top of page
Butterflies


Chailey Commons: Marsh Gentians and other flowers, bryophytes, fungi, lichens & insects 25.08.23
We always seem to see something special when we visit the Chailey Commons. Dave Bangs, The Land of the Brighton Line: A field guide to...

Sim Elliott
Aug 31, 202310 min read
Â
Â
Â


Coed Lletywalter, Coed Aber Artro, Coed Cymerau Isaf & Coed Garth 16-18.08.23
From the 16th to the 18th of August, whilst on holiday in Porthmadog, I visited four smaller Oak Woodlands. This post contains the...

Sim Elliott
Aug 23, 20239 min read
Â
Â
Â


Heyshott, Ambersham & Graffam Commons; Sussex Lowland Heath and Climate Change. 10.07.23
North West Sussex, just north of the South Downs, has an area of lowland Wealden heathlands (all called commons). Theses heaths are on...

Sim Elliott
Jul 10, 202312 min read
Â
Â
Â


Ditchling Common. Wild flowers, lichen, bryophytes and butterflies 08.07.23
Ditchling Common is an SSSI with a remarkable range of botanical and insect diversity. I travelled to Ditchling Common Country Park by...

Sim Elliott
Jul 8, 20236 min read
Â
Â
Â


Wildflowers, Birds & Butterflies. Southease, Itford Meadow & Beddingham Hill, South Downs. 02.07.23
I walked from Southease Station (train from Brighton to Southease; 31 minute journey; 1 train an hour) to Beddingham Hill, via Itford...

Sim Elliott
Jul 4, 20234 min read
Â
Â
Â


Fore Wood, Crowhurst, East Sussex, and its butterflies, flowers, bryophytes and ferns. 30.06.23
Fore Wood is an RSPB nature reserve just outside Crowhurst. I reached Crowhurst by train from Brighton, via St Leonards Warrior Square....

Sim Elliott
Jul 1, 20233 min read
Â
Â
Â


Flowering plants, Butterflies & Birds; Drought & Reduced Abundance. Iping & Stedham Commons.16.06.23
Iping and Stedham Commons are lowland heaths. Iping and Stedham Common Nature Reserve is situated just west of Midhurst and is one of the...

Sim Elliott
Jun 28, 202311 min read
Â
Â
Â


Camley Street Nature Garden. London. Butterflies & Birds & 100s of spikes of Ivy Broomrape. 26.06.23
I visited Camley Street yesterday for the first time since 1989, when I used to take children there when I was a teacher Copenhagen...

Sim Elliott
Jun 27, 20233 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies, Wild Flowers, Birds, Lichens and Bryophytes. Devil's Dyke and Newtimber Hill. 20.05.23
The Devil's Dyke | Sussex | National Trust and Newtimber Hill Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill | National Trust are adjacent to each...

Sim Elliott
May 20, 20233 min read
Â
Â
Â


Scotland 6: Glen Nant. NNR; temperate rain forest. 13.05.23
I got to Glen Nant from Oban by public transport. On the way out, I took the train from Oban to Talynuit. There are only a few services a...

Sim Elliott
May 19, 20238 min read
Â
Â
Â


Scotland 5: Glasdrum Wood NNR; temperate rain forest, and Chequered Skippers. 12.05.23
I got to Glasdrum from Oban by public transport. I took the West Coast Motors bus 405 to Creagan Bridge. There are on six services from...

Sim Elliott
May 18, 20235 min read
Â
Â
Â


Crowborough Warren, Ashdown Forest & Five Hundred Acre Wood. Plants, Lichen, Bryophytes. 29.04.23
Every year, more than a million people travel to Ashdown Forest to find the North Pole. Ashdown Forest is 40 miles south of London, but...

Sim Elliott
Apr 29, 20236 min read
Â
Â
Â


My Public Transport (Low Carbon) Butterfly Year 2022. Thirty-Seven Species by foot, bus and train.
My Public Transport (Low Carbon) Butterfly Year 2022, from an Orange Tip in April to mating Long Tailed Blues in August. This Butterfly...

Sim Elliott
Oct 3, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies and Birds, Beachy Head & Birling Gap. 19.09.22
I took the 12 bus from Brighton to Eastbourne. You can catch the 12, 12A (slower) or 12X (fastest) to Eastbourne. They run frequently...

Sim Elliott
Sep 28, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


Autumn Colours: Wild flowers, Woods and Insects. Box Hill. 12.09.22
On Monday 12.09.22 I took the opportunity of a sunny day to visit Box Hill. I thought I may see a few September butterflies; but I only...

Sim Elliott
Sep 15, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies & Moths at Steyning Downland Scheme and Autumn Ladies Tresses at Anchor Bottom. 01.09.22
In the afternoon of Thursday 01.09.22, I went to Steyning Downland Scheme as I had heard on social media that there were quite e few Pied...

Sim Elliott
Sep 2, 20224 min read
Â
Â
Â


Birds, Butterflies and Wild Flowers at Warnham NR and RSPB Pulborough Brooks. 30.08.22
Warnham Nature Reserve is relatively easy to get to by public transport, as long as you don't mind a one mile walk from Horsham Station;...

Sim Elliott
Aug 31, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Mating Long-Tailed Blue Butterflies. Brighton. 25.08.22
I am not going to reveal the exact location in Brighton of this sighting; but if you are a butterfly enthusiast you'll know where this...

Sim Elliott
Aug 25, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies on Newtimber Hill and The Devil's Dyke. 23.08.22
On Tuesday 23.08.22 I met with another member of the Gay Birders Club for a local GBC meet-up. We went to Newtimber Hill and the Devil's...

Sim Elliott
Aug 24, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


Whitehawk Hill and then a walk from Crowlink to Beachy Head; Birds, Butterflies & Views. 20.08.22
My plan for the day was to pop up to Whitehawk Hill to see if I could see the Long Tail Blues there, and then walk to the seafront and...

Sim Elliott
Aug 23, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


An afternoon walk at the Devil's Dyke. Butterflies and Birds. 18.08.22.
On Friday 18th August I took the 77 bus to the Devil's Dyke for an afternoon walk. It was sunny but quite windy. In my three hour walk I...

Sim Elliott
Aug 19, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies at Friston Gallops, Friston Forest. 16.08.22
On Thursday I went on a trip with friends to Friston Gallops (above Butchershole Bottom) in the Friston Forest near Jevington; it is well...

Sim Elliott
Aug 17, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies at Bevendean Down NR; a short morning walk. 11.08.22
On Thursday 11.08.22 I walked from my house to Bevendean Down from my house. I arrived at Bevendean at 8.00 am and I walked back at home...

Sim Elliott
Aug 13, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Box Hill - Juniper Top. Silver-Spotted Skippers & Silver-Washed Fritillaries. 08.08.22
I got to Box Hill by train; travelling from Brighton to Box Hill and Westhumble station (changing at Three Bridges and Horsham). I...

Sim Elliott
Aug 10, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies & Birds at Hutchinson Bank, New Addington & Reigate Hill. 06.08.22
On Saturday 06.08.22 I visited two locations that were new to me. They are both areas of North Downs escarpment; and they are both know...

Sim Elliott
Aug 7, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies, Wild Flowers & Birds at the Steyning Downland Scheme 04.08.22
On Thursday 04.08.22 I visited the wonderful Steyning Downland Scheme. It is very easy to get there by public transport. I got the 2 bus,...

Sim Elliott
Aug 6, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


The Landscape, Flora & Fauna of Lower Greensand and Chalk; Leith Hill to Ranmoor Common. 02.08.22
On Tuesday 2nd August I visited Leith Hill for the first time since I was a teenager, when I issued to go with my parents and...

Sim Elliott
Aug 2, 20224 min read
Â
Â
Â


Mill Hill, Anchor Bottom and Devil's Dyke. Butterflies. Silver-Spotted Skippers. 30.07.22
On Saturday I took the 2 bus to Shoreham and walked up to Mill Hill, and then on to Anchor Bottom. I took the 2 bus back from Dace...

Sim Elliott
Aug 2, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Steyning Downland Scheme. 17 species of Butterflies, 3 Moths, 1 Grasshopper, and a Leaf! 28.07.22
Steyning Downland Scheme is a marvellous project at promoting Butterfly diversity. For further information see Home | Steyning Downland...

Sim Elliott
Jul 31, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Birds and Butterflies. Seaford Head and Cuckmere Haven. 22.07.22
The walk from Seaford via Seaford Head Nature Reserve (Sussex Wildlife Trust) and Cuckmere Haven (Cuckmere Valley) (National Trust) to...

Sim Elliott
Jul 23, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Friston Forest, Friston Gallops and Lullington Heath. Butterflies. 18.09.22
As on Monday the weather forecast was for extremely hot weather, I decided to make a nature journey that was mostly in the woods; to...

Sim Elliott
Jul 20, 20224 min read
Â
Â
Â


Ranmore Common, Polesden Lacey & Denbies Hillside (Surrey Hills AONB). 16.07.22
I returned to Ranmore Common and Denbies common, which I had visited the Saturday before, see Butterflies at Denbies Hillside and Ranmore...

Sim Elliott
Jul 17, 20229 min read
Â
Â
Â


Headley Heath (Surrey Hills AONB). Landscape and Butterflies. 15.07.22
Headley Heath is next to Box Hill near Dorking. It Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with a large variety of invertebrates and...

Sim Elliott
Jul 16, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


Birds and Butterflies at Arlington Reservoir and Abbot's Wood. 12.07.22
I hadn't visited Arlington Reservoir for a long time, and I had never visited Abbot's Wood nearby, so I decide to visit both on Tuesday...

Sim Elliott
Jul 13, 20226 min read
Â
Â
Â


Lancing Ring Nature Reserve. Butterflies & Birds. 11.07.22
Lancing Ring Nature Reserve, is north of Lancing. I reached it by catching a bus to Shoreham, and then walking up the Adur estuary,...

Sim Elliott
Jul 12, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies at Denbies Hillside and Ranmore Common (Surrey Hills AONB). 09.07.22
I caught the train to Box Hill and Westhumble Station from Brighton (changing at Gatwick Airport and Horsham), a journey of 90 minutes,...

Sim Elliott
Jul 11, 20227 min read
Â
Â
Â


An early evening walk. Butterflies and Wild Flowers at Mill Hill. 08.07.22
I went to Mill Hill, Shoreham for an evening walk. I got to the Shoreham on the 700 bus from central Brighton, and walked from the foot...

Sim Elliott
Jul 8, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


An early evening walk. Butterflies and Birds at Devils Dyke. 07.07.22
I went to the Devil's Dyke for an evening walk. I got to the Devil's Dyke on the 77 bus from central Brighton. The sun was low in the sky...

Sim Elliott
Jul 7, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Steyning Downland Scheme: a Marsh Tit, a Dingy Skipper and a Grey Wagtail. 05.07.22
I had wanted to visit the Steyning Downland Scheme for some time; and it was easy to reach by bus number 2 from Brighton (an hourly...

Sim Elliott
Jul 5, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


A short walk at the Coombe, Malling Down NR. Butterflies & the first Rampion of 2022. 04.07.22
I was working (as a volunteer) most of the day in Brighton on Monday 04.07.22, but I finished at 15.00 so I took the opportunity of the...

Sim Elliott
Jul 4, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


The "usual" Birds and Butterflies and well-being. Cissbury Ring. 02.07.22
I did a morning walk to Cissbury Ring on Saturday 02.07.22. I reached Cissbury by train and bus (Brighton to Worthing by train and bus 1...

Sim Elliott
Jul 3, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Silver-Studded Blue Butterflies, Birds & Bees at Iping Common. 01.07.22
I went to Iping Common especially to see Silver-Studded Blues, and I was not disappointed, I saw ca. 50. Iping Common is an area of...

Sim Elliott
Jul 2, 20225 min read
Â
Â
Â


Bookham Commons. Birds, Wild Plants & Butterflies. White Admiral. 27.06.22
Bookham Commons, National Trust (Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its flora...

Sim Elliott
Jun 28, 20229 min read
Â
Â
Â


Skippers! Another brief stroll round Beacon Hill Local Nature Reserve, Rottingdean. 26.06.22
At the moment I am staying at my mother's house, following her having surgery, so it is not currently possible for me to make longer...

Sim Elliott
Jun 25, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies, Trees and Landscapes. Box Hill, Dorking, Surrey. 22.06.22
Box Hill is under the stewardship of the National Trust Box Hill | National Trust, and is an extraordinarily beautiful landscape of chalk...

Sim Elliott
Jun 23, 20226 min read
Â
Â
Â


Mill Hill NR and Anchor Bottom (Beeding Hill). A profusion of Marbled White Butterflies. 20.06.22
I took the 2 bus from my home to Shoreham. I walked up the Adur and then up the footpath to Mill Hill that crosses on the road bridge the...

Sim Elliott
Jun 22, 20223 min read
Â
Â
Â


Dark Green Fritillaries at the Devil's Dyke. 18.06.22
After seeing a couple of Dark Green Fritillary on Friday 17.06.22 on the path that leads into the bottom of the Devil's Dyke, I decided...

Sim Elliott
Jun 20, 20227 min read
Â
Â
Â


Birds and Butterflies. Devil's Dyke & Castle Hill National Nature Reserve. 17.06.22
This is a record of the photos I took on two locations on 17.96.22. First I went to the bottom of the Devil's Dyke with friends, and got...

Sim Elliott
Jun 18, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â


Friston Forest, Friston Gallops and Lullington Heath. Butterflies & Birds. 14.06.22
I travelled to Exceat (Seven Sisters Country Park) by 12 bus, see 12 - Eastbourne-Brighton | Brighton & Hove Buses. From there, I walked...

Sim Elliott
Jun 17, 20222 min read
Â
Â
Â


Butterflies in Stanmer Park & Malling Down NR. 13.06.22
I took the 25 bus to Stammer, which runs very frequently, see: 25 - Universities-Old Steine | Brighton & Hove Buses Stanmer Park Silver Y...

Sim Elliott
Jun 17, 20221 min read
Â
Â
Â
bottom of page