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Writer's pictureSim Elliott

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 catch the bus to Friston Pond for walk along the coast to Beachy Head. I didn't see any Long Tailed Blues, but I was a little early for them! But I did see some other common butterflies and moths and on the walk down Whitehawk Hill Road to the seafront I saw some Humming-bird Hawk-Moths on Valerian which were a pleasure to watch


I reached Friston Pond by taking a 12X from Brighton. (The 12, 12A and 12X go to Friston Pond very frequently. I walked from Friston Pond via Crowlink to the coast. I then walked along the east via Birling Gap and Horseshoe Plantation to Beachy Head. I returned to Brighton from Beachy Head on a 13X. The 13X is a very infrequent bus, so it is necessary to plan well. There are only 3 buses a day (in both directions) 13X - Eastbourne-Brighton | Brighton & Hove Buses It is possible to walk further on and catch the 12, 12A or 12X back from the South Downs Way stop which is close to where Warren Road meats the East Dean Road (A259), but this is about 3k further on from the Beachy Head stop. The first part of this walk, East Dean Pond to Birling Gap is part of the National Trust Between the South Downland the Sea Circular walk: Between the South Downs and the sea walk | National Trust


Whitehawk Hill


Rush Vaneer moth


When at rest, this moth has a very elongated and narrow shape, which makes it easily recognisable. A well-known migrant, it can often be found in large numbers at coastal watch-points, and tends to occur in the adult stage between May and September. The larvae feed on clover (Trifolium spp.) and various grasses. Rush Veneer Nomophila noctuella | UKmoths


Meadow Brown


Small White


Whitethroat


Small White


Speckled Wood


Buff/White (?) tailed worker Bumblebee


Small White (?)


Whitehawk Hill Road


Humming-Bird Hawk-Moth

It's been a record year for Humming-Bird Hawk-Moths in the UK: Record summer for ‘hummingbirds’ in UK gardens | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology


Crowlink walk - From Friston Pond to the Coast



Starling


Small White


Small White on bramble


Large White with damaged wing


Small White


Small Heath


Dew Pond


Robbin


Common Darter Dragonfly


Dew Pond


Meadow Pipit


Small Heath


Scarlet Pimpernel


Bottom of Crowlink path


Along the Coast from Crowlink to Birling Gap


Sand Bordered Bloom Moth


Meadow Brown


Small Heath


Toward Beachy Head


Stonechat


Meadow Brown


Meadow Brown


Looking toward Seaford Head


Female Common Blue with damaged wing


Common Blue


The meadow in which the following butterflies were in


Chalkhill Blue


Small White


Male Common Blue


Meadow Pipit


Viper's Bugloss


Toward Seaford Head (Hope Bottom)


Belle Tout Lighthouse


Birling Gap to Beachy Head via Horseshoe Plantation


Common Blue


Common Blues on Sweat Pea




Common Blue


Meadow Pipet


Horseshoe Plantation


Speckled Wood


Common Blue


Meadow Brown




Meadow to the east of Horseshoe Plantation - rich in butterflies


Female Chalkhill Blue


Female Common Blue


Female Common Blue on Field Scabious


Adonis Blue on Field Scabious


Female Common Blue


Common Blue on Field Scabious


Male and Female Common Blue


Female Common Blue


Female Common Blue


Clouded Yellow

upper wing


Common Blue


Male Common Blue


Melanistic Female Common Blue


Female Common Blue on Field Scabious


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