NATIONAL TREE WEEK TALK

18 November 2005
Event: NATIONAL TREE WEEK PRESENTATION
Venue: Marlipins Museum, High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea
Time: 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm
Speaker: Jon Stokes (Tree Council)


http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/

November walk

The first day of November was largely bright and warmer than average.
On Lancing Ring a large cloud looked threatening but passed over and warm sun shone through.
Two Red Admiral butterflies patrolled their territory, one in the lane aproaching the car park, the other flew from the Beech trees at the clump down the slope to the Sloe bushes and back. Into the woods of Beech and Ash trees where several clumps of Shaggy Pholiotas were congregated around the base of one Ash tree. Further down the slope small groups of Agaricus mushrooms opened their caps under the canopy.
In the soft clay of the dewpond bank a group of fungi, possibly identified as Pholiota gummosa, yet to be confirmed. Close by a small Beetle broke cover, it apeared to have a swollen body it turns out to be a gravid female Leaf Beetle called Galeruca tanaceti.
In the short grass area around the Dewpond many small fungi sprouted in the turf, among them a distinctive Yellow Waxcap, Hygrocybe chlorophana. A small red one just emerging may have been the Scarlet Waxcap Hygrocybe coccinea. Previously there had been a lot of Parasol Mushrooms but the entire crop had gone, possibly perished but likely they were picked as they are edible.

The Dewpond had not held water for the latter half of the summer and by October had dried up, a leak was located by council staff and repaired. Clay that had slumped has been repositioned to cover the exposed liner revealed by the activity of the many dogs that have been able to jump into the pond.
The fence that was put up to prevent this has been repaired and it is hoped dog owners will respect this restriction.

Scarcity of Butterflies

4 August 2005

Scarcity of Butterflies

Although warm (21.9 ºC), it was slightly overcast in the late morning on
Lancing (Sussex) Ring and meadows (including McIntyre's field), but even
making allowances for the weather, the butterfly numbers were disappointing
and much less than previous years. In about an hour, there were not many
more than a hundred butterflies of the following species (listed in order
first seen): Speckled Wood Butterflies (12+), Common Blues (12+), Meadow
Browns (60+), a possible Holly Blue, Gatekeepers (20+), Large Whites (12+),
Red Admirals (4), Small Whites (3+), Chalkhill Blues (4+) Brown Argus (1),
Marbled White (1) and Small (or Essex) Skipper (1). A dozen or so 6-spot
Burnet Moths were noted.

These restored meadows are not an area for Chalkhill Blues, but usually
thousands of Common Blues are to be discovered. A Wall Brown would be usual
as well, but these may have been missed. Marbled Whites are near their end.

Nature Notes for Lancing Ring
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/LancRin2005.htm

Adur Butterfly & Large Moth List (Microsoft Internet Explorer recommended
for this page.)
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Butterfly-list2005.html


Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2005.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: August 2005
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Aug2005.html
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Winged Conehead

A short walk through the butterfly Meadow late on Wednesday evening as the sun began to set. The butterflies were all at rest, a few could be disturbed by walking off the path and into the flowery meadow. In poor light the easiest to make out were a couple of Common Blues. Meadow Brown were also prompted to fly for a brief time but soon settled back into the grass and flowers. Every footstep caused a panic among the many Grasshoppers and Crickets as they sprang clear of danger.
Some like this Long Winged Conehead could be caught and would even rest on the hand while a photograph was taken.

Vollucella

I saw my first Volucella pellucens on McIntyres Field on Thursday, this is a large distinctive Hoverfly with a large white band below the thorax http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ray.hamblett1/nature/flies.html#Volucella_pellucens

This one seems to have a damaged left wing and there is a small nick out the tip of the right wing

Lancing Ring meadows

23 June 2005
I saw my first Marbled White and Brown Argus Butterflies on Lancing Ring meadows, (but Ray Hamblett had already seen these butterflies this year). Unidentified skippers could have been the first Small Skippers of the year, but they would not remain still long enough for identification. I think they were Large Skippers. The first blue was a Holly Blue, the second a confirmed Brown Argus before I found by first Common Blue in just a small area of Lancing Ring meadows. Meadow Browns were at first counted and then estimated at over 75 and this was only part of a much larger population.



Kidney Vetch on Lancing Ring meadows

Nine species of butterfly were discovered on a brief visit to Lancing Ring with two species found elsewhere.

Webs of the large predatory spider Agelena labyrinthica were seen amongst the grasses and herbs on the Lancing Ring meadows but none of the spiders were visible. Kidney Vetch was common in the undergrowth this year, but despite a brief search no Small Blue Butterflies were found. There was a Cinnabar Moth just north of the cemetery near Lancing Ring.

The highest air temperature this year, so far, was 28.4 ºC at 5:16 pm to 5:40 pm, humidity 52%.

Adur Nature Notes 2005

Saturday Walk

A walk around the low meadow in temperatures of around 24C a few butterflies were active.
Most obvious were Common Blues I counted at least 8.
Meadow Browns made an appearance, I made a mental note of six individuals.


A Small Heath flittered around the edge of the meadow by the low path.
On the other side of the path on Dogwood a Red Admiral took off as I passed.
From the edge of a clump of shrubs a large Dragonfly took to the wing.
As I walked towards the Dewpond a large Rabbit sat poised on it's haunches to get a better view of any potential danger. It remained as I photographed it's pose.

A few feet further ahead of me a small Fox with it's back towards me turned to watch me approach before disappearing into cover.


Before I left a Burnet Companion Moth caught my attention.

Yellow Shell Moth

This blogger is for all visitors to Lancing Ring to add their own sightings of any wildlife they encounter.
First post 2.2.2005

To take part send an email to ray hamblett requesting an invitation.
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In addition to the sightings mentioned previously I also saw this Moth which I have now idendified with help from Ian Kimber at UK Moths
as a Yellow Shell

Lancing Ring Nature

Lancing Ring Nature

Lancing Ring Nature Notes from Andy Horton

Early Marbled White

For an hour's meandering amble around Lancing Ring on a bright blustery day I think I did well to see Marbled White, Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral butterflies mostly in the sheltered places away from the force 4-5 breeze.
My star find for the day was a single stem of Grass Vetchling, (Lathyrus nissolia, I have only seen this elusive plant once before on the Meadow, the plant is not nationally rare but it is on Lancing Ring.



My Marbled White is early, previous sightings have been in early July


It's nice to see the Greater Knapweed showing again, this one is a bit early


There was a lot of birdsong on the way and one distinctive call led me to see a red chested Linnet perched on top of a Hawthorn clump.

Holly Blue, Elm and Wild Cherry

Dutch Elm and Wild Cherry, I believe are the trees marking the route past the Lancing Manor allotments as one approaches McIntyres field. The white flowers of the cherry are opening as the leaves of the Elm are unfolding.

As I walked past a yellow Brimstone butterfly flew from about 8ft to about 20ft and disappeared into the greenery
A few minutes earlier in the lane from The Street I watched a Holly Blue in flight as it climbed over the Leylandii hedge of the park boundary.

Early Butterflies

My quest to find a positive view of Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni on Lancing Ring LNR was successful today. Taking a walk on the west side where ribbons and clumps of Hawthorn, Elder and Bramble break up the Brachypodium smothered grass slope. The western-most perimeter adjoins an arable field, here fluttering over the Bramble a bright yellow male Brimstone butterfly patrolled back and forth over about 200 yards of it's territory. It's was not in the mood for resting so a photo was out of the question.

My first view of the Brimstone was a couple of weeks ago but so brief as to be hard to be confident that it was not a leaf in an updraft of wind.
A Peacock was less elusive. At least one, probably more settled on the short grass path during my quest.

Butterflies

This blogger is for all visitors to Lancing Ring to add their own sightings of any wildlife they encounter.
First post 2.2.2005

To take part send an email to ray hamblett requesting an invitation.
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Peacock, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies have all been found in flight on Lancing Ring recently.
I have discovered their favoured site is on the eastern edge of the lower meadow adjacent to the woodland spinny leading to the main Mill Road car park.

March Walk

This blogger is for all visitors to Lancing Ring to add their own sightings of any wildlife they encounter.
First post 2.2.2005

To take part send an email to ray hamblett requesting an invitation.

Following the Friends AGM and Coffee Morning/Table Sale in which Katherine's book and toy stall raised £7.00 for the group funds, Jan, Katherine, Andy Horton and I set off on a walk on Lancing Ring, our designated Local Nature Reserve.
We began at the car park at Lancing Manor Leisure centre and headed towards the allotments and McInyres Field.
The first invertebrates found were 7-Spot Ladybird beetles in the emergent growth of Stinging Nettle around the perimetre fence of the allotment.
An inspection of our own allotment plot revealed more ladybirds and a Short-tailed Vole in it's hiding place under an old wooden door
The walk progressed on through the grass stubble field to the exit at the top where in small clearing a basking Comma butterfly was spotted. From there on to the Chalk Pit where three Jay birds were sighted in tall trees at the base of the chalky slope. Continuing on and up through 'Barton's Wood' into the grassland area. As we emerged out into the light a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly flew across my path closely followed by a Comma butterfly, the two were in aerial combat competing for territory. In the same few yards a Peacock butterfly had staked a claim on a sunny patch of dried grass.
Moving on up to the Dewpond we identified a group of Yellowhammer birds among the small trees around the pond.
After a loop around the lower meadow where on two occassions a butterfly darted over the top of the hedgerow before identification was possible.
When arriving back on the flint track near the old Barton's Farm a Kestrel was seen within 200 yards of us perched on a telephone cable post. In the distant hedgerow on the far side of the sheep grazing meadow another Kestrel could just be made out through binoculars.
This marked the end of our interesting wildlife spotting walk, the return stretch to the car park was uneventful.

Friends of Lancing Ring: AGM & Coffee Morning

Friends of Lancing Ring: AGM & Coffee Morning
Saturday 19th March 2005, 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Venue: Church of the Holy Family Church Hall, North Lancing
North Road (north of Somerfield)

Recommended. Friendly atmosphere.

McIntyres field

Situated north of the Lancing Manor allotments, McIntyres field is a former Cabbage patch that has been returned to nature and is now managed as a grass meadow. The field is cut once a year in late autumn and the arisings are removed to be composted. Surrounded on three sides by a thin ribbon of Ivy laced woodland and fringed with bramble and nettle scrub, it is sheltered from the cold northeasterly winds, especially at the edges where a mown path allows walkers to enjoy the wildlife. Friday 25th was a cold day with icy winds blowing from the north east, at the top of the field in a few moments of sunshine it was pleasantly warm. In the open field where the meadow grass had not begun to sprout new growth, two thrush-like birds foraged in the stubble. Without binoculars it was difficult to identify them at first but they remained long enough to get a better look. It was soon obvious that they were *Redwings*. This was confirmed when consulting a bird guide book later. The path at the top of the field is sheltered from the effect of the wind by a dense barrier of scrub and taller trees separating the field from the open farmland of Lancing College. On this edge, some distance away I spotted a small pale object fluttering over the top of *Bramble* and *Privet*. I am fairly sure it was not a leaf as it was maintaining purposeful flight, I concluded it most likely to be a Brimstone butterfly. This might be one of the first reported sightings this year in the UK. A small bird movement in the privet alerted us to the presence of others close by. There were three, possibly more *Long-tailed Tits*. Before heading for home, a short investigative walk through the gap in the windbreak to the wind exposed pathway alongside the farmland to check if any animals were in the sheep grazing meadow. Sometimes there are *Foxes* seen here, but it was not to be on this occasion. Feeling too cold to continue this route we turned for home.

General Map

Vehicle access is only possible on the yellow routes. The green routes are bridlepaths including cycles. The central route (3) has a vehicle height restriction. So no coaches, small buses for old people.

I expect this is the idea of the South Downs Conservation Board. Barrier constructed without public consultation.

New Recording Blog

This blogger is for all visitors to Lancing Ring to add their own sightings of any wildlife they encounter.
First post 2.2.2005

To take part send an email to ray hamblett requesting an invitation.