Eastbourne Seafront

A couple of recent photos, taken at the end of a warm day, just as a sea mist rolled over from the downs.

Term 5: Bird List

Term 5 is always one of my busiest times at work, leaving little time to get out. 

This term I saw four lifetime firsts:

Siberian Chiffchaff 

Velvet Scoter 

Great Skua 

Pomarine Skua 

The last three were from 40 magical minutes of sea watching at Birling Gap. My life total is now 436.

In addition, these species were year ticks:

Garden Warbler 

Eider

Hobby 

Swift

Tree Pipit 

Cuckoo 

My total for the year is now 172.

Herring Gull, West Rise Marsh.

Swallow, Arlington Reservoir.

Collared Dove, Arlington Reservoir.

Pied Wagtail, Arlington Reservoir. 

Peregrine, Shooters Bottom.

Pomarine Skua, Birling Gap.

Velvet and Common Scoter, Birling Gap.

Great Skua, Birling Gap.

Nuthatch, Michelham Priory. 

Black-headed Gull, Cuckmere Valley.



Linnets, above Jevington Church.

Little Egret, Cuckmere Valley. 

Moorhen, Motcombe Gardens.

Greenfinch, Motcombe Gardens.

Pied Wagtail, Chilley Farm Pevensey Levels

Skylark, Horseye Level. 

Robin, Hill Road Eastbourne.

Buzzard, Mount Caburn.

Meadow Pipit, Mount Caburn. 

Term 5: Highlights

This post collects my favourite photos from Term 5 and lists my top five Wildlife Wonders.

Sunset at Arlington Reservoir.

Whitethroat, Birling Gap.

Corn Bunting, near Belle Tout.

Wheatear, Birling Gap.

Reed Warbler, West Rise Marsh.

Stonechat, West Rise Marsh.

Bluebells, Arlington.

Linnet, Shooters Bottom.

Shooters Bottom.

Dunnock, Shooters Bottom.

Twayblade, Further Plantation Willingdon. 

Reed Bunting,  Charleston Reedbed.

Whitethroat, Cuckmere Valley. 

Wild Garlic, above Jevington Church.

White Wagtail, Hankham Levels.

West Rise Marsh.

Whiteread Hollow.

Thunder clouds over Eastbourne.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Abbot's Wood.

Tree Pipit, Old Lodge.

Woodlark, Old Lodge.

Beachy Head. 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Hill Road Eastbourne.

My top five Wildlife Wonders:

#5 Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard, Mount Caburn 21st May.

The 'churring' call the Peregrine made alerted me to this amazing spectacle.

#4 Siberian Chiffchaff, Arlington Reservoir 28th April. I didn't see the Red-rumped Swallow, but this lifetime first made up for it. The characteristic three part Chiffchaff call was perfect.

#3 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Abbot's Wood 20th May. Absolutely stunning butterly. Photo above.

#2 Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Hill Road Eastbourne. 21st May. Fantastic garden visitor. Photos above.

#1 Spring Seabird migration, Birling Gap. 29th and 30th April. Mediterranean Gull, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern,  Brent Geese, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Eider and Common Scoter. Plus three lifetime firsts: Velvet Scoter, Great Skua and Pomarine Skua. Amazing.

Cattle, Mount Caburn.

Abbot's Wood

I went looking for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in Abbot's Wood on Saturday 20th May with Charlie Peverett. We had no luck with this species, however we did see some marvellous Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries.

This species has been the subject of a three year reintroduction program at Abbot's Wood. The adults we saw have pupated from caterpillars released at the site a few weeks ago. Once the adults had laid eggs and dispersed news of the successful project was announced:
www.sussex-butterflies.org.uk/news/#50

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene. 

Both the adults we saw landed on the track. We also had a great view of a singing Garden Warbler.

Small Copper

Common Spotted Orchid