macro moths.
Mill Hill Report

Lancing Ring. I was extremely thrilled to be in the lovely sunshine looking at a female Brown Hairstreak climbing down a Blackthorn whip and later posing higher in the hedge. A first for me at this sight, hence the excitement!
Also-rans included a Clouded Yellow, 3 Wall and 10 Holly Blue.

Blue Text Report by Lindsay Morris on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

25 August 2016
Butterflies were frequently seen but mostly whites of three species positively identified as the most numerous Large Whites but still plenty of Small Whites and Green-veined Whites. One unidentified vanessid flew over the Toll Bridge. There were occasional Meadow Browns around the towpath to Cuckoo's Corner, Speckled Browns where it was shady on a sunny afternoon, and three tiny Common Blues (two males, one female) on the Downs Link Cyclepath verges north of Erringham Gap.
Seven butterfly species but only six identified

23 August 2016
Occasional Speckled Woods, Holly Blues and Large Whites in Shoreham in the sunshine.

22 August 2016

Mill Hill Cutting (SW)
Common Blue & Chalkhill Blue (? ID)

On a breezy warm day I cycled straight to Mill Hill Cutting (SW) where there were occasional butterflies fluttering around: three male Common Blues, three male, three male Chalkhill Blues, and a brown female of undetermined identity, illustrated above. On the Pixie Path I noted occasional Large White Butterflies and one Meadow Brown.

My Mill Hill transect provided some pleasant surprises: Adonis Blue 27, Chalkhill Blue 5, Clouded Yellow 2, Common Blue 8, Gatekeeper, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown 73, Small Heath 16, Whites 3, moths: Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata), Common Grass-veneer (Agriphila tristella), Silver Y, Common Purple and Gold (Pyrausta purpuralis), Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata), Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata). The Clouded Yellows had a brief battle at one point.

Blue text Report by Colin Knight  on Sussex Butterfly Sightings

21 August 2016
 

On a cloudy day the butterflies on the verges of the Downs Link Cyclepath from the Erringham Gap to Old Shoreham only fluttered around when disturbed, with a few Large Whites, two definite Green-veined Whites, a Painted Lady and a Meadow Brown.

17 August 2016
Large Whites were everywhere on Lancing Beach. A Holly Blue and the Mint Moth, Pyrausta aurata, were seen in a south Lancing garden and a Red Admiral in Shoreham.

15 August 2016
Around the hedge bordering the twitten between Gordon Avenue and Rosslyn Avenue I spotted a Holly Blue.  At the top of Chanctonbury Drive there was at least one Speckled Wood.

Mill Hill
Clouded Yellow
Painted Lady, Chalkhill Blue Common Blue (might be a Chalkhill?)

A Wall Brown Butterfly danced around the southern steps to the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Then I chased my first Clouded Yellow Butterfly of 2016 up the steeper slopes of Mill Hill amongst nearly two hundred butterflies including my first Brown Argus of the year on the lower slopes on a sunny afternoon. The lower slopes hosted very frequent Meadow Browns, about fifty (partially transect counted to 29) Chalkhill Blues (including five females), six Common Blues and five  Adonis Blues, frequent Gatekeepers, about ten Small Heath Butterflies, and a selection of large and small moths. The middle and upper part of Mill Hill hosted frequent Common Blues, Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns everywhere with a few Large Whites. On the Hemp Agrimony and Marjoram there was also at least one Peacock, three Painted Ladies and occasional Small Tortoiseshells. I spotted a few small white butterflies, but I could not confirm their identity.
Moths: Treble-bar, Common Carpet Moths, Silver Y, plus pyralid micro-moths were seen including frequent bright fresh Pyrausta purpuralis and occasional Pyrausta despicata.
Fifteen species of butterfly identified plus one probable another one. Three macro moths.

11 August 2016

Silver-washed Fritillary

A large brown dragonfly patrolled the large pond at Woods Mill, Small Dole, and I think this is most likely to be a Hairy Dragonfly which appeared double the size of a Common Darter seen at the same time. In the shaded wooded area, a faded Silver-washed Fritillary and a dark Speckled Wood Butterfly settled briefly.

10 August 2016
A steep trek up to Lancing Ring meadows was disappointing with Melilot and Dogwood dominating the overgrown meadows and the Hemp Agrimony not even hosting any vanessid butterflies. A Red Admiral was spotted In Lancing on the way up the hill. The first of three Wall Brown Butterflies landed on the path in front of me, followed by occasional dark Speckled Woods in the shade, frequent Meadow Browns, one Large White Butterfly, one Small White Butterfly, surprisingly few Gatekeepers and that was the lot. I did walk amongst the long grass and managed to disturb a Silver Y Moth in McIntyre's Field but nothing apart from a few Meadow Grasshopper nymphs in the main meadows. There were a variety of bumblebees and Honey Bees on the Hemp Agrimony.

8 August 2016
The day started out promising but in the end was slightly disappointing.

On the way to Mill Hill:  Comma, Holly Blue (3), Speckled Wood (5), Small White, Large Whites, Red Admiral. Common Darter (dragonfly).
The southern steps of Mill Hill hosted about a score of a tiny micro-moths Yellow-spot Twist, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana.
Mill Hill lower slopes:  Meadow Browns (74), Chalkhill Blue (17), Gatekeepers (FQ), Adonis Blue, Common Blue, a few Green-veined Whites and at least one 6-spotted Burnet Moths and two Treble-Bar Moths. The pyralid micro-moth Pyrausta purpuralis was conspicuous and the handful seen probably many less than were present. Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were spotted copulating.
Mill Hill middle slopes:  the Marjoram and Hemp Agrimony proved attractive to over dozen each of  Red Admirals, Meadow Browns, Peacocks, one Small Tortoiseshell, three Painted Ladies, occasional Gatekeepers. The shadier areas host at least two Speckled Woods. Two female brown-coloured blue butterflies were seen on a patch of Horseshoe Vetch.
Mill Hill top of the hill: the copse at the top hosted Speckled Woods, otherwise frequent Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns, a Common Blue, at least one Brimstone (nearly missed and mistaken for Large White as it was very pale.).
Sixteen butterfly species (most in day this year) and two large moths
 

6 August 2016 Plumed Fanfoot, a rare immigrant/resident Pechipogo plumigeralis Lots of confirmations. First by Peter Kitchener on Butterflies & Moths UK  facebook Shoreham town, indoors  TQ 224052 Migrant Lepidoptera (GB & Ireland)  facebook The appearance match is much better for the first named rarer (in England) species. One alternative is the Fanfoot, Herminia tarsipennalis.  or called Zanclognatha tarsipennalis

5 August 2016

Mill Hill
Gatekeeper, Dingy Footman, Small Tortoiseshell, Chalkhill Blue
Painted Lady, Pyrausta despicata, Peacock
Wall Brown,  Pyrausta purpuralis, Green-veined White, Adonis Blue

Not so lucky on Mill as two days ago. Just 11 species on the downs with only 30 male Chalkhill Blues, over fifty Meadow Browns, Wall Brown (4), Peacocks, Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshell, Painted Lady, Adonis Blue, Green-veined Whites, Gatekeepers, Large Whites and a Common Blue.
Mill Hill Report (with moths)
Eleven butterfly species

4 August 2016
A Small White Butterfly was being blown about in by my Garden Privet in my Shoreham front garden. It was worth a mention as this butterfly was not seen the day before. Still windy.

3 August 2016
At least it was not raining, although overcast with the breeze turning into a steady Gale Force 7 (gusting to Force 8) in the afternoon, it was just the type of day not to record. A flash of colour under the overcast sky was a large Painted Lady (only my second this year) that fluttered around over the lower slopes of Mill Hill, so I decided to make a note of the butterflies even if the wind made photography difficult. Meadow Browns were very frequently seen, their numbers well in excess of 28 male Chalkhill Blues, frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Large Whites, probable Green-veined Whites, three Wall Browns, occasional Red Admirals and Small Heaths, at least one Peacock Butterfly, and occasional 6-spotted Burnet Moths all on the lower slopes. The flash of blue was the first of the second brood male Adonis Blue (which seemed very early: 11 days earlier than 2015).  A few pyralid micro-moths were seen including a very bright fresh Pyrausta purpuralis and a few fresh looking Pyrausta despicata. At least one Robber Fly, Machimus atricapillus, landed on the southern steps in front of me.

On the Pixie Path there was a Small Skipper to add to the list and a Yellow Shell Moth which hid in a Wayfaring Tree.
On Mill Hill Cutting (south) nine Chalkhill Blues were in active flight, and one female was spotted crawling over the Cotoneaster and Horseshoe Vetch leaves. Three male Common Blues danced in the breeze.

PS:  After examining the photographs at home, I discovered my first ever Silver-spotted Skipper on the lower slopes of Mill Hill in the corner of an image, not seen at the time.

Adur Skippers

Thirteen butterfly species (most in day this year) and two large moths

1 August 2016

 

 

Mill Hill
The small wasp on the right is the predatory species Cerceris rybyensis.

Too cool for butterflies to be active, they were commonly disturbed but only 14 male Chalkhill Blues, and an estimated 40 each of Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers, two Wall Browns, two Peacocks, one Small White, one Marbled White all on the lower slopes restricted transect. A Small Skipper fluttered amongst the Greater Knapweed on the southern part of Mill Hill. The 6-spotted Burnet Moths did not fly at all but could be found easily on purple flowers, especially the plentiful Dwarf Thistle. A Treble-bar Moth was disturbed, easily seen because of its pale colour. A few pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta nigrata were seen and a few Panorpa flies. The visit to Mill Hill was curtailed after less than an hour because of light rain.
Eight butterfly species and two large moths
 

31 July 2016 I made a cursory and extremely brief 20 minute visit to the lower slopes of Mill Hill in case there was an explosion of butterflies (last seen in 2003): there wasn't. In a half acre transect Meadow Browns were very frequent (50+) with an estimated thirty Chalkhill Blues.  Two female Chalkhill Blues were noted. Ten species of butterfly were seen including frequent Gatekeepers, occasional Large Whites at least one each of Green-veined White, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Heath, Speckled Wood (on the southern steps) and occasional 6-spotted Burnet Moths. Ten butterfly species and one large moth

29 July 2016
On a cloudy and breezy afternoon inimical for butterflies I cycled to the Mill Hill Cutting (south) via the Pixie Path (from the west). On the small chalk bank I observed one Peacock Butterfly that settled for an instant, a Large White and eight male Chalkhill Blue Butterflies in almost constant flight. On the Pixie Path (northern section ) I added one Red Admiral, occasional Meadow Browns, a few Gatekeepers, one Small Skipper, one male Chalkhill Blue, and one male Common Blue. A Shaded Broad-bar Moth, Scotopteryx chenopodiata, was also spotted on the path.

Encouraged by the blues I made a brief (30 minutes) casual visit to Mill Hill, resulting in my first Wall Brown Butterfly of the year immediately as I stepped on the southern steps to the lower slopes where I spotted my first female Chalkhill Blue Butterfly of 2016.  Male Chalkhill Blues were frequently seen. Other butterflies on the lower slopes were frequent Meadow Browns, occasional Gatekeepers, one Small Tortoiseshell, and 6-spotted Burnet Moths and a few pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta nigrata.
At the top I was buffeted around by the breeze to distraction and soon headed home. I did spot a male Chalkhill Blue on the top though.
Ten butterfly species and one large moth

26 July 2016
It is not always best to visit Mill Hill in the mornings, but the doubts I had over the identification of Peacock Butterflies over the lower slopes five days ago were put to bed as two were positively sighted on Ragwort on the southern end of the lower slopes. Peacock Butterflies were frequently seen (15+) later on plentiful flowering Marjoram and Hemp Agrimony on the middle slopes.

Mill Hill

Despite the cloudy breezy day, butterflies were all over Mill Hill, with frequent Meadow Browns on the lower slopes  but Gatekeepers (as befitting their name) were more prevalent and frequently seen on the upper semi-scrub parts of the hill, but the meagre total of nine male Chalkhill Blues were only found on the lower slopes. Occasional Red Admirals (8+) were no longer the dominant vanessid. Three Small Skippers were quickly spotted as I parked my bicycle amongst the meadows of Greater Knapweed south of the reservoir. Other butterflies of few numbers each fluttered over the lower and upper Mill Hill and these were the whites with Marbled Whites, Green-veined Whites and Small Whites all positively identified. Frequent 6-spotted Burnet Moths whirred around. A Dusky Sallow Moth, Eremobia ochroleuca, rested on a Greater Knapweed flower . A Common Carpet Moth was disturbed amongst the thorn.
At the start of the day, Large White Butterflies were seen over Ham Road Allotments.
Nine butterfly species and three large moths
Mill Hill Report

A male Chalkhill Blue Butterfly was seen amongst the long grass in the north-east corner of Frampton's Field, Old Shoreham.

Report by Rosalind Hamblett

21 July 2016

Mill Hill
Thistle Ermine Moth, Dwarf Thistle with Pyrausta purpuralis, Chalkhill Blue
Gatekeeper

Cloudy and a bit of an afternoon breeze was welcome after the two day heat wave. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the male Chalkhill Blue Butterflies (36) were numerous and settled enough for a photograph. They were joined in lesser numbers by Marbled Whites, Gatekeepers, Red Admirals and Meadow Browns, Large Whites, unidentified whites, two possible Peacock Butterflies, and Silver Y, Yellow Shell and 6-spotted Burnet Moths.  There were also two possible Peacock Butterflies over Mill Hill. There was at least one micro-moth Thistle Ermine, Myelois circumvoluta, and a few pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis. Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were frequently seen munching on Ragwort which was more prevalent than in any previous years.
At least six (possibly nine) butterfly species and three large moths

20 July 2016
A probable (brief look only) Peacock Butterfly flew off my Garden Privet hedge as I opened the gate in the sunshine. At the top of Buckingham Park there were two Speckled Woods, and on Buckingham Cutting (south) there were two more in the shade and on the open verge there were a few Meadow Browns, a few Gatekeepers, and at least one Small/Essex Skipper and at least one Red Admiral and at least one 6-spotted Burnet Moth. Large Whites and Small Whites were everywhere in the sunshine. The first impressive Volucella zonaria hoverfly of the year was seen on Buckingham Cutting (south).
Eight butterfly species and one large moth

A Ringlet Butterfly was photographed on Mill Hill.

Report by Pip

19 July 2016
Lucky a breeze (Force 4) was blowing as it was very warm > 26.8° C. A round trip to Annington Sewer via the Coombes and back along the Downs Link Cyclepath in the middle of the day to early afternoon. And butterflies were common for the first time this year, led by 50+ Red Admirals, the same number of mixed whites, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites, Small Whites, frequent Small/Essex Skippers, frequent Meadow Browns, occasional Gatekeepers, and a few 6-spotted Burnet Moths.
Seven butterfly species and one large moth

18 July 2016
On the first warm day (>25.3° C) of the year, the male Chalkhill Blue Butterflies (16) finally emerged on the lower slopes of Mill Hill when I visited in the middle of the day. They were all flighty and once in flight they rarely stopped. They were noted making visits of less than a second on Bird's Foot Trefoil and longer on a Bramble flower. Other frequent butterflies were Marbled Whites, frequent Meadow Browns, a few Red Admirals, occasional Green-veined Whites, a few Large Whites, occasional Gatekeepers, large moths: Cinnabar Moths, frequent 6-spotted Burnet Moths, a Silver Y Moth, a Yellow Shell Moth, pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta nigrata, Pyrausta purpuralis, and Cinnabar Moth caterpillars
In Shoreham town there were scores more Large Whites and at least one Holly Blue seen.
Eight butterfly species and four large moth species

17 July 2016
On a very sticky humid day, I cycled on my Pashley to the Sunday morning car boot sale in Miller's Field, (north of Old Shoreham), and by road along to Erringham Gap and back along the Downs Link Cyclepath to Shoreham. A passage journey recorded Marbled Whites, Green-veined Whites, Large Whites, Small Whites, Red Admirals, Meadow Browns, Small Skippers and 6-spotted Burnet Moths.
Six butterfly species and one large moth

To the west of Applesham Farm North Lancing there is a line of Elms by the footpath - some dying, some dead, but quite a few healthy. In the canopy I was excited to see a handful of White-letter Hairstreaks. It was a case of third year lucky for me at this site, as I have had no definite sightings before.

Blue text Report by Lindsay Morris on Butterfly Conservation Sussex Sightings

15 July 2016
On a cloudy cool day, there were about ten fresh Red Admirals, a Marbled White and a Gatekeeper on the Pixie Path 3138 (northern section).

14 July 2016
 

Marbled White	Small (or Essex) Skipper

The sun appeared from behind the white clouds in a blue sky, but, alas, there still was no sign of the Chalkhill Blues around the middle of the day on Mill Hill. Butterflies were about, frequent Marbled Whites, frequent Meadow Browns, a dozen Red Admirals, occasional Green-veined Whites, a few Large Whites, two Small (or Essex) Skippers, two Gatekeepers, one Small Heath Butterfly, a Silver Y Moth, a Cinnabar Moth and occasional pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta purpuralis. A Cinnabar Moth caterpillar was seen on the leaves of a Ragwort plant. A few Robber Flies, Machimus atricapillus, were seen, and plenty of other flies, beetles, small spiders, moths and other organisms.
Eight butterfly species and two macro moths
 

13 July 2016 After ten minutes on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, rain interrupted play and I left before the hour was up, not before I had seen 35+ Marbled Whites, 20+ Meadow Browns, a few Small Heaths, my first three Gatekeepers of the year, at least two Large Whites and one vanessid thought to be a Red Admiral.  About ten of the Marbled Whites and two of the Gatekeepers were at the top part of Mill Hill in the thicker vegetation by the underground Reservoir.  Six butterfly species

12 July 2016

Steyning Line Cyclepath
Meadow Brown, Green-veined White, 6-spotted Burnet Moth
Marbled White, Small Skipper

Thousands of small grasshoppers were easily disturbed in the verges of the Steyning Line Cyclepath (from Old Shoreham to just north of the Erringham Gap). A score or more Green-veined White Butterflies (confirmed by photographs) were disturbed and were fluttering about but the other butterflies were reluctant to take flight. A variety were seen and they were one Small Skipper, occasional Meadow Browns, a few Ringlets, at least two Red Admirals and a Marbled White. Two of the first 6-spotted Burnet Moths of the year were spotted, the first settled on a Pyramidal Orchid. The second one on Tufted Vetch was only discovered in a photograph. Early in the afternoon I detoured to Buckingham Cutting (south) and added another Meadow Brown, two or three Marbled Whites, one Red Admiral, one Small Skipper, and at least one slow flying Ringlet. Later in Shoreham (in the twitten between Adelaide Square and Corbyn Crescent) a Small Tortoiseshell landed briefly in front of me.
Seven butterfly species and one large moth

8 July 2016
Blown about in the Moderate Breeze (Force 4), with gusts, three Comma Butterflies showed, at least two by the Waterworks Road and another over the Footpath 3140 to The Street, followed by a Large White. Two Meadow Browns were blown into view between Old Shoreham and Ropetackle on the verges of the tarmac path.
Three butterfly species
 

6 July 2016 The afternoon sunshine persuaded a few butterflies into flight: the first of a handful of Large Whites and a Red Admiral in the residential part of Shoreham. The first of frequent Marbled Whites was seen in Mill Hill Road, south of the bridge. The lower slopes of Mill Hill were visited for the first time for a month. The one acre transect butterfly count recorded 23 Marbled Whites, 5 Small Heaths, 3 Meadow Browns, at least one Small Skipper, two Large Whites, one probable male Common Blue, one Cinnabar Moth and a few Silver Y Moths. The small pyralid micro-moth Pyrausta nigrata was frequently seen. Passage through the scrub and over the middle slopes recorded just one more Marbled White, but the top part of the hill added two Small Tortoiseshells, a Large White, a Small White, ten more Marbled Whites and seven more Meadow Browns. Late in the afternoon I detoured to Buckingham Cutting (south) and added another Meadow Brown, another Marbled White and a slow flying Ringlet. Ten butterfly species (the most so far this year) and two Large Moths

5 July 2016

Comma Butterfly

Meadow Brown	Silver Y Moth

At least a day without rain and even in the very late afternoon there was as brief spell of sunshine and the breeze had died down. The meadow-like verges of the Steyning Line Cyclepath had grown higher than normal. The late sunshine cast long shadows but brought the butterflies out: one fresh Comma*, four Red Admirals, and few Large Whites, my first handful of Small Skippers of the year, at least two Marbled Whites, occasional Meadow Browns, about ten Ringlets and occasional Silver Y Moths.  (* Waterworks Road.)
Seven butterfly species and one macro moth

1 July 2016
Still cloudy and overcast and too breezy for the open downs, I made a detour to Buckingham Cutting (south) where I stayed long enough for a few butterflies to be disturbed. The first a lively Meadow Brown of several males only, followed by a languid flight of the first of a handful of Ringlets of both genders, followed by the lively flight of about the same number Marbled Whites and lastly two Small Blues.

Buckingham Cutting (south)
Meadow Brown,  Marbled White
 Small Blue, Ringlet

Four butterfly species
 

30 June 2016 Finally some butterflies and moths are appearing on Lancing Ring. Photographs showed Marbled Whites, Meadow Brown, Large Skipper, Small Skipper, (Narrow-bordered?) 5-spotted Burnet Moth.   Report by Sara Reeve on Wildlife of Lancing  facebook

An unplanned trip to Lancing Ring on an overcast and breezy day was a bit of a struggle up on very muddy paths after the recent rain, some of which collected in the dewpond. By the dewpond I spotted a Meadow Brown followed by a Ringlet Butterfly, and later a Red Admiral over the eastern car park.

26 June 2016
A Speckled Wood flew at the top of Buckingham Park.

24 June 2016

An impromptu to Mill Hill was rewarded by the first Marbled White Butterflies of the year. I disturbed over 25 but rarely would they settle in view for more than a few seconds. The colourful Cinnabar Moths were even quicker to hide and were only out in the open for a second or two. The intermittently cloudy day meant that most butterflies were in hiding, although I managed to spot frequent (12+) Meadow Browns, at least half a dozen tattered Adonis Blues (they were so tattered they could have been Common Blues, and they visited Bird's Foot Trefoil), a handful of Small Heath Butterflies, frequent (15+) Silver Y Moths, a few smaller moths, two sightings of a Red Admiral (it may have been the same butterfly?) and one Small Tortoiseshell all over the lower slopes on a humid afternoon. Of considerable interest was a colony of Yellow Meadow Ants, Lasius flavus.
Notes:
The small brown moth (illustrated above) has been identified as Pyrausta despicata. A smaller pyralid moth Pyrausta purpuralis was also seen.
Yellow Meadow Ants can hide the caterpillars of the Chalkhill Blue Butterfly protecting them from predation.
The brown butterfly on the right was thought most likely to be a Common Blue, but it crawled amongst the leaves of Horseshoe Vetch suggesting it was an Adonis Blue.

Mill Hill Report

Six butterfly species
 

23 June 2016 Between the thunderstorms, an immigrant Silver Y Moth, Autographa gamma, landed in front of me in my garden amongst the Buttercup leaves.  Adur Moths

22 June 2016
Still cloudy and wet from the over night rain, but still worth a detour to the Slonk Hill Cutting (south bank) where the languid fluttering of my first Ringlet Butterfly of the year was soon followed by a more energetic first and fresh male Meadow Brown.

A flash of blue was identified as a Holly Blue Butterfly. This butterfly was followed until it settled.

Slonk Hill & Buckingham Cutting (south)

The caterpillar is one of the Burnet Moths. The tiny butterfly (not illustrated) was a Small Blue.

5 June 2016
More butterflies appeared in the sunshine, a Peacock Butterfly on the Car Boot Sale pasture north of the Flyover (south of Old Erringham). a few Common Blues at the Old Shoreham end (south of the Flyover) of the Steyning Line Cyclepath, where my first possible* (but unlikely) Small Skipper of the year appeared as an orange flash and was gone, and a fleeting but definite view of my first Wall Brown of the year, with Large Whites and Small Whites and other unidentified brownish butterflies blown about too rapidly on the breeze. A Speckled Wood was also spotted in flight.
*NB: The Small Skipper is too early? It might have been a Small Heath? (not previously seen in Old Shoreham though.)
Seven butterfly species

4 June 2016
On breezy humid afternoon, I spotted my first Painted Lady Butterfly on Shoreham Beach 20 metres west of the carnot wall of Shoreham Fort. This immigrant butterfly was very restless and settled for a second at most.

Painted Lady

As an afterthought I looked out the meadow-like road verge at Buckingham Cutting (south) where after a little bit of exploring my eyes keyed into my first Small Blue Butterflies of the year.
 

 

29 May 2016 Small White Butterflies were frequent amongst the flowering Sea Kale on Shoreham Beach with an occasional Large White, and later when the sun came out I spotted at least one male Common Blue Butterfly on Cocksfoot. After missing a few days with rain and thunderstorms, it was still cloudy and breezy along the Steyning Line Cyclepath on the same latitude as Old Erringham where my  first Mint Moth, Pyrausta aurata, of the year landed on an Ox-eye Daisy. A Peacock Butterfly was blown about in the breeze. Four species of butterfly On Sunday my Mill Hill transect produced Adonis Blue 14 (females 3, males 11), Brimstone, Common Blue 3, Dingy Skipper 2, Small Heath 7, Speckled Wood, moths: Yellow Shell, Camptogramma bilineata 3, Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata) 2, Silver Y, Autographa gamma, and Hook-streak Grass-veneer, Crambus lathoniellus. Report by Colin Knight 24 May 2016 A good condition Speckled Wood was seen over Buckingham Park on a cloudy day.

22 May 2016

 

Adonis Blue 

A cloudy day on the lower slopes of Mill Hill was too cool for butterflies to be in active flight. I disturbed a Red Admiral by the Stinging Nettles on the partially cleared slopes on the southern part, a Speckled Wood on the southern steps, spotted a Peacock Butterfly amongst the decent covering of Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, on the lower slopes, followed by a handful of Small Heath Butterflies and best of all eight Adonis Blues, including a female. There were no skippers to be seen. I did not spot any of the smaller moths which can be common.
Five species of butterfly

19 May 2016
A Red Admiral Butterfly and a Small White were seen on a breezy cool afternoon.

17 May 2016
 

Common Blue Butterfly	Adonis Blue Butterfly

In the early afternoon on a breezy intermittently cloudy and sunny day, a flash of blue on the southern upper part of Mill Hill was my first male Common Blue Butterfly of the year. followed by a Small Heath Butterfly and at the top of the southern steps a restless Speckled Wood Butterfly.
 

Dingy Skipper	Cinnabar Moth	Green Hairstreak

Swathes of yellow of the Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, at its peak, covered the lower slopes of Mill Hill. But there were large patches where this flowering herb was absent whereas it was abundant a decade ago. I clambered down during a period of brief sunshine and for fifteen minutes the slopes were alive with butterflies, occasional Grizzled Skippers, frequent Dingy Skippers, a pair of patrolling Brimstone Butterflies, a Peacock Butterfly, frequent Small Heaths, and four more bright blue Common Blues. I looked carefully to identify the blue butterflies and none were Adonis Blues, until I found a male decrepit Adonis Blue that couldn't fly. By that time the sun had disappeared behind a cloud. A strong flying Adonis Blue landed nearby and immediately took off again. Tracing my steps over the lower slopes I managed to spot my first Green Hairstreak of the year on a Horseshoe Vetch flower. The flash of crimson was the first of two Cinnabar Moths I disturbed. There was one pyralid micro-moth of the species Pyrausta nigrata.
Nine butterfly species

16 May 2016
Sunny and breezy in the late afternoon, there were just two butterflies seen at the southern end of the Waterworks Road, a confirmed Green-veined White (visiting Herb Robert) and a Red Admiral.

12 May 2016
Late in the afternoon when the rain stopped and the sun came out there was a Small White and a Comma Butterfly at the southern end of the Waterworks Road, and a Large White Butterfly over the Red Lion in Old Shoreham.

10 May 2016

Too cool for butterflies although I did disturb a very fresh Speckled Wood near the upper copse on Mill Hill, and another one on the Pixie Path to Mill Hill.

9 May 2016
 

Cocksfoot Moth, Glyphipterix simpliciella	Grizzled Skipper

Down on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the yellow of the Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, was abundantly in flower, but nowhere near is best showing. The small orange flutterers were a bit of a puzzle a first until one settled and then I recognised the first Small Heath Butterflies (7) of the year. The afternoon was a bit duller than expected and the one and only Grizzled Skipper landed on a Dandelion, followed by eight Dingy Skippers that did not settle within camera range. At first there was a glimpse of the sun and five Brimstone Butterflies flew along the bottom hedge, and a pair of Peacock Butterflies were courting. Then the clouds blotted out the sun leaving a Small White Butterfly, and after the first spots of rain, a good condition Red Admiral. Occasional Pyrausta micro-moths of two downs species: Pyrausta nigrata and Pyrausta despicata were noted. An even smaller Cocksfoot Moth, Glyphipterix simpliciella was photographed on Germander Speedwell.
Seven butterfly species

 
 

8 May 2016
A Red Admiral Butterfly landed on the towpath at the western end of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. Near Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes Road I spotted (as expected) my second and third Orange Tip Butterflies of the year. There was an orange male butterfly and a white female, and a definite Green-veined Butterfly interfering with their courting over Garlic Mustard in the sunshine on the warmest day of the year. Because the butterflies were out of range and flighty and because of the busy road traffic I was unable to get a decent photograph. So I decided to cycle further north in search to Bramber in search of more butterflies. There were occasional whites of an undetermined species (thought most likely to be Green-veined Whites) on the cycle ride along the Coombes Road to Botolphs and by cyclepath to Bramber. I also spotted my first Holly Blue Butterfly of the year on the outward ride and another one over the Steyning Line Cyclepath on the way back.
Four butterfly species (all different species from the previous report)
 
 
 

4 May 2016
 

Speckled Wood	Grizzled Skipper	Pyrausta purpuralis	Pyrausta nigrata + Pancalia

I spotted my first Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year in the shade of the linear copse by Buckingham Cutting (south). On Mill Hill, the Horseshoe Vetch was now beginning and the flowers were already common on the lower slopes with equally common Dog Violets. The violets were visited by at least two Grizzled Skippers and I also saw my first two Dingy Skippers of 2016. A few Brimstone Butterflies patrolled the bottom hedgerow, and a Small White and a handful of Peacock Butterflies, and frequent Pyrausta micro-moths of the three downs species: Pyrausta nigrata, Pyrausta purpuralis and Pyrausta despicata seen very clearly. The even smaller Pancalia micro-moths were also spotted on Daisies.
Six butterfly species

3 May 2016
 

Peacock Butterfly	Comma Butterfly	Small White Butterfly

Waterworks Road

1 May 2016
A probable Green-veined White Butterfly flew around the Alexanders next to the tarmac cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge, Old Shoreham. My first male Orange-tip Butterfly of the year was a pristine butterfly that made a fleeting visit to Three Cornered Garlic and Green Alkanet at the southern end of the Waterworks Road, where a dark Peacock Butterfly rose from gravel road.

28 April 2016
A Green-veined White Butterfly settled on a Garlic Mustard flower south of Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes Road. A dark Peacock Butterfly rose from the vicinity of clump of White Deadnettle in a field just north of Cuckoo's Corner on a day of a cool wind chill (below 4°C) from the westerly breeze (recorded at Gale Force 7 gusting to Force 8).

20 April 2016
Dog Violets were scattered and abundant all over the lower slopes of Mill Hill and were visited by frequent (12+) Peacock Butterflies, but very little else was spotted on the sunny afternoon. A bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly fluttered by the at the top of Chanctonbury Drive (SE of Mill Hill) followed by a worn Red Admiral.  On Mill Hill proper there were no butterflies or anything moving on the southern upper part. On the lower slopes a white butterfly fluttered past, too quickly to be identified although it did look like what would have been my first Green-veined White Butterfly of the year. Small moths flitted about. These were the pyralid micro-moths of the species Pyrausta nigrata, Pyrausta purpuralis and Pyrausta despicata seen very clearly and all three species definitely identified. The first and only Grizzled Skipper landed in front of me. A pair of faded Small Tortoiseshells danced together and another was seen later. A bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly fluttered by. There were hearsay reports of three more Grizzled Skippers, a Dingy Skipper and a Green Hairstreak.
Six species of butterfly (personal tally)

14 April 2016
At least two Peacock Butterflies were spotted near Cuckoo's Corner.

13 April 2016
A Small White Butterfly fluttered over Eastern Avenue from the adjacent allotments.

12 April 2016
 

Frequent Peacock Butterflies danced over the lower slopes of Mill Hill. They were very easy to spot gliding down to feed on the abundant Dog Violets. There were a few Brimstone Butterflies of both genders, that patrolled over the lower slopes and two of my first Small Tortoiseshells of the year that visited the Dog Violets. A Small White Butterfly fluttered by. Spring seemed to have awakened the early insects, including Red-tailed Bumblebees also attracted to the violets, Common Bee-Flies, Bombylius major, were frequently seen. And two Treblebar Moths and the pyralid micro-moths Pyrausta nigrata and Pyrausta despicata. Small spiders of the genus Alopecosa crawled amongst the herb growth. (These spiders could be one of at least two species.) Not nearly so easy to spot were the first few Grizzled Skippers of the year that appeared about 2:15 pm. They also visited the violets.
Subsequent perusal of the blurry photographs showed one of the Bee-flies had dotted wings indicating the scarce Dotted Bee-fly, Bombylius discolor.
Five species of butterfly

5 April 2016
Fluffy white Cumulus clouds sped across a blue sky and the sun shone briefly though the gaps. These brief spells encouraged butterflies to flutter around in search of nectar on an otherwise cool day (> 10.4°C). On the southern top part of Mill Hill, I spotted my first bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly of the year in the distance. On the violet scattered lower slopes pairs (7 in total) of Peacock Butterflies danced over the thorn, and were joined by my first Small White Butterfly of 2016. At the top of Chanctonbury Drive (SE of the bridge to Mill Hill) a damaged Red Admiral made an appearance and again this was a first of the year. It was joined by two further Brimstone Butterflies. A Comma Butterfly appeared on the verges of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham. It was probably the same butterfly seen six days before.
 

On the verges of the Steyning Line (Old Shoreham to Upper Beeding) there was another Peacock Butterfly in the afternoon, bringing the day total of this colourful vanessid to at least nine. Bee-flies visited the catkins of Pussy Willow, but mostly high in the canopy.
Five species of butterfly

31 March 2016

 

The sun shined briefly and my first Comma Butterfly of the year made a fleeting appearance at the southern end of the Waterworks Road, Old Shoreham, followed by a Peacock Butterfly over Frampton's Field (south-west).

22 March 2016
Two sightings today of Brimstone Butterflies, first butterflies of the year for us in our garden in Eastern Avenue, Shoreham.

Report by Helen Swyer on Adur Valley & Downs facebook

17 March 2016
Just after midday a Peacock Butterfly briefly landed in front of me on the larger pebbles by Shoreham Fort, Shoreham Beach. It was my first butterfly of the year. Later in the afternoon I had two further sightings of Peacock Butterflies on the lower slopes of Mill HIll. On all three occasions the butterfly only settled for about second in the feeble sun.

14 March 2016
Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies were seen on the Riverbank (by the houseboats) by Dave Mason (one) and another one in a garden of the Dovecote Estate (near Mill Hill) by Rosalyn Hamblett.

Adur Valley & Downs facebook

13 March 2016
A Brimstone Butterfly was spotted by Chris Servante in the West Lane, Lancing, cemetery.

Wildlife of Lancing Sompting & Surrounds facebook

29 February 2016
 

An inclement month drew to a close with a brief spell of weak sunshine with my first bumblebee of the year, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee visited Lesser Celandine on a verge outside the Health Centre in Steyning. It was joined by a male drone Honey Bee.

Adur Butterfly Flight Times

Adur Butterflies 2015

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Earliest Butterfly Sightings Summary
Sussex Butterflies
Butterfly Flight Times (best site)
Butterfly Conservation: First Sightings
UK Butterflies Discussion Board

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Notes:

Adur Butterflies
Blue Butterflies of Shoreham

NEW ACFOR SYSTEM OF ABUNDANCE OVER A SPECIFIED AREA:

SUPERABUNDANT = 10,000 +
ABUNDANT 1000- 10,000
VERY COMMON = 500-1000
COMMON 100-500
VERY FREQUENT = 50-100
FREQUENT 10 - 50
OCCASIONAL 2-10
RARE = ONLY 1  or

Scarce 4-10 per year
Very Scarce 1-3 per year
Rare   less one than every year
Very Rare   1-3 records in total since 2000

Condition of Butterflies
Pristine
Fine: good condition
Average
Poor
Tattered;  Torn and battered

MultiMap Aerial Photograph of the Adur Levels and the Downs

British Lepidoptera on  flickr

UK Butterflies Sightings