The River Arun, rabbits, a cemetery and a squirrel

Common Ragwort, Senecio jacobaea

Yesterday I ventured to new local areas to survey for butterflies as part of the Sussex Butterfly Atlas 2010-14. The county is divided into squares 2 kilometres by 2 kilometres, called tetrads and I have been allocated seven nearby squares. The first was around Lyminster and I parked near the church and discovered a new walk. I found a Red Admiral, two Small Whites and a Speckled Wood.

Meadow Brown

Next stop was Warningcamp where I found a wonderful new walk by the River Arun. I saw two rabbits with myxomatosis, one appeared to be blind and deaf. By the time I walked back this one was dead and I believe that it was finished off by a spaniel.

I saw Small Whites (above), Holly Blues, a Red Admiral, Speckled Woods and Meadow Brown.

Sue accompanied me on today’s surveys. She had excellent eyes for butterflies, I would have missed some without he. First stop was Littlehampton Cemetery where we saw Small Whites, Holly Blues and Speckled Woods and a squirrel.

Rowantree with berries, a sign of Autumn

mushroom

crow

Then we went to the River Arun where the same species as yesterday were seen, minus the Red Admiral.

Arundel Castle from the River Arun

bluebottle

lichen covered bushes

Marsh Mallow, Althaea officinalis, whose root has great medicinal properties

rabbit with myxomatosis