Local Meanderings

Of late most of our trips have been local, ostensibly to find those autumn migrants that hang around for a few days. Well, most of them seem to have passed straight through without a pause. On these outings in Sussex I tend to collect a few photos, not enough for a blog in its own right but rather a diary of several days birding. This eclectic mix of subjects ends up in a single blog just to record the event - as it were.

Visits to the Downs have been most productive, the Buzzards and Ravens up on Chantry and Kithurst provided several hours of entertainment. The Ravens using strong updrafts to perform some amazing aerobatics, usually in pairs but sometimes in groups of four or more. I normally think of a Raven as a lumbering bird, more a heavy bomber than a fighter, not quite true, as these birds proved. Of course, thermals and updrafts have to be shared and the local Buzzards took exception to the Raven's proximity and responded in a typical way, again with some high performance manoeuvring

Unfortunately photographing black birds against a blue sky without adequate sunshine is a recipe for disappointment, still it was great fun to record and a shame that a majority of the shots ended up in the recycle bin.

Lots of small birds about on Chantry, Corn Buntings, and Linnets in big numbers, supported by some very scruffy looking Yellowhammers which were skulking in the bushes.

A "decoration" of Corn Buntings

A couple of Wheatears on Cissbury, Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers in attendance too

 We visited the North Wall at Pagham for the Spoonbill and the Cattle Egrets, plenty of small birds about including Redstarts, Spotties and some Willow Warblers, one of which was finding easy food by raiding a spider's web.

 Butterflies were in evidence too, especially Small Coppers. I particularly wanted to record the blue spotted form Lycaena phlaeas, caerulo-punctata. Well we found a few but none with prominent blue spots, just very small full stops.


Some worn...

With small blue spots

...some new.

On late flowering Hemp Agrimony at Houghton

Apparently Small Coppers are so fast at mating you could blink and miss the event.

Nice looking female Common Blue with nice blue tones.

Comma

Brown Argus

Brown Argus

And finally some shots recorded on a walk to the Stilt Pool at Medmerry, we were hoping to see some Clouded Yellows on the abundant Fleabane, unfortunately none obliged.

Two Blues

Two Blues

Adonis Blue

Adonis Blue

Autumn Lady's Tresses

Autumn Lady's Tresses are normally the last orchid of the season for me and a visit to Anchor Bottom in late August usually brings a reward. It's nice to get them early so that the blooms are fresh as It doesn't take long before the lowest flowers are going brown. So Martin and I paid a visit nearly a fortnight ago and we were way too early - not a sign of a single one. Also, the earth was parched and the grassy slopes had a crunchy feeling underfoot. I wasn't confident that it would be a good year for them. How wrong can you be. I returned today to find hundreds, probably thousands, in bloom. Stretching all the way from the gate at Five Ways down to Dacre Gardens. The recent rains had turned Anchor Bottom green again and the orchids had responded,

Living up to its name  - Spiranthes spiralis

Huge numbers this year

Plenty of butterflies on the wing, the electric blue of the Adonis Blues still in evidence. A single Chalk Hill Blue was trying to interrupt a pair of ABs that were ensuring the colony would thrive next year. Small Heaths, Meadow Browns and Whites made up the supporting cast.

Wood Whites and Silver-spotted Skippers

After much gallivanting around the higher bits of France and Scotland it was nice to be out on the local patch again. Whilst I was away Martin had managed to add two butterflies to his Sussex list, Wood White and Black Hairstreak, and I was keen to make an effort to catch up. The Black Hairstreaks were long gone and they will definitely have to wait for next year. A quick foray for the Wood Whites resulted in a dip but of course there is always a chance of a second brood. 

And so it proved, within minutes of entering the site we had a very compliant subject. Smug satisfaction at what is my 46th species of Sussex butterfly. Of course depending who and what you consult, the list is variable. We located another four specimens which is encouraging, hopefully the colony will continue to thrive.

It's always good to find the first Silver-spotted Skipper of the year, so we paid a visit to Newtimber Hill. This venue has been a banker for them over the last few years, of course they are becoming more widespread throughout the county but Newtimber remains a favourite venue. Good eyesight and the ability to chase a small, fast flying and easily camouflaged subject will result in getting close.

So, unless I have sole access to an influx of an exotic continental butterfly species, Martin has the bragging rights until next year.