BUTTERFLIES
 DRAGONFLIES
 HOVERFLIES
 BUMBLEBEES

Bumblebees
Hoverflies
Butterflies
Solitary Bees
Adur Bees, Wasps & Sawflies
Flies
Ladybirds
Beetles
Moths
Grasshoppers & Crickets
Damselflies & Dragonflies
Bugs
Spiders

31 May 2015

WILDLIFE REPORTS
 

31 May 2015

27 May 2015

26 May 2015
Two Red Kites were seen together over Cuckoo's Corner, near Lancing College in the morning.

24 May 2015

A Buzzard descended from the low-flying clouds and a Kestrel hovered over the lower slopes of Mill Hill. There were more butterfly watchers than actual butterflies, but I did manage a glimpse of my first Small Heath Butterfly of the year as well as my first Mother Shipton Moth. The overcast conditions made for a paucity of butterflies in flight, but there were plenty (15+) of human feet to disturb 15+ Adonis Blues, including a mating pair, two or more male Common Blues, at least one very faded Dingy Skipper and at least three Brimstone Butterflies. The first butterfly I spotted was a bright Peacock and later a surprise Red Admiral showed briefly. The Horseshoe Vetch was at its peak (98%).

21 May 2015
 

Adonis Blue	Cinnabar Moth

A Cuckoo called repeatedly from below Mill Hill and I could clearly hear it above the noise of the traffic. It was my first Cuckoo of the year. A Buzzard soared above and a Kestrel was seen hovering as well as a flock of seven or more Jackdaws. 

On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, the Horseshoe Vetch was virtually at its peak. That made up for the relative paucity of butterflies but they did include my first female Adonis Blues with three of the dozen or so males seemed more intent of sparring amongst themselves and quarrelling with a lone Brown Argus and a single male Common Blue. A Brimstone Butterfly patrolled the bottom hedgerow. Dingy Skippers were frequently seen with about a dozen actually noted but a Grizzled Skipper could not be confirmed. A Green Hairstreak flitted amongst the Brambles. There was handful of Peacock Butterflies and one was so badly damaged it looked like a Comma in silhouette of its underside. A single Cinnabar Moth was spotted on two occasions. 
Other butterflies seen on the approaches to Mill Hill included two Large Whites and a Holly Blue.
Adur Butterfly Report

17 May 2015
 

Brown Argus	Common Blue	Adonis Blue

A Kestrel soared over Mill Hill just after midday. It was seen hovering and then twice the bird of prey descended amongst the Horseshoe Vetch on the lower slopes but both times emerged without any visible prey. Weak sunshine on a breezy afternoon brought out frequent butterflies including the bright blue of my first male Adonis Blue of the year. Twelve butterfly species were seen on or around Mill Hill including my first Common Blues and Brown Argus in 2015. 
On the southern carnot wall  of Shoreham Fort I spotted my first two Wall Lizards this year. 
Butterfly Report

16 May 2015

13 May 2015

12 May 2015
A cycle ride to Botolphs and back along and back along the Downs Link Cyclepath on a breezy overcast afternoon rewarded me with my first close-up Holly Blue Butterfly in flight this year, followed by an unexpected first Painted Lady just north of the Old Erringham layby. Hawthorn and Wayfaring Tree were flowering in the hedgerow that lined the route. The verges will beginning to show a bit of colour, with remains of the Cowslips joined by carpets of Germander Speedwell and Crosswort, clumps of Common Vetch and lots of green leaves. As the afternoon wore on, the sun came out producing long shadows and encouraging my first Orange Tips of the year to show. Unusually, I found two white female butterflies before the bright orange on two males confirmed my identification.
 

Orange Tip Butterfly	Green-winged Orchid

A detour was made to Anchor Bottom for the scattered hundreds of Green-winged Orchids but there was nothing else of interest. 

10 May 2015
 

Green Hairstreak	Dingy Skipper

On an overcast day that turned to hazy sunshine by the afternoon, I made a long (nearly two hours) visit to Mill Hill where I eventually found seven species of butterfly and two large day flying moths. Dingy Skippers were the most numerous but I was pleased to find Green Hairstreaks, Grizzly Skippers, Brimstones, Peacock, one Wall Brown Butterfly and a Cinnabar Moth. 
Butterfly Report

8 May 2015
Hawthorn was beginning to flower. The image also shows Common Vetch, Tree Mallow, Horseshoe Vetch and Germander Speedwell. 

7 May 2015
I spotted my first Holly Blue Butterfly of the year from the top of the number 2 bus as it went through Bramber village.

6 May 2015

Gales battered the shore throughout the day, a steady Fresh Gale Force 8 gusting to Storm Force 10 was recorded by Shoreham Beach Weather Station.
Shoreham Weather Page

4 May 2015

There was substantial bird song from the scrub on Mill Hill, which compensated for the lack of butterflies on a cloudy Bank Holiday. If wasn't for the sharp eyes of a dedicated butterfly spotter, I would not even have found a Grizzled Skipper. 

A pair of Mute Swans were seen by others with seven cygnets on Widewater Lagoon.

1 May 2025

The first flowers of Horseshoe Vetch appeared on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

May 2014 Reports

Adur Wild Flowers 2015
Shoreham Weather 2015

EasyTide (Shoreham)

Shoreham Beach Weather Station
 

Adur Nature Notes 2013