The end of July and it's Silver-spotted Skipper time again. That means a trip to Newtimber Hill and a morning searching one of the most productive butterflying locations on the Sussex Downs. Not having spent much time butterflying this year it was also a good opportunity to top up the year list with the downland species.
Sightings included Small, Large and Essex Skippers; Common Blue, Chalkhill Blue, Holly Blue, and Brown Argus; Small White, Green-veined White, and Marbled White; plus Painted Lady, Peacock, Dark Green Fritillary, Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and a few micro moths. Not a bad haul but I was disappointed not to see Brimstone, Wall Browns and Small Tortoiseshell which this trip has delivered in previous years.
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| Silver-spotted Skipper |
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Silver-spotted Skipper
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Some of the other butterflies seen today
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Brown Argus
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| Common Blue |
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Essex Skipper - Black tips to the underside of the antenna
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Green-veined White
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Small Copper
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A couple of the micro moths. There were a good number about but I couldn't get any clear shots.
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Pyrausta nigrata
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Pyrausta purpuralis
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and a few from last week
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Chalkhill Blue
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Dark Green Fritillary
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Dark green underwings but it is a Silver-washed Fritillary
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Lighter coloured Silver-washed Fritillary
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Large Skipper
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Peacock
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| Small Skipper - orange tips to the underside of the antenna |
I have missed a good few of the butterflies this year but visiting Newtimber for the Silver-spotted Skippers is one of the essentials for the year.
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