Butterflies at Shoreham and High Elms

by Margaret Willis.

Those people who went to Shoreham on August 3rd will remember the clouds of Chalkhill butterflies which were such a memorable sight. We also saw a Fritillary which Bill Welch photographed and has since identified as a Silver-washed Fritillary. I had no camera that morning but I felt inspired to explore further.

The same afternoon I went to High Elms with the camera to plan my walk for August 24th and to hunt the Fritillaries there.

Sure enough one appeared in the Burnt Gorse area and I snatched a quick snap. I put this down as a Silver-washed but stand to be corrected.

Later it, or its relation, appeared further into the woodland, frustratingly close but not settling quite long enough to be photographed.

The second Fritillary was photographed at Shoreham on August 4th and was very obliging model. This I called a Dark Green Fritillary but again I stand to be corrected.

These were two really good afternoon for butterflies, not only the Chalkhill Blues but Common Blues, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells and a Comma as well as the usual Whites and Browns.

In 2010 there was talk of White-letter Hairstreaks at High Elms and I went on a similar expedition in the same area in the rather vain hope of finding this rather rare creature.

A Fritillary showed itself then I met a very knowledgeable fellow who knew a very great deal about butterflies and their movements in the area.

The result was a walk round High Elms with a complete stranger on a butterfly hunt, a very successful hunt. Not only did he find me more Silver-washed Fritillaries, but White-letter Hairstreaks and White Admirals as well. Unfortunately I couldn't take you to the exact places he took me to.

I tell this tale because the High Elms nature trail leaflets mention White Admirals, especially the larvae which feed on honeysuckle in a certain area. That Saturday (Aug 3rd) I got a quick glimpse of something in the woods which made me think 'White Admiral', though I may be quite mistaken. It made me hope that on August 24th some expert lepidopterists will be there to possibly make a definite sighting.

For botanists the Broad-leaved Helleborines should still be looking good. However the Yellow Bird's-nest which was so abundant last year is over.