MILL HILL & the DOWNS

 

 

 WILDLIFE REPORTS 2021

 

 

Meadow Brown (female)	Wall Brown	Adonis Blue	Chalkhill Blue

Some Indicator Plants of Ancient Downland
 
 

Horseshoe Vetch	Common Milkwort	Dog Violet	Autumn Gentian

Other indicators on the lower slopes include Dropwort, Autumn Ladies Tresses (upper plateau), Hairy Violet, all of which are rarely found on pastures, restored wildlife meadows or agricultural downland. Other downland plants that are more likely on the biodiverse down herbland are Wild Thyme, Carline Thistle, Dwarf Thistle, Squinancywort, Fairy Flax, Small Scabious, Common Centaury and Wild Basil. There are other more widespread wild plants like the Mouse-eared Hawkweed, Rough Hawkbit, Lesser Hawkbit, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Ground Ivy, Germander Speedwell, Field Speedwell, Sweet Violet, Self-heal and Yellow Wort.
Wild Flora and Fauna on Chalk   flickr
Adur Wild Flowers 2009

OVERVIEW: A large part (724 acres) of the downs including Mill Hill were presented to the people of Shoreham in 1937.  Lower Slopes of Mill Hill, May 2006  Just over 30 acres still remain as public open land and a Local Nature Reserve.  This is divided into about 11 acres of grassland and meadows above the ridge, about 9 acres of scrub, the copse and glades at the northern end, and about half of the prime Chalkhill Blue area of 6.4 acres of herbland remaining. 6 acres has been lost to a Sycamore woodland on the southern slopes.  This is low fertility chalkland not suitable for grazing. The top area is effectively a wild meadow and the lower slopes a rabbit warren dominated by prostrate (not the upright form) Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa.	MILL HILL HOMEPAGE LOWER SLOPES 2008 MILL NATURE RESERVE & MAP OVERVIEW CITATION GRID REF FINDER Horseshoe Vetch
Chalkhill Blues: Mill Hill is nationally important because of its population of Chalkhill Blue Butterflies. Estimates of the numbers are notoriously inaccurate. In the 1950s the population was estimated by R. M. Craske to be 50,000. This may be an exceptionally good year. I would estimate the numbers at that time to be nearer 25,000 for Mill Hill only. After the cattle grazing and thorn incursions the numbers plummeted to the most reliable estimate in 1960 of 6,000. The new road and Sycamore woodland further denuded the Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, and bare chalk downland to a figure I have estimated at a top figure of 3,000 Chalkhill Blue Butterflies at the turn of the millennium (counted in 2003). Almost all these butterflies are now to be found on the six acres of the lower slopes. Graham Hart in the 1990s estimated the numbers at 6,000. This is not out of the question and this would accord with the R. M. Craske estimate of 50,000. This would be the maximum population density that could be expected on the carpets of Horseshoe Vetch (based on German figures). Protection of the current population requires man management of the scrub incursions, which means removal of the Privet.  Text by Andy Horton Calcareous Grassland Message
"Our family lived at The Mill House, Mill Hill, from around 1933 until about 1967, and every July we saw the "Butterfly Men" walking past onto the Downs. My father used to tell us that they were interested in the blue butterflies." Heather Clark (née Eager), Ryde, Isle of Wight	Nearest Postcode:  BN43 5FH Grid Ref:  TQ 21170 07444  (upper car park) Geographic Link      OS Map Google Earth Map Magic Map of Mill Hill NR Local Nature Reserve Designation Natural England: Local Nature Reserves Multi-Map (Bird's Eye View) Grid Reference Finder

FEATURE:
 

2003

Threats to the Butterfly Downland site at Mill Hill The butterfly lower slopes at Mill Hill are under serious threat by a natural process known as ecological succession where the woody shrubs like Privet, Brambles and Hawthorn invade the herb-rich slopes gradually turning the downs into woodland and eliminating the butterfly larval food plants especially the Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, on which the Chalkhill Blue Butterflies rely. The remedy is by expert professional removal of the Privet on a regular basis. This job is now being undertaken by volunteers.

2009

Mill Hill on flickr

Mill Hill on facebook

OS Map                  Footpaths at Mill Hill Map Geograph Satellite     WILDLIFE REPORTS

Reports 2022

18 December 2021

2 November 2021

A rambler reported a bright yellow Clouded Yellow Butterfly over the top southern part of Mill Hill. The dead vegetation on the upper meadows had been forage harvested since my last visit, but the dried grasses in the image below remained. I heard the whirring of a Pheasant taking off from the pasture to the east.

22 October 2021

9 October 2021

22 September 2021
A Comma Butterfly visited blackberries at the top of the southern steps to the lower slopes where two Clouded Yellow Butterflies chased each other over a large area. Other butterflies were occasional Meadow Browns, a worn and damaged Adonis Blue,   occasional Common Blues,  a few Whites, and a few Small Heaths.  A Common Lizard skitted across the winding path.

17 September 2021
A Clouded Yellow Butterfly flew restlessly over the upper part of Mill Hill searching for nectar amongst the paucity of flowers.

16 September 2021

6 September 2021

Scores of House Martins flew to and fro over Mill Hill prior to emigration. A trek to the lower slopes was curtailed because of excessive warmth and humidity. Devil's Bit Scabious was seen flowering at the northern end. The usual gamut of butterflies included 40+ Meadow Browns, 12+ Adonis Blues, 8+ Chalkhill Blues, occasional Common Blues,  frequent Whites, frequent Small Heaths, at least one each of Clouded Yellow, Brown Argus, Painted Lady (2), Red Admiral.

26 August 2021

A Kestrel hovered over Mill Hill until after a few minutes a dog appeared and it flew off. Scores of butterflies were disturbed over the lower slopes and for a few minutes when the sun shined in the afternoon this rose to nearly two hundred: 80+ Meadow Browns, 30+ Adonis Blues, 25+ Chalkhill Blues, occasional Common Blues, a few Large Whites, Small Heaths, at least one each of Clouded Yellow, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Treble-bar and Carpet Moths.

20 August 2021
Ten species of butterfly were seen on the top of Mill Hill on a black cloudy afternoon: frequent Meadow Browns, occasional Common Blues, three Chalkhill Blues, a few Large Whites, Red Admirals, at least one each of Peacock Butterfly, Wall Brown, Painted Lady, a pair of Small Tortoiseshells and a Small White.

16 August 2021

Overcast and breezy, an afternoon visit to the lower slopes of Mill Hill was greeted by my first of the year and an extremely bright Clouded Yellow Butterfly sparring with the first of 35+ Chalkhill Blues. Most of the butterflies on my half transect were resting and needed to be disturbed to be seen. 100+ Meadow Browns, at least three of the second brood male Adonis Blues, occasional Common Blues, at least two of Peacock Butterflies, Wall Browns, one each of a good condition Painted Lady, Large White and a Small Heath, were seen in under an hour. On the southern steps, (where the Sloe berries had turned dark) there were at least two Speckled Woods. Add more Common Blues resting and mating amongst the long grasses on the top part of Mill Hill south of the Reservoir plus Red Admirals around the Buddleia.
Both the Kite-tailed Robberfly, Tolmerus atricapillus and the Hornet Robber Fly, Asilus crabroniformis skulked on the paths. Carpet Moths were disturbed. A Common Lizard skitted across the southern steps.

Notable flora included Ploughman's Spikenard, Carline Thistle, Wild Mignonette, and one spike of Autumnal Hawkbit (ID checked) with the more prevalent Lesser Hawkbit and Rough Hawkbit. And large patches of Hawkweed Ox-tonque on the lower slopes was new. Pineapple Weed was present by the gates of the southern car park.

10  August 2021
Late in the afternoon, a brief visit to the top of Mill Hill hosted frequent Meadow Browns, Common Blues, Red Admirals, and occasional Peacock Butterflies and Small Tortoiseshells.

5 August 2021
Rain stopped play again in the afternoon, but not before I counted 40 restless male Chalkhill Blues on a quarter transect of the lower slopes of Mill Hill, plus a notable 20+ Peacock Butterflies attracted to the Buddleia in flower with a few Red Admirals and Painted Ladies and the usual gamut of Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns,  Brimstones, Common Blues. Large Whites and 6-spotted Burnet Moths.

4 August 2021
 

With the afternoon sun, out came the butterflies on the top of Mill Hill.  75+ male Chalkhill Blues 25+ Gatekeepers 35+ Meadow Browns 20+ Brimstones 10+ Common Blues occasional Peacock Large White Red Admiral one each Painted Lady Wall Brown Small Heath Small Tortoiseshell  Twelve species Moths: 6-spotted Burnet Moths  Silver Y Moths Predators: Kite-tailed Robberfly, Tolmerus atricapillus Hornet Robber Fly, Asilus crabroniformis Common Darter Main plants visited: Hemp Agrimony Wild Basil Marjoram Buddleia

Small Tortoiseshell Red Admiral

I was impressed by the scores of Round-headed Rampion flowers on the plateau south of the upper car park. Numbers were  in the low hundreds. The small umbellifer Burnet Saxifrage and the Small Scabious were also noted. Adur Scabious I noted small amounts of Restharrow, Wild Mignonette and Yellow Vetchling. Habitat Study Gallery

3 August 2021

Butterflies fluttered over the lower slopes of Mill Hill under a cloudy sky in the afternoon. Frequent 25+ Gatekeepers, 25+ Meadow Browns, 30+ Chalkhill Blues, including a mating pair, were joined by occasional Large Whites and at least one each of a Marbled White, female Common Blue, Peacock, and Small Tortoiseshell. Treble-bar Moths, Yellow Shell Moths and 6-spotted Burnet Moths were seen. A Kite-tailed Robberfly, Tolmerus atricapillus, waited in ambush. There was one large brown Oak Eggar Moth caterpillar crawling over the path. On the top part south of the reservoir, I added a Brimstone Butterfly. Painted Lady and Small Heath.
 

2 August 2021

After a rain sodden and cloudy week, moderate rain curtailed my visit to Mill Hill before any resting butterflies were disturbed on the lower slopes. Dwarf Thistle was common. The first shoots of Carline Thistle were seen. House Martins flew over the downs.
Flora Gallery
Adur Thistles
Adur Knapweeds

23 July 2021
At last, a handful of male Chalkhill Blue Butterflies fluttered restlessly over the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

19 July 2021

I visited the lower slopes in the sunshine where there were frequent butterflies: Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns,  Marbled Whites. Large Whites, Small Skippers, a Red Admiral, a Small Heath, but no Chalkhill Blues.
Notable flowers were hundreds of Wild Basil, frequent Round-headed Rampion, frequent Small Scabious, Common Centaury, Dwarf Thistle and Perforate St. John's Wort, Lesser Hawkbit.

18 July 2021
On a virtually cloudless day the sun (25º C) burned anybody who ventured out of the shade. I still visited the upper part of Mill Hill in the mid-afternoon where two dozen butterflies fluttered around the attractive selection of chalkhill flowers amongst the long grasses south and west of the top car park. Marbled Whites. Large Whites, and Meadow Browns were all restless. There was at least one Small Heath, a probable Wall Brown and my first Painted Lady of the year on the middle slopes south of the copse,

Notable flowers were frequent and more than usual Round-headed Rampion, frequent Small Scabious, and Greater Knapweed on the exposed top of the hill. On the sheltered middle slopes the notables were Melilot, Lady's Bedstraw, Marjoram, and Field Scabious.

14 July 2021

A couple of Gatekeepers on the southern steps to the lower slopes were the first of the year, Other butterflies were occasional Marbled Whites. Large Whites, Meadow Browns, Red Admirals, a few Small Skippers, Small Heaths and one Wall Brown.

28 June 2021
Marbled White Butterflies were very lively over the lower slopes of Mill Hill where I also spotted my first Small Skipper of the year. New flowers appeared on a cloudy humid afternoon. Small Heath Butterflies, pristine Red Admirals, large Meadow Browns, a Silver Y Moth and a 6-spotted Burnet Moth were noted as the first spots of rain were felt.
A Great Green Bush Cricket, Tettigonia viridissima, was spotted on the southern top part of Mill Hill for the first time.
Adur Crickets and Grasshoppers

A Buzzard soared over a sunny (19°C) Mill Hill in the early afternoon. Butterflies were lively and frequent: Common Blues, Dingy Skippers, Small Heath Butterflies, Brimstones and Silver Y Moths over the lower slopes. A Holly Blue fluttered by the hedge by the southern car park to Mill Hill.

31 May 2021
Butterflies fluttered over the sun-drenched (21°C) lower slopes of Mill Hill: 30+ male Common Blues, 4+ male Adonis Blues, frequent Dingy Skippers and Grizzled Skippers, my first Brown Argus and Cinnabar Mothof the year, frequent Brimstones, a few Small Heath Butterflies and a probable Wall Brown. By the flowering Hawthorn-lined road there was a Holly Blue. All the butterflies were restless.

On the southern top of the hill, the first Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil was seen in flower.
Common Bird's-foot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus is shorter and grows in dry grassland. Its stems are solid whereas the stems of Lotus pedunculatus are hollow.

27 May 2021

The sun shined in the afternoon for the first time in over a week, I was able to confirm my first male Adonis Blue Butterfly of the year with frequent Brimstones but not many other butterflies on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. There were occasional amorous Wall Browns. a few Small Heath Butterflies, a few Dingy Skippers, Grizzled Skippers, and Common Blues (including a dark blue female). At the top of Chanctonbury Drive, there was the flutter of a Holly Blue and some Large Whites. Early Elderflower appeared.

19 May 2021

Swathes of Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, covered the lower slopes of Mill Hill on a cloudy afternoon inimical for watching butterflies. In an hour I spotted to my first of the year Small Heath Butterfly and a few first of the year Dingy Skippers, at least three male Common Blues, a Brimstone Butterfly, a few Large Whites and Red Admirals. At the top of Chanctonbury Drive, the flutter of blue was a Holly Blue.

Hawthorn was beginning to flower in the hedgerows. Patches of Crosswort, Cowslips and Germander Speedwell decorated the area south of the Reservoir.

A Buzzard soared overhead  mobbed by the frequent Crows. And a rather scruffy Jay put in two appearances.

12 May 2021
Five o'clock in the afternoon is a bit late in the day for seeing active butterflies on the lower slopes of Mill Hill as most of them will have gone to roost. I managed to spot my first male Adonis Blue (not confirmed -subsequently thought to be a Common Blue), and my first of the year Small Copper visiting the abundant Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa. A flock of up to a dozen corvids, mostly Jackdaws. were persistently feeding on something amongst the short vegetation on the steeper slopes. A Peacock Butterfly flew down and I disturbed a handful of Grizzled Skippers. Hawthorn was beginning to flower. Cowslips were seen south of the Reservoir.
 
 

7 May 2021
Tripping over butterflies at Mill Hill today with a grand total of 14 species recorded. Dozens of Dingy Skipper & Grizzled Skipper, Green-veined White, Small White, Brimstone and a singleton Orange-tip doing the rounds. Wall are coming along nicely with at least half a dozen bobbing around, a female already ovipositing. A handful of Small Copper seeing off all-comers which included my first Common Blue of the year, around 6 males seen. Green Hairstreak also doing well, regularly getting stuck in with the multi species aerial brawls, again about half a dozen active. The afternoon brought out 4 or 5 fresh looking Peacock and like Abbots Wood on Wednesday, there were good numbers of fresh immigrant Red Admirals, a female was seen egg laying (from the state of some they must have come via Jersey!). A single Comma made a very brief appearance (unable to tell if it were an early hutchinsoni or a late hibernator). The day started off with a rare Sussex sight of a female Small Tortoiseshell avidly investigating some nettle on the edge of the horse paddocks on the south side of the Shoreham Bypass.

Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa

I only managed to spot eleven species of butterfly, the last seven on the lower slopes of Mill Hill: Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Wall Brown, Peacock, Grizzled Skipper, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue. I also noted a few pyralid moths Pyrausta nigrata. Blackthorn had ceased to flower.

Mill Hill Nature Reserve on facebook

22 April 2021

A few Peacock Butterflies visited the battered and frequent Sweet Violets and Dog Violets scattered thinly over the lower slopes of Mill Hill. A bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly fluttered by the Holly Tree, where the Wayfaring Tree had been hacked down by the conservation workers.

19 April 2021
 
 

15 April 2021

Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2020 (Link)

Bye-laws

Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2018 (Link)

Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2016 (Link)
Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2015 (Link)
Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2014 (Link)
Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2013 (Link)
Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2012 (Link)
Mill Hill Wildlife Reports 2011 (Link)

Mill Hill Nature Reserve on facebook

Identification of Grasses (Link)
Mill Hill Grasses
 

A Nature Reserve is defined in Section 15 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, as land managed for the purpose: (a) of providing, under suitable conditions and control, special opportunities for the study of, and research into, matters relating to the flora and fauna of Great Britain and the physical conditions in which they live, and for the study of geological and physiographical features of special interest in the area; or (b) of preserving flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features of special interest in the area; or for both these purposes.’

The other species may breed on Mill Hill, but there main breeding area will be adjoining fields or slightly further away. e.g. Small Blue (included above), Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Green-veined White, Peacock, Ringlet, Small White, Large White, Comma, Holly Blue, Orange Tip. (=10). There are huge variances each year for most species.

The following are immigrants &/or hibernators:  Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Clouded Yellow.

The following have not been positively identified (because of ID difficulties):  Essex Skipper. This species is now included for a local field on the Adur Levels within 500 metres of Mill Hill.

(=30)

The following was confirmed only in 2009: Green Hairstreak.
(=31)

The following was confirmed only in 2014: Dark Green Fritillary
(=32)

The next one is no longer found on Mill Hill but were there in the distant (1947) past: Grayling.
The next one has been recorded near Mill Hill in the middle distance past:  White-letter Hairstreak

(=34)

The Silver-spotted Skipper does not appear to ever have occurred on Mill Hill
The Silver-studded Blue has never been recorded from Mill Hill

The Short-tailed Blue was recorded as a single immigrant in 1956.

17 August 2009
A possible (unconfirmed) Brown Hairstreak Butterfly was spotted. A confirmed one was spotted nearby.

2017
Brown Hairstreak and Silver-spotted Skipper have been confirmed from Mill Hill. The first is notoriously difficult to spot and was probably already there. The skipper may be a new addition, but it is small and not easy to spot, and there have now been numerous sightings

Adur Butterfly Page

History of Mill Hill

Aerial Map
Lower Adur Levels (MultiMap) including Lancing Clump and Mill Hill