29th June: The Lookout, Birling Gap

 I am still delighting in my new camera. Today I became really surprised at just how long the claws are on some species of bird. The light at Birling Gap was beautiful, as we walked through the chalkland flowers to Horseshoe Plantation. Skylark, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Stonechat were in full song and the Scabious flowers looked fantastic.

Corn Bunting

Meadow Pipit

Stonechat

Marbled White, feeding on Greater Knapweed

Juvenile Stonechat

Six-spot Burnett Moth on Field Scabious

Nearly the Strawberry Full Moon

 

Dusk, Jevington Plantation

Quite windy for a time today. Some of the Sycamore trees have shed seeds.

Several Black Slugs were on the paths.

 

Herring Gull chicks, near Hill Road

 

28th June: Butterflies on the White Path, Hill Road

 The end of the heatwave, with fresher westerly weather chasing windogs low over the Downs. The warmth and the regular rainfall have left the vegetation and flowers looking great.

Butterflies: (90 individuals seen)

Large White 10

Meadow Brown 21

Comma 3

Small Skipper 9

Painted Lady 6

Ringlet 18

Red Admiral 11

Marbled White 1

Small Copper 2

Small White 8

Gatekeeper 1

Common Blue 1

Odonata:

Emperor Dragonfly 3 (2 males, 1 female)

Brown Hawker 1

Common Darter 2

Southern Hawker 1

Plus another Silver Y

Ringlet

Red Admiral

Small Skipper

Comma

Peacock

Southern Hawker

Large White

Common Red Soldier Beetles on Queen Anne's Lace

Rainbow, Hill Road

 

Coombe Hill

A long conveyor belt of showers came sliding out of France all afternoon. Between the showers we walked at Coombe Hill in the early evening. The pasture showed signs of intensive sheep occupation, but was empty. A group of Song Thrush were feeding off the insects that had been attracted.

Across the 'saddle' were a family of four Ravens. I have often seen family groups like this here in the summer.

The steep slopes of the Coombe has been heavily grazed and the Common Spotted Orchids were much reduced from last year. It didn't take long to spot the Rabbits who have no doubt contributed to the nibbling.

Song Thrush

Raven

Rabbit

Linnet

Round-headed Rampion, a Sussex treasure.

Another approaching rain storm