Tuesday 31 March 2015

Herring Gulls and Scarlett Elf Cups

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
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

Sunday 29 March 2015

Goldfinches feed on pine cones

Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
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