Finally, after what seems to have been a very busy summer, Suesie and I have been able to enjoy some long walks through our beautiful local downland. Areas of bramble are now adorned with the white cascades of old man's beard now and the hillsides are smothered in gorgeous summer flowers. Greater knapweed, hardheads, scabious and lady's tresses all share their hues. And on sunny days these areas are alive with a dazzling display of butterflies, dragonflies and other insects taking advantage of the rich nectar pool. Below can be seen a few of those we've managed to capture on film; a not-too-easy accomplishment considering how fleeting they are to stay in one spot. And all from a tiny, palm-sized Kodak.
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It's been a bit difficult to find time to go walking of late, mainly due to ongoing preparations for our forthcoming wedding! Nevertheless, bus journeys, and the odd little stroll we have managed, have revealed lots to see. The roadsides and meadows are full of colour at the moment; a rich tapestry of hues provided by greater knapweed, lady's bedstraw, yarrow and a whole host of other flowers including gorgeous pyramidial orchids. Cinnebar moth catapillars seem to be particularly abundant at the moment.
Of late, the gardens of Seaford seem to have been overtaken by masses of gorgeous rose chafer bugs, certainly more so than the last couple of years. These lovely gleaming bugs are huge; about two centimetres in length and are as unmistakable in flight as they are at rest, buzzing noisily through the air.
I deviated away from my usual route this morning, choosing instead to take the steep, arduous climb of Seaford Head the foot of which lies at the western end of Seaford beach. Despite the overcast sky and the challenge of the hill I felt exhilerated by the buffeting gusts of the strong wind. Half way up I was met by the familiar calls of kittiwakes and I had some good glimpses of these lovely birds. The grass of the hill was dotted with patches of selfheal, kidney vetch, clovers, wild thyme, greater knapweed and dropwort, and I also came across this lovely clump of bladder campion Walking westward along the clifftop path I passed many more wildflowers sharing their blooms. Wild carrot, lady's bedstraw, viper's bugloss and carpets of agrimony could be seen and in one place; a mass of gorgeous yellow-horned poppies. Closer to Hope Gap lots of low-growing privit hugged the downland slopes, covered in their white blossam. At low tide the area of beach at Hope Gap is revealed as a large expance of rock pools. Alas, the tide was fully in this morning, but I still descended the steps and sat for a while watching the crash of the incoming waves, the view of The Seven Sisters beyond and enjoying the practice of Hakalau. Click here for an introduction to Hakalau. leaving Hope Gap I made my way to the coastguard houses at Cuckmere Haven, and then northwards along the scrub-lined path of the Vanguard Way. Common mallow, white campion, hedge woundwort and that most gorgeous of climbers tufted vetch were found in bloom. Despite grey skies and the wind a couple of red admirals were abroad, and I had lovely views of a white throat singing from atop a nearby bush.
Crossing Exceat bridge I continued alongside the river sighting little egrets, a curlew and a small group of oystercatchers as I went. Further along I had wonderful views of a buzzard as it wheeled over the fields on the opposite side of the river. For a brief time I popped into Friston Forest too and at West Dean pond found a pair of small banded snails. Lovely things. My walk today, took me once more up on to the downs overlooking the Cuckmere valley. Here on the escarpment, elder bloom holds sway in the hedgerow, and the cultivated crop in the field beyond is bordered with a wide swathe of bright red poppies. The downland turf here has come alive. Clovers, black medick, selfheal, stitchwort and dove's-foot cranesbill sprinkle the grass with colour whilst both red and white campion bloom at the foot of the hedgerows. Hugging the steep slopes of the path down to the valley, the prickly but gorgeous blue flower; viper's bugloss is abundant and wild thyme is beginning to bloom. Down in the valley hound's tongue, scarlet pimpernell, and deadly nightshade are all in flower, with the white heads of hemlock towering above, almost at head-height. Bittersweet and white bryony are also in bloom, twining their stems amongst the taller plants. As well as the elder, dog rose shares it's delightful flowers all across the valley. Pausing to sit under the trees for a while I listened to the breeze as it gently stirred the leaves in the canopy above me. In the distance, the calls of linnet, white throat, black cap and chiff chaff filled the air. Walking alongside the dykes lots of blue damselflies could be seen and a few of the big southern hawker dragonflies. Magnificent creatures! A little water crowfoot still flowers, whilst amidst the margins water mint and waist-height water dock can be found. Back on the river bank I suddenly spotted a shoal of about fifteen mullet just below the water's surface. Closer to Exceat bridge ox-eye daisy and wild carrot are beginning to bloom. It was here that I decided to extend my walk all the way to Friston Pond near East Dean. This took me through the deep, green shade of Friston forest; a welcome balm after the noise of the main road. In many of the more sunlit places great masses of old man's beard swept over and engulfed scrub and fallen tree with their foliage whilst here and there I also came across another magnificent climber; black bryony. In the deep shade beneath the trees hart's-tounge fern grew.
It had been quite a while since my last expedition, so eagerlly I head for the downs on a cool, breezy morning with the sky filled with big, fluffy white cloads. The tree-lined road beyond Seaford cemetary was clad with dense banks of cow parsley, alkanet, and cleavers and the trees were now green and full. Atop Frog Firle the hedgerow also was brimming with leafy growth and here I found the white blooms of hawthorn beginning to show. Such a delight to see. Beneath the hedge a few wild bluebells flowered alongside the taller blooms of white campion. Along the ecscarpment which runs pararell with the river, purple patches of ground ivy still flowered and the turf was beginning to show the odd buttercup, daisy and field speedwell too. Down the treacherous slope into the valley, field forget-me-not, salad burnet and the lovely pink flowers of common stork'sbill could be seen. Once down in the valley I followed the path as it hugged the skirts of the hill. Here, big banks of nettle, tall thistles and clumps of burdock were predominant whilst hemlock was already up to chest height. The broad carpets of silverweed were beginning to flower too. Under the trees at the end of the path, white comfrey still bloomed and a blackcap shared it's sweet song. Crossing the river I began exploring the dykes, many of which were still carpeted with the gorgeous white blooms of water crowfoot. In the damp margins water dock was now up to knee height and the little yellow flowers of celery-leaved buttercup could be found, together with some patches of that lovely spring flower; lady's smock. Lots of birds were about including chaffinches, goldfinches, yellowhammers and greenfinches plus that newly-arrived summer visitor the whitethroat with it's scratchy warble; a beautiful bird to see close-up. As I walked, I suddenly disturbed a family of little mallard chicks into hurried escape and watched as their mother splashed noisily behind, feigning injury.
Further along the river bank, I also had the rare glimpse of a sedge warbler as it sang it's mad, old fashioned computerised song from a nearby bush. This summer visitor isn't a rare bird, but they're notoriously difficult to spot, often choosing to sing from deep within reed beds. The bankside turf is now beginning to be burst into beds of golden buttercup bloom, dotted here and there with red clover, daisy and common vetch. And along a grassy bank I found this lovely group of cowslips nodding together in the breeze. After a cold night which left a layer of ice on car windows, today dawned bright and sunny with a cooling breeze. The spring rush is well under way now and some of the bigger trees are already bursting into leaf. Passing Seaford cemetary this morning I took my usual route up onto the downs. The roadside verge here is already a riot of cleavers, cow parsley, and nettle with the greenery dotted here and there with the gorgeous sky blue flowers of alkanet. Atop Frog Firle little lambs bleated in the sunshine. Here, hawthorn and elder are well into leaf amidst the hedge. The view from the ecscarpment was wonderfully clear and the sulphur yellow of rape could be seen in distant fields. Negotiating the steep slope down to the valley I passed a little cowslip in bloom and the odd salad burnet bearing flower buds. It felt noticably warmer once I'd reached the bottom. Following the path as it traced it's way away from the river around the skirts of the hill I saw lots of rabbits. Their numerous burrows are surrounded by banks of arum, nettle, and hemlock and the greyish leaves of great mullein sprout up in places. As I walked, lots of birds were in song including chiff chaff and blackcap and I also heard the drumming of a great spotted woodpacker nearby. Lots of insects were on the wing too including an anthophora plumipes bee with it's extra long tongue. And what joy it was to be passed by my first common blue butterfly of the year! Crossing the bridge I turned to walk alongside the river back towards Exceat. The dykes closeby are now full of water crowfoot flowers, and that delightful little flower; lady's smock, can be found in places blooming in the damp margins. Everywhere, blackthorn shares it's beautiful bossam. Upon reaching the reedbed I was immediately met by the sound of my first sedge warbler of the year, singing from deep within the reeds like some delirious, old fashioned computer.
Carpets of daisies and dandelions sprinkled the turf with their delightful flowers, and as I neared the end of my walk a group of three herons took lazily to flight across the fields. Today Suesie, myself and a friend took a trip to the mixed woodland at Bates Green Farm near Arlington reservoir. At this time of year much of the woods in this area are awash with carpets of that most gorgeous of flowers; wood anemone and this is no exception. Managed as a place for wildlife this is a truely beautiful place and the sheets of wood anemones alone were stunning. Amongst the wood anemones a few bluebells were just beginning to bloom and primroses, lesser celandine and wood sorrel were also in flower. The little green, trefoil leaves of wood sorrel close up at night and have a distinctive acidic taste. Not surprisingly, other wildlife was in abundance. As well as a fleeting glimpse of a jay, a pheasant and a pair of blackcaps, chiff chaff song and the calls of nuthatch and green woodpecker filled the wood.
In the dappled shade an orange tip and speckled wood butterflies fluttered past whilst in the damp edges of the ponds craneflies were laying eggs. We also had a brief glimpse of a vole before it scurried into hiding. This is truelly a magical place well worth a visit at any time of year. Driving home through the country lanes was a treat in itself. The hedgerows, powdered with their first flush of green were awash with "snow blossam" and here and there patches of lovely lady's smock filled the verge. Shouldering my backpack I took another walk this morning, with a cool breeze and a sky overhead that was cloudless save for a few streaks of cirrus. Alongside the road beyond Seaford cemetary, bramble and old man's beard are now well into leaf, and a chiff chaff and blackcap sang from the trees that line the road. Down in the Cuckmere valley dog rose is breaking into leaf, and areas of blackthorn are awash with their gorgeous white "snowblossom." Here and there, patches of houndstongue, mallow and forget-me-nots are pushing through and whole carpets of silverweed can be found. As I walked, bumble bees, ladybirds and a couple of comma butterflies were spotted. I found this one sunning itself in the warm sunshine and didn't notice the spider trying to hog the shot. Towards White Bridge lies a particually lovely patch of trees where I often sit for a while, enjoying the peace around me. Here, a big bank of white comfrey is in bloom Crossing the bridge, I followed the river back towards Exceat. Some way along, the path comes to a broad bed of reeds still bearing last year's seed heads. Here skylark song filled the air and chiff chaff and yellowhammer called nearby. An early hawthorn was awash with the first flush of spring leaves. The grassy banks alongside the river are now fresh with new growth. Daisies and dandelions are in bloom and amongst the grasses clovers and vetches are pushing through. Below can be seen a photo of one of the many dykes to be found in the area. Amidst the dense margins, water mint is sending up new growth and some of the shallower dykes are already awash with carpets of common water crowfoot bloom. Taking advantage of the lovely weather I went walking again this morning with a huge, pale blue sky overhead adorned only with a few streaks of thin cirrus. As I walked up the first rise of Frog Firle a chiff chaff, a green woodpecker, skylarks and a distant pheasant greeted my ears. Up on the escarpment that runs pararell with the river, I found the valley below filled with thick mist which seemed to glow from within amidst the bright sunshine. Up here the turf still remains pretty devoid of bloom but I came across a beautiful patch of dog violets in flower. Descending the treacherous slope into the valley, I found lots of viper's bugloss plants beginning to poke through and bramble bursting into leaf. Suddenly, a group of shellduck feeding on the slope nearby, took noisily to flight. Down in the valley the damp grass was adorned with lots of little, dew-sparkled cobwebs. For a while the path here swings away from the river, and is lined with patches of scrub; elder bursting into leaf and blackthorn not yet in bloom. As well as banks of arum, nettle and hemlock, big circles of thistle, houndstongue, and greater burdock are beginning to send up new growth. I also discovered a dog rose bursting into leaf, lots of last year's teasal, and the lovely, silvery grey foliage of silverweed. Further along can be found a large patch of comfrey already beginning to bloom under the trees. Here I paused to sit, drinking in the sights and sounds and the stillness around me. Alongside the dykes, water dock is beginning to show amongst the tangle of dead stalks and foliage remaining from last year's vegetation. And what a thrill it was to discover common water crowfoot beginning to bloom!
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