Late Autumn on Pevensey Levels

 By the last week of October, the hoped-for autumn brood of Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) had failed to appear and the butterfly season on Pevensey Levels has come to an abrupt end.

There are still a few dragonflies about, with several Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) and Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) on the wing, including mating pairs of each species.

My attention is now turning to watching for winter bird arrivals. Also, species of fungi are popping up everywhere to provide moments of head-scratching.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male)

Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (male)

I occasionally hear small flocks of Crossbills passing overhead in the Weald and on Ashdown Forest but I came across this male drinking at a puddle on Pevensey Levels.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

I was pleasantly surprised to find this honeysuckle in flower so late in the season.

Inkcap species (I think)

When I happened upon this grey fungus which was staining the grass black with its spores, I briefly thought that it was a Magpie Inkcap but on checking my books at home, it didn't really match-up. A few days later I took the second image and the cracking-like markings on the cap in both images may indicate they might be an older and younger example of the same species?

 

Some Moths during September

 The number of moths attracted to the light-trap dropped away considerably during September.  Night-time temperatures regularly dropped to single figures and blustery conditions prevailed, which limited suitable moth-trapping nights.

Even so, there were some interesting encounters to be had.

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album) 

A regular migrant that has now become resident)

Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita)

Four-spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra)

This is a regular migrant and episodic breeder in Sussex. 

Most years, they appear in my garden, usually as fresh looking singletons, suggesting local emergence. This month, six males and two females, all rather worn, appeared in one night, suggesting to me that they were migrants.

(male)

(female)

Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)

Reed Dagger (Simyra albovenosa)

This is a nationally scarce species restricted to coastal wetlands in southeast England. 

I came across this one roosting in the grass as I was walking on Pevensey Levels, where I know it breeds.

Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)

The ground colour of this variable species ranges from dark brown to brick red and sandy yellow.

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)

Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) (form perfumaria)

A grey variant of this normally brown moth.

Common Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla)

Stauropoctonus bombycivorus (Ichneumon sp.)

Other insects are often attracted to the light-trap. This scarce Ichneumon species is crepuscular/nocturnal and is a parasite of the Lobster Moth (Stauropus fagi)