I took my friend 'Silver Spotted Fingers' Michael out for the day today. We had a lovely day out last August and with him not having seen one since he was 7, I had promised him a Purple Emperor this year....
He lives in Tunbridge Wells which meant getting up at silly o'clock for me. I arrived at his at 08.00. However, with Mike cooking the biggest breakfast known to man and me taking the wrong road out of Tunbridge Wells we didn't arrive to our first stop - Southwater Woods, West Sussex (TQ141255) until after 10.00.
Mike did get his iris, but unfortunately not on the ground. White Admiral and Silver Washed still in good numbers, although slightly down on last week.
Southwater sightings:
4 Purple Emperor
25+ White Admiral
50+ Silver Washed Fritillary, including a mating pair
3 Comma
2 Marbled White
50+ Meadow Brown
25+ Ringlet
25+ Speckled Wood
1 Small Heath
2 Gatekeeper (first of the year)
4 Large Skipper
10+ Essex/Small Skipper (we saw both)
5 Large White
5 Small White
5 Green Veined White Excuse the frame filling but this White Admiral landed right in front of my face and I didn't want to move too much in case I scared it off.. Second stop was Mill Hill, near Shoreham, West Sussex (TQ212067). I hadn't been here before and it was lovely. Didn't actually take any butterfly pics but plenty of views. We walked from the top car park down through the woods and onto the slopes. There was a sea mist rolling in off the coast which looked very odd from our elevated view point. Anyone on the south coast in Sussex on Saturday must have been under a blanket!
Mill Hill sightings:
1 Red Admiral
6 Peacock
1 Comma
3 Small Tortoiseshell
1 Brimstone
2 Large White
10+ Marbled White
3 Speckled Wood
6 Gatekeeper
15+ Meadow Brown
1 Small or Essex Skipper
Lots of Burnets
We moved east for our last stop - Wilmington Hill, East Sussex (TQ544033) above the long man, which for the second year in a row had been adorned with (ahem) extra apendages
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
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Mike and I came here on 17th August last year and it was so nice I wanted to come back this year earlier. And I'll be back this year too.
We were off to a good start with a Hummingbird Hawk moth and a Holly Blue in the car park. Our target was one of my favourite butterflies, the Chalkhill Blue. We were in luck
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Wilmington Hill sightings:
25+ Dark Green Fritillary
1 Red Admiral
1 Painted Lady
2 Small Tortoiseshell
25+ Chalkhill Blue (all male)
1 Common Blue (male)
1 Holly Blue
6 Small Copper
50+ Marbled White
150+ Meadow Brown
100+ Small Heath
5 Gatekeeper
2 Large White
1 Small White
1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth
2 Silver Y
Plenty of Burnets
1 Cinnabar
1 Forester
We stopped for a well earned pint in Wilmington before heading back to Tunbridge Wells. On the way we drove past Abbots Wood and just near the entrance I noticed a long line of mature oaks with the tops in evening sunlight. I stopped the car and sure enough there were 10+ Purple Hairstreak dancing around, my first of the year.
I make that 27 species, easily my best one day tally for butterflies
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)