10th July 2010 Beachy Head & Litlington

Went out with Doreen and David on my birthday and first visited Beachy Head where we saw a juvenile Yellow Legged Gull resting with a flock of large Gulls mainly Herrings but several Lesser & Greater Black Back Gulls. The Yellow Legged was the only gull to fly off heading west towards the Cuckmere. Good numbers of Pyramidal Orchids and the Lizard Orchid was still out. Butterflies included the first Gatekeepers of the year, good numbers of Marbled Whites and Small Skippers,1Large Skipper, and 2 Dark Green Frits.

We then visited Litlington and saw 5 White Lettered Hairstreaks, 4 Ruddy Darters and 4 Banded Demoiselles plus good numbers of common butterflies. Also a Whimbrel flew over heading south.

Poppy field at Frost Hill, Beachy Head.

Pyramidal Orchids in the Old Trapping Area.

Pale variety of the Pyramidal Orchid.

Fungi in Belle Tout wood.

Small Skippers

View of the White Horse taken from Litlington.

Banded Demoiselle

White Lettered Hairstreaks at Litlington.

Ruddy Darters at Litlington.

9th July, 2010 River Ouse, Newick

Doreen and myself visited the River Ouse at Newick and spent some time photographing the Banded Demoiselle and we must have seen around 20.

Female Banded Demoiselle

Various male Banded Demoiselles

8th July, 2010 Ashdown Forest

Went with Doreen to the Ashdown Forest and first visited Old Lodge N. R. and walked to the Acid Pools and back and we then visited the area behind Smugglers car park to look for Silver Studded Blues without success. At Old Lodge we saw the following: 2 Emperor Dragonflies, 1 male Keeled Skimmer, 4 Four Spotted Chasers, 1 male Broad Bodied Chaser, 1 Golden Ringed Dragonfly, 8 Small Red Damselflies, 1 Large Red Damselfly and good numbers of Common Blue Damselflies. Butterflies seen: Good numbers of Small Skippers, 3 Large Skippers, 8 Small Heath, 1 Dark Green Frit. and 1 Brimstone on the journey. 2 Juvenile Redstarts & 2 Redpolls also seen.

View taken at Old Lodge N. R.

Horses at Old Lodge N.R.

Doreen photographing

Golden Ringed Dragonfly

male Keeled Skimmer

male Broad Bodied Chaser

male Four-spotted Chaser

male Four-spotted Chaser

female Four-spotted Chaser

View taken behind Smugglers car park.

5th July 2010 Ashdown Forest

An early evening visit to the Old Lodge Nature Reserve in the Ashdown Forest with Doreen and David produced the following:

10 Heath Spotted Orchids, 6 Small Red Damselflies, 2 Woodlarks, 2 Siskins, 2 Redpolls, 2 Juv. Redstarts, 6+ Willow Warblers, & 2 pairs of Stonechats.

View taken at Old Lodge N.R.

Small Red Damselflies

Juvenile Redstart

male Stonechat

Spotted Heath Orchid

Fallow Deer

3rd July 2010 East Prawle & Prawle Point, Devon

David offered as my birthday present to drive us to Devon to look for the House Finch at East Prawle and then take us for a nice meal. After having nice views of the House Finch feeding on the ground but not quite near enough for photos, we then visited nearby Prawle Point and saw 3 Cirl Buntings (2 males & 1 female) and 1 juvenile Shag. We again visited East Prawle on the way back and had further views of the House Finch on the buildings.

View of Prawle Point

House Finch (taken by Chris Holt).

Record shot of the House Finch taken by David.

Male Cirl Bunting at Prawle Point.

1st July, 2010 Southwater Wood

Went to Southwater Wood with Doreen to look for butterflies and had an excellent morning with the following being seen: 1 male Purple Emperor, 10+ White Admirals, 15+ Silver Washed Fritillaries including 1 interesting aberration, 1 Marbled White, 5 Large Skippers, 3 Small Skippers and many Meadow Browns. Also 1 Garden Warbler seen.

View of the Butterfly ride.

Large Skipper

Purple Emperor (male).

White Admiral

Silver Washed Fritillary

Aberration of the Silver Washed Fritillary