 |
| Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla |
Yesterday afternoon I started at the Dover Lane woods hoping
for an Orange-tip. I saw Brimstones, Peacocks and a Comma. I also believe I found a Nuthatch nest site 40 feet up. I then received a
call from Mark advising that a Scarce Tortoiseshell (aka Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis xanthomelas) had been found at
Pulborough Brooks by Jan-Paul Charteris and Claire. I arrived on site 20 minutes after it
was last seen. This butterfly has never been recorded in Sussex before. It is resident
in central and eastern Europe with occasional sightings in Scandinavia and
Germany.
In July 2014 specimens were
reported from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex,Kent: Bugalert
records
Jan-Paul Charteris and Claire obtained good
photos which prove its identity: Flickr
photos
The butterfly was in a small warm area at Pulborough Brooks from 12-3pm.
A squirrel at the top of a Pussy Willow reached up to bend a branch to reach the catkins which it then ate.
Today I joined other enthusiasts on site at 10am. In spite of the
warm weather there was no sign of the butterfly. I left about 3:30pm.
A
Blackcap sang loudly in the area. Plenty of Brimstones, Peacocks and Commas
were seen.
Dover Lane woods:
 |
| Bee Fly, Bombylius major |
 |
| Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni |
 |
| Brimstone nectaring on primroses |
 |
| Comma, Polygonia c-album |
 |
| fly on Wood Anemone |
 |
| fungus - Stereum species |
 |
| Nuthatch, Sitta europaea |
 |
| this second Nuthatch came out of the hole |
 |
| Peacock, Inachis io |
 |
| White-footed Hoverfly, Platycheirus albimanus on Wood Anemone |
 |
| White-footed Hoverfly |
 |
| Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa |
Pulborough Brooks:
 |
| Grey Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis on Pussy Willow |
 |
| eating the catkins |
Today:
 |
| Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla |
 |
| Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni |
 |
| Brimstone take-off |
 |
| Comma, Polygonia c-album |
 |
Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae
a predator has taken a lump out of it. |
 |
| Peacock, Inachis io |
 |
| Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba, one of a pair |
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