Monday 30 September 2013

Munching Water Vole

Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius
I spent another couple of hours at Beeding yesterday with a dozen other LTB hopefuls. A Peregrine perched on the ladder. This afternoon I visited Arundel WWT and enjoyed seeing a Kingfisher fly past  the Sand Martin Hide. I watched a Water Vole munching bramble leaves and reeds on the reed bed walk.
Peregrine, Falco peregrinus
Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
hope to see a kingfisher perched here one day
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata
Water Vole, Arvicola amphibius










Saturday 28 September 2013

Long-tailed Blues and Peregrines

view from Birling Gap
On Wednesday I visited Birling Gap following a report of a Long-tailed Blue there. There was plenty of Everlasting Pea there, but no sign of the LTB.

On Friday and Saturday I joined others at Beeding Cement Works and saw a female LTB through the fence on both occasions. Neil found two females outside the fence then alerted us to the find (story here). Two Peregrines were perched on the chimney ladder.


Later Friday I headed to Mill Hill to do my final transect of the year: Adonis Blue 8, Clouded Yellow (male) 1, Common blue 4, Large White 1, Meadow Brown 13, Small White 5, Speckled Wood 1.
Birling Gap:


Comma, Polygonia c-album
Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus
Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla, carnea
Ichneumon wasp, Ichneumon suspiciosus

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Rush Veneer, Nomophila noctuella
Friday sunrise
Beeding:
Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus
Peregrine, Falco peregrinus
Peregrine, Falco peregrinus
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Mill Hill:
female Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
male Adonis Blue, Lysandra bellargus
male Clouded Yellow, Colias croceus
Beeding Saturday:
Comma, Polygonia c-album
Everlasting Pea, Lathyrus latifolius
- food plant of the Long-tailed Blue
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta
Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

Friday 27 September 2013

Ploughing and sunset

On Saturday I attended the Detecting West Grinstead & District Ploughing Match where my detecting club had an exhibit. Hog roast and home-made drizzle cake! (should have bought two). On Tuesday a stroll along the beach gave me a glorious sunset on the way back.







Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus at Newhaven
pastel sunset on Monday
Mexican Fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican Fleabane, Erigeron karvinskianus
Sea Mayweed, Tripleurospermum maritimum