Early Winter on Pevensey Levels

 The weather this December has been mostly wet and breezy but has been relatively mild for early winter, with the occasional sunny day. 

On Pevensey Levels, my attention has mainly been focused on the horizon, looking for winter raptors. However, there have also been some interesting butterfly encounters.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

On 30th November, a nice sunny day, this Red Admiral was active along a field edge. It stopped to bask on a clump of ivy and then flew down to a nettle patch. Looking at the photograph when I got home it looks like she may have been ovipositing.

I saw another Red Admiral flying along a hedgerow on 13th December but it didn't stop.

Large White (Pieris brassicae) (larvae on rape)

On 19th December, another sunny day, I came across a colony of Large White larvae feeding on a patch of Rape (Brassica napus), growing in a sheltered corner of a field.

The larvae were a mixture of 4th and 5th instar caterpillars and there is little doubt that they are the progeny of a third brood pairing from late-September or early October.

Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricular-judae)

Early November on Pevensey Levels

 During the last week of October it seemed that the butterfly season was coming to an end. I hadn't seen a Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) since August and there had been no signs of an Autumn brood appearing on Pevensey Levels. 

However, the first two weeks of November were very mild, with some lovely sunny days and a few Clouded Yellows started to appear.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) (female, form helice)

On 6th November, this was the only butterfly (of any species) that I saw, on a warm, sunny, still day.

On 8th November, on the same walk, I saw another five Clouded Yellows. These looked very fresh and consisted of  3 males and 2 females (including another helice). 

The weather is now about to turn much cooler and wet. I saw what will probably be my last Clouded Yellow of the year, a male, on 13th November.

The only butterfly that stopped for a photograph was a Red Admiral, basking about 15 feet up in an Oak tree.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) (female) (8th November)

There were still plenty of Common Darters about, including 3 mating pairs seen ovipositing and at rest.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (mating) (8th November) 

Here are some images of fungi seen in the last couple of weeks.

Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilionaceus)

Brown Mottlegill (Panaeolina foenisecii)

Peziza vesiculosa  (a species of cup fungus)

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 seems to have 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.

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?

(addendum)

 I am now certain that the species of fungus in the following images are; 

Petticoat Mottlegill (Panaeolus papilioaceus)

 

Late Summer on Pevensey Levels

 After a hot summer, there is definitely a feel that autumn is just around the corner. However, this does not mean that the insect season is over just yet, with the potential for more excitement to come during September and October.

The following images were taken during late July and August on Pevensey Levels.

Wall (Lasiommata megera)

(male)

(female)

  

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

 (male)

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

(Immature male)

Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis)

(male)

Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi)

(female)

Suede Bolete (Boletus subtomentosus)

This fungus is also known as Yellow Cracking Bolete.

Late Winter Fungi

 During the last week of February, I was still looking for my first butterflies of the year. None were encountered. However, a lovely species of fungus chooses this time of year to provide a splash of colour in the undergrowth.

Scarlet Elf-cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca or S. coccinea)

When you encounter this stunning fungus, you would be forgiven for thinking that it will be easy to identify but it could be one of two near identical species, only separated with any confidence by microscopic examination.

Even more difficult to identify to species level are brown cup fungi. Cup shapes and shades of brown can vary within each species. 

I think this might be Peziza vesiculosa (or other Peziza sp.)

Along the Woodland Edge in Early Spring

 The weather during March has been changeable and there have been some prolonged warm and sunny spells to bring out plenty of hibernating butterflies from their long sleep. Common Toads have also been on the move, making their way to and from their breeding pools. 

Here are some images taken during the month.

Peacock (Aglais io)

Comma (Polygonia c-album)

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Bog Beacon (Mitrula paludosa)

Some Moths during Late Autumn

 Autumn is now over and temperatures have dropped considerably as we move into Winter. Since the start of December, night-time temperatures have dropped to below zero and day-time temperatures haven't risen much higher than 4 or 5 degrees centigrade. The moth trap will go into temporary hibernation until we get a few days of milder weather.

Here are some images of moths during late Autumn.

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) (male)

Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) (male)

Scarce Umber (Agriopis aurantiaria) (male)

Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) (male)

November Moth (Epirrita dilutata) (or Epirrita sp.)

Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx)

Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)

Rusty-dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis)

The following two species of micro-moth are winter hibernators and I regularly disturb them when working in the woods.

Agonopterix ocellana 

(pale and dark forms) 

Agonopterix arenella

Musotima nitidalis

This species is an accidental import from the Antipodes and is now well established in East Sussex and beyond. 

A couple of fungi species to finish on. They are both very common and can be found in a variety of habitats.

Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus)

Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)