The Red Admiral

 During the first week of November, the only species of butterfly I found on the wing on Pevensey Levels was the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

The Red Admiral is primarily a migrant to Britain but for the last couple of decades or so, our warming climate has enabled this species to successfully over-winter.

 It is a continually breeding species and does not undergo true hibernation. All it requires to survive our winter is the availability of safe roosts and nectar.

I have often seen atalanta on the wing during mild and sunny winter days on heathland, where there is plenty of dead bracken for roosting and there is always gorse in flower for nectar.

On the 5th. November, on Pevensey Levels, it was no surprise to me to watch at least two female Red Admirals laying eggs on fresh nettle growth, in a sunny corner.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 

(Basking on a fence post)

(Ovipositing female on nettle. The ovum is just visible below the tip of her abdomen)

(Ovum on the outer-upper edge of a nettle leaf)

 

Some Moths during October

 The overnight weather conditions during the last week have been mild and overcast. This favourable weather for moth-trapping looks set to continue into November. 

Good numbers of interesting migrants are still being recorded in coastal areas of the county but for those of us that are further inland, migrant numbers have fallen away somewhat.

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina)

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album)

Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)

Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)

Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis)

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)

Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)

Pine Carpet (Thera firmata)

Cypress Carpet (Thera cupressata)

Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)

Autumn Activity on Pevensey Levels

 Now that autumn is here, the landscape on Pevensey Levels has undergone a tidying up before winter arrives. The maize crop has been harvested for winter feed, the hedgerows have been cut back and the meadows have been mown.

In some untouched corners, the Wall (Lasiommata megera) has produced a healthy third brood, with males battling each other for territories and females busy laying eggs during the last couple of weeks.

Mating pairs of Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and ovipositing females of Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) are still active in the reed beds.

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

(female)

(female ab.mediolugens)

(male)

(ovum)

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)

(ovipositing female)

(male)

The Environment Agency are now in the process of raking out Floating Pennywort from the water ditches. This invasive water weed clogs the ditches very quickly during the summer months and must be cleared. This activity attracts Herons and Egrets to look for prey as the dragged weed is left on the ditch sides to rot.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 

Great White Egret (Egretta alba)

Some Moths during September

 The overnight weather conditions for moth-trapping during September were generally good. As usual for this time of year, visitors to the trap were a mixture of migrants, residents and episodic breeders.

Four-spotted Footman (Lithosia quadra) (male)

Delicate (Mythimna vitellina)

Portland Ribbon Wave (Idaea degeneraria)

Palpita vitrealis

Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)

Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago)

Oak Hook-tip (Watsonalla binaria) (male)

Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)

Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)

Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)

Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) (larva on willow)

Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) (larva on willow)

Autumn Butterflies along the Woodland Edge

 By the time August arrived, summer butterfly species had rapidly fallen away in my local wealden woods.

However, by September, salvation was at hand as the woodland edges became bathed in a blue wash, with beds of  Devil's-bit Scabious bursting into flower.

 This offers our late season butterflies the chance to feast as many of them prepare for hibernation or migration. 

Another source of  late season nectar is provided by my local National Trust gardens where I go in expectation of seeing good numbers of Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) during the autumn.

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Peacock (Aglais io)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

(females)

(male)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) (female)

(aberration)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Small Copper (L. phlaeas)

(ab. radiata)