Field Meeting

Leader: Margaret Hibbard (HNHS member) The weather (dull, overcast with a fair breeze) was not conducive to fulfil the aim of finding butterflies. Only six species were seen and these were in low numbers.  The summer of 2024 is reported everywhere as being very poor for butterflies. However, on this chalk downland (managed by Hampshire […]

Leader:  Anne Dennig (Owner and Founder Member of Botany Bay Community Interest Group) and friends Greta and Matthew Formerly a small trout fishery, Anne formed Botany Bay Conservancy Community Interest Group over 10 years ago to transform the area with a wooded ravine into a private reserve of amazing biodiversity. Now wild Brown Trout have […]

Leaders: Margaret Tomsett and Andy Swan (HNHS members) In a disappointing summer for weather, we would have been lucky to find a really good night for moths. Light traps were set up in a Killinghurst garden in the evening of a fair day, but during the night the sky cleared and the temperature dropped to […]

Leader: Arthur Greenwood (Entomologist) It was not until late morning, in sunny conditions, that Small Heath and the hoped-for Silver-studded Blue butterflies were seen.  Arthur has recorded butterflies there since 2010 and noted that on June 25th 2023 he had counted 240 Silver-studded Blue.  This year recently it had been cold and wet so holding […]

Leader: Paul Nevett (HNHS member) A fairly early start of 8.30am on a beautiful May morning, proved ideal for hearing not only 8 Nightingales but Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Blackcaps too.  Male Nightingales arrive in mid to late April and sing to establish a territory and to attract a female.

Leader: Alan Perry (HNHS member and Emeritus President of Sussex Ornithological Society) 28 bird species were located by 13 members on this SSSI site (south of Petworth) of 95acres of dry and wet heath, acid grass and woodland. Three notable heathland species were seen: Woodlark frequently singing and tumbling in their display flight, Stonechat males […]

Leader: David Bone (Geologist and Chair: Sussex Geodiversity Partnership) The date and time of 13.45 were chosen as having good probability for finding fossils in the clay sediments during a receding falling tide. David, a local expert geologist, gave a short talk to 21 people describing the site and showed examples of what might be found […]

Leader: Jon Taylor (HNHS member) Birds seen or heard included: Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Stock Dove, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Chiffchaff, Buzzard, Red Kite, Pied Wagtail and Mandarin Duck.In flower were: Bitter Cress, Common Dog Violet, Dog’s Mercury, Barren Strawberry, Lesser Celandine and Moschatel. Blackthorn bushes were laden with blossom.Badger latrines were found and in muddy tracks Jon […]

Even before the 25 members went on board, seen was a Black-throated Diver, not often present in Chichester Harbour.John Arnott and his wife Philippa helped identify species and he gave a most interesting commentary on their feeding habits and history.Seen were: Little Grebe, Little Egret, Grey Plover, Shelduck, Redshank, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Heron, Teal, […]

After flooding in October and January, areas of flood water were still frozen at the shallow edges and grassland was reappearing.  Most of the ducks and waders were feeding a long way from the hides.There were two exciting sights: White-tailed Eagles and Snipe.  One of the Eagles was first located through a ’scope as a […]