Overview

The River Adur reaches the sea at Shoreham-by-Sea where the mouth has been deflected two miles to the east by the longshore drift. Going upstream with the incoming tide through the centre of New Shoreham under seven bridges before the tide reaches the village of Bramber after 6.4 km (4 miles). The river then passes about one mile east of the town of Steyning. The estuary is tidal for 17.9 km (11.1 miles) from the mouth to Bines Bridge on the B.2135.

The flood plain or levels refer to the stretch south of Bramber, where the tidal rivers meanders towards the sea, with low lying fields on each side. Public access is by the towpath each side of the river, and on the Coastal Link cyclepath following the disused railway line. The Coastal Link Cyclepath connects to the South Downs Way Route just north of Beeding Cement Works. 
 
 

Spring Dyke next to the Miller's Stream 2005

Coastal Link 2006

29 December 2005
I am not sure if it was a Goldcrest or a Wren in the bushes east of the Toll Bridge, and I felt it was too cold (air temperature 2.4 ºC) to stay around to find out at the warmest time of day in the early afternoon.

1 December 2005

23 November 2005
At least two Yarrow plants were still in flower, one on the grass bordering the river by the Adur Riverbank Industrial Estate north of the Railway Viaduct, and one the cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge.
 
 

17 November 2005
A Siskin was a surprise and the first time I had seen this small bird (smaller than a Greenfinch) in my back garden that backs on the wasteland and River Adur estuary opposite Shoreham Airport. The garden also supported Goldcrests recently. 

27 October 2005 The mushrooms on a rotten log near the first layby (from the south) on the Steyning Road had grown considerable larger after the recent rain and are illustrated by the photographs on the right. The suggested species is Agrocybe aegerita (= cylindracea). The largest mushroom measured 90 mm cap diameter with a curved stem that was at least 120 m long.  Shoreham Fungi 2005

A Migrant Hawker (dragonfly) patrolled the path north of the A27 Flyover.  In the fading light, small  birds were common in the hedgerows and at least a half a dozen of these were Goldfinches. The path was muddy in parts and strewn with puddles. 

10 October 2005
Very little of note, just at least one Common Darter and one Migrant Hawker* (dragonfly) patrolled the path north of the Toll Bridge and no butterflies were spotted in a hurried visit. 
(* Originally thought to be a Southern Hawker and it well have been as it was not seen close-up.)

6 October 2005
A chirm of about a dozen Goldfinches fed on Teasel by (north of) the Toll Bridge.
 

5 October 2005 There was so little colour apart from the yellow of the Sow Thistles that this flower stood out from amongst the Clematis on the Coastal Link Cyclepath north of the A27 Flyover. This is the Rosebay Willowherb, Chamaenerion angustifolium. The flowers are usually pinkish on low tall spikes. In this case they were submerged by the Clematis. Previous picture: normal colours

30 September 2005
A pair of Southern Hawkers (dragonflies) patrolled the Coastal Link Cyclepath north of the A27 Flyover there was a pretty brown moth (nearly the size of a Small Heath Butterfly) that fluttered in the undergrowth but I was unable to get a good enough look at for identification, and a fine condition Red Admiral in the same area. The path was full of puddles after the recent rain.
 

Flowering plants were coming to an end, just the leftovers from the summer season, frequent Sow Thistles and Wild Basil, occasional Common Toadflax, Hardheads (Lesser Knapweed), Ragwort, Ox-eye Daises, flowering umbellifers, White Clover and one Meadow Vetchling, Lathyrus pratensis (its pods had turned brown).

27 September 2005
The Fresh Breeze Force 4 (at 24 mph bordering on Force 5) from the south-west (224° azimuth) felt stronger and more from due south.
This wind may or may not have brought immigrant Red Admirals to Shoreham. The tally was at least nine on the Coastal Link cyclepath at the extreme southern end by the demolished railway bridge.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005
 

22 September 2005 Chicory on the road verges near (south of by the layby) the Cement Works. The plant was flowering in July and is very noticeable.

1 September 2005
There was a Dryad's Saddle attached to the base of a wooden sculpture on the Coastal Link cyclepath near the first layby (from the south) on the Steyning Road. 
Shoreham Fungi
A Green-veined White Butterfly on the Coastal Link Cyclepath north of the Toll Bridge was the first recorded in the month of September anywhere in Adur.
Adur Butterfly Flight Times

27 August 2005
Both male and female Southern Hawkers (dragonflies) patrolled the cyclepath north of the A27 Flyover with one or two Common Darters noted. 

23 August 2005
A flock of Starlings, many very spotty and young were atttracted to the Elderflower Bushes on the Coastal Link Cyclepath 50 metres north of the Toll Bridge. There were also at least two Linnets amongst the same large bushes (almost tree size). Butterflies included a handful of both Common Blues and Meadow Browns, a half a dozen Speckled Woods, one Red Admiral, and a small blue butterfly which turned out to be a worn Brown Argus. 
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005

Both male and female Southern Hawkers (dragonflies) patrolled around the same Elderflower bushes. Greater (or at least large) Bird's Foot Trefoil and Fleabane, Tufted Vetch and Wild Basil were noted in flower.
Adur Levels 2005

15 August 2005
A single Musk Mallow plant was recorded for the first time on the cyclepath 100 metres or so north of the Toll Bridge. 

8 August 2005
Two Migrant Hawkers (dragonflies) patrolled over at the extreme southern end of the Coastal Link Cyclepath in the town of Shoreham-by-Sea. These were the first two of the year. 
In the same area, I saw a female "blue-brown" Common Blue Butterfly followed immediately by a definite Brown Argus. It was accompanied by a dozen male Common Blues, a handful of Gatekeepers, one Small/Essex Skipper and a Red Admiral.

17 July 2005
The flowering plant list was extended to include small amounts of the yellow Common Toadflax. the blue flowers of Chicory were noticed right next to the Steyning Road approaching the layby south of the Cement Works which gives access to the cyclepath.
Butterflies: there were a handful each of Gatekeepers, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites and Small/Essex Skippers and a few Meadow Browns, two Marbled Whites, two Red Admirals plus one Holly Blue. 
There were a pair of Goldfinches as well.

11 July 2005
An hour on the Coastal Link Cyclepath enabled me to reach the meadow verges just south of the Cement Works. The most difficult identification were the smallish yellow (underwing) and white butterflies with small spots which were positively identified positively as Green-veined Whites (18+). The other confirmed butterflies in order of prevalence were, Meadow Browns (25+), Gatekeepers (20+), Red Admiral (9), Small/Essex Skippers (7+), Comma (2), Holly Blue (1) Marbled White (1) and Wall Brown* (1). (* fleeting glance only)
Adur Butterfly List 2005
 

There was a profusion of plants and in the heat at 27.0 ºC without even a breeze at 53% humidity, it was not a day for taking notes. The plants prolifically in flower included Viper's Bugloss, Rosebay Willowherb, Great Willowherb, Buddleia, Dog Rose, Brambles, Ragwort, Common Mallow, Perforate St. John's Wort, Lady's Bedstraw, White Clover and those prolific and starting to flower included Hardheads (Lesser Knapweed), Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Clematis and Groundsel. Other less common plants included Greater Knapweed, Ribbed Melilot, Self-heal, Wild Basil, Wild Marjoram* and Bird's-foot Trefoil. Flowers that were fading including the prolific Ox-eye Daisies and the less common Pyramidal Orchids, Kidney Vetch and Red Valerian. (*Near the Riverside Industrial estate, extreme southern end of the path as it reaches a dead end by the demolished railway bridge.)

A pair of Goldfinches were a welcome sight over the path and in the hedge just north of the Toll Bridge. 

6 July 2005
Three Meadow Brown Butterflies were seen on the Coastal Link Cyclepath together with four Small Tortoiseshells. These were in two places: half of them seen just south of the Toll Bridge and the other half next to the A283 first road lay-by. A large flowering clump of the very common Rosebay Willowherb was noted as a heavy rain shower fell. South of the Toll Bridge, there was row of continual Ragwort. 

17 June 2005
A strong flying yellow butterfly, seen over the Slonk Hill Cutting (south bank) and another over the Coastal Link Cyclepath between the A27 Flyover and the first road lay-by I first thought it must be a Clouded Yellow, but the absence of black around the battered wing edges convinced me that this was Brimstone Butterfly.
 

The Large Skipper on the left posed on a nettle and a male Meadow Brown fluttered in the longer grasses in the verges. The late afternoon sojourn in the humid sunshine recorded one or two Small White Butterflies and the same number of Large Whites. Viper's Bugloss was in flower and hundreds of Ox-eye Daisies, with a few Sainfoin, Onobrychis vicifolia.

7 May 2005
Four Linnets were seen on the cyclepath just south of the Toll Bridge. 

1 May 2005
As the first Hawthorn flowered, the Kestrel flew over the cyclepath south of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge. There were a pair of Goldfinches as well. 

29 April 2005
It was a pity as I did not have a better camera as the telescopic vision of a colourful male Kestrel as it perched on a pole enabled me to get closer than expected before it turned its head in my direction and promptly flew off over the mud flats. A Cormorant perched on a another tall pole in the River Adur estuary south of the Toll Bridge. 

24 April 2005
As the sun found a gap in the overcast sky, a female Orange-Tip Butterfly settled on Stinging Nettles, followed by a strong flying male Orange-Tip Butterfly was much more colourful. In the Force 4 Breeze, both were seen on the cyclepath just south of the Upper Beeding Cement Works avoided the camera flying away at least 8 mph. Also seen in the same area were a single Holly Blue followed by a single Speckled Wood. 
Adur Butterfly List 2005

16 April 2005
A pair of Goldfinches were flitting around the extreme southern dead end of the Coastal Link Cyclepath by the demolished bridge, viewed on the vertical bank adjacent to the Adur Riverbank Industrial Estate.
Cowslips were in flower on the verges of the Coastal Link Cyclepath.
A handful of Speckled Woods were the only butterflies of note on the cyclepath between the Toll Bridge and the first road lay-by. 
Adur Butterfly List 2005

2 April 2005
My second Small White Butterfly of this year was spotted on the cyclepath south of the Toll Bridge. Ground Ivy and Lesser Celandine were in flower on the cyclepath verges. The Cowslips were in bud. 
Adur Butterflies 2005

16 March 2005
On the cyclepath verges Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine harbingered the imminent spring awakenings. 

10 March 2005
As air temperature (10.7 ºC) went into double figures for the first time since 12 February 2005; on the cyclepath south of the Cement Works, Coltsfoot flowers amongst the grass were most noticeable. I could not find any leaves for this plant. 
 

On the rotten logs on the cyclepath verges there were numerous Trametes bracket fungi and on the end of another log there were some King Alfred’s Cakes; a distinctive blackish-coloured fungus.
Adur Levels 2005

3 January 2005
On the Coastal Link cyclepath north of Old Shoreham, there was a flock of between a dozen and thirty thrushes in the Hawthorn. They looked paler and slightly plumper than Song Thrushes, and there did not appear to be any red underwing, although they flew off at my approach. My educated guess are that these are Fieldfares. 
The only fungi observed were some bracket fungi on a rotten log. 

Coastal Link Cyclepath 2004
Adur Levels 2004

River Adur Estuary Wildlife 2004

Adur Nature Notes 2005:   Index Page