Author Archives: Admin

Velvet Shank

Posted on by
1

Warren Glen is a challenge to walk as are most places at the moment, so I was pleased to find these fungi on the western side where there is a small patch of burnt gorse on Monday. Velvet shank, or Flammulina velutipes, can be found in late autumn through to spring and is said to favour dead gorse and elm (Marcel Bon). Fortunately this seems to be one of the few species of fungi that one can identify with some certainty without resorting to spore prints and a microscope. I particularly like the three in the hollow of the gorse stem.

 

Quarry flooding

Posted on by
Reply

Pretty much constant rain yesterday and last night (including a bit of snow) led to the most water I can remember seeing pouring out of the Quarry, heading for Warren Wood. There are places where it could go over the top of your wellies! Here’s a photo or twoplus one of a slightly snowy Warren Glen.

Footpath or stream?

That’s deep!

 

At the quarry face

Across the glen

A rare Wall on the Firehills

Posted on by
Reply

A personal new butterfly species record and a rare one for the CP it seems, as I can only find 2 previous records, one in 1993 in the field next to Barn Pond and the other in 2017 also on the Firehills. Possibly just under recorded as there are plenty of records for the rest of East Sussex.

Also seen today a juvenile Stonechat, note the mottled breast, making it’s unmistakeable alarm call with an adult male nearby doing the same. This demonstrates successful breeding again this year on the Firehills.

New Mirid Bug record

Posted on by
Reply

I am unable to find any previous records of Miris striatus or Fine Streaked Bugkin so am presenting this record of a nymph on the Firehills this Tuesday 12-05-2020 as a new species record for the Country Park. Many thanks to Taughtus for providing the ID.

First Bluebells 2020

Posted on by
Reply

Walking up Brakey Bank this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find some Bluebells out in flower and fully out too. Not many but plenty of Wood Anemones, a few Celandines and a couple of Red Campion too. That coupled with finding two Gorse Shieldbugs on Monday makes one feel that despite the incessant wind and rain, Spring is still able to make it’s presence felt.

Exmoor ponies

Posted on by
Reply

HBC have purchased 6 Exmoor ponies, yes 6 not 5 as announced on Facebook. They are currently in the heathland compartment behind the Quarry closest to the Coastguard cottages. They arrived on Saturday but today was the first opportunity to get a decent photo due to the atrocious weather. Still windy this morning but a bit of welcome sun.