Wednesday 12th May. The forecast in the morning hinted at heavy showers (again!), certainly if I stayed at home, but maybe with a lower risk further south. I therefore followed through with the plan conceived the evening before and headed for High & Over on the South Downs behind Seaford. The target was the Wall Brown, annoying absent from sight on my recent visit to Mill Hill, but almost a given at H & O.
I stopped for a coffee at Pease Pottage services, and was greeted by one of the forecast showers, and it was none too warm at 9am either. However, as I headed down the A23 things improved, and reaching the outskirts of Brighton and heading east there was for a while wall-to-wall blue sky. In fact this continued to Seaford, but as I climbed the hill behind the town, fluffy cotton wool clouds were interfering with the sun, blowing in from the sea on a stiffish breeze. Despite fair amounts of sunshine, even in the sheltered parts of my destination site I found nothing except Speckled Woods - not a single Wall.
However, I had a Plan B. I set off across along the hill to the west through sheep-littered fields to reach the ancient trackway known as the Comp. This track is somewhat sunken and runs between high hedges which provide terrific shelter from most wind directions, but always have sunlit parts. Most importantly, the track provides an excellent environment for Wall Browns and I am pleased to say this was the case today. After a short while, there was the familiar sight of an orange-brown butterfly bouncing along the path ahead. However, what was less familiar was that it was approachable - as were most of the others I saw here. The constant changes in sun intensity as the cloud came and went, plus the overall lowish temperatures, probably combined to make the butterflies more inclined to bask. Whatever the reason, I wasn't complaining.
The butterflies were all pretty fresh as well and initially all appeared to be males.
It still looked sunnier to the west, so I headed back in that direction - but continued on to Mill Hill rather than returning home. Another post for that I think.
Dave
Cracking set of shots 
Lush Adonis...I was just cathing up as well and then Painted Lady, Wall, Adonis so still behind 
This wet and cool weather has had one benefit and that's what feels like an extended OT flight, although it's probably that they're often the only thing flying 
Lovely Small Heaths - I love the variation in the spotting, it's like the warm up activity for me before the Hedgies arrive 
