Field Meeting

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 […]

Leader: Jonnie Taylor (HNHS Member) Jonnie and 10 members were able to identify Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Dunnock and a small flock of Lesser Redpoll with a Goldcrest feeding on Alder catkins despite reduced visibility due to freezing fog.In the copse surrounding the Outlet Pond many Redwing were heard and then seen flying off in droves […]

*** MEETING CANCELLED ON ACCOUNT OF ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS ***

Leader: Gerald Gresham Cooke With the exception of a Northern Oak with leaves beginning to change colour to orange and red, the trees on the walk were still green.Gerald Gresham Cooke pointed out the plaque set in the Park wall “Beelzebub Oak” that marked the boundary between the parishes of Petworth and Tillington and was […]

Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member) After a very dry early Autumn, 11 members were pleased to see a good range of boletes, including two with bright red stems: Scarletina and Bitter Beech. Also found were several Russula and Cortinarius species and Otidea onotica which has rabbit-ear shaped cups. The species list numbered 48.The find for […]

Leader: Mike Edwards (Entomologist)  Heather and Bell Heather were still in flower and producing nectar for many, very active insects on an extremely hot morning when 11 members met leader Mike Edwards on September 9th. Mike is a professional entomologist, author and an expert on ants, bees and wasps. His identification skills are acute and […]

Leader: Martyn Phillis (HNHS Member and Member of Surrey & Sussex Bat Groups) A bright, mild evening after a damp spell brought out the insects to attract our bats. Thirteen members joined Martyn and a Surrey Bat Group volunteer just before sunset.Bat detectors were distributed amongst the group to enable everyone to hear, and perhaps […]

Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member) Three light traps with strong UV output (one Mercury vapour light and two “Backlight” tubes) contained more than 64 species which were identified and then released. The site at Killinghurst has produced many rarities in recent years but on this occasion none was found.Nationally Scarce were: Mocha and Four-spotted Footman […]