Eastbourne Beach and Weir Wood Reservoir

I had a walk at Eastbourne beach during a dry window one morning, before the forecasted rain arrived. 

Two juvenile Herring Gulls, left and centre, plus a tentatively identified juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull on the right.

There was a great deal of feeding activity by gulls, just out to sea.

Lesser Black-backed Gull juvenile in the centre this time.

Another rainy day. I visited the hide at Weir Wood Reservoir hoping to see some of the reported Green Sandpipers.

Distant, but satisfying views. My 187th species of 2017.  I am trying to get to 200, but have been stuck in the 180's since the start of June.

Cuckmere haven

It seems that for most of July I have become preoccupied with flowers and insects. A rain free evening prompted a walk down to the Cuckmere.

Black-headed Gull. The breeding plumage is fading.

Little Egret.

Grey Heron.

Roosting gulls on the exposed mud at low tide. Almost all were Black-headed Gulls, but there were Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Dunlin and Curlew present.

The Grey Heron below is a younger individual. It lacks the distinct black markings and ornamental feathers of the adult bird above. These take four years to develop fully.

As dusk fell, more gulls flew in to join the roost. Note the juvenile Shelduck bottom center-left. This species regularly breeds in the valley. 

Malling Down

My first visit to Malling Down, on a rare warm and sunny day. The chalk grassland flowers were fantastic, as were the insects feeding on them.

Six-spot Burnet Moth, Zygaena filipendulae.

Devil's-bit Scabious, Succica pratensis.

A male Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus.

Mating Common Blue butterflies. The browner female is below.

A Mint Moth, Pyrausta aurata.

Round-headed Rampion, Phyteuma orbiculare. Also known as The Pride of Sussex.

Carline Thistle, Carlinus vulgaris.

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia.

Yellow Wort, Blackstonia perfoliata.

Red-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius. This individual was so large that it must have been a queen.

Burnet Rose, Rosa pimpinellifolia, with Rose Bedegar, or Robin's Pin-cushion Gall. These are caused by the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae.

Caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae.

Green Woodpecker, the red cheek markings indicate a male.

Butts Brow and Babylon Down

There is currently an archaeological dig at Butts Brow; several teams are investigating the neolithic ditches that cover the hill. The grassland is looking marvellous and is full of butterflies, day-flying moths, grasshoppers and bees.

Common Blue. I think this is a male.

Female Common Blue.

Male Common Blue.

The magnificent chalk grassland flowers on Babylon Down

A rather friendly Common Green Grasshopper, Omocestrus virdulus, with a missing back leg.

Flowering Wild Marjoram, Origanum vulgare. This actually the same species as the herb oregano, but it has a different scent when growing in a cooler climate. The bees were very strongly attracted to it.

A Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Bombus terrestris, collecting nectar from the Marjoram.

Another Garden Visitor

After an absence of a few weeks, we now have three different badgers visiting the garden. I think this one is a relatively young male. His ears look in surprisingly good condition, as he gets older they will almost certainly get damaged in fights.

I think the other two badgers are also relatively young. They might be litter mates, as they are quite tolerant of each other when feeding on the patio. However, things do get a bit pushy when the food is nearly finished.

Garden Visitors

A very confiding young Fox has been visiting our back garden recently.

A Rosy Footman, Miltochrista miniata.

A sunny day brought some butterflies to the Budlea.

Red Admiral

Peacock

Honey Bee mimic Hoverfly, Eristalis horticola.

Some more Red Admirals.

Gatekeeper