Early Autumn on Pevensey Levels

Since the beginning of September, the maize crop has been harvested for winter feed, the meadows have been mown and the hedgerows and tracksides have been cut back. The Environment Agency has already started raking the Floating Pennywort (an invasive species) from the water ditches and Pevensey Levels have a rather end of season feel about them.  

However, there is still plenty of  wildlife activity to be found.

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) (3rd brood female)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) (2nd brood female)

Wall (Lasiommata megera) (3rd brood)

(male)

(female)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Peacock (Aglais io) (2nd brood)

The Peacock has predominantly been a single brooded species in Britain but during the last decade or more, a second brood has become an increasingly regular occurrence and on Pevensey Levels, there has been a significant second brood emergence this year.

Peacock (Aglais io)

 (final instar larva preparing to pupate on 31st August 2025)

(the larva had successfully pupated on 1st September 2025)

(the pupa on 5th September 2025)

A few days later I revisited the pupa to find that it had been dislodged during windy weather. It was suspended by just a very fine thread and spinning in the wind and I reluctantly brought it home for safe keeping.

(the darkening pupa on 14th September 2025)

(by 15th September 2025, the wing markings were visible through the pupal membrane)

(on the 16th September 2025, the imago has emerged)

(the imago was safely returned near to where it pupated)

Southern Migrant Hawker (Aeshna affinis) (male)

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male)

Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) (male)

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) (juvenile)

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) (nest)

(this empty nest was exposed to view after trackside mowing)

Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa fuliginosa)

(mature larva basking on reed stem)

 

Some Moths during August

 Good weather conditions for moth-trapping continued throughout August. A good variety of species were attracted to the light, consisting of a mixture of residents, regular migrants and episodic breeders.

Blue Underwing (Catocala fraxini)

Formerly only a rare migrant, this species has appeared in my garden for most years since 2016 and is now an episodic breeder in Sussex and beyond. This magnificent moth impresses even before it opens its wings. With a wingspan of about 3.5 inches (90 mm), I am always surprised when I see this huge moth resting on the house wall next to the light.

Of the images that follow, the first three and the next three are of two different specimens.

Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) (typical form)

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) (second brood)

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius) (second brood)

Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) (second brood)

Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) (male)

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon) (regular migrant)

Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidea)

Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura)

Blood-vein (Timandra comae)

Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria) (regular migrant)

Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata bilineata)

Treble-bar (Aplocera plagiata plagiata) (male)

This is the first record for this species in my garden.

Tawny-barred angle (Macaria liturata)

Latticed Heath (Chiasmia clathrata clathrata)

Another first record for my garden.

Canary-shouldered Thorn (Ennomos alniaria) (male)

Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)

Palpita vitrealis (regular migrant)

Musotima nitidalis (accidental import)

Conobathra tumidana (scarce migrant)

This is a first record for my garden and tumidana may now be breeding in Sussex.