Went Hill

Putting British Summer Time, and the Omega-block high pressure to good use. An early evening visit to Went Hill was pretty chilly in an unforgiving NE wind. The amazing Gorse continues to be the star, with coconut ice fragrance in the air.

 

Ground Ivy, Hill Road

 

Ditchling

Truly lovely spring weather. Goldfinch and Dunnocks singing.

Sculptures by Tadek Beautlich
 

Jevington Plantation

Sweet Violet

Cow Parsely starting to grow
 

Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Hill Road

 This looks like a queen. 

Jevington Plantation

Wonder Violet, a new species for the wood.

Yew flowers

Wood Anenome. One of the few remaining patches. The Ash dieback means the canopy is much depleted. This allows Brambles and other plants to thrive, out-competing the Anenome, for now.

Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

More new flowers on the lawn, adding to the species already present.

Cowslip

#14 Snakes-head Fritillary 

In the pond, Marsh Marigold

#15 Milk Thistle 
 

West Rise Marsh

The most glorious of late March mornings. Forty species at the marsh, some hanging on from winter, like the four agitated Gadwall that flew around the lake, flashing white specula, before splashing down to squabble with their short, deep quacks. Others were very welcome migrants from the new season; a Sedge Warbler calling from the reeds and a wonderful Willlow Warbler, proud in the tree-tops. The latter is just passing through, while the Sedge Warbler will stay to breed. Also of note were a pair of Jays that appeared to be mimicking Buzzards as they called to each other.

Blackthorn

Dusk Plantation

 

Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

#11 Pulmonaria

#12 Sweet Violet

#13 Forget-me-not 
 

Dusk, Jevington Plantation

 

Birling Gap

 The patch of daffodil that are spreading near the car park look very strongly like our native species. The Gorse, which is almost always in flower, was fantastic with its intense coconut ice aroma.

Possible wild daffodil 

Spring Flowers, Jevington Plantation

Wood Anenome

Sweet Violet. This patch at the foot of the wood's biggest Walnut Tree.
 

Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

 #9 Daisy

#10 Petit Spurge

Palmate Newt, Hill Road

A closer look at the tadpoles in the pond revealed some of them to be eats! Then we spotted this adult Palmate Newt.

 

Sky, Langney

 

'Peach Light', Jevington Plantation

 For the last few days, as dusk starts, a strange peach-coloured light suffuses the wood. The last few Wrens stop and all the Blackbirds start to sing.

The shadow of the Earth

 

Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

 Two more species on the lawn, despite the colder weather.

#7 Cowslip

#8 Creeping Speedwell

Charleston Bottom, South Downs

 A glorious if chilly March day. The path leading up out of Litlington has a gentle but relentless gradient. Leaving behind the songs of Chaffinch as we climbed up into the downs and into the land of Skylark and Buzzard. The woods are still bare, but buds are swelling on the twigs.

Colchester Zoo

Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulates

Green and Black Poison Arrow Frog

Strawberry Poison Arrow Frog

Amur Tiger
 

Guianan Bearded Saki Monkey Chiropotes sagulatus