Horseshoe Plantation and Beachy Head - 14th June

A warm sunny June day on Beachy Head. First stop Horseshoe Plantation where the ponies have really now heavily grazed the area immediately to the east of Belle Tout wood and so there are relatively few butterflies there. Fortunately the area to the west is untouched and so plenty of butterflies here including Large Skipper, Common Blue, the occasional worn Adonis Blue, Brown Argus, Small Copper, Grizzled Skipper, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, Dark Green Fritillary and Marbled White. There are also a few Bee Orchids at the top of the hill but they really are quite stunted with small flowers.

male Adonis Blue

male Common Blue

Grizzled Skipper

Large Skipper & Brown Argus

Large Skipper

Small Copper

At Shooters Bottom I found my first Small Tortoiseshells in this area - they clearly are having a very good year everywhere.

Small Tortoiseshell

Small Tortoiseshell

Finally over to Whitbread Hollow at the eastern end of Beachy Head in the area surrounding the football pitches. The grazing cattle here have now been moved on which should allow the grass to grow. Some Small Skippers and a single Grizzled Skipper as well as Large Skippers. Hopefully Essex Skippers will be here soon. Also the occasional Adonis Blue still flashing its electric blue colours.

Grizzled Skipper

Grizzled Skipper

Large Skipper

Small Skipper