WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS
2004
Most unusual or notable reports
WILDLIFE
REPORTS
7
December 2004
The
most attractive of the four two century old large Chestnut Trees
in Buckingham Park has now been butchered. It had received damage after
the gales in July 2004, but it has now been destroyed as an important landmark
and this was the best tree in the whole of the Adur district.
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21
September 2004
Devil's
Bit Scabious has been feature on the downs
this autumn notably between Slonk Hill and Mossy Bottom (near Stonechat
Junction) and on the lower slopes of
Mill
Hill.
22 August 2004
A Hornet
Robber Fly, Asilus
crabroniformis, (a Biodiversity
Action Plan species), a rare rather menacing looking large flying predatory
insect associated in this case with horse's
dung and reputed to prey on the dung insects,
settled on the path (the footpath from the
Waterworks
Road next to the Horse's Fields on the way to Mill
Hill) in front of me, the second one of
these flies I had seen in the last few days. It is a strong flyer.
25
July 2004
Rising
from the tall shrubbery in the Ravensbourne Avenue garden to the the rear
of the back garden of 40 The Drive, (TQ
219 063), a large
grey female Sparrowhawk looked menacing as
it flew over the garage in a westerly direction and quickly disappeared
from the view. This surprising record was the first hawk recorded in
this part of town near Buckingham Park.
7 June 2004
A
young Common Toad,
Bufo bufo, has appeared in my south
Lancing garden, (TQ 186 044.
Common
Toad
Photograph
by Ray Hamblett
Toad
Portrait Gallery
Lancing
Nature Galleries
3
June 2004
A short
30 minute spell of push-netting for shrimps
off Shoreham beach on the low spring tide produced
two dozen Brown Shrimps,
Crangon
crangon, a handful of the South-clawed
Hermit Crab, Diogenes pugilator,
one young venomous Lesser Weever,
Echiichthys
vipera,
two juvenile
Grey Swimming Crabs,
Liocarcinus vernalis, one swimming crab
Portumnus latipes with 30+ young Flounders
and two young Sole.
Identification
Discussions
Adur
at Low Tide
British
Marine Life Study Society
17
May 2004
The
Small Blue Butterfly
is confirmed from Slonk Hill where the first
Adonis Blue Butterfly
of the year was also seen with a
Grizzled Skipper and a
Small White Butterfly
or two. Two more Adonis Blues
were seen on Mill Hill.
26
April 2004
As
the first Horseshoe Vetch
and Milkwort
were beginning to flower on the lower slopes of Mill
Hill, there was a small moth
that could be mistaken in flight for a Grizzled
Skipper. It was only about half the size though
and I have now identified this species as Pyrausta nigrata. The
books record this moth flying in June and July or September and October.
The main flying time on Mill Hill is April and May.
20
April 2004
A
solitary toadstool was amongst the still short grass near a Hawthorn bush.
I recognised it immediately as a Morel
because of its unusual distinctive appearance. I had not seen one before
and although an edible species, I left it in its place just south of the
car park.
9 April
2004
The
splendidly coloured Emperor Moth,
Pavonia
pavonia, rested among the grasses on Mill
Hill. It was discovered by Katherine Hamblett
and Tacita French at the top of the lower
slopes.
Lancing
Nature
30 March 2004
Over fifty lizards skittered up the extensive crumbling flint
walls of the Old Fort (Shoreham Beach) (TQ 234 046) with dexterity,
very quickly (too quickly to photograph) after basking in the warmth of the
morning sun.
I think the lizards seen at the Old Fort are the Common (or Viviparous) Lizard, Lacerta
vivipara.
Postscript:
these lizards have now been definitely identified as the Wall
Lizard, Podarcis
muralis.
Local
Lizard Comparison Photographs
28 March 2004
It
had been so long since I had seen a Rook close-up that I was beginning to think that I could not
tell them apart from Crows. So it was to my surprise and astonishment when one turned
up on the small tree in the back garden of 40 The Drive (near Buckingham Park), Shoreham-by-Sea, (TQ 219 063) to feed on scraps at about 5:00 pm BST. It did so eagerly
with its distinctive long thin silver beak and face, gobbling up three pieces
of diced bread, before being chased off by what looked like a Crow.
Town & Gardens 2004
26 March 2004
Quite the most magnificent bird I have ever seen in the Adur area, a
pale fawnish-brown Barn Owl flew majestically in a straight line above the Ricardo
test track opposite the Sussex Pad Hotel (at the southern end of the Coombes
Road) and then veered into the cover of the trees. The bird flew
at 4:45 pm in
bright sunshine so the view was far from fleeting. I was struck
by the size of this bird as it appeared much bigger than expected, especially
its head which was looking in my direction.
January Report
Adur Levels 2004
17 March 2004
Two pairs of Great Spotted Woodpeckers
chased their partners around the
tree tops opposite Cuckoo's Corner on the Coombes road. They made
a tremendous commotion as they performed their antics, with a
rattling trill-like call that was repeated at regular intervals. At
times it seemed if two males were competing over one female and at another
time, it seemed that there were two separate pairs.
Full
Report
10 February
2004
A Sandwich Tern flew arrow-like
a purposely over the shallow sea (at high tide) parallel
with Southwick beach before disappearing out of view to
the west. Terns are unusual in the winter months.
Adur Coastal 2004
9 February 2004
A flutter of orange and the unmistakable patterns
of a Painted
Lady Butterfly that flew
steadily over the southern section of Mill Hill. Later, a second
Painted Lady flew around the copse and
settled on the Beech leaves still on the tree and several times on the grass.
Painted Lady Butterflies are unusual in the
winter and spring. Could these be immigrant butterflies
rather than hibernating adults?
Some lepidopterists tend to favour immigration,
although amongst all the naturalists, the views seem to be
about 50/50. I am tending towards the view that some adult butterflies
have been able to survive the mild winter.
NB: The last date on
record for Painted Ladies in the Adur area last year was
10 October 2003.
Research has found evidence
of Painted Ladies hibernating
in Britain.
Immigration of
Lepidoptera
Adur Butterflies
Adur Butterfly Flight
Times
29 January 2004
A "skein"
of dolphins were observed in the sea off Widewater Lagoon, Lancing, Sussex at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. This was an unusual
event off the Sussex coast and most occasional observations
have been in the summer months. Pods of dolphins have been seen
off Selsey Bill, West Sussex in the last few days. "Skein" is
the term used by the observer and I have not known this collective
noun used before for dolphins. I have not heard in use for geese or
ducks either.
Hearsay Report
by Brian Street (Shoreham)
British Marine Life Study Society
News Reports Winter 2004
BMLSS Cetacea
