Hello,
15 August 2010
Despite the cloudy autumnal weather conditions, the blue butterflies were out and about with over fifty
Holly Blues on the outskirts of Shoreham (Sussex) and over a hundred each of
Chalkhill Blues,
Adonis Blues and
Common Blues on Mill Hill (north of Shoreham).
About 15 Holly Blues were around the bushes at the top of Chanctonbury Drive, (SE of Mill Hill Bridge) but just about anywhere there was a hedgerow in town and on the outskirts a Holly Blue would flutter around but they would very rarely settle with their wings open. The 1.2 transect on the lower slopes of Mill Hill was timed at 30 minutes because I stopped to take photographs and on a few occasions the blues were too numerous to count exactly but the total was a minimum of 39 male Chalkhill Blues and 73 Adonis Blues, including at least five females, and an estimated 30 Common Blues, including occasional females. A pair of Adonis Blues were mating. Over half of the butterflies were resting and many of the Adonis Blues were spotted resting in depressions amongst the herbs. After counting I stopped to rest and many more of all species appeared. The blue butterflies were all over the steeper slopes and the total numbers were at least three times the numbers counted and probably many more than that. Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were still frequently seen and there were two Small Heaths on the lower slopes (and half a dozen more on the upper plateau), with six Wall Browns on the lower slopes (and at least five more on the middle slopes and two on the Pixie Path). Common Blues were seen all over Mill Hill, with 30+ in the middle slopes (Triangle area) but the top meadows were not very well populated with just 20, but there were another 50 seen including 20 seen south of the Reservoir, many resting in the long grasses which probably had hidden many more. Other butterflies present were frequent Large Whites, a few Speckled Woods in the Mill Hill scrub, a Brown Argus definitely identified although female Common Blues were most likely.
On the south-western part of Mill Hill Cutting, the Chalkhill Blues were courting and mating with at least a dozen males and five females. The Pixie Path hosted occasional Gatekeepers, a Speckled Wood, Holly Blues and a Small White.
No more pictures on the web pages. I have run out of web space.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2010.html
Cheers
Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2010.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: August 2010
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/August2010.html
Sussex Downs Facebook Group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111843132181316
Twelve species
. Very good numbers of Chalkhill and Adonis Blue were seen. Other headliners were 3 Dark Green Fritillary and 10 or more immaculate Brimstone. 
.
plenty of common blues, 1 male Brimstone, 1 Holly blue. 
. From what I've heard about Fermyn Wood it's certainly worth the trip.