Honeysuckle, Hill Road

 Honeysuckle seems to be doing really well in the aftermath of Ash Die-back. Good news for White Admirals.

Valerian 

Cuckmere Valley, Alfriston

Reed Bunting

Beautiful Demoiselle

Blue-tailed Damselfly
 

Full Moon, Hill Road

 

Great Spotted Woodpecker nests, Jevington Plantation

 Had to go back and check up on the two nests. Both are still inhabited by noisy chicks and attended by scolding adults.

Pyramidal Orchids in the Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

#34 Pyramidal Orchid. Obviously, not in full flower yet. One did flower in 2019, but the weird life-cycle of Orchids meant, I hadn't given up hope of it returning. 

#35 Trailing Bellflower 

#36 French Cranesbill 
 

Stinking Iris, Friston Forest

 The Iris looks beautiful.... All the Common Helleborine had gone over in this week's heat.

Poppies! Hill Road

 

Wildflower Lawn, Hill Road

#32 Love-in-a-mist

#33 Kidney Vetch

Harlequin larva, Hill Road

 

Currant Clearwing, Hill Road

 

Alas, it flew away before I could get a decent photo

Hummingbird Hawkmoths, Skippers and Grey Seals, Beachy Head

 Despite the increased tourist pressure, it is still possible to find a few quiet spots to sit and watch the basking Grey Seals from the cliff top. Today there were at least 16 seals visible. Our previous best count is 56! Grey Seals, Beachy Head

Greater Knapweed and Viper's Bugloss flowers were attracting Large Skippers and amazingly, three Hummingbird Hawkmoths. Also saw my first Cinnabar Moth of the year.

Tiny Froglet, Hill Road

 Despite the attentions of a resident newt, 3 tiny froglets are in the top pond.

Great Spotted Woodpecker nests, Jevington Plantation

 This May, not one but two Great Spotted Woodpecker nests are busy in the wood. Both entered the hectic phase where the young start a continuous chant-like calling. This generally agitates the adults, who must be anxious that the din could alert predators to the location of the nest.

Amazing Poppies, Hill Road

 Every day this week, I have woken and marvelled at the display of red Poppies in the back garden, each morning's display seeming to out dazzle that of the previous day. By the time dusk falls, nearly all the petals are destined to fall, and lie strewn across the grass at the foot of the flower bed. Almost miraculously, early the next morning a new display awaits.

The depleted, evening display.

The glory of the morning.

Breeding Large Red Damselflies, Hill Road

 There are dozens of attached pairs of these damselflies drifting around the garden today.

Egg-laying

The heart-shaped 'Mating Wheel'

Blue Tits, Hill Road

 The continuing drama of the nest box continues. Peeping and chirping increased, with the first chick fledging at about 12.30pm. This seemed to quieten things down a bit, but the adults continued to feed enormous numbers of caterpillars with each entry to the box provoking a mighty clamour.

Note - this was our last day with the Blue Tits. The last chick fledged at around 9am the next morning.