Butterflies abound and fog curtails travel

Peacock, Inachis io, on Lesser Celandine

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Yesterday morning I visited Angmering Woods again as the Orange-tip should appear any day now. It’s larval food plant, Cuckoo Flower (Lady’s Smock) is in flower at other sites. I was delighted to see five butterfly species: many Brimstones, including a female, 2 Peacocks, a Comma, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral. Additional pleasure was afforded by two woodpeckers beating out tunes in adjacent trees. Skylarks added a background melody.

Late afternoon we returned from Worthing Hospital where Sue had her stitches removed. Her surgeon advised her second knee replacement was healing very well two weeks after the event. After supper I optimistically set off to SusSAR training in East Sussex. However, by the time I reached the A27 near Angmering, the fog had got very thick so I aborted the trip. At about the same time a foggy accident occurred at Climping and the paper reported “Heavy fog and mist is effecting much of the Gazette area, with visibility significantly reduced.” As I write this at 11am fog is still obscuring the sea view from my window.

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni, on Primrose

Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni, on Primrose

Comma, Polygonia c-album

Daisy, Bellis perennis

Common Field Speedwell, Veronica persica

Peacock, Inachis io

When I disturbed this Peacock, it closed its wings and became very well camouflaged on the leaf litter.

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa