Southwick Hill

Adur Flood Plain

Chalk Downs

Coastal Fringe

Intertidal (Seashore)

River Adur Estuary

Lancing Blogspot

Sea (off Sussex)

Town & Gardens

Widewater Lagoon

Adur Valley Wildlife

Southwick Hill
including Slonk Hill Farm,
Mossy Bottom, New Erringham
and Thundersbarrow

WILDLIFE REPORTS

Link to Southwick Nature 2006
12 November 2005
Two spectacular male Ring Ouzels were seen on on Thundersbarrow Hill (TQ 227 091) at midday.
Report by Helen Crabtree on the Sussex Ornithological Society News

11 September 2005
A large population of Red Star Thistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, was seen on Southwick Hill (TQ 2307).

Report by Rob Woodall on UK Botany (Yahoo Group)

11 August 2005
A hurried out of the way walk (mostly, it was slightly uphill and the terrain was bumpy) from Slonk Hill Farm to New Erringham Farm (north of Shoreham) produced 300+ male Common Blues, two Brown Argus Butterflies (mating flight 100 metres west of the stables), a single Small Tortoiseshell (the only butterfly by the Rock Rose), frequent Meadow Browns and the occasional Gatekeeper.

The interesting observation was the path by Mossy Bottom Barn had a puddle of mud and water and this attracted 150 of the Common Blues (all males seen). There was no dung so they must have been attracted for the moisture from the parched downs, next to grazing fields covered in Ragwort. The path sides had a continuous record of Common Blues. No Chalkhill Blues were observed.This is the area good for Wall Browns but none were seen on a sunny day. I did not have time to visit Mill Hill.
Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List 2005
A bright blue Emperor Dragonfly* flew over the New Erringham Farm fields. (*Subsequent observations indicate that this was more likely to be a Southern Hawker.)

29 July 2005
The first Painted Lady Butterflies, in the Adur area this year, were seen on the farm track (north of Shoreham-by-Sea) between New Erringham Farm and Southwick Hill.
Report by Allen Pollard on UK-Leps (Yahoo Group)
Adur Butterfly Flight Times
Adur Butterflies: First Dates
Butterfly List for the Day
26 June 2005
Passage trip from Slonk Hill Farm - Mossy Bottom - New Erringham

As, unfortunately seems to be the norm, this route is relatively uneventful. On the bridlepath by the Riding Stables (west of Slonk Hill Farm) a handful of Swallows and a small chirm of Goldfinches were noted. Rooks were making a lot of noise at Mossy Bottom, where there were two Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies on the bridlepath near the farm sheds. On the bridlepath after it turns northwards from Slonk Hill Farm stables, a handful of Meadow Brown Butterflies were spotted, and Greater Knapweed and Scabious were noted in flower on the path verges and clovers in the pasture on the west side. The Rock Rose was flowering at Stonechat Junction. At New Erringham, I got a close-up look at a splendidly colourful Green Woodpecker before it flew upwards and away.
10 April 2005
I'm 75% sure I saw my first Red Admiral Butterfly of the year in the sunshine. A few Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies (8) and a couple of Brimstones is all. They were mostly between Mill Hill and Southwick Hill.
Report by Allen Pollard on UK-Leps (Yahoo Group)

Link to 2004 Southwick Hill Reports
LINK TO THE REPORTS UP TO 2003

Mill Hill (Link)
History of Lancing (Ray Hamblett)
Nature Notes for Lancing Ring
Lancing (RH)