A Summer Butterfly Spotting trip on the Sussex Downs
This year appears to be a good year for butterflies. Here in Sussex, we have had a particularly healthy number of painted lady butterflies arrive from the continent (originally from Africa) a while back and despite some particularly windy and wet weather in July we’ve notice quite a few in our back garden lately.
My kids are now in their summer holidays, and my son in particular wants to try some hobbies this year. I bought the kids some Usborne Spotter's Guides. We have; Butterflies, Birds, Sea-shore, Wild Flowers and Insects. The kids, having seen butterflies in the garden asked if we could go out and look for some, so of course, off we went!
Location
Based upon no prior knowledge whatsoever, we chose Salvington Hill in Worthing (TQ118068) as our location, parking at the public car park by the dog walking fields to the south of Honeysuckle Lane, and walking up the footpath towards the top of the hill.
The lower part of the walk is wooded on both sides of the path, and it was clear from this area alone that butterflies are very much tied to their particular habitats. We saw quite a few Speckled Woods in this area (see below), which (I have since read) are quite partial to the abundant nettles and particularly brambles in the area, which were in flower at the time.
Speckled Wood
Also present in certain parts were a few beautiful Peacock butterflies, but as these were away from the path within large protected banks of brambles, I only managed a distant shot of one of them. They are such a beautiful butterfly to look at, with those lovely deep reds and blues.
Peacock Butterfly on Bramble Flower
Moving on up the Hill
Further up, where the woodland is restricted to the Eastern side of the path, we saw quite a few white butterflies, but I’m not sure of the specific species we saw. There were also a few Red Admirals to be seen here, despite a brisk cross wind from the West. Both of these species were far more easily spooked that the Browns further down the hill, so photographing them was tricky.
I think this is a Small White (according to our spotter's guide!)
Small White
There were a few Red Admirals along the edge of the cornfield adjacent to the path.
Red Admiral hiding behind some grass!
Once again, I think this is a Wood White, although it's not easy to tell for sure from the photograph alone. so, any advice on which species it is would be helpful.
Wood White (I think!)
Download species
As we approached the highest point of our walk, I spotted a grass meadow to the West of the path, dotted with sheep, and separated from the path by a barbed wire fence. I remarked to my son that we may see a few blue butterflies up here (as even I was aware that they inhabit chalk grassland).
Within seconds we’d spotted a pair of beautiful blue butterflies flying across the path in front, and closer inspection revealed many of these small vibrantly coloured creatures.
Beautiful Blue
This photo shows the intricate beauty of the under-side of the Common Blue butterflies wings. I'm quite proud of this photo in fact.
Amazing Blue under-wing pattern
Roughly the same size, we also spotted some delicate Brown Argus butterflies, which were also happy fluttering amongst the long grasses at the side of the path and in the adjacent field.
Brown Argus
On this area we also spotted what appears to be a type of skipper (Essex perhaps), and a few whites.
Unknown Skipper
There were also a few clusters of ripe blackberries in the area, so the kids soon set to work grazing on these whilst I stalked a few of the butterflies with the camera!
Whilst they feasted on the wild fruit, we spotted another 2 species. I managed to get a photo of both flitting around the grasses at the top of the hill.
The painted lady below, was the only example we saw on the trip, and was looked rather forlorn, with damaged wings.
Painted Lady
We saw a couple of Gatekeeper, or Hedge Brown butterflies in this area, and luckily 1 posed for a second on the grasses, to allow me to take a photo. Thank you!
Gate Keeper
So, we have 10 species photographed, and due to our lack of experience we probably missed a few amongst the numerous blues atop the hill.
As would appear to be the norm with butterfly walks, I guess I'd better give an estimate of the numbers we saw:
Speckled Wood - 20 (all within the wooded areas)
Peacock - 3 (all in the same well protected area of brambles)
Whites - 12 (I'm not able to distinguish between the different species 'on the wing')
Blues - 40 (Lots of blues up at the top of the walk)
Red Admiral - 4 (all alongside the cornfields)
Brown Argus - 2 (not very numerous)
Gatekeeper - 2
Skipper - just 1
Painted Lady - 1
If I've got any of the idenities wrong, please comment on here... I'm happy to learn!
Cheers
Kieron.
