Steyning Downland

A Dartford Warbler at Selsey Bill this morning (with thanks to OM for the text) nearly had me on my way down but alas work got in the way so instead I had to make do with a quick look for Brown Hairstreaks at Steyning on my way back from deliveries.

Unfortunately this was unsuccessful which was fairly surprising bearing in mind they are out & showing well at other sites, notably Shipton Bellinger in Hampshire; I think they do seem to be getting later at Steyning so we shall see what happens next Friday. Interestingly, there was a notable temperature drop along the lower blackthorn hedge compared to the trees in bright sun, perhaps this is responsible. Maybe they don't drop until the temperature gradient has evened out?

There were Speckled Woods, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Small Whites, a Brimstone, a Holly Blue or two, a Blackcap and some lovely Willow Warblers around the blackthorn and a couple of Buzzards over but that was about it (I didn't have the time to venture up the hill for Wall).

Chantry Hill & Steyning

As the Least Sandpiper in Devon had done a bunk and I'm planning on Swampy at Minsmere next week I stayed local today. A 1/2 hour look at Medmerry was rubbish with only a couple of Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper of any interest so I went off butterflying...here's where it gets good, dear reader!

Let's face it it's been a poor year for most species of butterflies but today Chantry Hill near Storrington was laden with species, pride of place going to a pristine Silver-spotted Skipper and a Small Copper. Other species, takes breath, were: Brimstone, Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary, Brown Argus, Chalkhill Blue, Small Heath, Peacock, Common Blue, Small Skipper, Green-veined White, Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Gatekeeper and Meadow Brown with Red Admirals and Commas along the SDW! Eighteen species!

Pushed my luck and in a quick look at Steyning didn't get Brown Hairstreak on the year list but a confiding, if tatty, Wall made up for it and was #19 for the day. Update, forgot a worn Ringlet at Steyning, #20!

At Chantry Hill I was also lucky enough to come across the nationally scarce Chalk Carpet moth, the ID of which I am indebted to Sean Foote of @MothIDUK, the power of twitter strikes again!

So what started out as poor ended up as pretty darn good day! 😀

Roesel's Bush Cricket:

Small Skipper:

Small Tortoiseshell:

Chalk Carpet moth:

Small Copper:

Common Blue, abberation, "blue" female:

Common Blue:

Chalkhill Blue:

...and friend!

Small Heath:

Silver-spottted Skipper:

Comma:

Wall:

...and nearly the open wing shot, nearly!

Harrier sp.

As I was driving past East Dean near Goodwood today I espied a ringtail Harrier sp. gliding along the downs and then far too quickly out of view; not a good enough look for a positive ID but definitely a Harrier of some type. I note Bob Eade and party also had one in the East today.

Whinchats

Not a lot today as time was limited but nice to see the three Whinchats at the back of the Breech Pool at North Wall, Pagham Harbour today, terrible photos to follow! Also two Spotted Redshanks on the pool but nothing else for me in ten minutes!


Spotted Redshanks:

Whinchats:

Chalkhill Blues

I went to Kithurst Meadow today mainly to check it out after hearing on the Sussex Butterflies that it was in a right old state and...it wasn't...not sure what that was about...bumped into CK who agreed that the meadow was in good shape and then randomly a lady cyclist pushing her bike along the meadow path, her words: "It's full of butterflies!!" Reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated!! A brief look at Chantry Hill as well found Small Skippers, more Chalkhill Blues but no Silver-spotted Skippers, too cloudy and cold for them I think. Pictures from Kithurst.

Chaklhill Blue, male:

Chalkhill Blue, female:

Marbled White:

Common Blue:

Blog-tastic

As some of you may have read elsewhere I am going to be doing a bit of editing on the SelseyBirder blog but fear not dear reader for I shall still be running this one! There might be a little duplication but I hope not as this will concentrate more on insect, plants and sightings from outside the Selsey area.

Medmerry and a Swallowtail or not?

A bit of excitement with a report of a Swallowtail in Birdham this morning but it now appears that, thanks to the power of Twitter, it is actually a victorina stelenes, thus:

Or perhaps a Malachite, siproeta stelenes.

The original taken by Paul Stent here for comparison:

On to Medmerry & I cycled down to the stilt pools from Easton Lane bumping into AH and his group of ladies on the way (!), not a vast amount going on but there's usually something to see here.

Water Beetles:

Common Blue:

Small Skipper:

Saliconia sp.:

Sea Kale:

Common Sandpiper:

Common Darter: