Pevensey Levels in Spring

     The weather during April was warm and sunny but the start of May was very changeable with blustery showers and occasional sunny spells. However, by the end of May we were experiencing a heat wave with temperatures touching 30 degrees centigrade and not a cloud to be seen anywhere.

Here are some images taken over the last two months on Pevensey Levels.

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

(freshly emerged male)

(mating pair)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi) (female)

Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus)

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (5th instar larva on nettle)

This one was found in the open on the nettle plant and probably looking to construct a new larval tent.

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)

By the 17th. May, the spring brood was starting to emerge.

Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) (male)

On the last day of May I saw my first Meadow Brown of the year and there was a significant landfall of Painted Ladies from the near continent, with dozens nectaring on bramble blossom. 

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) (male)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense) (male)

(mating pair)

Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) (male)

Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella) (male)

Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum) (male)

Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans) (male)

Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) (female)

Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) (juvenile/sub-adult)

To finish, I came across these predated Moorhen eggs scattered in the grass beside a reed ditch. The culprit is likely to be a crow. I placed them together for the photograph.

Along the Woodland Edge in Early Spring

 The weather during April was lovely, with plenty of sunshine but May seems to have become our month for blustery showers and occasional sunshine.

Orange-tips and Holly Blues have been abundant in the Weald of East Sussex and by the last week of April, bluebells were in full bloom, providing nectar for any passing butterfly.

I saw my first Pearl-bordered Fritillary on 28th April as well as an obvious landfall of Painted Ladies, primary migrants from across the channel. 

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

(males)

(female)

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

(male)

(female)

Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)

(female)

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

(female)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

(female)

Speckled Yellow Moth (Pseudopanthera macularia)

Some Moths during April

The weather during April has been predominantly warm, dry and sunny. My garden is 145 metres (471 feet) above sea level and this often brought chilly nights. This in turn kept moth numbers low but even so, a good variety of species visited the light trap during the month.  

Frosted Green (Polyploca ridens)  

Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata)

Streamer (Anticlea derivata)

Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)

Seraphim (Lobophora halterata)

Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria) (male)

Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)

Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)

Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)

Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis)

Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta puta) (male)

Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)

This is a first record for my garden.

Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis)

Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)

Some Moths during March

 We have had some lovely early spring sunshine during March and any rain has been more showery than incessant. There have been plenty of opportunities to run the moth-trap overnight.

As is usual with early spring catches, the first moths to appear in any numbers are the Orthosia genus.

Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)

Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis)

Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)

Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata)

Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

Diurnea fagella