It's still there today and is without doubt the most popular bird in Sussex at the moment. I'm glad I saw it yesterday before the crowds descended on Tide Mills!! All the birders in Sussex owe you a drink!!!!!!

Yesterday morning I met up with James, B. Rex when I was hoping I would be able to show him a few egg laying Wall Brown. One surprise was an encounter with a late 2nd brood butterfly showing that there has been an overlap of the broods this year. I managed a grab shot of her to show she is wearing, ...

Hi Paul. That was a heck of a find. I was still there at 5pm filling my boots with pictures of this fabulous bird. Glad Matt turned up and was able to let you use his lens. It was too good a chance to let go. Needless to say the LTBs were keeping their heads down with this bird around!!

Thanks all for the kind comments. I am so lucky living in an area where these great butterflies are still doing well!! Long may that continue.

That one across the road was a class ahead of the others. Great to see so many over the last couple of days!!

With such a strong 3rd brood of Wall Brown showing locally I have spent a little time watching them over the past 2 days. Both days I also bumped into Trevor as well as Katrina yesterday. A hunt over a larger area yesterday produced at least 20 including 5 females. Today, a smaller area was covered ...

Good to see you and Katrina today Trevor. I never did manage an accurate count but with 10 one side and more the other side it was simply over 20!! A total also of at least 5 different females. A few Clouded Yellows as well including one helice.

Yes Katrina. Very nice Wall Brown. As everyone knows they are not generally easy!!

The Chalkhill Blues have now started to emerge locally with a single fresh individual seen in the normal 2016 horrid weather!!

That view from your balcony is surely Le Col de Windover!!

Hi Trevor. Me and Matt also went to the Cevennes and stayed in Florac a few weeks ago. Like here the season was running late and we didn't see too many butterflies. Fortunately we were also looking for birds and orchids. Looks like you had a good trip. Beautiful area!!

Good to see your Dad out there enjoying the butterflies Neil.

Thanks all for those comments. I did forget to mention that the wind was blowing and it was only due to the butterfly not being too flighty that I was able to wait for a calmer moment!!

It was one of those days yesterday when all went to plan and beyond. James (B.Rex) had sent me a message to say he was heading for the bank where we often have good sightings. I was there some time before him and as I was strolling along the base of some bushes I spotted the first Small Copper seen ...

Excellent shots James. And there was you asking about how to get decent Pearl shots!! My turn now, how do you get decent Pearl shots????

A survey for BC today was generally disappointing except for good numbers of woodland Grizzled Skippers. The last one of which was a fine ab. taras. Unfortunately it only settled on horrid areas. However, it was a real beauty.

Thanks Jamie and Pauline. I was really pleased with the Hairstreak on the gorse you mentioned Jamie. The one I found yesterday though really did pose well for me and I managed a few shots of it that I've now put on the blog.

http://bobsbutterflies.blogspot.co.uk

I was lucky today to find a smart Green Hairstreak that showed a little of his top-wing. A Small Heath yesterday also performed well for me.

That Specklie is really smart Trevor, and very fresh!!

Hi Katrina. Hope you are well. I think your larva is a young Oak Eggar. These are quite common on the Sussex Downland. The Grass Eggar is thought to be extinct in West Sussex so it is very unlikely!! I've seen several Oak Eggar larva feeding on Bramble, they are enormous when fully grown. The adult ...