Second brood Dingy Skippers at Mill Hill

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We were woken at 3:30 by a SusSAR callout. I was halfway to the far east of East Sussex when a standown message came in. The missing person had been found safe and well in the care home that she was reported missing from! I got a couple of hours sleep then headed off to Mill Hill to get my weekly butterfly transect done while the sun was shining.

More Chalkhill Blues have emerged, including some large specimens. There was a second brood of Adonis Blue. A big surprise was second brood Dingy Skippers which Neil advised is a rare event. I also saw a grass snake slither away into the brambles. 

The count was 5 Adonis Blue, 1 Brimstone, 1 Brown Argus, 9 Chalkhill Blue, 1 Comma, 1 Common Blue, 2 Dingy Skipper, 6 Gatekeeper, 1 Large White, 2 Marbled White, 7 Meadow Brown, 8 Peacock, 7 Red Admiral, 2Small Heath, 4 Wall Brown.

mating Gatekeepers

Peacock

male Brimstone

Chalkhill Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Common Blue

Brown Argus

second brood Dingy Skipper

Dingy Skipper

Common Blue

Dingy Skipper

male Adonis Blue

Gatekeeper on Ragwort

Common Blue drying out

After Mill Hill I visited Steyning Rifle range again to see if any Brown Hairstreaks were out yet, but saw no one.

Blackbird has an insect, the sparrow followed her everywhere

Green-veined White

Small Skipper

Red Admiral

Red Admiral

Clouds over Steyning