Skippers

Adur Skippers Page
A sunny visit to Mill Hill in the afternoon was superfluous and nothing new for the year was seen. Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, was determined to be at its peak, but the flowering was not as luscious as in the best years. Butterflies were frequent but not as varied as earlier. On the lower slopes Dingy Skippers were everywhere and in the half transect, estimated over thirty singles.

6 May 2020
I estimated at least twenty Dingy Skippers all over the lower slopes of Mill HiIl. Grizzled Skippers only amounted to a probable pair.

5 May 2020
Dingy Skippers
Mill Hill
Draughty and cloudy, conditions not ideal for butterflies but better for photography, I nevertheless enjoyed my afternoon visit to the Horseshoe Vetch covered lower slopes of MiIl Hill. Dingy Skippers were frequent and widespread and on the two-thirds transect I estimated at least 35, including a mating pair. However, I did not actually disturb a single Grizzled Skipper.

27 April 2020

With scarcely a cloud in the hazy blue sky, the sunshine made the butterflies very lively. On the lower slopes of MiIl Hill, in the middle of the day, butterflies and skippers were frequently seen and easily disturbed. Once in flight they were extremely reluctant to settle. Grizzled Skippers (12+), first of the year Dingy Skippers (12+) were seen.

16 April 2020
There was a pair of what were probably Grizzled Skippers the lower slopes of MiIl Hill, but these were not confirmed as they did not settle.


3 July 2019
Three Small Skippers were seen on the Bramble-covered meadow north of the top car park, my first of the year, seen where the Large Skipper was seen in June.

19 June 2019
13 May 2019


Dingy Skipper
Mill Hill
2 May 2019


Dingy Skipper
Mill Hill
On a afternoon when the sun came out unexpectedly, I quickly spotted my first two Grizzled Skippers of the year on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, now decorated with Dog Violets, but much more sparsely than normal.



27 July 2018


A second brood Dingy Skipper was always a rare find.

13 July 2018


Small Skipper ?
Downs Link Cyclepath verges near the Cement Works
Under the midday sun over the flowery patch on Adur Recreation Ground, butterflies were frequently seen with Large Whites were in view all the time and Meadow Browns and Small Skippers fluttering around constantly amongst the colour in a parched landscape.
A very parched Mill Hill was visited in the sunshine of the early afternoon under a clear blue sky on the warmest day of the year recording 26.0 °C in the shade at 3:00 pm by the Met Office (Shoreham). It was breezy (Force 4) on the top of the hill, the long grasses regularly swaying. Conditions were far from ideal for a walk under the burning sun and the downs were empty apart from a few dog walkers. On a patch of Burdock on the disturbed land near the cattle trough, I spied my first Small Skipper of the year.

18 May 2018



Dingy Skipper

Occasional Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers were spotted on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

14 May 2018
The first of 9+ Grizzled Skippers were immediately seen from the southern steps to the lower slopes on Mill Hill. Dingy Skippers were seen all the time on the lower slopes, rarely keeping still, but the count was only five as one kept flying to and fro.

7 May 2018


Grizzled Skipper on Milkwort

Down the steps on to the lower slopes on Mill Hill where it was shimmering warm and the first Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, was flowering. The flowers attracted occasional (10+) Dingy Skippers which were not allowed to settle by frequent (20+) agonistic Small Heaths. Only after ten minutes did the first of at least ten fresh, lively and amorous Grizzled Skippers appear.
Adur Butterfly List 2018
Small (or Essex) Skipper visiting a Spear Thistle
Shoreham Harbour (northern canal bank at Southwick & Fishersgate)
A pleasant sunny day with a Gentle Breeze (Force 1-3) meant a visit to Shoreham Beach around the middle of the day. I was rewarded with my first handful of Small Skippers fluttering around the shingle plants without settling. These were my first of the year and in atypical habitat for this small widespread butterfly.

Adur Butterflies: First Dates on an Excel Worksheet

27 March 2012
The first Grizzled Skippers of the year were seen on Mill Hill.
Various Reports





3 August 2011
Without trying five second brood Dingy Skippers, including a courting pair, were seen on the middle slopes and amongst the scrub on Mill Hill. At the top (the only part visited) of the Pixie Path there was a Small/Essex Skipper amongst the Ivy.

1 August 2011
Without trying half a dozen second brood Dingy Skippers, including courting pairs, fluttered into view on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, I nearly fell over my first Grizzled Skipper visiting a Dandelion.
Skippers on Mill Hill (by Colin Knight)
Report by Colin Knight on Sussex Butterflies
Three of the first Small Skippers of 2010 visited the clumps of Tufted Vetch and three strong flying Marbled Whites were seen amongst the long grasses on the towpath from Old Shoreham to Beeding Cement Works.

18 June 2010
A surprise Large Skipper visited one of the first Greater Knapweed flowers amongst the Cocksfoot very near the road south of the Reservoir on Mill Hill.

9 June 2010
Full Butterfly Report

18 April 2010
The transect area of just over an acre on the lower slopes of Mill Hill produced just the six Grizzled Skippers and one Dingy Skipper. The Triangle area of the middle slopes had been cleared of the new Dogwood that threatened to overwhelm the clearing, and without looking for any butterflies another Grizzled Skipper appeared and another one was seen just north of the Reservoir on the ridge of the lower slopes.
Full Butterfly Report

The first Grizzled Skipper of the year seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill was a great surprise and the first one recorded in March.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates

10 August 2008
A second brood Dingy Skipper fluttering around in the herb undergrowth at the the northern end of the lower slopes of Mill Hill was difficult to spot on a day on a day too breezy for the flowers to remain still enough to photograph. (This skipper may have been around for a week or more.)
Full Butterfly Report

15 July 2008
Both Large Skippers (2) and Small Skippers (8) were seen in the meadows at the top of Mill Hill.
Full Butterfly Report

3 July 2008
My first Small Skipper of the year was seen on the Slonk Hill Cutting. Earlier a Large Skipper had settled, but it still needed a practised eye (in the absence of the camera which was broken) to differentiate them. A few undetermined Skippers were also spotted.

19 June 2008
A Large Skipper was seen clearly on the lower slopes of Mill Hill amongst the Brambles and Tor Grass.

6 June 2008
My first Large Skipper of the year looked very fresh and quite lively on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, but one of the two Dingy Skippers was very dingy and worn.
Full Butterfly Report

9 May 2008
Eleven Dingy Skippers and four Grizzled Skippers were seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill visiting the abundant Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa. They were lively and the numbers were thought most likely to be an underestimate.

6 May 2008
11 Grizzled Skippers, about 12 Dingy Skippers (one on the middle slopes) were seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill visiting the abundant Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa. They were lively and the numbers were thought most likely to be an underestimate.

2 May 2008
On a mild sunny day, 13.2 °C, five Grizzled Skippers were seen on a leisurely (30 minutes) passage trip over the lower slopes of Mill Hill visiting the very common Horseshoe Vetch, Hippocrepis comosa, and common Milkwort flowers and landing on Bramble leaves, but none on the common Dog Violets and Daisies. Two of the Grizzled Skippers appeared to be courting. Two Dingy Skippers were spotted. One of them was much darker than normal and I mistook it at first for a Burnet Companion Moth.
Adur Butterfly List 2008

27 April 2008
With spots of rain and a relatively cool 13.8 °C, the butterflies remained moribund in the morning. On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, I disturbed just two Grizzled Skippers, one resting on a tall dead plant.

25 April 2008
The first Dingy Skipper of 2008 was seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill around midday. One Grizzled Skipper was also spotted on a passage journey on a muggy day. A birdwatcher reported seeing five Grizzled Skippers.

16 April 2008
In the late afternoon, past the optimum time for butterflies, on the transect walk of the lower slopes of Mill Hill, there were no Grizzled Skippers to be seen as definites in passing, so I retraced my steps and a smaller male was seen amongst the Bramble and then a second one. There was a larger female on the path as it enters the scrub to the north settled briefly in the weak sunshine. I surmised a correlation between the Grizzled Skippers and Bramble, which is one of its larval food plants.

My first Small Skipper (butterfly) of 2007 was spotted on the Downs Link path south of the Buffer Stop in Shoreham town.

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. The positive sighting was confirmed by an out of focus photograph.

Fortunately, the unwanted cattle have not yet wandered down to the lower slopes of Mill Hill. It was exceptionally quiet. However, this applied to the butterflies as well and I only recorded eleven Dingy Skippers. No Grizzled Skippers were noticed.
Butterfly Report

24 April 2007
On Mill Hill where the lower slopes abounded with skippers, there were about 15 Grizzled Skippers and 40 Dingy Skippers in the acre transect area.

22 April 2007
Skippers were all over the Shoreham Bank. The count did not record as many as there appeared with 7+ Grizzled Skippers and 16+ Dingy Skippers in the transect acre.
Addenda Report by Paul & Bridget James on Sussex Butterflies

Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Adur Butterflies: First Dates

In the pleasant midday sunshine (nearly 20 ºC) butterflies were very frequent, but nothing special. I eventually managed to capture a Large Skipper on my camera. Nine Large Skippers were seen, two together on the upper meadows of Mill Hill and seven on Slonk Hill Cutting south.

20 June 2006
There were five Large Skippers, four on the lower slopes of Mill Hill and one on Slonk Hill Cutting south.

On the lower slopes of Mill Hill, I was surprised at a spotting a late Grizzled Skipper (absolutely definite) and I had a better look at a Large Skipper that did not settle.

On the Coastal Link Cyclepath at the extreme southern end of the path near the demolished railway bridge there was a probable Large Skipper which did not settle for confirmation.

Amongst the long grass meadow north of the top car park on Mill Hill, I had a brief sight of my first Large Skipper of the year (the only skipper of the day). I did not get a good a look as I would have liked to identify it, but Large Skippers precede the Small Skippers, so that is what it was.
Adur Butterfly First Flight Times

A quarter transect stroll in the late morning sunshine saw the signs of diminishing Horseshoe Vetch on the lower slopes of Mill Hill to something like 70% of their peak with two definite Grizzled Skippers and I had to wait 15 minutes (a long time) to confirm a Dingy Skipper.

28 May 2006
Butterflies were sparse for the time of the year, the only skippers seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill were five Dingy Skippers.

15 May 2006
The lower slopes of Mill Hill produced 15 Dingy Skippers, just the one confirmed Grizzled Skipper in the hazy sunshine (19.8 ºC) over a quarter of the transect covering about two-thirds of an acre. The Grizzled Skipper was noted visiting Milkwort.

14 May 2006
On the lower slopes of Mill Hill the sun struggled to come out in the afternoon and I recorded 13 Dingy Skippers and five Grizzled Skippers.


Butterfly Report and List

3 August 2005
I made a quick 30 minutes visit to Mill Hill and found a surprise was almost immediate sighting of a second brood Dingy Skipper, only the second second brood I have ever recorded, and the first in the month of August.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

2 August 2005
Small/Essex Skippers were still about and an estimated ten were seen on Slonk Hill Cutting and Mill Hill.

17 July 2005
Butterflies were common (about 400 in an hour) but at least half of them were Small/Essex Skippers. The highest density was on the Slonk Hill southern bank. There were were at least 200 in the long grass and herbs, mainly adjacent to the path. Many more appeared if the grass was disturbed. Over 20 Small/Essex Skippers were scattered over Mill Hill.

10 July 2005
As the temperature hit 27.2° C, a short walk to the top of the Drive and along the Slonk Hill Cutting produced 23+ (counted) Small/Essex Skippers, but no Large Skippers.

9 July 2005
New Monks Farm, Lancing: in the Elm Corridor were a handful of confirmed Large Skippers, about a dozen confirmed Small/Essex Skippers.

8 July 2005

One Large Skipper was confirmed from the lower slopes of Mill Hill.
Five Small (or Essex) Skippers were confirmed from the Slonk Hill Bank Cutting (south).

6 July 2005
Three Small/Essex Skippers were confirmed on the Waterworks Road and nearby. The difference in size between the the Large Skipper seen first and the Small Skipper seen a minute later was distinctive and obvious.
I am not sure if these were Small or Essex Skippers? They were smaller than the ones on Slonk Hill south three days before. They were not so restless, but this may be because the day was overcast.

3 July 2005
The first confirmed record of a Small Skipper that settled and could be positively identified in the same area of Slonk Hill south where there were a dozen of these restless small skippers.
Adur Butterflies: First Dates

24 June 2005
Two Large Skippers were confirmed from the plateau area with long grasses and Bird's Foot Trefoil south of the upper car park on Mill Hill.
Butterfly List for the Day

23 June 2005
Unidentified skippers on the Lancing Ring meadows and New Monks Farm and one on the the Coastal Link Cyclepath SE of the Toll Bridge (near the demolished railway bridge) could have been the first Small Skippers of the year, but they would not remain still long enough for identification. They were probably Large Skippers as they looked like the skippers of the the following day on Mill Hill.
Butterfly List for the Day

7 June 2005
On the Dovecote Bank the first Large Skipper of the year was recognised although they had been seen an hour or so before on the south bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting.

22 May 2005
The lower slopes of Mill Hill under a cloudy sky recorded Dingy Skippers 5+, a Grizzled Skipper on the upper slopes as well. So brief was my stay that the numbers of the butterflies were rather low.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005
The Horseshoe Vetch was at its peak or slightly past it.

18 May 2005
Late in the afternoon (after 4:00 pm) is usually disappointing. There were no skippers actually seen on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

15 May 2005
Dingy Skippers (20+) and Grizzled Skippers (12+) on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

9 May 2005 Dingy Skippers 17 Grizzled Skippers 4

6 May 2005 Dingy Skippers 12 Grizzled Skippers 10

1 May 2005 Dingy Skippers 3 Grizzled Skippers 6

These skippers were recorded on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

29 April 2005
The first Dingy Skipper of the year on the lower slopes of Mill Hill was expected, even overdue.

27 April 2005
Grizzled Skippers 11+ were the most distinctive butterfly on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

21 April 2005 Grizzled Skipper 1

19 April 2005 Grizzled Skipper 1

15 April 2005 Grizzled Skipper 1

These Grizzled Skippers were recorded on the lower slopes of Mill Hill.

10 April 2005
The first, and only one, Grizzled Skipper (Butterfly) of the year landed on the lower slopes of Mill Hill for just a few seconds at 3:42 pm before it flew rapidly over the scrub and out of view.

Back to Butterfly List 2005


5 May 2003 Lower Slopes of Mill Hill	10 May 2004 Lower slopes of Mill Hill


21 June 2003 Spring Dyke	21 June 2004 Mill Hill


26 June 2003 Lancing Ring meadows This is definitely a male Small Skipper, given away by the sex brand. Identified by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies	26 June 2003 Lancing Ring meadows


26 June 2003 Lancing Ring meadows	15 July 2004: Mill Hill Upper Slopes Another Image Identified as an Essex Skipper by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies


19 July 2003 Spring Dyke	19 July 2003 Spring Dyke

How to distinguish the Common Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris from the Essex Skipper, T. lineola

Antennae Photographs Link

Essex and Small Skipper ID Message Thread

13 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows 6 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows
Identified as an Small Skipper by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies

Link to image of Small Skippers mating

18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South 18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South

18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South 6 July 2004: Slonk Hill South
Essex Skipper
Identified by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies

I've had a quick look at your skippers page and can be confident of all the males, at least! But you have probably identified those already. I also have a strong idea about some of the females.

The picture marked 6th July is a male Essex skipper, identified by the sex brand.
Immediately below this picture is another Essex skipper, I think.
The first insect marked 26 June 2003 Lancing Ring meadows is definitely a male small skipper, again given away by the sex brand. To the right of that picture is a close-up with the same description, which looks to me like Essex, but if they are the same insect then it has to be small skipper, because there is no doubt about the first ID.
15 July 2004: Mill Hill Upper Slopes is definitely Essex.
6 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows is definitely Small.
6 July 2004: Slonk Hill South is definitely Essex.

I have opinions about the others, but not so I can say 'definitely'!

Comments by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies

Skippers of the downs near Shoreham
Lancing Butterflies and Moths
Adur First Butterfly Dates
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
Skipper ID Page
Message (from Jack Harrison) to link to photographs to help ID Skippers
Skipper Photographs (Liz Goodyear) Archive

British Butterflies: Family Hesperiidae

The essential difference is that Large Skipper always shows a U- or S-shaped band of clear-cut paler square patches towards the apex of the forewing, one patch in each membrane.
The Silver-spotted Skipper also has these patches, and there's something of the same in the Lulworth Skipper.
In the Lulworth these pale patches or "spots" form a rough circle, whereas in Large they take on a highly consistent U- or S-shaped formation. They are visible on the underside of the wing too, though less so because the ground colour itself is lighter there. Once learned, this pattern is immediately recognisable. Small and Essex Skippers have no such lighter spots or patches on the upper wings.
Original Message

Advice by Pat Bonham on UK Leps (Yahoo Group)

Large Skippers I have looked at recently they also have small 'hooks' at the end of their antennae which I have not seen with the Small and Essex Skippers. (see the photographs above). Image.

Comment by Reg Fry on UK Leps (Yahoo Group)

Cockayne:
Small Skipper
Essex Skipper

Birdguides:

The Small Skipper is certainly smaller in size than the Large Skipper but about the same size as the Lulworth and Essex Skippers. However it differs from them, as it is a plain, all over gingery orange, with only a few faint dark vein markings and a narrow dark marginal outline. The male has a thin black streak of sexual scent glands. The Small and the Essex are very hard to distinguish, but the underneath of the tips of the antennae of the Small Skipper are orange (that of the Essex being black).

The Essex Skipper is very similar indeed to the Small Skipper and the Lulworth Skipper (reflected in the generic name 'Thymelicus') except that in general the Essex Skipper is a slightly duller gold colour as opposed to the ginger of the Small Skipper. The only really distinguishable difference lies in the antennae - those of the Essex are black underneath the tips.

Skippers Gallery

Back to Butterfly List 2004

Adur Butterfly List 2020

Mill Hill	Grizzled Skipper	Dingy Skipper
6 June 2010		2
30 May 2010		1
23 May 2010	4	15
16 May 2010	3	15
14 May 2010	1	6
12 May 2010		13
27 April 2010	5	6
18 April 2010	6	1

9 May 2005	Dingy Skippers 17	Grizzled Skippers 4
6 May 2005	Dingy Skippers 12	Grizzled Skippers 10
1 May 2005	Dingy Skippers 3	Grizzled Skippers 6

21 April 2005	Grizzled Skipper 1
19 April 2005	Grizzled Skipper 1
15 April 2005	Grizzled Skipper 1


13 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows	6 July 2004: Malthouse Meadows Identified as an Small Skipper by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies


18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South	18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South


18 July 2004: Slonk Hill South	6 July 2004: Slonk Hill South Essex Skipper Identified by Guy Padfield on UK Butterflies