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)

Pierids in Sussex

 The white and yellow butterflies in Britain all belong to the Pieridae family. 

Of those species that occur in Sussex, most are common and widespread and found in a range of habitats.

 However, one is a rare resident, only to be found in a few small colonies in the north-west of the county.

Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)

This species is our rarest Pierid in the county and only occurs in a few areas in north-west Sussex.

(males)

(females)

(courtship)

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus)

This species is a migrant to Britain, occurring annually in varying numbers. Some years it can arrive in huge numbers and produce summer and autumn broods. In other years it can be a rare sight.

(female)

(female, form helice)

This pale form accounts for about 10% of the female population.

(male)

(mating)

Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

The Brimstone hibernates as an adult butterfly and is one of our first species to be seen on the wing during late winter and early spring sunshine.

(males)

(female)

(mating)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)

This is a common and widespread species. Together with the next species, it can cause serious damage to garden cabbage crops.

(females)

(male)

(mating)

Small White (Pieris rapae)

This common and widespread butterfly is also a cabbage crop pest.

(females)

(male)

(mating)

Green-veined White (Pieris napi)

This cousin of the previous two species is certainly not a garden pest. It is more akin to the next species in its choice of habitat, preferring to wander along field margins, verges and woodland edges, looking for foodplants such as garlic mustard and lady's smock.

(males)

(females)

(mating)

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)

This pretty little butterfly is a true harbinger of spring, emerging from its overwintering pupa from late March to late May.

(males)

(females)

(mating)