It was a dry and warm day yesterday when Silver-studded blue butterflies were looked for on Ashdown Forest. None was seen. They are late this year as confirmed by Tom, who was walking a transept for
Butterfly Conservation Sussex.
Some birds and butterfles made up for that though - once the stench of dog muck diminished as one left the car park behind.
Almost every the dog walker ignored the signs to remove muck and keep dogs on leads to protect nesting birds.
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| Heath Bedstraw |
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| Heath Bedstraw |
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| Bell Heather, Erica cinerea |
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| Common Heath Moth, male |
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| Stonechat female |
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| Stonechat female |
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| Grasshopper |
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| Stonechat male |
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| Stonechat male |
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| Burned area with orchids |
The trees may be dead but the grass and orchids survived.
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| Heath-spotted orchid |
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| Heath Milkwort |
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| Dead moss |
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| Dead moss |
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| Cross-leaved Heath, Erica tetralix |
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| Heath-spotted orchid |
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| Heath-spotted orchid |
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| Orchids |
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| Tormentil, Potentilla erecta |
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| Skylark or Woodlark? |
In reply to Peter Lovett's query about the lark, it is certainly difficult to tell from the images. I am certainly not an expert in the area, but I would, very apologetically, have to suggest that maybe this is a Skylark? From the pictures, it would appear that the bird is not that small - probably just short of Starling size - and there is not much of a facial pattern visible, as you might expect, even at that distance. The facial patterns of any plumage of Skylark I believe are not very clear cut, as this would appear. I am very sorry to have to suggest this, but I hope that either someone has a better suggestion for identification, or that you see a Woodlark soon!
posted by William Arrowsmith on 18 Jun 2019 17:28
My thanks to William for his advice, Peter Lovett
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| One pond that missed being stirred up by loose dogs |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Heath-spotted orchid amongst bracken |
Click on any picture to expand it.
See also
https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=ashdown+silver for a more successful day last year.
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