| WILDLIFE
REPORTS
28
February 2006
A
single Great-crested Grebe
with a very white breast was seen diving under the sea off Weald Dyke,
Shoreham
Beach, in the shallows on an ebbing
tide just
below the rock sea defences. A Little Grebe
dived
under the water at low tide on the Adur estuary
just west of the Footbridge.
The
Snowdrops
were budding in St Julian's Churchyard, Kingston Buci.
22
February 2006
In
the early morning, a male
Black
Redstart
was
seen by the fenced enclosure on Southwick Beach.
21
February 2006
I
watched one of the pair of Common Frogs
spawning in the shallow vegetated areas of my garden pond in north Portslade
in the morning. Another pair were visible in
amplexus.
 The
first batch of Frog's spawn
appeared in the early morning in my south
Lancing (TQ 186
044) garden pond.
17
February 2006
A
male Black Redstart
was seen on the Telephone Exchange in central Shoreham, from the Tarmount
Lane car park (TQ 217 052)
at 10:00 am.
16
February 2006
The
first Sweet Violets
began to open in a clearing of the woodland under Common
Ash trees on Lancing
Clump. These qualify as the first wild flowers*
of the year.
 February
Blogspot Report from Lancing Ring
Adur
Violets
The
urban Fox
was captured on 'intruder alert' motion detection CCTV installed on my
house near Mill Hill.
 At
least a dozen
Rooks
were congregated in their usual Pine Tree near the top of The Drive, Shoreham.
At least three more perched on television aerials all at the same time.
They can be differentiated from Crows
by their longer silvery beak.
Adur
Town & Gardens
In
the garden near Buckingham Park, Shoreham
a relatively few nine species of birds were recorded during February, in
order of prevalence: Starling 14,
Greenfinch
9, Robin 5,
Blue
Tit5, Jackdaw
4, Blackbird
4, Collared Dove
3, Chaffinch 2
and Wood Pigeon
1.
Garden
Bird Database 2006
15 February
2006
The
characterisitc dipping flight of the Green
Woodpecker was easily recognisable over
the bare cut field of New Monks Farm, Lancing,
and because there was a clear space for 30 metres from the Withy Patch,
the shape, the red and
green of the woodpecker as it left its feeding place on the ground could
be easily discerned as well. This bird is a regular in most substantial
(must be more than a few acres) woody areas of the Adur district. A handful
of the large branches of the Willow
trees by the Withy Patch had been sawn off.
14
February 2006
The
first definite bumblebee
of this year was a Buff-tailed Bumblebee,
Bombus
terrestris, on the winter flowering
Jasmine in my south Lancing (TQ 186 044) garden.
Glimpses of bumblebees had been seen earlier in the month though.
Adur
Bumblebees 2006
12
February 2006
There
were signs of activity in my south
Lancing (TQ 186
044) garden pond after dark; I went out to
look at around 9:00 pm
and I detected the movement of three Common
Frogs as they timidly took cover from
my presence. I continued to look into the water which has been refreshed
after a day of rain, but there were no further signs of life.
A
pair of Goldfinches
still visited the nyger seed
feeder. But not on one of the dried out Teasels
which had blown over in the brief overnight gale.
10
February 2006
My
first caterpillar seen in the year was a Square-spot
Rustic Moth Xestia
xanthographa caterpillar*
on the Pixie Path to Mill
Hill. This is a caterpillar frequently seen in the winter and
is a widespread moth. (*It
could be a similar species.)
UK
Moths
UK
Moths (Yahoo Group)
Adur
Moths
8 February
2006
A
Dandelion
in Lancing town centre does not really count as my first wild flower of
the year either. This
was probably an escaped garden plant so I am still looking for the first
truly wild flower.
Wind
Chill Calculator
5 February
2006
A
breeding pair of Barn Owls
have returned to the purpose built nesting box near the Cokeham Reed Beds,
west Lancing. A pair of Sparrowhawks
and a pair of Kestrels
are both known to live in the area, recently they have all been involved
in
squabbles in the garden which is at the edge of Cokeham Reed Beds.
Full
Report
Adur
Freshwater Habitats
2 February
2006
A
small group of about four Long-tailed Tits
descended on my back garden in south Lancing (TQ
186 044), down from the six metres high Hawthorn
and they flew around feeding in amongst the shrubs.
1
February 2006
A
slate blue-grey male Sparrowhawk
was disturbed on the ground my south Lancing rear garden, (TQ
186 044). Of course, it flew off immediately.
There were no obvious signs of any prey in the vicinity of the bird feeders.
On
the flood tide, the colourful turquoise arrow of
a
Kingfisher
flew out like a dart over the tidal river from the green banks of the River
Adur by the disused petrol pump storage area next to the Adur Riverbank
Industrial Estate (north of Ropetackle)
Adur
Estuary 2006
The
cattle
have been removed from the "lambing field" or intermittent pasture to the
south-east of Old Erringham Farm and will not now venture on to Mill
Hill. This is probably because the grass on the land has now been grazed
to its optimum and is best left for the spring growth. This pasture is
of no butterfly value although the fringes
may contain the occasional wild flower.
January
Cattle Report
Some
Indicator Plants of Ancient Downland (Link)
Garden
Bird Database 2006
Shoreham
Weather Reports 2006
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