Grass snakes and Brimstones at Steyning

male Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

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A blue sky lured me to Steyning Rifle Range for the first time this year. I hoped for a Brimstone and was rewarded with two, a male and a female. On the way to the top of eastern side the hill I spotted two adders, a black one and a brown one. On the western side I spotted the brimstones, and then disturbed a pair of mating grass snakes. They they had been doing their business in sunlight, then the large one, female I assume, dashed into the brambles, dragging the smaller one with her. I managed to spot them several times, still joined, then later I spotted them on their own. The male was dashing around looking for the female and came within a foot of my boots at one point. This wonderful experience was the highlight of my day. A woodpecker drummed constantly. On my way back along the path by the allotments I spotted a peacock butterfly.

I then visited nearby Woods Mill for the first time. This Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve has lovely walks that take in woods, meadow and water. The bird hide gave me a Bank Vole in addition to a variety of birds visiting the feeders. at the end of the rife I saw mating frog.

female Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni

Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Grass snake, Natrix natrix

Grass snake, Natrix natrix

Lesser celandine, Ranunculus ficaria

Peacock, Inachis io

Primroses, Primula vulgaris

Violets

Violets

Woods Mill reserve:

Bank Vole, Myodes glareolus

Bank Vole, Myodes glareolus

Bank Vole, Myodes glareolus

Blue tit

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Chaffinch

Frog, Rana temporaria

Frogs, Rana temporaria 

Frog, Rana temporaria

mating Common toads, Bufo bufo

sign of Spring

Long-tailed tit

Robin