WILDPARK LNR RECORDS FOR 2008
Spring migrants were well down in
numbers, the only highlight being a male
Pied Flycatcher and three Red Kites, but
there were few Wheatears and no
Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher or
Redstart. It has become the norm for
there to be no Spring records of Turtle
Dove or Grasshopper Warbler, but it was
nice to hear and see a Cuckoo! If there
was any significant feature at all of a
poor summer, it was the occasional
records of fly-over Crossbills. Numbers of
autumn warblers seemed lower than
average but there was a good Sept
passage of Siskins and a Wryneck was
reported.
It is a pleasure to be able to include
records from the LadiesMile section of
the LNR again, thanks to regular visits by
David Harper. His highlights overshadow
some of those from the Wildpark with a
singing Serin, a Quail and a Wryneck.
around this time. Further birds on 12/9
and 2 on 15/9.
Red Kite 1W at 9.42 on 6/6, followed by
2E at 11.20 on the same day (IW, PW)
Marsh Harrier 1W on 1/9 (GLC).
Sparrowhawk Only 1 pr bred this year.
Common Buzzard 2E on 14/4, 1NW on
15/4, 1 over on 31/5 and 1 circling over
on 9/6. Those reported in autumn were
singles on 28/8 and 30/8; 6 on 12/9 and 2
on 15/9. One sitting in tree on hillfort
4/11 pm.
Osprey 1W from Stanmer over ASDA and
Ladies Mile on 8/9 (IW).
Kestrel 2 prs bred.
Hobby 2 seen on 17/9.
Peregrine 1 over on 25/3, another on
31/5, and 1 on 15/9.
Red legged Partridge 1 present from Oct
to year end around Cuckmere Way area
gardens (BS, PT, et al)
Quail One was calling near the radio
mast at LadiesMile on 7/6 (DH).
Pheasant 2 prs bred.
A flock of Herdwick and mixed breeds of
sheep were introduced on a slope behind
the pavilion in the coomb on 1/10. This
small area was part of a grass slope
favoured by butterflies in the past, the
Council hoping that the shorter grass as a
result of their grazing will attract bigger
numbers next year.
BIRDS
Cormorant 1S on 31/3, 4 over on 13/9,
1NW on 2/10 and 10/10, lastly 1SW on
27/10.
Grey Heron Singles W on 16/9 and
27/10.
Honey Buzzard A small influx occurred
during Sep with 2 flying south on 8/9
(IW). Others were seen from the hillfort
Snipe One flushed from hillfort on 3/4,
followed by another flushed from old
arable field on 12/4. Two more were
seen in the autumn on 30/10 and 6/12.
Curlew
1/6.
1NE on 21/4. Another over on
Woodcock One in canopy area on 9/2
(BS) and 1 flushed by dog walker late
autumn but no date given.
Mediterranean Gull 1E north of hillfort
on 15/9 (IW, PW).
Black headed Gull A flock of 46NE was
the only significant count.
Common Gull No counts of more than 15
Were received.
Lesser black-backed Gull Three singles
over on 29/3, 9/6 and 28/10.
Great black-backed Gull 1 over
allotments on 8/3.
Herring Gull No significant counts but
regularly seen feeding on golf course.
Stock Dove 2 prs bred. 2-6 noted on 9
dates in Sep, then 11W with pigeon
movement on 29/10.
Wood Pigeon Increased to 83 breeding
prs, a record high. Small local flocks of
30-54 in early Oct then passage
commenced with 230 on 17th. High counts
included 770 on 22nd, 2180 on 28 th, 840
on 29th and 1365 on 31st.
Collared Dove A slight increase to 38 prs
breeding.
Cuckoo Heard on 25/4 and 26/4, but a
male seen flying into bushes NW of old
arable field on 10/6 was the first sighting
for a good few years.
Barn Owl One seen in LadiesMile section
at end Feb, whilst another was seen from
headlights just south of the by-pass
bridge on 30/3.
Swift First was a single on 28/4, 5 on
3/5, then 2 on 8/5 and peak in Spring 60
over on 31/5. Birds preparing to depart
were 100 over Hollingbury Woods on
20/7, and 40 over on 8/8. Last was 1W
from hillfort on the late date on 15/9.
Wryneck A probable was seen by a dogwalker w/c 7/9 near hillfort and one seen
LadiesMile section on 13/9 foraging on
track near radio mast (DH).
Swallow First of the Spring was on 3/4,
followed by a few singles, 8 on 22/4 and
6 on 5/5. A trickle in early Aug, then 56
on 30/8, 285 on 9/9, 1200 on 15/9, 315
on 17/9 and the last 2 on 29/10.
House Martin The only Spring record was
a single on 5/5. Small numbers over from
9/9, then 1300 on 15/9, 416 on 17/9, and
the last on 18/10.
Tree Pipit None in Spring. A total of 37
from 6/8 to 21/9, peak 9 on 13/9.
Meadow Pipit Hardly any Spring passage
with peaks 4 on 13/3 and 6 on 15/3. 1sm
was in the fields at Coldean on 15/6 and
was recorded as breeding. First real
passage was 23 on 12/9, then 68 on 14/9
and 64 on 25/9 and 8/10. These were
much lower peaks than usually recorded.
Yellow Wagtail 1N on 16/4 was the only
spring record. A total of 30 from 28/8 to
18/9 with peaks 12 on 17/9 and 10 the
next day.
Grey Wagtail A poor autumn by recent
standards with just 12 from 13/9 to
11/10. A late record was 1 on 10/12.
Pied Wagtail A pr feeding by the mast at
Ladies Mile on 29/5 may have indicated
breeding nearby. One's and two's seen
early autumn, then 9 on 25/9 and 16 over
on 29/9. Regularly noted until 23/10,
then back to smaller numbers.
Wren 95 prs bred.
Dunnock A slight downturn to 44 prs
from the peak of 59 in 2003.
Green Woodpecker An increase to 4 prs
breeding with mixed success.
Robin 137 prs bred.
Great spotted Woodpecker 2 prs bred.
Drumming first noted on 11/12 in
Hollingbury Woods.
Nightingale One singing in coomb on
27/4 and the next day (PW), and
remained until at least 14/5 (GLC)
Woodlark 1SE over on 12/10 (PW).
Black Redstart 1at Ladiesmile on Jan 25
was a good record for the time of year
(DH).
Skylark 19 prs bred. Very few days of
overhead passage in autumn with highest
count 36 on 9/10, 119W on 28/10 and 54
the following day.
Sand Martin None in spring and scarce in
autumn with just 6 on 30/8, 10 on 9/9
and a single on 15/9.
Redstart Probably the worst year on
record with just 2 in LadiesMile in spring,
a single on 3/9 and a pr on 8/9.
Whinchat 2 were noted in Ladiesmile in
spring. A fairly good autumn with total of
44 from 30/8 to 13/10, peaks 5 on 3/9
and 6 on 12/9.
Stonechat Another species with lower
than average numbers. A single on 24/9
stayed a week, then further singles on 2
dates in Oct.
Wheatear A rather poor spring with the
first on 15/3, then 3 on 17/4 and 1 on
1/5, but a stonking male 'Greenland' race
bird was seen in LadiesMile. The autumn
total was 86 from 15/8 to 9/10. Peaks
were 14 on 30/8 and 7 on 26/9. Birds
remained for a period at end Sep behind
the school and soccer pitch, sheltered
from the NE winds which predominated.
Ring Ouzel A female flew E on 4/4 (PW)
and a pair were on the hillfort on 16/4
(GLC). The only autumn record was on
18/9 (PT).
Blackbird 121 prs bred. No real autumn
influxes, best count 26 on 13/11.
Fieldfare 5 on 18/10, then 18 on 27/10,
122 on 29/10 and 102 on 31/10, and none
after 13/11.
Song Thrush The breeding count was 14
again, with 7 singing males in LadiesMile
in Mar. 17 on 25/9 and seen regularly
throughout Oct, max 76 on 18th and 21 on
28th.
Redwing A flock of 20-30 was in
Hollingbury Woods on 28/2. Fly-overs
were 10 on 12/3, and 1-3 on five other
Mar dates. First of the autumn were 42
on 18/10, then followed good numbers
with the best days of 73 on 28/10, 115 on
30/10 and 125 on 31/10. Still noted in
Dec with 35 on 8th.
Mistle Thrush 2 prs bred again. A
surprising number of small flock fly-overs
noted in autumn. Max count was 21NW
over LadiesMile on 17/9.
Grasshopper Warbler The only record
was 1 showing well on a fence at
Hollingdean allotments on 28/9 (PC).
Sedge Warbler 1 in Cuckmere Way on
22/4.
Reed Warbler 1 on 8/9 was the only
record.
Lesser Whitethroat Two heard on 24/4
and 1 seen the next day. 1sm was in the
shrubs to N of carpark on 15/6. Only 1 pr
bred. A rather poor autumn with 21 from
6/8 to 27/9.
Whitethroat First was on 15/4 but lower
than average numbers seen in Spring, and
only 20 prs bred. Reasonable numbers in
autumn with total 93 from 6/8 to 6/10,
peak 20 on 8/9.
Garden Warbler None bred again.
Singles in autumn on 21/8, 28/8, 3/9 and
23/9.
Blackcap Always difficult to prove arrival
dates as singing birds may be from
wintering birds. Three were noted
towards the end Mar. 19 prs bred. Small
numbers noted Aug/early Sep, then 9 on
12/9 and 9 again on 19/9 from an overall
total of only 76.
Chiffchaff 1-2 present during Feb in
LadiesMile and Wildpark. First migrant
was on 15/3, and 4 on 31/3. A slight
increase to 20 prs breeding. Similarly
with Blackcap, no double figure counts
until 12/9, then 15 on 14/9 and 14 on
26/9 which are very low peaks for a
species which generally produces a good
passage.
Willow Warbler First was on 4/4 and 1-2
noted on five days to end Apr. Probably 1
bred as was still singing at NW of coomb
in early May. A reasonable total of 102
from 6/8 to 13/9, peak 25 on 29/8.
Goldcrest The only early year birds were
1 on 3/1, 2 on 14/3 and 3 the following
day. One noted defending territory at
southern end Hollingbury Woods on 27/3
and subsequently 2 prs bred. Autumn
sightings were from 10/9 with peak
counts of 21 on 12/10 and 16 on 17/10. A
late count of 12 on 19/11 was high for
the time of year.
Firecrest The only records this year
were on 30/3 at LadiesMile (DH) and
along nature trail, Coldean on 11/12
(PC).
Spotted Flycatcher None in Spring. Only
12 noted from 28/8 to 27/9, peak 3 on
8/9.
Pied Flycatcher A fine male was in the
canopy on 15/4 (PW) whilst the only
autumn sighting was 1 just E of hillfort on
8/9 (PC)
Long-tailed Tit 9 prs bred.
Blue Tit 72 prs bred, the highest
number since counts began.
Great Tit Another tit species doing well
– 58 prs bred, again the highest ever
recorded here.
Jay 2 prs bred. 6W on 6/10 were
probably migrant birds.
Magpie 40 prs bred.
Jackdaw 3 prs bred. 24S on 9/10 and 8E
on 17/10 were almost certainly migrants.
Rook An occasional visitor in small
numbers.
Siskin 17 recorded from 2/4 to 16/4,
max 5NE over hillfort on 15/4. Daily
sightings of small flocks occurred every
visit from 9/9 into mid Nov. Peaks were
79 on 13/9, 72 on 29/9, and 77 on 8/10,
although nowhere near as many as the
hundreds recorded elsewhere closer to
the Sussex coast. Nonetheless the autumn
total was a massive 812.
Linnet 14 prs bred. Feeding flocks of up
to 16 local birds were noted early
autumn. Max count was only 20 on 2/10,
and on many days noted by their
absence.
Redpoll 1 on 26/9, then almost daily to
15/11. The total was a high 233, with
peak 66 on 8/10 - a record count.
Crossbill A good year for this species
with 5 over on 2/7, singles on 25/7, 26/7,
27/7, 1 on 6/8, 10 over on 21/8, 2 on
22/8 and finally 4 on 28/8 (PT, PW)
Carrion Crow A group of c30 waiting to
be fed on 3/4 by Bill Quinleven, usually a
daily occurrence towards the N of the
area. Also 42 noted on 16/4. 18 prs bred.
Bullfinch This species just about hanging
on in the area with only 1 pr breeding.
Raven 2 over N of the area on 8/9 (IW).
Yellowhammer 7 prs bred. 1-2 around
the area end Sep, 4 on 9/10 and 2 on
13/11. As usual they disappear from the
area from Dec.
Starling 19 prs bred. Early morning
foraging flocks noted from 14/9 varying
from 40 up to 100, on 30/10, but lower
numbers than in previous years.
Hawfinch 1 over on 28/10 (IW)
Reed Bunting Only 1 on 9/10.
House Sparrow 16 prs bred.
Annual species total recorded: 93
Chaffinch 46 prs bred. Although birds
seen regularly in autumn, very few were
passage birds. 16 over on 19/9 and same
number on 11/10, and a definate
movement of 53 on 29/10.
PLANTS
Brambling Just 2 on 18/10.
Serin A singing male was seen in
LadiesMile on 8/5 (DH). This is only the
second record for the LNR.
Greenfinch 28 prs bred.
Goldfinch 2 prs bred. Flocks of up to
c40 noted end Aug. Similar numbers,
though erratic through Sep, peaks 58 on
29/9, 90 on 8/10 and 72 the next day.
Counted almost daily during Oct but more
or less absent from 6/11.
The spread of Grass Vetchling and Fox
and Cubs continue in the old arable field,
and over 200 Salsify plants including some
hybrid Goat’s-beard/Salsify were amongst
them:
Verbena bonariensis appeared again by
the entrance to the golf clubhouse off
Ditchling Road and other garden escapes
such as Dotted Loosestrife, Montbretia
and Pink Candytuft were found on an
earth bund to the N of the carpark.
MISCELLANEOUS
There were no reports of early year
butterflies. Small Whites were noted
from Apr 1 and the spring was generally
poor. Once again, butterflies were noted
on a very casual basis, but it was clear
many species were low in numbers,
particularly Chalkhill Blue and Small
Copper. No Hairstreaks were seen, no
Clouded Yellow and very few Painted
Lady, Small Copper or Small
Tortoiseshell.
Campanula, Marigold, Yellow Foxglove
and Aquilegia show in patches, and are
beginning to naturalise.
The annual count of Early Purple Orchids
on the hillfort was 3110, almost equalling
the record count. An approx 2100
Fragrant Orchids were on the east and
south banks of the reservoir on 6/6. Bee
Orchids also flowered again, and single
Pyramidal Orchids were found in four new
sites. One of the area’s rare plants,
Knapweed Broomrape is still doing well,
and new plants were found at the
Coldean end of 39 Acre field.
Newly recorded for the Wildpark were
Sticky Groundsel, Stone Parsley and
Hoary Mustard, but the most important
find were two plants of Balkan Spurge on
a golf tee which was prepared a year or
so ago and never used:
Day-flying moths included Six-spot Burnet
(above) and Cinnabar but no Humming
Bird Hawkmoths were seen this year. It is
of interest that in Ken Whiteman’s study
of Hollingbury Wildlife, he mentions the
area has three species of Burnet and also
Scarce Forester which has records
annually from 1908 to at least 1985.
These day-flying moths obviously need
some further investigation! Evidence of
Moles, a couple of Weasels, the
occasional Grey Squirrel and Fox, and
Common Lizard were seen.
Thanks are due to the dedicated
watchers and botanists of the area:
Messrs Champion (particularly for their
breeding counts), Philip and Sharon
Thompson, and the editor Peter
Whitcomb. Other contributions came
from Paul Cole, David Harper, Peter
Sheppard, Barbara Summerfield, and Ian
Whitcomb.
This Report is collated and typed by Peter
Whitcomb, 99 Barnett Road, Brighton BN1
7GJ. Tel 01273 500416. Email:
p.whitcomb@talk21.com.
All relevant sightings are welcomed. The
Report is circulated to all contributors
and other interested parties. The
breeding counts, migration totals and the
more important bird records are
submitted for publication in the Sussex
Bird Report and the Shoreham District
Bird Report. Some records and photos are
now also logged on to the local website:
www.citywildlife.org.uk