Mill Hill and Houghton Forest

With clear blue skies I decided to revisit Mill Hill, ostensibly to find an Adder, get some improved shots of the Grizzled Skippers and also to meet Dawn and Jim who were going to locate yesterday's Green Hairstreak. Of course I arrived too early and nothing was flying, the sun had warmth but there was a fairly cool breeze from a northerly quarter. Dawn and Jim arrived and we started the vigil for "Beautiful Eyebrows". After a fruitless hour I abandoned D&J and made my way down to the lower slopes where I met Lindsay who was just arriving. Immediately we were into several feisty Dingy Skippers and two or three Grizzled Skippers, by now the temperature had risen considerably and these specimens  were not willing to pose in any spot for long. I phoned D&J to let them know that at least there were some targets about, their long GH search was still proving fruitless so they joined us.



Failed on improving previous efforts!

 

After several sweeps of the north west end of the reserve I was treated to a flash of green and a specimen settled in the brambles about 8ft from me. Lots of happy snapping  ensued.

During the search I had located what I thought was a clearwing moth but on reflection I guess it is a Scorpion Fly, really not sure, so if anyone can provide me with an ID I would be truly grateful. On the way back up to the top car park I located a rather handsome moth and the "staircase" provided several more specimens of Green Hairstreak with a single Speckled Wood.  It is probable that we located at least six specimens of GH, three Grizzled and three or four Dingy Skippers. All in all, a good visit.

Small Purple Barred, Phytometra viridaria

 We parted company and I decided to give Houghton Forest a try for the first time this year. I parked at the entrance to the ride on the Madehurst Road and as I entered the ride I was immediately treated to a high speed fly past of an Orange Tip. All the usual specimens were about in good numbers, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma. It was nice to note my first Green-veined White of the year.

Finally I located an Adder - well two and doing what Mr and Mrs Adder do at this time of year. I was desperate not to disturb them so took some shots and made my exit. However it is apparent from the photographs that the male was very annoyed at the interruption in their nuptial activity. Sorry!

Not happy.

What a shame that the Forestry Commission wish to totally ruin this area, they and a partner company have submitted a planning application for Seventy Five!! log cabins in the forest.
On this ride I have had 18 species of butterfly in a day, including a Purple Emperor - this is designated as the main road in. Why on earth should the superb wildlife habitats of Sussex be given up so that the Lurid Lycra Clad Mountain Biking fraternity of London can come and play here.



Vital food plants like this violet will soon be under concrete.

Green Hairstreak

An early start, in fact too early, when no self respecting butterfly would be flying. However, sitting on Mill Hill waiting for the early morning sunshine to gain some heat was put to good effect. Lots of birds about but the highlight was a male Sparrowhawk terrorising the local Blackbird population, though I didn't witness him having any success.

Finally I found a fresh and obliging specimen of the Green Hairstreak which, thank goodness, was highly territorial. I had switched cameras and had failed to check all the settings, hence when I first spotted the target I didn't get a single satisfactory shot. I took a seat and waited and sure enough a few minutes later it returned and allowed me to take as many shots as I wished. Thanks have to go to Leigh Prevost who gave me spot on directions for this species.

 

Mill Hill Butterflies

My first butterfly outing of the year and with clear skies and a warm sun I decided to visit Mill Hill, the target being a Grizzled Skipper. I arrived at around 1030 and although the sun was warm, no butterflies were on the wing. So, with some time to kill I entertained myself with the birds, a pair of Jays were quite mobile, Bullfinches and Blackcaps were also very vocal in the Blackthorn on the slope above me. Amazingly Cetti's were audible from the reed filled ditches adjacent to the reserve, their strident tones must carry for a considerable distance.

Eventually, as the  sun gained more power, the first butterflies were on the wing. Brimstones, followed by Peacocks and then Small Tortoiseshells. Finally, a freshly emerged Dingy Skipper which posed for the camera as it desperately tried to dry out its wings. Then, with the help of Neil Hulme, another that only posed for a short while.

 

Then, later, I also found a Grizzled Skipper which also posed only for a few shots and never really fully opened its wings for me.

 

Two moths, the first Wavy-barred Sable, Pyrausta nigrata  asked to be recorded and secondly another that I cannot identify - all suggestions gratefully received.

 

 

Part of the supporting cast

 

Snakes alive

With a soupcon of sunshine predicted in the weather forecast it seemed a good idea to revisit Pulborough Brooks in search of an Adder. Previous visits have been depressingly unsuccessful and today was nearly very much the same, so, after searching the whole of "adder alley" I sat on the bench to decide where to go next. I was joined by David Buckingham and we searched together, again in vain. As on my previous visits the birds were very vocal, particularly a Blackcap in an adjacent blackthorn bush. Then we were treated to a flyby of a Swallow, my first this year, sadly just the one, there may have been more but our eyes were fixed firmly on the ground.

We slowly made our way down the hill and there at the bottom end of the alley was a single specimen Adder, half in - half out of the undergrowth. Unfortunately on our approach it beat a hasty retreat and was soon gone from view with no photo opportunity. Buoyed by our success David convinced me to search again - still nothing. On our way back to West Mead hide the snake re-appeared and was happy to pose in half sunlight and I managed to get some record shots - most satisfying.

 

 After this we parted company, David visiting the hides and I returned to Fattengates courtyard in search of Lizards. As before the birds were in full voice, particularly Wrens and Goldcrests but herpetological specimens were absent.

David re-joined me but failed to conjure a lizard from the undergrowth. I returned to the car park, grabbed my lunch and set off to the heath, hopeful that I might find a lizard near the mound. No luck so I drew stumps and decided to return home.

Just this side of Arundel I took a detour and visited "The Dover" where Martin and I had called in the other day to check it out for future birding trips. I had noticed some fine specimens of Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa) and wanted to record them. Apparently this plant has the common name of "Smell Fox", crush the leaves and it is obvious where the name came from.

A carpet of white.....

....soon to be replaced by blue.

Pagham North Wall

The opportunities for a birding blog have been slim just lately, not that the birding has been poor, the exact opposite in fact, the birding thus far this year has been excellent. Just that to blog you need some decent material to accompany the text. A birding blog without pictures is a diary.

Today was no exception, the BBC couldn't forecast anything, their predictions being consistently wide of the mark, yet gain we were out  and about under grey skies rather than sunshine.  After a fruitless foray in order to obtain improved shots of the Climping Hoopoe we found ourselves on the North Wall at Pagham in search of the elusive Water Pipit. To say the bird was in cover was an understatement but we managed to find it - far too far way for any sort of shot. However, we did manage to obtain what have been described on SOS as "embryo shots". Satisfaction multiplied by being able to direct other birders on to the target.

Very secretive - staying in the reeds for most of the time.

As the tide rose we expected more birds to arrive in  Breech Pool but, sadly, we could have waited a week before anything of note turned up. The Cetti's Warblers are very active at the moment, darting from the reeds and sitting for just a few seconds in a nearby bush. No hirundines present but I did hear the scratchy tune of a Sedge Warbler just twice, but confirmed by Ian. About forty Black-tailed Godwits were in attendance, some of them sporting that gorgeous rusty coloured plumage that indicates summer is on the way. Amongst them, three colour ringed birds that I duly recorded, one ringed in France, one in Montrose and the other in Portsmouth - they do get about!

B+GR - A Solent bird - denoted by the lower left Red

O(f)L +RY a bird ringed in France

OB+WG - a bird ringed in Montrose - reported previously in the same location
last November by yours truly

Finally as we departed Martin spotted a Curlew in the horse field, seemingly delighted to be rummaging for grub in the large expanse of horse poo -  that is the Curlew not Martin.

Heaven is a pile of poo!

Not wishing to give in too easily we decided on a visit to the Burgh, again disappointment, just two Stock Doves being the notable spots.

 

 

 

 

 

European Wall Lizards

With Martin otherwise engaged I decided to have a non birding outing, hoping to capture some shots of the Adders at Pulborough Brooks and then perhaps a lizard or two. With a cracking weather forecast I left home in bright sunshine and headed for Pulborough, somewhere close to Arundel a thick mist descended and stayed with me until well gone mid morning. Making my way to "adder alley" I was regaled by a host of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps but not a hint of Willow Warbler. Sitting on the bench by the expanse of bracken I patiently waited for both the sun and the snakes to put in an appearance. After four hours the former had shown, probably the hottest day of the year so far but totally ophidian free. Making my way back via the zig-zag I met Dorian and Dave who had obviously booked the afternoon watch with the snakes  - I hoped they fared better.

So off to the Old Fort at Shoreham where resides a colony of European or Common Wall Lizards, breeding from stock released close by they have colonised the walls of the fort and are multiplying and spreading steadily. The fact they are there is well known by local naturalists but I am sure the general public have no inkling of their presence. One woman enquired what I was photographing and when I pointed out one particularly bright green specimen swore that I was conspiring in some sort of April Fool's prank.

 

 

 

Currently there are three known colonies in West Sussex, the Old Fort at Shoreham, West Worthing railway station (southern platform) and a barn wall in Bury. Someone let them go back in the 1980s and they seem to be doing quite well. At least they are colourful specimens to snap and as far as I can gather do no harm.