Kithurst, Mill Hill and Southwater

male Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

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I returned to KIthurst Hill early on Sunday and again enjoyed the prolific Chalkhill Blues shimmering among the flowers and grasses. In addition there was a Green-veined White, Large Skippers, Marbled Whites, mating Meadow Browns, a Red Admiral and very tatty Small Copper.

I then completed my weekly transect at Mill Hill and was struck by the low numbers of Chalkhills compared to Kithurst. Transect count: Chalkhill Blue: male 24, female 2; Gatekeeper 2, Large White 4, Marbled White 1, Meadow Brown 15, Peacock 2, Red Admiral 2, Small Heath 4, Small White 1. There were Cinnabar larvae on ragwort.

Finally I went to Southwater Woods and saw a Purple Emperor and Purple Hairstreak at the top of the Trout Lane master oak. A Holly Blue drifted across. There was plenty of White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.

Kithurst Hill:

male Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

male Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

male Chalkhill Blue, Lysandra coridon

male Green-veined White, Pieris napi

The meadow looking south

Large Skipper, Ochlodes faunus

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea

female Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Meadow Browns mating, Maniola jurtina

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalant

Red Poppies, Papaver rhoeas

Silver Y moth, Autographa gamma

tatty Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas

Mill Hill:

Cinnabar caterpillar, Tyria jacobaeae

Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

view towards Shoreham and the sea

Mullein, Verbascum thapsus

Peacock, Inachis io

Peacock and female Small White, Pieris rapae

female Small White, Pieris rapae

Southwater Woods:

Comma, Polygonia c-album

Purple Emperor, Apatura iris

Silver-washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia

White Admiral, Limenitis camilla

White Admiral, Limenitis camilla