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)

 

Return to the Downs

 The rolling chalk hills of the South Downs is a landscape that I love. They provide a fantastic habitat for many species (some only to be found on chalk) and since I was a boy, I have spent many hours exploring the hilltops and secret valleys of what is now the South Downs National Park.

In recent years, for one reason or another, I have not been able to spend as much time as I would have liked walking the ancient chalk trackways. However, after two knee operations, I am keen to make up for lost time.

I have made the most of the sunny weather during the last two weeks of May and have been visiting some old haunts.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

(male)

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

(males)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

(male)

Several day-flying moth species were on the wing and a couple stopped for a photograph.

Common Heath (Ematurga atomaria atomaria)

(male)

Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata bilineata)

Burnt-tip Orchid (Neotinia ustulata var.ustulata)

This rare and endangered orchid is only found on short chalkland sward. 

Blues and Arguses in Sussex

 Globally, chalk landscapes are rare but growing up in the outskirts of Brighton in East Sussex, I was very familiar with the South Downs around Brighton and Lewes. They were a regular playground for me during the school holidays and in the 1960's they were awash with blue butterflies.

I fondly remember those halcyon days, which seemed forever bathed in warm sunshine and where my passion for butterflies was seeded.

The blues and arguses are part of the Lycaenidae family and chalk downland is the best habitat in which to go looking for them. That said, only three species are predominantly restricted to a downland habitat. Another three species are much more catholic in their habitat requirements, one is a migrant and one is only to be found on heathland.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

This species can be found in any suitable habitat in Sussex, from chalk downland to woodland glades, roadside verges and suburban gardens.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Chalkhill Blue (Polyommatus coridon)

As its name suggests, this species is predominantly restricted to a chalkland habitat. It can occasionally wander away from the downs by natural dispersal in good breeding years.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)

This species is not to be found away from the downs and is reliant on a habitat of short chalkland sward.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

This is our earliest blue to appear in the spring and can be seen from late March, flying rapidly along garden hedges, roadside hedgerows and woodland edges.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)

A common butterfly in Europe and beyond, this species has always been a rare migrant to Britain. In 2013 large numbers arrived in southern England along a broad front and produced a British brood during late summer and early autumn. It is now becoming a more regular migrant to our shores.

(male)

(female)

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

This is our smallest British butterfly. In Sussex, it is predominantly a chalk downland species, occurring in small isolated colonies.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus)

This attractive butterfly is a heathland specialist. In East Sussex, it only occurs in small isolated colonies on Ashdown Forest.

(male)

(female)

(mating)

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

This species occurs on chalk downland but can also be found in suitable habitat along field and woodland edges.

(male)

(females)