Horseshoe Plantation - 30th August

My final visit of the year to Horseshoe Plantation on an unseasonably cool late August day. The Adonis Blues were all bunkered down in the grass, looking very torpid, and only offering closed wing shots for photos. Likewise with the Brown Argus, Common Blues and Chalkhill Blues. At least it provides an excellent opportunity to compare these four species for identification purposes. A few Silver-spotted skippers also seen.

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Brown Argus

female Chalkhill Blue

male Common Blue

East Sussex Cemetery - 29th August

This East Sussex Cemetery, which in spring hosts a colony of ca. 1000 Green-winged Orchids, is now full of Autumn Ladies Tresses, in similar numbers. The highest concentration of spikes is towards the lower part of the Cemetery where the oldest, undisturbed ground is to be found.

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

The Polegrove - 28th August

My first Autumn Ladies Tresses of the year on the side of the bowling green in the Polegrove in Bexhill where the grass mowing is temporarily suspended for a few weeks to allow these exquisite orchids to flower.

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Horseshoe Plantation - 28th August

The 2nd brood Adonis Blues are finally out at Horseshoe Plantation and looking very fresh and vibrant - only males seen so far. It seems to have been another good year for them. A few Silver-spotted Skipper also seen which are now coming to and end, as are the Gatekeepers. Plenty of Common Blues still around.

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

male Adonis Blue

female Common Blue

female Gatekeeper

Meadow Brown

Marline Wood - 11th & 16th August

Two more trips to monitor the progress of the Violet Helleborines at Marline Wood. Some of the spikes are now starting to set seed whereas others are yet to come into flower. It looks like this year has been a very good one for the VHs, presumably the result of some of the recent rain mixed in with warmer weather. Today I also found a few Broad-leaved Helleborines in the usual place and a somewhat worn looking Painted Lady.

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Violet Helleborine

Painted Lady

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Broad-leaved Helleborine

Shooters Bottom & Horseshoe Plantation - 13th August

I decided to explore Shooters Bottom east of Horseshoe Plantation where apparently there is a colony of Small Blues. Although I could not locate these I found several very nice Wall Browns and a very fresh and obliging Essex Skipper in the grass at the bottom of Belle Toute. Here there were also several Common Blues - I need to check this area more carefully next year. Back at Horseshoe Plantation I found several good looking Silver-spotted Skippers and a handsome Brown Argus amongst the usual butterflies.

female Essex Skipper

female Essex Skipper

female Essex Skipper

female Essex Skipper

female Essex Skipper

male Wall Brown

male Wall Brown

male Brown Argus

female Common Blue

female Common Blue

male Common Blue

male Silver-spotted Skipper

male Silver-spotted Skipper