Another aberration!

A butterfly - not me, I hasten to add. I decided on an early morning stroll on the Downs, just to recce another venue. So, I parked the car at Kithurst Hill car park and wandered off west, into the access land on Springhead Hill. A gentle stroll took me as far as Amberley Mount but butterflies were hardly numerous. I noted Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Small Skipper and a very fast flying dark Clouded Yellow.

A bit disappointing, I just expected to find more. On the return journey I came across a magnificent stand of thistles which were attracting a host of the larger species mentioned. A fresh Brimstone posed and I obliged.

What to do next? In the end I returned home via my favourite butterfly haunt - Houghton Forest. As I drove into the field beyond the car park at Whiteways, a pale butterfly caught my eye, I abandoned the car, grabbed the camera and gave chase, much to the amusement of the Bikers assembled at the café. Finally the butterfly came to rest on the same bush where, some two weeks previously, we recorded Gatekeeper ab. excessa. I managed several open wing shots but no underwings were recorded. Also, I had the distinct impression that there were two pale specimens present, but of course, I could only follow one. Early information received suggests another albino form of the Gatekeeper. I have posted it on BC Sussex and would dearly like some input from our experts. It has a passing resemblance to the Cockayne collection  Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus britanniae ab. albinotica but the orange colour is more intense. 

I managed to record some of the butterflies that I have been ignoring of late, nice to see the second brood Common Blues emerging and for once the Whites look good.