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 saw what I thought was a low level of diversity of species (only Common Blues, a Brown Argus, Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and Speckled Woods seen) and all in low numbers (Common Blues and Small Heaths being the most abundant, but I only saw 10 of each). I did see a couple of interesting things: a couple of Small Heaths which a lot of yellow pollen on their upper thoraces, and a Humming-Bird Hawk-Moth staggering around and resting on a path.
Speckled Woods in the Dyke copse
Small Heaths
one with much yellow pollen on its upper thorax
Common Blue
This area of the Dyke estate (above the dyke itself, to the north) where the wind strength was less, and there were more wild flowers amongst the desiccated grasses, was where I saw most of these butterflies
A Brown Argus
Another Common Blue
A "tired" looking Humming-Bird Hawk-Moth
Another Common Blue
Another Small Heath
A Meadow Brown
Another Meadow Brown
A female Common Blue
More Common Blues
The former chalkpit on Newtimber Hill
A juvenile Stonechat
Another Small Heath
More Small Blues
Kestrel
