[Adastra] The South Downs Blues Festival

[sussexgrayling]

Fellow Adastrans,

As part of the ongoing survey work for Sussex Butterfly Conservation's
Atlas project we are keen to receive reports of any sightings of the
three Downland blues - Chalkhill Blue, Adonis Blue and Small Blue.

All three of these blues will now be on the wing in Sussex over the
next few weeks so if you're out and about please let us know of any
records.

If you really want to help us out we have a few gaps in the map which
need filling and a report from these empty tetrad squares would be most
appreciated.

There are more details about the South Downs Blues Festival on this
page...

www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/atlas/blues.php

...where you'll find maps and details about the target squares. We're
particularly interested in any sightings of these blue species west of
the Arun. So if you're planning to get out over the next few weeks why
not combine your walk with a bit of butterfly surveying.

And while you're looking for the Blues keep a eye out for
Silver-spotted
Skippers too. This little butterfly continues to spread Westwards
across the
South Downs but has yet to cross the mighty Arun.

It's a great time to be out butterflying in Sussex. The county is
saturated with Clouded Yellows and there's egg-laying Long-tailed Blues
on the south coast, Swallowtails popping up across the county and a
Monarch on the loose out there somewhere.

All butterfly records - whether Monarchs or Meadow Browns - are very
welcome either sent to me at Sussex Butterfly Conservation or to the
Sussex
Biodiversity Records Centre.

Thanks,

Michael Blencowe
Sussex Butterfly Conservation
(sussexgrayling at aol.com)