25 August 2007
The lower slopes of Mill Hill, Shoreham-by-Sea, were bathed in weak sunshine, which resulted in a few more butterflies in flight including frequent Meadow Browns, four Chalkhill Blues (including one female), 48 second brood Adonis Blues (including five females, four in mating pairs), 7 Small Heath Butterflies, a few distinctive Large Whites and frequent small pyralid moths Pyrausta nigrata. The scrub in the north-west added a few Speckled Woods and few Red Admirals. The Triangle area added two male Common Blues but the top meadows and plateau were only sparsely populated by Meadow Browns.
I spent an hour on the lower slopes of Mill Hill at midday yesterday in pursuit of Adonis. As well as seeing my first ever Clouded Yellow, I also saw about 5 to 10 Common Blues amongst the Adonis Blues (beneath the footpath)
How many Adonis Blues did you see please? I usually go up on Sunday, but I went on Saturday instead.
I went up this morning and say 45 Adonis of which 16 were females and the Clouded Yellow. There was one Common Blue.
Some Adonis were ragged and had lost their distinctive wing markings. It is conceivable that they could be mistaken for male Common Blues, but they were bigger.
I didn't stray far from where the old steps on the slope meet the footpath on the lower slope. I saw about 30 Adonis and I feel quite sure about the Commons. The contrast in hue was marked when they were in flight.
4 September 2007
Ten species of butterfly put in an appearance in the weak sunshine including 36 Adonis Blues (33 males and 3 females) on the lower slopes of Mill Hill, Old Shoreham. Just a single Chalkhill Blue Butterfly fluttered around Old Erringham pasture near the gate to Mill Hill Nature Reserve.
18 Common Blues in the middle area of Mill Hill and very frequent Meadow Browns on the downs and Adur Levels. Devil's Bit Scabious was in flower on Mill Hill and this attracted frequent Meadow Brown Butterflies. Eight Small Heath Butterflies were seen on the lower slopes with a further two on the upper part of Mill Hill.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2007.html