BUTTERFLIES
 DRAGONFLIES
 HOVERFLIES
 BUMBLEBEES

Valley and Flood Plain from of the River Adur

River Adur tidal reaches 

Sussex downland on both sides of the River Adur,
including Mill Hill Nature Reserve

Extensive urban area including the coastal towns of Shoreham, Southwick and Lancing, and the inland town of Steyning and countryside villages

Rich marine, seashore, shingle beach and lagoon habitats

28 October 2005
 

Grey Squirrels were calling raucously from both the evergreen and the deciduous trees in the twitten from Ravensbourne Avenue to Buckingham Park in north Shoreham. At least four them put on a show with a varied (about four) selection of calls which were quite different from each other. 

25 October 2005
After the rain, the fruiting mushroom-like bodies of fungi begin to appear including a group of Sulphur Tuft, Hypholoma sublateritium, half a dozen clusters of Shaggy Pholiotas, both underneath the trees of Lancing Clump, and two Common Inkcaps in Old Shoreham.
Lancing Fungi 2005
Shoreham Fungi 2005

23 October 2005
There was very few if any bees buzzing around today on the Sussex coast. The queen bumblebees must now have found their place of hibernation for the winter. 

20 October 2005
In unseasonably warm sunshine at the foot of the western slopes of Lancing Ring I saw a Red Admiral, Painted Lady and a male Clouded Yellow Butterfly. (TQ 178 062)

17 October 2005
Two just about adult Tompot Blennies, Parablennius gattorugine, were the highlight on a very low tide that receded past the Chart Datum marker on Kingston Buci Beach at the entrance to Shoreham Harbour. These attractive looking fish are normally found in shallow water below the intertidal zone (the sublittoral zone). 
Full Rockpooling Report
BMLSS Blennies

Unmistakable in its bright yellow with a black outline, only my second Clouded Yellow Butterfly seen this year fluttered rapidly over the lower slopes of Mill Hill. It seemed to flying mostly in a southerly direction. 
Butterfly List for the Day
A Yellow-footed Solitary Bee, Lasioglossum xanthopum, visited a Stemless Thistle, one of very few plants remaining in flower. 
Adur Solitary Bees
Status Definitions And Criteria For Invertebrates

12 October 2005
The fungi are starting to show on Lancing Clump, twenty or so Parasols, Macrolepiota procer, almost dinner plate size, were seen in the coarse grass west of the dew pond. In the woods Puffballs were seen on several rotting tree stumps. On the same Ash tree as previous years there were a cluster of Golden Pholiotas.
There was an unconfirmed large grey mushroom growing on a tree which could be Pluteus salicinus ? (Image)
The woodland is still dry for the time of year.

11 October 2005
The Smooth Newts, Triturus vulgaris, that hatched in my pond near Mill Hill are now leaving the pond in droves.

9 October 2005
As the butterflies disappear (die or hibernate) the first mushrooms show, despite the lack of rain. 

8 October 2005
On a blackberrying foray at Malthouse Meadow, Sompting, two Red Admiral Butterflies and a Comma were sighted close to the wall of flowering Ivy.  A Brimstone Butterfly flew across my south Lancing garden. (TQ 185 046).
NB: This is the first Brimstone Butterfly recorded for the month of October on these Adur Nature Notes web pages. 

Two Grass Snakes were seen near Old Salts Farm, Lancing. Unfortunately, one of them on the tarmac road was run over and squashed. Snakes are deaf and cannot hear approaching vehicles.

7 October 2005
A possible* Hornet Robber Fly, Asilus crabroniformis, landed on Pixie Path route to Mill Hill where only my second Painted Lady Butterfly of the year made a brief appearance. A pristine and definite Brown Argus Butterfly appeared to be a female from its behaviour visiting a Hawkbit on the lower slopes of Mill Hill. Common Darter (dragonflies) were frequently seen with at least one mating pair in tandem flying near the Toll Bridge (Old Shoreham). (*Confirmation by a close look was not possible.)
Previous Hornet Robber Report
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005

5 October 2005
There were at least eleven Goldfinches in a small chirm in the Hawthorn at the bottom of Ray & Jan Hamblett's south Lancing garden (TQ 185 046). 
 

The Goldfinches were very eager to come down the Niger feeder and Teasels to extract the seeds. 

2 October 2005
A Water Shrew, Neomys fodiens, was seen underneath a large piece of boarding on the path on the southern bank of the Slonk Hill Cutting where it winds its way through vegetation at the western end. I am not familiar with shrews: this one was 50% larger than a House Mouse and it had a white rim that appeared like the edge of a skirt around its dark grey-black furry coat. It moved to and fro about five seconds before disappearing. This is a partially protected species. It is found in area where Slow Worms have been discovered before. This is the first time I have identified this shrew. 
The photograph was very poor but it does seem to indicate a white underside. This fits the description for a Water Shrew. 
(NB: No subsequent (by April 2007) Shrews have been discovered in this location but the larger Wood Mouse has been and this may have been a misidentification.)
Mammal Society Factsheet on the Water Shrew

A small eusocial species of solitary bee, probably Lasioglossum calceatum, was spotted on the Slonk Hill Cutting.
Adur Solitary Bees

A pristine and definite Brown Argus Butterfly that was spotted on a flower in a garden near Buckingham Park, Shoreham was a surprise. It quickly fluttered a away and disappeared.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005

1 October 2005
In Malthouse Meadow, Sompting, (TQ 164 053), a Small Copper Butterfly rested briefly on the ground near to a large clump of Blackberry bushes and flowering Ivy. The Ivy was also attractive to two Painted Ladies and at least three Red Admirals, as well as a honey pot to many bees.

Adur Butterfly Flight Times
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005