In August, many pictures of Brown Hairstreaks were coming onto the forums, and for some time it seemed I was going to miss out again this year. However, in late August an opportunity arose to visit Sussex. The weather was only borderline suitable for Britains laziest butterfly, warm but mostly cloudy- a theme that has become all too familiar since then. But fortune favours the brave!
We started with a morning at Anchor Bottom, where many hundreds of Adonis Blue were on the downland slopes-the warm, wet summer has clearly benefited this glorious species. I was also amazed at the numbers of autumn ladies tresses on site. One of the Adonis was feeding on round headed rampion, the pride of Sussex!
Then onto Steyning. As luck would have it, a short spell of sunshine was just enough, and I found what I was looking for within minutes of arrival-a Golden brown double Streak! I even managed to show it to a couple of visitors, from Kent. Just as well, for it soon clouded over again, and it was the only one I saw. A couple of Adonis Blue and Clouded Yellows were seen, too.
Although we later went back to Anchor Bottom, the weather was deteriorating, and nothing new was seen.