Herring Gulls and Scarlett Elf Cups

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

On Saturday I visited the beach in a howling gale to look for some more shingle plants. The following day we both walked to the corner of Sea Road where Crows were feeding. Several generations of Herring Gulls were on the beach, plus Turnstones sheltering at the top of the shingle.

Today I walked in Houghton Forest and a Brimstone fluttered down to nectar on Lesser Celandine as soon as I arrived. It didn’t stay for a photo and appeared again before I set off on my walk. Afterwards I walked round the Angmering Road woods at Dover Lane. I was pleased to find my patch of Scarlett Elf Cups in good condition where I found them last year.

shingle flora and fauna:

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale

Goose Grass, Galium aparine

Ribwort Plantain, Plantago lanceolata

Sea Mayweed, Tripleurospermum maritimum

Carrion Crow, Corvus corone

3rd winter Herring Gull, Larus argentatus

juvenile Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Turnstone, Arenaria interpres

Houghton Forest:

Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara

Lesser Celandine, Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser Celandine

Angmering Estate Woods:

Primrose, Primula vulgaris

Scarlet Elf Cups, Sarcoscypha coccinea

Wood Anemone, Anemone nemorosa

Goldfinches feed on pine cones

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

On Wednesday we had our penultimate work party of the season at Heyshott escarpment - lots of cutting, raking and burning. The primroses are bursting out in numbers which is great for the Duke of Burgundies due to emerge next month. Wood Violets are also showing for the the Pearl-bordered Fritillaries which arrived at the site two year ago.

 As usual I visited Iping Common afterwards and found more Cricket Bat Orb-weaver spiders,  a Cobweb weaver spider and a Cucumber Green Spider. Goldfinches were feeding on pine cones and pine seeds kept whirling to the ground after being loosened by the birds. I spotted a Stonechat and Goldcrests in the Gorse.

 On Thursday a visit to the beach showed two nesting Ringed Plovers and the shingle plants are growing well. The plovers use the large clumps of Sea Kale to hide their young.

 On Friday I went to Lords Piece where I found more Cricket Bat Orb-weavers. I noticed a lot of beetles on some heather plants and I identified them as Heather Beetles. Lichen with red fruiting bodies were everywhere and a Brimstone butterfly flitted across the bracken in the distance. Afterwards I walked along the west side of Burton Mill Pond. A pair of Great Crested Grebes stayed in the middle of the lake.

Heyshott escarpment:

Primroses bursting out

Primroses, Primula vulgaris

Song Thrush egg, Turdus philomelos

Wood Violet, Viola riviniana

Iping Common:

cobweb weaver, Simitidion simile

Cricket Bat Orb-weaver, Mangora acalypha

Cricket Bat Orb-weaver with prey

Cricket Bat Orb-weaver

Cucumber Green Spider, Araniella cucurbitina

Cucumber Green Spider

Goldcrest, Regulus regulus

Stonechat, Saxicola torquata

Beach:

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale

Pied Wagtail, Motacilla alba

Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula

Sanderling, Calidris alba

Scentless Mayweed, Tripleurospermum inodorum

Turnstone, Arenaria interpres

Yellow Horned Poppy, Glaucium flavum

Lords Piece:

Cricket Bat Orb-weaver, Mangora acalypha

Cricket Bat Orb-weaver

Daffodils, Narcissus pseudonarcissus 

Heather Beetle, Lochmaea suturalis

7-spot Ladybird, Coccinella 7-punctata

Lichen fruiting bodies, Cladonia polydactyla

Lichen

lichen, Cladonia species

Stonechat, Saxicola torquata

Yellow Dung Fly, Scatophaga stercoraria

Burton Mill Pond:

Blushing Bracket, Daedaleopsis confragosa

mature Blushing Bracket

bur on Silver Birch, Betula pendula

view from the chair

Burton Mill Pond

Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus

Sphagnum moss species