Small Skippers and Marbled Whites

Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

Yesterday morning I ventured out early, hoping for roosting Marbled Whites. I was at Fairmile Bottom at 6:45am but it was already too warm and the butterflies were flying. There were many Marbled Whites, Small Skippers and a few Dark Green Fritillaries. Afterwards I wandered round Houghton Forest and found a Red-necked Footman, Straw Dot and Nettle-tap moths. Still using the 18-55 zoom lens & ring flash.

In the evening we went to the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing to hear Sir Ranulph Fiennes & Anton Bowring give their talk "Life at the Limits". It was an entertaining and interesting evening, well worth the visit.

Fairmile Bottom:

Bramble, Rubus fruticosus

Dark Green Fritillary, Argynnis aglaja

Labyrinth Spider web, Agelena labyrinthica

Marbled White, Melanargia galathea

Marbled White

Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Campanula trachelium

Pyramidal Orchid, Anacamptis pyramidalis

Small Skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris

Southern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza praetamissa

Houghton Forest:

Brown-lipped Snail, Cepaea nemoralis

Common Nettle-tap, Anthophila fabriciana

Enchanter's Nightshade, Circaea lutetiana

female Wolf spider with cocoon

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea

Hairy St John's-wort, Hypericum hirsutum

Harvestman, Mitopus morio

Hedge Bindweed, Calystegia sepium

Hoverfly, Melangyna cincta

Kentish Snail, Monacha cantiana

Nettle Weevil, Phyllobius pomaceus

This weevil flipped on its back and played dead as soon as it detected that I was a threat. It stated that way for up to 10- seconds, then righted itself.

Nipplewort, Lapsana communis

Red-necked Footman, Atolmis rubricollis
with a hitch-hiker (rear end of right wing)

Red-necked Footman

Straw Dot, Rivula sericealis

White-lipped Snail, Cepaea hortensis

Wood Dock, Rumex sanguineus

views from balcony at the Pavilion Theatre: