I went to Friston Gallops for the second time this year. Conditions were about 19C and quite bright, but with a fresh sea breeze. At times this blew in a bit of mist which (literally) cooled down the butterfly activity, but gave me a chance to get some photos.
Small Heath were still the most numerous species with well over 100 seen. Once again, they are most prevalent along the lower eastern margin of the site, with one or two seen every few yards. However, this time they have been joined by the Blues. There are good numbers of Common Blue all over the site, and I saw one unusually blue female. I don't know if this is a specific aberration or just normal variation.
![DSC_0389a.jpg (564.55 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Common Blue (f, ab?)](./files/thumb_13304_6907c046dd496eaf77507074f30a87b5)
- Common Blue (f, ab?)
At the higher northern end of the site, there is a very extensive carpet of Horseshoe Vetch, where the flowers are now just past their best. In this area, Common Blue are outnumbered by Adonis Blue. I must have seen over 50 in a relatively small area, mostly males but a few females, including a mating pair. I have never had much luck with first brood Adonis Blues at this site, so these numbers are by far the most I have ever seen here. It bodes well for the second brood later in the year, and also for the Chalk Hill Blues when they emerge in a month or so. Perhaps we will have another population explosion like we did in 2011? I live in hope!
![DSC_0392a.jpg (789.06 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Adonis Blue (pair in cop.)](./files/thumb_13304_886821f42c728a54cf9997eabd78abaa)
- Adonis Blue (pair in cop.)
I also saw Dingy Skipper (2), Grizzled Skipper (2), and my first sightings this year of both Meadow Brown (2) and Large Skipper (5), one of which posed nicely for me. Moth-wise, there were several Silver Y, Cinnabar, and a Burnet Companion which also posed for me.
![DSC_0368a.jpg (523.59 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Dingy Skipper](./files/thumb_13304_c79547443bdc6eb8221b815985377bbb)
- Dingy Skipper
![DSC_0373a.jpg (405.73 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Grizzled Skipper](./files/thumb_13304_533f49f4fa5eb862d58d9443ded0c7c0)
- Grizzled Skipper
![DSC_0422a.jpg (580.06 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Large Skipper](./files/thumb_13304_2eaade9cfaa0b3eedc6629f1f0833a1f)
- Large Skipper
![DSC_0409a.jpg (783.62 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Meadow Brown](./files/thumb_13304_e866ba5b9d919ead37712600b9e264f9)
- Meadow Brown
![DSC_0399a.jpg (479.67 KiB) Viewed 4314 times Burnet Companion moth](./files/thumb_13304_c17cb2ec21f9b0af17d6633e3d3cea25)
- Burnet Companion moth