Lancing Ring RSPB Walk
Brighton and District RSPB Group
Unbelievably this was my first walk of the year with this lovely group of people. Nevertheless it was nice to get going again and to cap it all we managed to hear, but not see, the very rare Quail.
The weather was cooler today with overcast conditions for this walk on the South Downs from Lancing Ring Nature Reserve. The highlight of the trip was the male Quail heard near the end of the trip at TQ 166080 just above Sompting. It was singing from the security of the cut barley in the field and try as we may none of the 26 members could get a sight of it. This was my second acquaintance with this species this week; on Monday evening Paul and I heard a different Quail on Ditchling Beacon at TQ 326 130
Other birds seen included 50+ Linnets, 10+ Corn Buntings, 20+ Skylarks, a couple of Buzzards, a Kestrel, a Greenfinch, Swallows, House Martins, Swifts, Sand Martins, Herring Gulls, Blackbirds, Magpies, Carrion Crows, a lovely male Yellowhammer and several Meadow Pipits.
Several butterflies were seen including a couple of Gatekeepers,
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| Gatekeeper Butterfly Library picture |
....... Meadow Browns
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| Meadow Brown Butterfly Library picture |
.... and....
......Large Skippers.....
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| Large Skipper Butterfly Library picture |
and an interesting orchid.
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| Pyramidal Orchid Library picture |
A low bird species count of 17 but this is July and we were in a very specialist area.
A great way to spend 4 hours!
Addition to UK Bird List for 2014:
Quail (240)
I went back to see/hear the Quail next evening after reports that it had been seen in the longer grass between the track and the cut barley. Incredibly I could hear it close by; I even managed to get within 4 feet .... and still I couldn't see it despite spending at least an hour trying. How weird is that?
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