Peter Lovett's ramblings

Hundreds of Wigeon at Pulborough Brooks yesterday.

2012-01-23T16:33:00.000Z

There were hundreds of Widgeon feeding on the grassland and in the shallows.

In the UK, their population in winter increases a thousand fold to more than 400,000. Almost half the European population come to the UK in winter.

The resident fox is actively enlarging its den.

2012-01-21T17:32:00.000Z

The resident fox has a den under a large heap of branches and garden waste that is piled up to decompose naturally. The heap has been there for decades and I'm happy to have the fox dig out the beautiful looking compost from the bottom of the heap. I'll collect it for seed compost.
I suppose that the vixen is enlarging the home for the cubs to follow.

Can anyone identify this duck?

2012-01-21T17:23:00.002Z

Seen at Widewater lagoon nature reserve, Shoreham Beach yesterday; what is it? I can find nothing like it in my bird books. Might it be a hybrid with some Egyptian goose in there somewhere? I have no idea. What do you think?

The RSPB people at Pulborough Brooks, had a look on 22nd January and say that it is a hybrid Mallard.

Black-headed gulls on Widewater lagoon, Shoreham Beach

2012-01-20T20:16:00.000Z

There was quite a flock of small gulls on Widewater lagoon today.

They appear to be Black-headed gulls in their winter plumage.

Hazel in flower in mid-January

2012-01-17T18:55:00.002Z

This female hazel flower in Cuckfield is open in mid January, whilst the majority of male catkins have yet to open and disperse their pollen. Will there be nuts in autumn? We will see.

Removing Sycamore trees to create an Ash grove in New England Wood, Cuckfield

2012-01-14T18:03:00.001Z

For the past few weeks, the volunteers in New England Wood have been felling sycamore trees to create space for more valuable ash trees to thrive. This Ash Grove looks good now and will just get better and better in the years to come.

The felled timber is sorted into future climbing bean poles.

Larger fellings are sawed into lengths for stacking and use as firewood in a year's time.

Bluebells pushing up in the woods in January

2012-01-12T11:14:00.000Z

The mild weather at c. 10C for days on end has brought bulbs up early.

These pictures are from New England Wood, Cuckfield.

Apple tree pruning time

2011-12-30T12:23:00.000Z

Some decisive pruning was needed for my apple and pear trees. The one in the foreground in on an M25, vigorous roootstock and I have reduced its size considerably.

Similarly these apple trees were reduced on size.

The top was taken out of this Conference Pear tree.

Then a hazel bush was half coppiced and poles removed for climbing beans later in the year.
Other trees which have been heavily cut back include Amelanchia canadensis and Cedrus deodora.

Santa Claus visits Cuckfield's New England Wood. The Christmas spirit is alive and well.

2011-12-19T13:17:00.000Z

Party time again in New England Wood, Cuckfield and the volunteer conservationists are up early to get the fire lit.

Using the magnificent hand crafted Swedish axe, thoughtfully and generously gifted to the New England Wood Trust by Patrick from Brighton University, John demonstrates the ancient Viking technique of log splitting with axe and log mallet.

Now what did it say in the Swedish manual of log splitting?

Mike preparing mulled wine, and very good it was too, with a delicate smokey flavour difficult to replicate at home. Herrings on rye bread, potato skins with homemade dips, salmon quiche, sausages, crisps, mince pies, Christmas and chocolate cakes were all delicious and accompanied a sufficiency of alcohol of various sorts.

Now that's a good fire and charming company too.

Who is the red-coated man emerging through the woods?

Well now, it's Father Christmas from Brook Street bearing gifts.

Ah! The joy of Aquavit!

Happy Christmas everyone! Ho, ho, ho,.

Female Hornet unearthed from a compost heap today.

2011-11-27T14:36:00.000Z

This little beauty on my gloved hand was revealed from a compost heap in Surrey. Woken up, it tried to fly off but seemed too confused to succeed.

I left it to hibernate in the leaf litter in a border.

Migrating and winter visiting birds on the Adur Estuary, Old Shoreham

2011-11-20T17:40:00.001Z

The Adur estuary was full of over wintering birds today.

There are more than 3,000,000 Black-headed Gulls in Britain in winter -- a more than ten fold increase on the summer population. Above is one in winter plumage, without its black head.

The gull in the foreground in much smaller. If this is a Little Gull, it will probably have come from Siberia and may not stay long. It may be refuelling before wintering in Egypt and the Nile delta.

Is the smaller one a Little Gull?

It's lovely to see Lapwings on the water's edge on the nearest shoreline. On the mud bank are Swans, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and what look like Common Gulls, since they are smaller than the Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Click on any picture to expand it.

In the docks by the sea, Cormorants enjoyed a lamp post with a view.

With thousands on winter visiting birds in Sussex, now is the time to get to the coast to see them.

See also the geese are around Chichester harbour. Click here for that blog entry from October.

Tony's Remembrance day walk

2011-11-13T21:11:00.001Z

Tony has lead this annual walk, come rain or shine for many years, in memory of his father who as an RAF fighter pilot was killed in Burma aged 25 years in WWII.

Mid Sussex Ramblers (MSR) greatly appreciate Tony's walks and publicity activities for MSRs.

Remembrance day walk; Ashdown forest

2011-11-13T20:47:00.001Z

On the 31st July 1941 a Wellington bomber crashed in the forest killing the six crew. This walk from Mid Sussex Ramblers visits the memorial at the crash site where there is a memorial gathering on this day each year.

This year the weather was perfect.

The forest was looking great in the Autumn sunshine.

We passed Nutley Post Mill.

There were fine views towards Old Lodge...

... a Lodge with a view!

Hundreds of people converged on the "Airman's grave" from all directions; on foot and on horseback.

This is just a sector of the crowd.

The inscription reads "To the glorious memory of Sgt/P. V.R. Sutton, aged 24 years, 142 Bom. Sqdn RAF also his five comrades who lost their lives through enemy action 31-7-41. Mother"

After a two minutes silence at 11.00hr, a bugler, words of remembrance and wreath laying a biplane circled the crowd scattering poppy leaves -- a very moving experience.

Driving a ferry on the Bosphorus

2011-11-07T18:25:00.000Z

There has been a lull in entries recently as I have been driving a ferry along the Bosphorus towards Istanbul.

A fishing boat.

Something bigger to avoid.

Party time in New England Wood nature reserve, Cuckfield

2011-10-25T20:49:00.001+01:00

New England Wood in Cuckfield is a nature reserve held in a trust.
It is managed by a team of volunteers lead by John, above and "advised" by Del, above right.

The hard labour is mitigated occasionally with cake and whiskey or wine when there is a birthday, as in this week.

The wood itself provides materials; for example, this solid chestnut gatepost was recently cut from a tree trunk which was blown down in the 1987 hurricane replacing a rotten post.

This is how John makes planks and in this case, the bearers for a new bridge in April this year.

The bridge being assembled in May this year with wood cut from New England Wood itself.
Nice work John!
Time for another party!

Circular walk around Norbury Park, Denbies vineyard and Westhumble

2011-10-24T18:52:00.001+01:00

We started from the car park at Beechy Wood yesterday and headed North for great views towards Box Hill and Juniper Hill.

Mickelham village and church. There was a steep descent to the Druids' Grove. Please see following entry for pictures of the ancient trees.

One of Denbies vineyards

Denbies, where we tasted and purchased wine -- two bottles only as I had to carry them a further mile and a half.

The rows of vines contained a lot of weeds. Near the woods here there were a lot of ash seedlings growing amongst the vines.

West Humble XII century chapel

The start of the final ascent.

The view back towards Denbies in the distance. This is a short (c.5miles) walk and is a very pleasant one.

Ancient Yew trees in the Druids Grove, Norbury Park, Surrey

2011-10-23T17:28:00.000+01:00

Some of these ancient yews are said to be 2,000 years old. They were very fine in the Autumn light today.

Brent Geese on Thorney Island circular walk

2011-10-18T22:40:00.000+01:00

Thorney Island is a wild place. Once an island, it is now connected to the mainland by reclaimed land and connected by road in 1870.
Although the island itself is dominated by the military since the RAF came in 1936 -- the sea and the coastal wild life prevail over all other factors.

Click on the above picture, or any other to enlarge it.

Right at the beginning of the walk were a few Brent Geese on a mud flat.

Little Egrets were common.

St. Nicholas' church in West Thorney dates from about the year 1200. It is made of flint rubble dressed with Caen stone.

The view from Pilsey island towards Chichester.

There were Geese on the shoreline.

Hundreds of small birds, perhaps including Ringed Plovers were on the mudflats -- too far off to identify with binoculars.

In this bay were lots of Brent Geese in the sea.

Click here for a link to the RSPB for more info on Brent Geese. Up to 10,000 overwinter here -- around 5% of the world's population of Brent Geese.

The weather was taking a turn for the worst. We were about to be hit by a violent squall with what seemed like horizontal rain in squally winds like a proper gale.

There was still fine weather to the south but we were heading into a squall.

We could see the rain over the mainland before, minutes later, we were hit by a similar violent deluge and strong winds.

Phil, our Mid Sussex Ramblers' leader, striding out into the impending squall.
Click here for information on future walks with Mid Sussex Ramblers.

A great walk -- thanks Phil. And we had dried out before tea and cakes in the fine cafe at Emsworth sailing club.

White and Red Campion near Slindon today.

2011-10-11T23:05:00.000+01:00

The paths north of Slindon provide great views to the Isle of Wight and are fringed with some great flowers. White Campion, Silene latifolia, is lovely. Yet the above pink-coloured, Red Campion, Siline dioicia was more spectacular.

Massive Pumpkins at Slindon Pumkins are well worth a visit.

2011-10-11T22:41:00.000+01:00

Believe me that this photo is not distorted; this pumpkin is mega huge.
This Mid Sussex Ramblers' 9 miles walk from Whiteways car park on the A29 to Slindon and back stopped at this display of pumpkins.

If you are travelling on the A27, then a detour to Slindon and Slindon Pumpkins is worth a visit. For stir-fries, soup or as a vegetable there are numerous different ones to see, buy and admire.

Common Toadflax. Linaria vulgaris

2011-10-11T22:12:00.000+01:00

Common Toadflax, Linaria vulgaris, was in full flower near Slindon, West Sussex, today.

Viper's-bugloss in Chipstead Bottom plus Common Rock-rose and Scabius spp.

2011-10-11T21:56:00.000+01:00

This strikingly colourful flower was photographed last Sunday in Chipstead Bottom, south of Banstead Wood, Surrey last Sunday. It might be Viper's-bugloss, Echium vulgare. It is more colourful than my reference books show and is late flowering as well, along with many other plants this year.

Click on any picture to expand it.

This meadow in Chipstead Bottom is one of the finest that you might imagine -- awash with orchids earlier in the year and still now in October full of colourful flowers. In the foreground you can see the Common Rock-rose.

Common Rock-rose, Heliathemum nummularium.

One of the Scabious flowers.

Another Scabious.

I really must lug my flora book with me to identify these flowers correctly.

This calcareous meadow is worth a special visit at any time of year.

Wolstonbury Hill yesterday; a blaze of blue flowers; Scabious, Pride of Sussex & Harebells.

2011-10-02T19:26:00.000+01:00

Pride of Sussex in flower yesterday on Wolstonbury Hill.

Scabious.

Devil's-bit Scabious

Harebell.

A flower from the Gentian family?

Looking westwards along the South Downs.

Looking east to Jack & Jill windmills.

A walk from Kingston to Kew along the Thames Path.

2011-09-25T21:06:00.000+01:00

Kingston Bridge.

We got here on two buses yesterday (researched on traveline) and planned to take a boat or two to Greenwich.
Our research on the boat timetables was less rigorous and we discovered that it was some hours before the next tourist boat boat was due.
So we decided to walk a bit.....

The Thames path here is full of interest.

Click on any picture to expand it.

Teddington Lock.

We detoured from the Thames path and discovered a surviving gatehouse to the site of Richmond Palace. See blog entry below or click here to go straight to it.

Please see the next blog entry for details of this Lock and Weir.

Below Richmond Lock some boats are left high and dry with the receding tide.

These picturesque scenes are tainted by a constant sequence of planes on final descent into Heathrow airport. This tranquil path is also subject to fast cyclists who mix dangerously with pedestrians in my opinion.

Kew pier and a boat ride to Westminster. Greenwich was abandoned for this day after this unplanned yet fascinating walk.

Thames Barriers -- keeping water out; and in at Richmond Lock and Weir

2011-09-25T17:20:00.002+01:00

The Thames Barrier is an awesome structure built to avoid floods in London from extreme high tides. Click the link http://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2009/02/eastenders.html for more pictures from Canary Wharf to the barrier.

Way upstream past central London at Richmond is a different barrier, built to keep water in the river; seen above from upstream. These photo's taken yesterday.

The view of the lock from the bridge looking downstream as the tide is going out.

The impressive engineering to vertically lift the 32 tonnes steel sluice gates.

The view from downstream as the tide goes out. The sluices are raised and any boats must use the lock at £5 a time. What magnificent engineering built in 1894. Click here for further information from the Port of London Authority (PLA) on Richmond Lock. And click here for more PLA information on the Thames Barrier.

Richmond Palace: a residence of King Henry VII, King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.

2011-09-25T11:46:00.002+01:00

We walked from Kingston to Kew yesterday along the Thames Path, taking a short detour to see the remains of Richmond Palace.

Click on any picture to expand it.

Click here for more information on the history of this palace and its role in the history of the monarchy in England.

2,000 years old yew trees in Kingsley Vale, West Sussex

2011-09-20T21:34:00.001+01:00

Near Chichester in Kingsley Vale are these awesome old trees, visited today with Mid Sussex Ramblers Click on the links for more information about this magical place and the Ramblers.

Click on any picture to expand it.

A 6 miles circular walk through Amberley Wild Brooks.

2011-09-18T22:55:00.001+01:00

The walk starts at the car park by The Old School off Rackham street; OS grid ref. TQ 121/050143

Heading along the footpath westwards and then north, Rackham Plantation has a diverse mix of mature trees. The Rowan, above, is laden with berries at this time of year.

There are lovely old Chestnut, beech, oaks and pine trees.

The view across the Wild Brooks where we shall soon walk and beyond to the South Downs.

Turn left, northwards, along a quiet lane past fields of asparagus; the ground here being sandy and perfect for such a crop.

At the T junction turn left to Greatham Bridge (direction Coldwaltham).

Greatham Bridge looks like it has seen better days: its longest stone arch having collapsed and being replaced with an ugly iron construction.

Take the footpath (the Wey South Path) before the bridge southwards along the River Aron.

DANGEROUS MARSH! You can best keep to the path then!

Some views of The Wild Brooks follow.

A lone deer watching me watching it.

This herd were very close before they bolted away and watched me from a distance above.

From here the path leaves the Wild Areas and enters a more tamed environment.

Amberley Castle. Clck here for details on this luxury hotel.

The Farm track into Amberley is grotty. Amberley itself is a charming village.

Thatched cottages are charming. The farm house, above, with walls of napped flints uses local materials to full advantage; it is very fine.

Leave Amberley eastwards past The Sportsman pub: a wonderful establishment with great real ales.

Turn left along the Literary Way path and back to the car park.

Just 6 miles this is a fine walk through mature forests, Wild Brooks and the charming Sussex village of Amberley. The road sections are unavoidable but are quiet and not too long.

Reed and Ortolan Buntings on Amberley Wild Brooks

2011-09-18T21:14:00.001+01:00

Just what is this little bird on top of the fence post?

It might just be an Ortolan Bunting -- a long-distance migrant, which spends the winter in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

This little flock looks like Reed Buntings.

They declined in recent years by 50%, so it is lovely to see them in an ideal habitat for them.
This is a magical place. Click on any picture to expand it.

Walk from Cuckfield, 7 miles, in the wake of hurricane Katia with Roe deer, fungi, Field Scabious.

2011-09-17T10:13:00.001+01:00

I did this walk yesterday. It starts from Cuckfield High Street westwards along the High Weald Landscape trail. You need Ordnance Survey maps Explorer 134 &135 to follow the route.

Don't worry about the bull in the field as you leave Cuckfield. He seems docile enough and if you approach the cows calmly they may even let you stroke them. Click on any picture to enlarge it.

After crossing a ghyll the trail here used to be virtually impassable in summer, until 4 years ago when someone (me) started clearing the jungle of brambles and bracken. Now thanks to such on-going efforts the path is just beautiful.

Hurricane Katia hit us over the weekend; above you see some of the damage. Similar damage in New England Wood was cleared by John and Margaret on Monday.

There are lovely views to the South Downs with Jack & Jill windmills and Wolstonbury Hill.

After a short section along Deak's Lane you turn right along the bridlepath and eventually leftish towards Broxmead Lane and the Long Wood.

Turn left off Broxmead Lane and head up the hill to the Black Forest. At this time of year the woods are starting to get a good display of fungi.

Under the birches, Fly Agaric, Amonita muscaria were numerous -- poisonous & hallucinogenic.
Don't try them at home.

Leaving the Black Forest and crossing Pickwell Lane, there are more views of The Downs.

You must not be frightened of animals on this walk. On this day it was necessary to unhook the electric fence top wire (without releasing the horses) and step over the bottom wire. These were fine, inquisitive beasts and friendly enough, even if you have to hold them at bay to keep them in their field.

Turn left at Buncton Lane and continue until you reach the A272 main road. Cross it carefully; it is very busy, into Stairbridge Lane. After a short while, when the wood on your left ends, turn left towards Lovell's Farm.

This is typical Sussex High Weald scenery...

...with great views of The South Downs, albeit blighted by electricity pylons across this valley.

On the edge of a field was a Roe deer fleetingly watching me watching it before it leaped into the woods.

In the oak wood on the left of the above picture I managed to get some more pictures of deer; taken from the path.

They were quite small and I wonder if they are Muntjacs. There are no signs of tusks so I find it hard to tell.
After this excitment I crossed the B2036 road and took the footpath past Moonhill Farm (not the bridleway) northwards.

At the top of the next rise is an ancient wood and a comfortable stile and fence which makes a good seat for a picnic.

In the field edge in front of Furness Cottage (site of a 16th century iron works) was this Field Scabious.

Evidence of ironstone can be seen in the rust coloured water seeping from this spring.

Further upstream, beyong Mackrell's cottage is all that remains of Cuckfield's open air swimming pool -- destroyed for health safety concerns during the polio epidemic.

This is a fine walk and one that I will lead in December with Mid Sussex Ramblers.

Sussex County... so good they named it twice!

2011-09-15T20:30:00.002+01:00

A lovely field of sunflowers in the Sussex High Weald you might think.
It is Sussex County alright.... Sussex County, New Jersey, USA. This photo courtesy of "naturally sussex.com"
Check out http://naturallysussex.com/ for more pictures from the lovely Sussex County, USA.
It looks just like Sussex, UK doesn't it?

An extraordinary group of Ladybirds

2011-09-14T21:51:00.001+01:00

On a stone sphere just off this bridge over the river Arun near Amberley yesterday was an extraordinary group of ladybirds.

It looks as though these might all be Harlequin ladybirds. See http://www.ladybird-survey.org/harlequin.aspx

Walk through Arundel Park to Amberley and back: with more Bellflowers.

2011-09-13T20:17:00.001+01:00

This lovely 8 miles walk, lead by Brenda, was from the Mid Sussex Ramblers programme.
From the centre of Arundel, Brenda lead us through the park to Amberley though stunning scenery and views.

On this day, I was interested to see how many Bellflowers we could find.

Harebells were abundant in these fields.

From Arundel we climbed up and over the hills in the distance of the above picture to Amberley.
Click on any pcture to expand it.
Half way round the walk and we hadn't found the Nettle-leaved Bellfower.

Everyone was well impressed with this very fine bridge built by the Queen's Gurkha Engineers.

Thanks Guys! Your craftmanship is greatly appreciated.

On the lane approaching Arundel we came across two solitary Nettle-leaved Bellflowers.

The highlight of the walk was when a stoat ran across our path .....twice! I saw it, thanks to Graeme, who grabbed my attention for one fleeting and very exciting view of this elusive predator.

Near the end of the walk we experienced a sudden, quite violent shower of rain, which could not dampen our spirits after such a lovely walk. Thanks Brenda.

Four beautiful Bellflower species in flower this week in Sussex & Surrey.

2011-09-03T22:57:00.001+01:00

The Netttle-leaved Bellflower, Campanula trachelium likes shady spots. This one spotted yesterday in The Long Plantation, Surrey. When not in flower you give it a wide berth as it looks just like a Stinging nettle, below.

Common Nettle, Urtica dioica is not from the Bellflower family.

Above is the sheltered valley on the north side of Box Hill, through which the zig-zag road passes but which can not detract from the beauty of the profusion of flowers. Cyclists and motorists pass through without noticing them; the world is more beautiful on foot!

This lovely valley was dotted with Clustered Bellflowers, Campanula glomerata.

The exquisite Harebell, C. rotundifolia was abundant today on Box Hill. The unusual three flowered stem above is from Wolsonbury Hill, Sussex last Wednesday.

Absent from our walk on Box Hill today but abundant on Wolstonbury Hill on Wednesday was...

...."The Pride of Sussex", the County Flower of Sussex, Phyteuma tenerum (orbiculare) the Round-headed Rampion..... just beautiful!

Orchids in Surrey today.

2011-09-03T21:26:00.003+01:00

Pyramidal Orchids flower June to August according to "The Wild Flower Key" by Francis Rose.
Above is one in the sheltered valley on the north side of Box Hill in Surrey above the last hairpin bend of the zig-zag road -- happily in full flower on 3rd September.

Meanwhile, in The Long Plantation near Kingswood above, this solitary White Helleborine continues to thrive and looks like it will be setting a good lot of seed soon.
It is lovely to see Orchids in September! Click here to see the same flower earlier this year on 30th May 2011.

Meadow brown butterfly with a mite on Wolstonbury Hill

2011-09-03T21:05:00.001+01:00

This female Meadow brown butterfly was photographed on 31st August 2011. It is looking a bit tatty but that is just one of its problems. Click on the picture to expand it and you can see a red blob; it is a mite attached to and feeding on its body.

Common & Greater Knapweed, Centaurea nigra & Centrauria scabiosa on Wolstonbury hill.

2011-08-31T22:30:00.000+01:00

Common & Greater Knapweed, Centaurea nigra & Centrauria scabiosa are blooming lovely on the Downs at the moment. The following pictures were taken on Wolstonbury hill today.

Common Knapweed, Centrauria nigra is abundant now.

The Greater Knapweed, Centrauria scabiosa is more spectacular however and is a food source for butterflies.

Isn't that a lovely flower?

The Pride of Sussex, Phyteuma tenerum, Round-headed Rampion

2011-08-31T18:02:00.001+01:00

What a joy to see so many of the delicate "Pride of Sussex" flowers in bloom at this time on the South Downs in Sussex.

Downland flowers on Mount Harry and Blackcap Downs.

2011-08-30T22:36:00.000+01:00

Today, Mid Sussex Ramblers walked from Barcombe church near Lewes, West Sussex for 8.3 miles up onto the Downs and back.

Barcombe Church

The hill in the distance was our destination.

On the top of Mount Harry were many pretty blue flowers, which might be Devil's-bit Scabious.

Silverweed was in flower.

Rock-roses were frequent.

Blackcap in the far distance.
Another great walk. Click here for the Mid Sussex Ramblers programme of future walks.

Some more insect pictures from Karlstadt; assisted by innovative German engineering.

2011-07-28T10:33:00.002+01:00

There are two more blog entries below from Karlstadt.
Meanwhile, here are some insect pictures to enjoy. Click to expand them.

A cricket.

On a windy day like this one it is difficult to photograph flowers and butterflies when they are swaying in the wind. Just look, above, at this fine example of innovative German engineering!

It works! Thank you Franz.

What a paradise for butterfly enthusiasts; Swallowtail butterflies were almost common!

Karlheinz's walk above Karlstadt through forest and vineyards

2011-07-28T09:49:00.001+01:00

Karlheinze's walk lead us through a forest bird nature reserve and along a national long distance trail.

Help please from anyone, to identify this moth/butterfly.
Click on any picture to enlarge it.

The view towards Würzburg.

The river Main and view to Würzburg.

L to R, Karlheinz, Silvia, Franz, Gloria & Devi.

Chalkhill blue butterflies mating (female on top), which gives a clue to the alkaline nature of these steep hillsides.

The same pair (with the male on the left) in a horizontal position.

Is this a mating pair or a valiant smaller bumble bee attacking a larger species?
I don't know.
Size matters if you are a bumble bee wanting to mate with a Queen(?) this big. If it was a Queen, one might expect a swarm around it. Perhaps it isn't.

To give you an idea of the size of these bees, I let them walk over my hand.

The vineyards here are too steep for any tractor to climb.
Ploughs, like the one above, are pulled up the slopes by a cable and winch from a vehicle on the roadway.

A plough and view of a lock on the river.

Looking north to Karlstadt and its cement works.

Just look at this display board. What a great reason to return in May-June.
Thank you Karlheinz for such a great walk.

Swallowtails in Karlstadt, Germany, 24 July 2011

2011-07-26T22:21:00.000+01:00

Karlstadt is a well preserved medieval walled town in northern Bavaria.

Swallows nest under the overhang of this old building.

On the otherside of the river Main, high on the cliff and behind the ruined castle were more Swallowtails.

This is the view from the ruined castle...... behind which was

a Swallowtail butterfly. What a beauty, even if one of its "tails" is broken off.

Seaford Head, the Seven Sisters and wading the Cuckmere river at low tide.

2011-07-19T21:14:00.001+01:00

After watching the nesting Kittiwakes at Seaford Head this group from Mid Sussex Ramblers headed off up the Headland.

The visibility was crystal clear with views back to Seaford, to Newhaven and beyond to Brighton. Click to expand the picture.
We had met at East Dean and taken the bus to Seaford from whence we started to walk back to Cuckmere Haven and over the Seven Sisters.

Descending Seaford Head, there are iconic views of the Seven Sisters.

At the beach at Cuckmere Haven there are two choices;

Walk up the side of the river for a mile or so to cross on the road bridge, or:
wade the river....

As you can see, we chose the latter option.

Ian and Malcolm acted as "safety officers" to prevent any drownings. As leader, I took photo's to show our elaborate safety precautions, whilst still ready to rush forth and pluck drowning souls from the raging, icy torrent.

L to R, Malcolm and Ian, stood in the foaming currents, solid like English Oaks, and guided the group safely across the river.

An exciting time was had by all.

Then it just remained to replace our boots and to head off over the Seven Sisters.
What fun!
There are further very fine pictures from this walk from Janice at http://picasaweb.google.com/janicetipping/RamblersWalkFromSeafordtoEastDean

Kittiwakes at Seaford Head today.

2011-07-19T19:01:00.000+01:00

I'm hungry... where is my lunch? A cry from this baby Kittiwake at Seaford Head.

One parent looks fast asleep. Any human parent will know that feeling!

Is this the other parent back from the sea, ready to regurgitate some part digested fish?

This is the view from Splash Point at Seaford Head, from where the above pictures were taken.

Click on any picture to expand it.

This walk, lead by me, was from the Mid Sussex Ramblers programme of walks. The next exciting sections of the walk will follow shortly.

The small gull in the center of the above picture is a Kittiwake.

Flying ants, black garden ants - Lasius Niger - & the insects' annual mating ritual

2011-07-11T22:39:00.001+01:00

There were a couple of frenetic sexual orgies in my garden this evening whilst I was having an early dinner. Flying ants; black ant females were emerging in their hundreds for just a few minutes before calm was restored and the males returned underground once the queens had all flown away.

There is a good article on this at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7525028.stm

Meanwhile here are some pic's.

Path Clearing on the High Weald Landscape Trail near Cuckfield.

2011-07-05T21:37:00.000+01:00

For four years I've been keeping the section of the High Weald Landscape Trail west of Cuckfield open for walkers by clearing the brambles and bracken that used to make it virtually impassible in the summer months. See http://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2007/07/clear-local-paths.html for the situation in 2007.

Some weeks ago twenty Ramblers from Mid Sussex Ramblers spent just ten minutes on a walk to cut bracken and brambles on this section of path. That was a great help. My thanks to all who participated.

Some months on and the bracken is growing back. Yesterday morning I spent some time with a scythe to cut the bracken; a task made easier by the previous cutting of the brambles. Above I have started to clear the path. The scythe is propped against uncut bracken fronds.

The sweat was pouring off me during this laborious work. Now the other side of the path needs cutting.

I did remove much of the cut bracken but was too knackered to take another picture.

This section of path is now sporting wild flowers; Red Campion, Stitchwort, bluebells amongst others.

If dog walkers would clear up the dog excrement that they leave on the path, it would be more of a joy for all walkers.

Common Broomrape on 9 miles stroll from Tattenham Corner to Kingswood

2011-07-04T00:04:00.000+01:00

This is a very varied walk. And is one for anyone willing to take the slow train to Tattenham Corner, where the walk starts.

From the end of the line it is just a couple of hundred yards to the race course.

This bench, overlooking Epsom Downs race course and grandstand, is almost like a royal box.
From here we walked to Nohome Farm, Walton on the Hill, Banstead Heath, Lower Kingswood, Stubbs Lane, Babylon Lane, northwards to the wonderful Well Pub and over the golf course to Kingswood, where one can take a train home. All in all, about 9 miles.

We ate a sandwich just north of Walton on the Hill where Hogweed Bonking Beetles were feeding but not yet bonking on the Hogweed.
Just before The Bell pub, which curiously is not show on the OS map, Common Broomrape was emerging by the side of the track.

This was very exciting for me, whilst Gloria had more pressing needs to utilise the facilities of The Bell pub, just down the road.

Although described as "frequent" in southern Britain, you only see it when it flowers. It s parasitic on various trees. It has no leaves or chlorophyll. Here it was growing under Ash, Oak and Horse Chestnut. The Brakespeare ale in the Bell was excellent.

Heading north from Babylon Lane we were within less than a mile from the M25 motorway with not a house in sight!
The beer in The Well pub was worth the 9 miles slog to get there.

7 miles, circular walk around Avebury, West Kennet Long Barrow & Silbury Hill.

2011-06-28T21:14:00.004+01:00

This walk is impressive; giving insight to our ancient past, starting from the the car park at Avebury.http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-avebury

Click to expand the above, or any other picture.

Leaving Avebury on the Wessex Ridgeway are fine views of the stone circle; from right to left in the diagram below.

Up on the Ridgeway most of the New age travellers had left after the summer solstice.

The view from the Ridgeway above to Overton Down.

A feature of Fyfield Down and neighbouring Overton Down are the sarsen stones that litter this intriguing chalk limestone landscape. Sarsens are natural deposits of extremely hard siliceous sandstone that derive from Tertiary deposits, later eroded and moved by glaciation some 25 million years ago. Although found elsewhere, they are not on the scale seen in the Marlborough district. Sarsens are also known as 'druid stones' or 'grey wethers', the latter due to their resemblance at a distance to a flock of sheep, the word 'wether' coming from the Old English for sheep.
Source; http://www.theaa.com/walks/sarsen-stones-on-fyfield-down-421202

Sarsens, zoomed shot.

Meadow Crane's-bill were flowering in the hedgerows.

A zoomed view of the Avebury circle from the Ridgeway.

Greater Knapweed attracts Burnet moths and beetles as well as butterflies.

Silbury Hill from the Ridgeway.
The largest man-made mound in Europe, mysterious Silbury Hill compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids. Probably completed in around 2400 BC, it apparently contains no burial. Though clearly important in itself, its purpose and significance remain unknown. There is no access to the hill itself.
Source; http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/silbury-hill/

The weather was scorching hot and we went to the churchyard in East Kennet to seek shade and a bench. No benches. But there was shade under an ugly Cyprus tree and a cool wall to sit on.

Leaving East Kennet via the bridle path from the church we headed to the Long Barrow, with views of Silbury on the way.

West Kennet Long Barrow sits on top of a hill.
It is one of the largest, most impressive and most accessible Neolithic chambered tombs in Britain. Built in around 3650 BC, it was used for a short time as a burial chamber, nearly 50 people being buried here before the chambers were blocked. Part of the Avebury World Heritage Site.
Source;http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/west-kennet-long-barrow /

You can enter the tombs around the back of these stones.

The temperature drops inside the burial chambers and the rocks dripped with condensation on this hot, humid day.

Gloria was pleased to have made it to the top of this detour to the Barrow and to enjoy the views to Silbury Hill.

From here it is just a few miles back to Avebury.
Perhaps this blog entry may encourage you to do this walk. It is worth the effort of getting there.

Kennet valley & Savernake Forest walk.

2011-06-28T17:48:00.000+01:00

After attending a memorial service in Bristol, we stayed a couple of nights in Marlborough to walk a bit in Wiltshire.

We walked 10 miles along the crystal clear river Kennet before heading south to Savernake forest.

Heron in the river at Marlborough.

Common Spotted-orchids in Savernake, famous for its Beech trees, below.

Nine native orchid species found on one Sussex walk.

2011-06-12T22:19:00.004+01:00

On this walk from the Mid Sussex Ramblers' programme, lead by me, six of us found NINE separate orchid species on this day in the rain.
First off were Twayblades and Early purple-orchids, both of which were going over. It helps to have posted their pictures on this blog in the preceding weeks. Enter a name in the search box and you can see them in full flower.

Above is what Early purple-orchids looked like today -- gone to seed.

The walk started from Hurstpierpoint and along the track southwards was this Pyramidal orchid. That was the third species that we saw.

Moving up the hill were lots of Common Spotted orchids, above. That makes four species.

The basal leaves of this Twayblade are shrivelling as the plant produces seed.

Ascending the hill, we entered the zone of Fragrant orchids. There were thousands. You need to get your nostril right next to the flower to appreciate its exquisite scent. Above, Ramblers about to get on their knees on this Sunday afternoon! How many times have you seen that before? Never I imagine!

Well worth getting on your knees for! Here it is; the lovely Fragrant orchid -- the fifth species this day so far.

With winds gusting to 30mph and continuous rain, we sheltered in this depression half way up the hill to eat our lunch out of the worst of the weather.
The walk over the top was wet and cold but the group elected to carry on and not shorten the walk at the first logical escape route. A great decision as we will see.

Where the woods had been cleared over a year ago were many Fly orchids. Last year, near here, we photographed them with pollinating Digger wasps. I also met Julia Bradbury here the following day!

So here it is; the Fly orchid. Species no. six on this day.

Species number seven was the Butterfly orchid; still in flower in this sheltered spot.

Isn't it lovely?

Species number eight was the Bee orchid. This was a beautiful specimen...... and I messed up the wide photo somehow. It was blowing a gale. Perhaps I'll go back again with a tripod.

The rain was unrelenting and I shortened the walk to escape the rain and to spot a ninth orchid.

Its white flowers went weeks ago but these are White Helleborines. And that is species number NINE.
Our goal was eight species. We found NINE.
My thanks to the six Ramblers who braved the weather on this day and especially to Gloria, who would not (yet) describe herself as a Botanist, yet who consistently finds rare plants that I miss.

Puss Moths, Cerura vinula

2011-06-09T21:37:00.002+01:00

My thanks to Bob Bayliss for hatching these Puss moths, Cerura vinula and alerting me to their emergence. For size comparison it is Bob's thumb above.
Click on any picture to expand it.

This is a male with undeveloped wings.

He approached the female but she was having none of it and ran away. Perhaps it was too light.......
Thanks again Bob, for showing me these fine moths.

Common Spotted & Fragrant Orchids on a 5 miles circular walk from Box Hill

2011-06-05T22:09:00.000+01:00

From the National Trust parking east of the viewpoint on Box Hill, we set off in light rain, through the woods to Juniper Top and this great view northwards with Juniper Hall in the valley. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

The air was heady with the scent of wild privet.

And as we descended there were lots of Common Spotted-orchids, including this white one.

Descending further down the Northern side of Juniper Top we entered the zone where a different orchid thrives.

Fragrant orchids. It is worth getting wet knees to place a nostril next to this flower to experience its wonderful fragrance.

We took the path westwards past High Ashurst Outdoor Education Center and then south to Box Hill village. On the way were Twayblades, above.
The path by Brocham Warren and through Oak Wood brought us back to the car. It was a lovely walk in the welcomed rain; even if I did take a tumble when I slipped on a wet tree root.

Mount Caburn today plus Pyramidal Orchids

2011-06-03T18:23:00.001+01:00

Pyramidal orchids are just starting to flower on the South Downs, here near Mount Caburn.

The fortifications at Mount Caburn, dating back millennia to pre-Roman times are still impressive.
Click here to go to David Staveley's great web site for detailed info' on this ancient hill fort.

Approaching the fort.

The scale of the defences on the northern side are huge compared to say, Wolstonbury Hill.

There seems to be a double line of defencive walls and ditches.

Above is a more than 180 degrees view from above Alfriston in the east to Lewes and beyond in the west. Pan across to see it all.

Variability of Common Spotted-orchids in Nymans Woods today

2011-06-01T21:01:00.000+01:00

This clump was in Furnace Green in Nymans Woods.

Grasshoppers were everywhere.

Ragged robin blooming by the sie of a stream.

These were near Keeper's cottage.

Four wild Orchid species and butterflies near Kingswood, Surrey today.

2011-05-30T23:32:00.001+01:00

This Southern Marsh orchid and Ragged Robin is growing by a man-made pond next to the footpath.

This clearing in the Long Plantation is great for butterflies.

Meadow Brown butterfly.

A Large Skipper perhaps.

White Helloborines were lovely to see.

As was White Campion.

In Banstead Woods we found Common Spotted-orchids.

These and the Twayblades below were a couple of weeks behind those on the South Downs.

Common Blue & Meadow Brown butterflies & Common Groundhopper yesterday.

2011-05-28T08:05:00.000+01:00

Above photo was taken with a zoom lens from about 4m away. Hence the graininess.

Bumblebees were abundant on this mass of Hound's tongue plants.

This might be a Common Groundhopper. Click to enlarge the picture.

A profusion of Butterfly orchids today on the Downs in Sussex

2011-05-27T18:07:00.000+01:00

Click on any picture to expand it.

Aren't they lovely?

Southern Marsh-orchids at Pagham harbour

2011-05-24T17:55:00.000+01:00

Thanks to 22 pairs of eyes and especially those of Ian and Yvonne, this Mid Sussex Ramblers' walk found what we were looking for; the Southern Marsh-orchid.

Here the group is near the end of the 8.5 miles walk, at Sidlesham Quay, just before we found the orchids above.

Orchid walk under the shadow of the mighty Quinag mountain

2011-05-22T20:19:00.005+01:00

We stayed two nights at the Drumbeg Hotel. This walk was on the 9th May 2011. The nearest interesting footpath started at map reference NC 442/158314. The hire car was parked off the single track road on rough ground under some rocks -- not a passing place and we set off across a ford to the mighty Quinag range. With only one car this was a linear out and back walk under Quinag to the top of the pass where we would get views of Loch Assynt. Click on any picture to expand it.

Butterwort in flower was just a delight to see... and difficult to get in focus in constant high winds.

One has to improvise.

Alongside Loch Uidh na h larna

Heath Spotted-orchids enjoys acid soils (so is not so common in Sussex). Here were swathes of it; heaven. And very many were pure white, without the spots.

Passing the larger Loch an Leothaid.

Over a burn or two.

Climbing up against a strong, cold headwind with the sea in the background is invigorating and inspiring.

On the ridge, with great view over Loch Assynt and beyond.
Scroll across the above 180 degrees panoramic stitched picture.

The view across Loch Assynt.
Now we had to retrace our steps back to the road.

On the way, I had to stand in a burn to get this shot of a bumble bee on what looks to me like a Marsh Pea.

With the wind on our backs and having missed the worst of the passing squalls on the way up, the return was just a long slog with the end only a few miles away.
Just a great walk. How I love Scotland.

Native orchids of Sussex; Common Spotted, Fragrant, Twayblades, White Helleborine, Early-purple, Butterfly & Fly ochids...all in one walk.

2011-05-22T10:49:00.000+01:00

This walk on the South Downs yesterday was just fabulous. Common Spotted-orchids were just coming into flower.

Blue butterflies were common.

This looks like a Common blue.

A Fragrant orchid (?) was just about to open.

White Helleborines were in flower.

Butterfly orchids were lovely too.

The star sighting, which Gloria spotted, was this Fly orchid.

This looks like the last of the Early-purple orchids that covered this area some weeks ago.

Common Twayblades were past their best for their flowers.
What a great day!

Falls of Kirkaig, Sandpipers, Butterwort flowers and Black-throated Diver on Fionn Loch, 12 May 2011

2011-05-17T18:59:00.002+01:00

The walk up the river Kirkaig starts off through birch woods, covered in mosses and ferns with bluebells and primroses at this rime of year.

I have yet to identify this plant. Any ideas anyone?

Butterwort flowers.

On the other side of the river the hills were blackened by the recent fires that swept though the hills near Inverkirkaig.

There is a steep climb down to the Falls of Kirkaig, which are spectacular and too high for salmon to get further upstream.

We had lunch at Fionn Loch. The top of Suilven was in the clouds. And since it was raining as well we decided to attempt Suilven on another day if the weather improved.

In the distance was a solitary duck.

It looks like a Black-throated Diver, which was a rare sight; only a couple of hundred breed in Britain here in the N W Highlands.

Common Sandpipers breed here close to fast flowing rivers. There is one on the rock by the river, above.

In winter they fly south. Click here to see a Sandpiper and other wintering birds at Ferring Beach in January 2011.

The rain had produced puddles on the path and this Pipit was taking full advantage of a bath.
It was a great walk in strong winds and rain, which did not dent the pleasure of walking in such lovely places.

Orchids, Bogbeans, Sea Campion and Red-breasted Mergansers at Stoer Head 11th May 2011

2011-05-16T15:24:00.002+01:00

We walked from the lighthouse at Stoer Head to Stoer Point and the Old Man of Stoer, above.

The cliffs here are about 120m high and in the distance you can see the cliffs of Handa Island and its nesting sea birds. Several Gannets flew past low on the water but I was unable to get a picture.

This pair of Red-breasted Mergansers were great to see.
The wind was quite strong this day with some light rain.

At 160m above sea level it was cold atop of Sidhean Mor but the view was worth it.

Scan across this 180 degree panorama.

We had walked along the valley beneath the Quinag mountain range twice the day before, so it was great to see it again from this distance.

Quinag again from across a field of Cotton grass.
We picked our way across a couple of bogs, where peat had been cut sometime in the past, to see if we could get across.

In one bog was this lovely Heath Spotted-orchid.

I had to be quick as I was slowly sinking into the Sphagnum bog.

The Bogbean plants above were in flower. I was sinking even faster as I took this shot!

Back on the cliffs, a Sea Campion was clinging to a rock.

Wheatears were common -- here a male.

The orchids were abundant and stunted on the exposed cliff tops as we returned to the Lighthouse.

A short, yet inspiring walk. Click on any picture to expand it.

Heath Spotted-Orchids near Lochinver, Scotland on the 10th May 2011

2011-05-14T23:43:00.001+01:00

I've just returned from 6 days in the N.W. Highlands of Scotland and have seen some great wildlife.
The cliffs, bogs and hillsides were, on occassions, carpeted with Orchids; Heath Spotted-Orchids that is.

This specimen was "close to" the mountain of Suilven, which we wanted to climb but didn't due to high winds and adverse weather forecasts, We did get to walk around Loch Druim Suardalain, above, near Lochinver in search of a particularly rare diver, of which more later!

In Sussex, it is expected to flower from early June. This is in flower before mid May.

Great Spotted Woodpecker attacking a Blue tit's nest box

2011-05-07T10:05:00.002+01:00

It looks like I will need to invest in some new nest boxes next year with a metal entrance hole. This woodpecker was hammering away at the nest box entrance and pulling out the nest material this morning. Click on any picture to expand it.

I was away for some days and on my return the box was wrecked.

The baby birds had gone.

A concrete box sounds like a good idea.

Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies

2011-05-06T13:55:00.001+01:00

The warm weather has brought out this male Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly.
Click on any picture to expand it.

This will be a female or young male, which resemble females. Only mature males are blue.

This dragonfly is well named. It took some chasing to get these pictures!

Wolstonbury Hill today

2011-05-04T19:04:00.017+01:00

Cowslips are still in bloom.

This Chalk Milkwort (?) was also in bloom.

This looks like a Hound's tongue.

Hawthorn flowers.

Sainfoin is such an attractive flower and is a member of the pea family.

Looking west over the anthills.

The cows still on the hill, preferred the shady wood to the sunny, windswept hillsides.

On the northern slope are these wild garlic plants.

This was a fine walk, but I failed to find the orchid plants that I was looking for. Better luck next time.

A long weekend with HF Holidays in the Peak District, Derbyshire

2011-05-03T18:33:00.001+01:00

Mid Sussex Ramblers organised a long weekend 29th April - 2nd May, staying at the HF Holidays hotel, Newton House in the Peak District and enjoyed a series of walks lead by HF leaders. This and the following entries show some of the plants and wildlife from the weekend.
Walking directly from the hotel towards Dove Dale, we passed through this meadow with what looks like Meadow Saxifrage.

Dove Dale is spectacular.

Orange-tip butterflies were were lovely too.

Toothwort in the Wye Valley, Peak district, 30th April 2011

2011-05-03T09:41:00.003+01:00

Toothwort is a parasitic plant lacking green leaves and chlorophyll. It is only seen above ground when it flowers; above under Hazel trees.

It was also flowering underneath this fine old Field Maple tree.

The flowers had set seed already.

This is the view from Monsal Head after climbing up out of the Dale below.

Deep Dale and Early-purple Orchids, 30th April 2011

2011-05-03T09:27:00.003+01:00

From the mines below, we continued to Deep Dale. Click the picture to expand it.

The Cowslips and orchids were beautiful.

Magpie Lead Mines, Derbyshire

2011-05-03T09:11:00.002+01:00

This is the view from where the Mountain Pansies were seen in the second blog entry below.
Click to expand to see the mines in the distance.

From here we headed off to Deep Dale.

Lathkill Dale, Cowslips and Early-purple Orchids, 30th April 2011

2011-05-02T21:42:00.002+01:00

The cowslips carpeted the dale and the Early-puple Orchids were also abundant.

Click on any picture to expand it. We saw a Dipper but the light was too poor to get a good picture.

A Coot.

Downstream in the woods were dozens of Orange-tip butterflies. The female above, was on a Garlic mustard flower.

Mountain Pansy in Derbyshire, 30 April 2011

2011-05-02T20:09:00.001+01:00

To me this looks like the Mountain Pansy, Viola lutea.

This was the only patch of this flower that I saw in 20+ miles of walking. And what a little gem it is.

Apple Blossom and Fallow deer walk from Ightham Mote

2011-04-28T22:04:00.000+01:00

Today, nine Mid Sussex Ramblers set off from the 14th century Manor House of Ightham Mote on a seven miles stroll though varied landscapes and habitats.

Kent is very different from Sussex with its oast houses and orchards. The walk along the Greensands way from Ightham Mote to Knowle Park is too spectacular to depict within the limitations of this blog. You need to walk it for yourselves. Dare I say, it rivals anything that the South Downs offer -- except the sea!

We went along the Chestnut walk in Knowle.

The walk promised Fallow deer and apple blossom. First goal accomplished with this buck, which looks as though it has recently shed its antlers.

More deer...

and more deer.

Then the second objective was achieved.... apple blossom. Job done!

This being Kent, we passed a hazel nut field with an orchard behind.

At the end of the walk there was time to visit the lovely Manor House.

Click here for details of future Mid Sussex Ramblers' walks.

Organic gardening; controlling pigeons on cabbages or kale, Spis bladene variety.

2011-04-26T19:37:00.001+01:00

Pigeons damage and devour my Spis bladene Kale plant below.

The pigeons perch on the leaves and flower stems, breaking them as they devour the plant.
I let this grand Kale from Denmark go to seed and treat it a a cottage garden plant -- the seeds moving it around the garden from year to year. But pigeons do a lot of damage.

I have a friend. Stare hard at the above picture (or expand it) and right in the center you will see the fox that seems to live underneath a yew hedge in my garden. Every evening at 19.50hr the fox trots through his/her (my) front garden and into the road and his/her adjacent gardens. I do see lots of pigeon feathers from time to time; especially this morning.

Well done foxy! What a fine breakfast for you. And one less pigeon to eat my kale.
I had no time to move the carcase this morning.

By evening, I presume that the crows had nearly finished what the fox had left. I hope that the crows are full and stop fishing in my pond for newts or tadpoles, if any are left from the newts' predation.

So three cheers for foxes... for organically controlling the pigeon pests.
And three cheers for crows.... for tidying up after the fox failed to eat up all of its breakfast.

The following morning everything was gone except the feathers. Well done badgers, foxes or crows, whoever enjoyed picking over the carcass.

Most unusual pale form of Early-purple Orchid

2011-04-25T14:09:00.002+01:00

David Lang, in his fine book "Wild Orchids of Sussex" page 107 states about the Early-purple Orchid that "There is a most unusual colour form where the flowers are pale but flecked with purple, and the leaves are unspotted. It is very unusual to find 'broken' colour in orchids. This form has been found in Broadchalke in Wiltshire (1989) and north of Charing in Kent (1991). It should be looked for in Sussex."
Well, Mid Sussex Ramblers have been looking! And thanks to Tony Osmand yesterday, he found the following little beauty. Without a tripod the pictures are not as sharp as one would like, but isn't it a rare delight?

By comparison, here is the common form.

To enjoy this wonderful Spring with Mid Sussex Rambers, click here for the current walks' programme.

Water-crowfoot... on top of the Sussex Downs.

2011-04-19T18:55:00.002+01:00

This is the view of Falmer church and the new football stadium from the South Downs Way east of Brighton.
Click on the picture to expand it.

Further east are these Dew ponds -- full of water and vegetation despite weeks of no rain.

The pond was full of these Water-crowfoots, difficult to identify due to their great variability and my inabilities.

What a lovely plant, which I spotted on a 10 miles Mid Sussex Ramblers' walk from Rodmell today, ably lead by Paul and Sue.

The next Dew pond, further east was dried out, suggesting that it was leaking, or that perhaps the former ones had been topped up with water somehow.

Green-winged Orchids

2011-04-18T15:59:00.004+01:00

In a churchyard not a million miles from Cuckfield is a small yet magnificent display of Green-winged Orchids.

The leaves have no spots, (unlike the Early-purple Orchids below) and the flowers' outer segments are striped with green or bronze lines; hence its common name.

To get the flower colour in these pictures more lifelike the colour temperature has been (a bit crudely) increased.

My great thanks to John Pilkington for his advice on how to set about correcting such flower colouring.

Danny House, lambs and Alpacas

2011-04-18T15:48:00.001+01:00

Lambs are gambolling in the fields.

These lovely Alpacas have been attacked by a dog. Despite signs asking dog owners to keep their dog on a lead, one irresponsible owner failed to do so on this day.

Twayblades and Common Spotted-orchids emerging already.

2011-04-18T15:41:00.000+01:00

Just look at what is to come from these orchids as the flower bud is emerging from Twayblades.

Common Spotted-orchid leaves are emerging now - heralding great things to come.

Early-purple Orchids on a walk from Hurstpierpoint to Wolstonbury Hill.

2011-04-17T16:05:00.001+01:00

These are the earliest of the Orchids to flower and how lovely it is to see such a profusion.

The colour of these digital images should be more red. I have yet to find a way to reproduce the true colours.

Pond Skaters... like you may never have seen them before.

2011-04-13T19:03:00.003+01:00

I always saw Pond skaters as clever little chaps that could walk on the surface tension of water and run really fast.
According to the RSPB site they eat small insects.
However, my observations are that they are ruthless in attacking bigger insect than themselves.

The insect above was struggling to escape the water's grip. It might have made it if a pond skater hadn't moved in for the kill.

By this time the prey was about to stop struggling. Meanwhile.... in the other pond....

One unhappy insect had been attacked by a hoard of predatory pond skaters.

Click here for the RSPB's account that pond skaters take small insects. Everything is relative but in my ponds they take big insects including wasps! Click here to see http://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2010/08/spheksophobia.html

Smooth newts and tadpoles Intensive Care Unit.

2011-04-12T17:09:00.002+01:00

The colouring of Smooth Newts seems to be varied from different sources. Click on the above picture to expand it to see a male and female feeding on a lump of bread.

The female above looks to have eaten too much bread or is pregnant.

In any case there are many reports that if a pond has fish or newts then tadpoles get eaten. So, with tadpoles from Surrey, I have set up a tadpoles Intensive Care Unit, (ICU).

I have subsequently topped it up with gallons of rain water and removed all the snails. The tadpoles are thriving after two days in ICU. I'll monitor them daily and add them to the ponds when big enough to stand a chance against newts. A crow was "fishing" in the pond yesterday. Perhaps it got some newts.
For more info' on newts see http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/479.shtml

Sympecma sp.; the only European Damselfly to hibernate as adults

2011-04-12T12:10:00.001+01:00

I've just seen my first Damselfly of the year.
It looks like Sympecma fusca, which is the only European genus to hibernate as adults. They hide amongst dead leaves or dense shrubs but often take to the wing on sunny days, even in the middle of winter.
Source; Insects of Britain and Western Europe by Michael Chinery .

Primula veris, a promiscuous little Cow! ........ Cowslip, that is!

2011-04-11T22:38:00.002+01:00

A wild flower meadow has been developing in my garden over the years, due to benign neglect and a little help.
Underneath the fruit trees and elsewhere, Cowslips, Primula veris, have thrived. Primula veris, what a promiscuous little Cow! Just look at its gaudy progeny above.

The windswept specimen above -- a short bee-flight away -- is the possible father of the bastard Cowslip.
Elsewhere in the garden, a former owner who planted blousey Spanish bluebells might be dismayed that I am mowing and hoeing all of the Spanish bluebells that I find. We don't want them getting into our native bluebell woods.

Pollinating bumble bees on Woundwort and pear blossom

2011-04-11T19:27:00.000+01:00

Click on the above picture to expand it should you wish to view this magnificently hairy creature up close.
It is on a Woundwort "weed" in a domestic Surrey garden. It is a good advertisement to allow a few wild flowers in a domestic garden and to avoid all insecticides.

Here is one on Pear blossom.
Can any bee experts suggest which species these bees are?

Bee-flies and Toothwort in the Long Plantation, Surrey

2011-04-10T21:02:00.002+01:00

Toothwort is flowering again at the base of Hazel trees in the Long Plantation.

See also http://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2009/04/toothwort-in-surrey-wood.html from 2009.

Bee-flies were everywhere.

Here it is Bombylius major. A sweet little fly, whose larvae attack grubs of solitary bees and wasps in their underground nests.

Here is one in flight in a domestic garden.

Lily Beetles on Fritillaries

2011-04-08T14:02:00.003+01:00

Lily beetles create havoc with Snakehead Fritillaries. Open the picture above to see a mating pair, circled in the above picture. This pair got "organically treated" by crushing between my thumb and forefinger.
That makes twelve that I have crushed today, totalling twenty four in the last three days. How many more are going to turn up?

Adoxa moschatellina, Moschatel, Town-hall Clock

2011-04-05T19:44:00.001+01:00

One learns plants one at a time. And today, thanks once again to Prof. William Coleman, I learned about the Town-hall Clock plant.

Adoxa moschatellina is commonly known as the Town-hall Clock plant because its flowers are in a perfect square with a fifth one on the top. Click on any picture to expand it.

Its "proper" English name is Moschatel; but where does that come from?

"Moschea" is Italian for Mosque. So perhaps whoever originally named this plant in its Latin Linnaeus description meant that it ressembles a little Mosque -- corrupted to Town-hall Clock. What do you think?

Here it is in a shady Sussex bridleway.

And one more accidental shot, which I enjoy.
You never know what a Ramblers' walk may bring!
Thanks to Sue for leading this 10 miles walk for Mid Sussex Ramblers.

Learning plants and bird song.... one at a time.

2011-04-04T16:48:00.000+01:00

Someone recently asked me how I knew so many bird songs (and flowers perhaps). The answer is... one at a time. When you hear a song and then locate the bird, you tend not to forget it. It also helps greatly to accelerate the learning process, to go on a walk with Professor William Coleman with Mid Sussex Ramblers. So when I heard the distinctive song of a Nuthatch in my garden, I knew what I was looking for.

The Blackbird above, carrying a worm and searching for more, must have some young to feed nearby.

Above, high in an oak tree, is what a knew was a Nuthatch even if I could only confirm it with a zoom lens. Once the oak leaves open such birds will be difficult to see.

A house roof is good places to see garden birds like this Chaffinch.

It flew off and was immediately and fleetingly replaced by what looks like a House sparrow.

Greenfinches, thrushes etc., go crazy for the fruits of the Amelanchier canadensis above in the Autumn.
Meanwhile in Spring it is glorious.

Pulborough Brooks today; full of bird song.

2011-04-03T16:47:00.001+01:00

A mallard had already hatched her chicks on Pulborough Brooks today.

A grey heron might pose a threat to young ducklings.

It was the bird song that was so memorable on this 9 miles walk though; chiffchaffs, greenfinches, tits, nuthatch, various woodpeckers, dunnocks, blackcaps, skylarks and above all robins.
There were scores of Canadian geese and lots of Shelducks plus some remnants of winter visiting ducks.
As I was leading the walk from the Mid Sussex Ramblers programme, there was limited time to pause to photograph more. We saw a kestral hovering but not the falcon that was here the last time we were here in January.

Farmers keep cattle with TB.

2011-04-01T16:45:00.000+01:00

So now we know. Tax payers are compensating farmers for culling healthy but poorly performing cows whilst the same farmers keep their TB infected high-yielding milk cows to make short-term gains and continue to pass TB to other cows. Let's kill some badgers though; now that country folk no longer duck women or burn witches.

Newts' feeding frenzy in a Sussex pond

2011-03-29T17:54:00.001+01:00

Some days ago, in this small pond in my garden, a lump of bread was deposited. My guess was that it was a crow that dunked it there -- just as some humans dunk their biscuits in their tea. Crows are crafty things. They wade in my pond and eat tadpoles when there are any to be had.

This afternoon the newts were going crazy for this, by now decomposing bread. You must excuse the flare from my camera flash. Without a Polaroid filter this was the only way to get a picture.

Such voracious eaters may also have played a part in the disappearance of the tadpoles that were recently added to this pond. There is no sign of them at all now. Where have they gone? What ate them? Did they die of disease? I don't know.

Chiffchaff on the Downs above Seaford today.

2011-03-29T16:08:00.003+01:00

By contrast, a Chaffinch.

The Seven Sisters were somewhat obscured by mist today.

Greylag Geese and Tufted ducks in the Loder valley yesterday.

2011-03-28T14:17:00.002+01:00

Greylag geese.

This is how far the geese were from the above pictures. Click on this or any picture to expand it.

There were some Tufted ducks, perhaps a dozen or more.

The male Tufted ducks have the larger tuft and white flanks. The females have brown sides to their bodies. In this shot are Cormerants and Mallards too. There were also Coots, Moorhens, and Great Crested Grebes.

Grebe.
Kingfishers are nesting but I didn't see them.

This Toothwort was in flower by the public footpath east of the bridge over the reservoir.
This seemed to be earlier flowering than in previous years. See http://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/2010/05/broomrape-and-early-purple-orchid-on-7.html

Frogs at last...

2011-03-26T12:52:00.001Z

Frogs at last have appeared overnight in this pond in Surrey.

There is great excitement in the pond and from me!

There must be a female frog in there somewhere.

This happy frog seems to have scored.
It is great to see them back.
Sadly there are no frogs yet in my ponds in Sussex and the tadpoles which were added have disappeared.