Essex and Small Skippers at Pagham Harbour

Pagham Harbour nature reserve

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Yesterday afternoon Sue and I visited Pagham Harbour nature reserve, which is now run by the RSPB. In the area by the pond neae the car park I found both Essex and Small Skippers, Gatekeepers, a Meadow Brown and a Red Admiral.

Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum

Essex Skipper, female, Thymelicus lineola

The underside of the tip of the antennae is black which distinguishes it from the Small Skipper which has an orange under-tip.

Essex Skipper, male, Thymelicus lineola

The sex brand of the male is short and parallel to the wing edge (red circle above) whereas the Small Skipper male has a longer sex brand which is at an angle to the wing edge.

female Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

Hoverfly, Eristalis interruptus

female Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Teasels and thistles

Buddleia

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

Small Skipper, female, Thymelicus sylvestris

Small Skipper, female, Thymelicus sylvestris

The underside of the antennae tip is orange, whereas the Essex Skipper has a black under-tip.