March 2004

Reports by Andy Horton unless credited to other observers
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I saw my first Small White Butterfly of the year, south-east of the Toll Bridge, in the sunshine by the eroded chalk riverbank and my first bright yellow Brimstone Butterfly at Cuckoo's Corner. The Small Tortoiseshells were more a deep orange today by the Toll Bridge and one at Cuckoo's Corner.
Adur Levels 2004
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, Zootoca vivipara. 

Postscript:  these lizards have now been definitely identified as the Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis.

It appears that they area different species of lizard that inhabits the flint walls south-east of the Toll Bridge at Old Shoreham. 
Adur Coastal Fringe 2004

About 40 Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies settled on the bare chalk south-east of the Toll Bridge and these butterflies had  a tendency towards redness in colour. 
Adur Butterfly List 2004

29 March 2004
A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly with a reddish hue was my first of the year seen on the Childing Pink patch of Silver Sands, Shoreham Beach east. This is likely to be an immigrant and confirms my suspicion that the reddish hued specimens are either immigrants or old butterflies emerging from hibernation, or both. 
At least three Wheatears seemed to have just flown in by the Old Fort, near the western arm of Shoreham Harbour entrance at the far eastern end of Shoreham beach. These attractive birds were well camouflaged against the shingle but could be seen clearly through the binoculars when standing on posts and, of course, they were immediately recognisable by their white rear when they flew off.
At least two lizards in the grass by the Old Fort seemed to have a slight pale greenish tinge to their head and underside, were very darkly patterned with black on brown, about 60 mm long (excluding the long tail) and a total length estimated at 140 mm. I had a close look without being conversant with the identifying features. I have always thought that these lizards were the Common (or Viviparous) Lizard, Zootoca vivipara. However, their markings seem to match the photographs of the European Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis. The legs in the Old Fort specimens were speckled with black. However, these species are very similar to each other. 

Postscript:  these lizards have now been definitely identified as the Wall Lizard, Podarcis muralis.

Adur Coastal Fringe 2004

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
A occasional burst of laughter from a Green Woodpecker came from somewhere in the budding woodland canopy near Lancing Manor allotments. Nearby the first Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly of the year basked in the sunshine.

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

24 March 2004
At least three Great Crested Grebes were diving in the calm sea off the coast of Shoreham, Lancing and later around midday off Worthing. Two of  these diving birds came close in to the shore and their white necks and the beginnings of a rudimentary crest could be seen. This grebe is a regular winter visitor but this is the first time I have positively observed them.
Marine Life (Sussex) 2004

23 March 2004
A Red Fox was caught in my bicycle lights (its eyes reflected the beam of light) as it ventured into the middle of Gordon Road, Shoreham (north of the railway station) at 11:25 pm. It looked like a young Fox and under the street lamps in appeared a light golden colour rather than the usual dark appearance, as it decided to reverse in its tracks and run down the twitten between the terraced houses on the north side of the road from where it had appeared. A different Fox had seen before in exactly the same area in 2002. 
Town & Gardens 200422 March 2004
The first Brimstone Butterfly of the year fluttered in my Shermanbury garden in the morning.
The Lapwings have flown from the lower Adur estuary and are now looking for breeding areas further inland, e.g. in the lowland fields near Shermanbury, where some breeding areas are disturbed by grazing cattle.

19-20 March 2004
The changeable nature of the local weather is apparent with Fresh Gale Force 8 winds from the SSW, gusting to Force 9 and rain. 
 An unexpected bird visitor to my south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044) in the morning was  a Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita. It came within 1.5 metres of the kitchen window during a quick reconnaissance of the garden. The resemblance to a Willow Warbler gives me a small reservation over its identity. I would give it a 90% certainty value. 

On the Adur mud flats south of the Toll Bridge at Old Shoreham, the usual gulls and other birds of two days ago were present with a one in a thousand Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus,  distinguished by the experienced birdwatcher and pointed out to me through the telescope by Stanley Allen (Shoreham District Ornithological Society). It is the white tail feathers (complete absence of black on the tail area)  that is the distinguishing feature when compared to a Black-headed Gull.

Adur Estuary 2004

16 March 2004
Eleven Wheatears and two Black Redstarts (one a male) were seen on the shingle beach just west of Beach Green, Shoreham Beach between 4.15 - 4.45 pm.

14 March 2004
Three white rumped deer were spotted in the fields overlooked by Lancing College and close to Ricardo's test strip (east of the Coombes road at its traffic lights junction with the A27) at around 10:00 am. Roe Deer are frequently seen around the Adur Levels and these fitted the book description.

13 March 2004
Signs of spring were apparent in a sunny 10° C. Sweet Violets, Viola odorata, were in full flower on several areas of Lancing Clump and the air was filled with bird song. In the open, a Skylark, Alauda arvensis, held centre stage, whilst in the woodland the noisy Great Tits had command.

6 March 2004In the foliage and soil a few creatures were active in my south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044), the most colourful was a 22 spot Ladybird, Psyllobora 22-punctata, a mere 4 mm long. Lancing Beetles

5 March 2004A single Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus, called from the branches of the Hawthorn early in the afternoon in my south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044).

4 March 2004A female Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla, with her light brown head was seen in my south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044) in the morning. This follows the recent sighting on 29 February 2004 of a male. 

2 March 2004I turned toward the wheelbarrow and nudged it slightly, from under the front a Painted Lady Butterfly fluttered away in my south Lancing garden (TQ 186 044). It was tantalisingly quick but long enough to see the colouring.

Adur Butterflies

A Slavonian Grebe, Podiceps auritus, was seen in summer plumage off the Church of the Good Shepherd on Shoreham Beach in the afternoon.

1 March 2004
The Peregrine Falcon has just landed on the Shoreham Harbour Power Station chimney, near the nest box, at 3:54 pm.

Mill Hill 2004 (with new map)
History of Mill Hill
Mill Hill News Reports 2004

Chalk Downs 2004
 

Adur Valley Biodiversity Network  (forum)

MultiMap Aerial Photograph of the Adur Levels and Downs

Urban Wildlife Webring

EMail Address for sending in wildlife reports from the lower Adur valley
Only a selection will be included and only reports with the name of the reporter

 

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Webmaster: Andy Horton.