Field Meeting

Leader: Andy Swan (HNHS Member)The conditions were near-ideal.  Descending to Cooper’s Stream identified were: Chanterelle, Hedgehog Mushroom and large number of “Jellybabies.” In more open areas were: a large Orange Birch Bolete and the Parasitic Bolete which grows from old Common Earthballs, but is found only very sporadically.Colourful finds were:  Amethyst Deceiver, Fly Agaric, Yellow […]

Leader: Paul Matson (Sussex Ornithological Society member).Report to be posted shortly.

Leaders: Phil Darley & Douglas Maughan (HNHS Members)In mizzle with leaden skies, 11 members proceeded to the bird hide overlooking Ferry Pool. There was a wonderful view of Avocets on the water, then in flight. Lapwing, Shoveler and Wigeon were there too.In the stream exiting the Pool the group was delighted to see a Red-necked Grebe.  […]

Leader: Jon Taylor (HNHS member)West of Plaistow, the Shillinglee area just in the South Downs National Park has a mixture of habitats.In a mixed deciduous copse found on different leaves were tiny white “tracks” or mines.  These had been made by leaf miner larvae of a micromoth or flies.In the Sweet Chestnut woodland a tiny buff-coloured […]

Leader: Sue Bradford (HNHS Member)The pond area has distinct habitats: fresh water, woodland, alder carr and Cladonia Heath.On the pond were Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Moorhen and Heron.  The putlet pond is surrounded by woodland, predominately Holly, where Redwings were busy stripping the berries. In the alder carr (waterlogged woodland with alder, […]

A very successful morning was spent in excellent light conditions enabling easier recognition of bird species. For birds associated with land, 24 species were seen including a male Kestrel, perched on top of a tree very close to members and remaining there for 10 minutes or more.In the flooded fields more than 16 species of birds […]

At mid-day, in glorious sunshine, 30 members boarded the Solar Boat for a two hour trip.  The boat moved silently towards Thorney Island and up the Thorney Channel, passing Cobnor Point on the return journey.Species seen: Brent Goose, Common Gull, Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew, Little Egret, Shelduck, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover and Cormorant.The highlight species: Red-breasted Merganser in small flocks and also a […]

Leader: Glenn Norris(SWT Ecologist) On a beautiful, sunny spring morning on March 19th with barely a cloud in the sky, fifteen members were greeted by Glenn Norris, the Ecologist for Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT), at their Reserve in West Dean Woods, near Singleton to see the Wild Daffodils.The Reserve has been worked as a Hazel […]

Leader: Helen Beal (Reserve Volunteer Worker)The visit included walking through the groves of the famous Yew forest, climbing uphill to the ancient barrows on top of the South Downs and returning through mixed woodland to look for spring flowers.The Yews here are some of the oldest living organisms in the UK, with some estimated to be 2,000 […]

Leader: Alan Perry (HNHS member)Leading the walk across Lavington Plantation, Alan was soon able to locate the scratchy song of the Whitethroat and 12 members heard Chiffchaffs, a male Yellowhammer, Linnets and a distant Cuckoo.  Two key heathland species were encountered:  Woodlarks were heard then seen in flight and Dartford Warblers made brief appearances.Stonechat males […]