Nightingale
25/04/12 13:13 Filed in: Sightings
Here’s a better recording of the Nightingale:
Nightingale3
These birds are really difficult to see as they nearly always keep themselves hidden in the undergrowth. It’s a challenge to get a photo or any video!
PV
Nightingale3
These birds are really difficult to see as they nearly always keep themselves hidden in the undergrowth. It’s a challenge to get a photo or any video!
PV
Spring Birds
24/04/12 11:57 Filed in: Sightings
Great to hear a Nightingale singing beautifully next to the MOD track leading to the rifle Range. It was only a few metres away tucked into the undergrowth. Accompanied by a Whitethroat.
For a slightly ropey audio recording, click here: Nightingale2
The weather was grey, chilly & windy, so no surprise that I didn’t see a single butterfly anywhere.
PV
For a slightly ropey audio recording, click here: Nightingale2
The weather was grey, chilly & windy, so no surprise that I didn’t see a single butterfly anywhere.
PV
More Spring
12/04/12 15:50 Filed in: Sightings
Here is a selection of images taken on site this spring. Lots of new life about everywhere, including some migrant birds, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps. Also Orange-tip Butterflies.
Violets
Brimstone Butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Twayblade Orchid
Mating Grass Snakes
Comma Butterfly
Green-veined White Butterfly
Cowslip
PV
Violets
Brimstone Butterfly
Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly
Twayblade Orchid
Mating Grass Snakes
Comma Butterfly
Green-veined White Butterfly
Cowslip
PV
Winter Walk
11/01/12 15:20 Filed in: Sightings
I had an amazingly sunny & warm walk up the Steyning Coombe this morning to meet up with Tom Parry from the South Downs National Park and Nigel who co-ordinates our Ranger Team. The Grammar School Task Force were up there continuing the good work clearing scrub to help restore some more chalk grassland.
The temperature was around 14˚C, unseasonably mild, and this might have explained the two pristine Red Admiral butterflies we spotted on the way back down.
Lots of birds were also about including a pair of Bullfinches, Gold & Greenfinches, Green Woodpecker, Collared Doves, & on the ponds, Mallard, Teal & Gadwall.
PV
The temperature was around 14˚C, unseasonably mild, and this might have explained the two pristine Red Admiral butterflies we spotted on the way back down.
Lots of birds were also about including a pair of Bullfinches, Gold & Greenfinches, Green Woodpecker, Collared Doves, & on the ponds, Mallard, Teal & Gadwall.
PV
Wild Flowers
15/07/11 13:09 Filed in: Sightings
The wild flowers on the Rifle Range are amazing at the moment. I’m sure the winter grazing has been really beneficial.
.
However, in spite of this, my casual observations are that there are not that many butterflies about. There are some Meadow Brown about, Marbled Whites are not as numerous as they were a couple of weeks ago, some Small Whites are flying and Gatekeepers are beginning to appear in ones & twos. There are a few Ringlets as well.
I’ve also spotted the odd Red Admiral & Peacock. But I haven’t seen a single blue butterfly for weeks now. I know they’re being seen on other sites on the Downs, so where are ours?
.
However, in spite of this, my casual observations are that there are not that many butterflies about. There are some Meadow Brown about, Marbled Whites are not as numerous as they were a couple of weeks ago, some Small Whites are flying and Gatekeepers are beginning to appear in ones & twos. There are a few Ringlets as well.
I’ve also spotted the odd Red Admiral & Peacock. But I haven’t seen a single blue butterfly for weeks now. I know they’re being seen on other sites on the Downs, so where are ours?
Butterflies Are Back
15/03/11 10:39 Filed in: Sightings
On a beautiful & warm morning, the Rifle Range seemed suddenly to have sprung into life. Many birds flying around busily singing and looking very smart in their spring plumage including several Jays around the treetops, Great Spotted & Green Woodpeckers calling & hammering, a Buzzard soaring on thermals above, a male Yellowhammer giving his characteristic “Little bit of bread & some cheese” call,YellowhammerCall but, best of all a lovely Black Redstart flying around & feeding on the north slope.
Spring flowers are coming up everywhere including Celandine, Primrose & Violets, and lots of insects about.
At last I saw my first butterflies of the year, three lovely male Brimstone and a Peacock.
The winter is hopefully over.
PV
Spring flowers are coming up everywhere including Celandine, Primrose & Violets, and lots of insects about.
At last I saw my first butterflies of the year, three lovely male Brimstone and a Peacock.
The winter is hopefully over.
PV
More Butterflies
19/05/10 12:28 Filed in: Sightings
- We are so lucky to have an area bursting with so much wildlife just outside Steyning. It’s amazing what’s out there when you take the time to have a good look.A beautiful warm morning. On the Rifle Range there were several Grizzled & Dingy Skipper butterflies flitting about along with Small Heath & the first Wall Brown of the year & also a beautiful male Brimstone.
Further up on the Steyning Coombe were more Skippers & Small Heaths, male & female Brimstone, 2x Wall Brown &, best of all 5x Green Hairstreaks, the first I’ve personally seen up there. Fantastic! Also some day flying moths, Green Carpet & Treble Bar.
The birds were also in abundance, Yellowhammers, Whitethroats, 2x Buzzards overhead being harassed by Crows, a Kestrel flying past with mewing youngster in tow.
Having already found three destroyed Long-tailed tits nests this year, it was heartening to see a pair busy with beaks full of insects, presumably feeding their young in a well concealed nest.
PV
Life & Death
17/05/10 16:26 Filed in: Sightings
- Lovely sunny morning & actually reasonably warm for a change. On the Steyning Coombe, 4x Small Heath Butterflies. These are really small & easily mistaken for a moth as they fly by.Early Purple Orchids will be out soon, Twayblades already flowering.Curiously, not a single butterfly seen on the Rifle Range.
A pair of Kestrels flew over, one disturbed from a tree, also a noisy Jay.
On the Rifle Range, mother & offspring doing well! (Life)
Also saw a fox running off with a freshly caught rabbit. (Death). Nature will always find a balance between predators & prey. It’s only us humans who disturb this. Then wildlife becomes ‘vermin’....
PV
Birds Nesting
01/05/10 17:29 Filed in: Sightings
- Much evidence of bird nesting all over the site.
- On the Rifle Range, a Yellowhammer seen with a beak full of dry grass.
- Whitethroats seem very abundant this year.
- Chiffchaffs exhibiting mating behaviour.
- Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard drumming.
- Male Blackcaps singing with great gusto
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