Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Cuckmere Haven

    The Seven Sisters Cliffs are known as one of the
    wonders of the UK and is one of my favourite places
    to visit. I have been going there for many years.
    I started photographing the wildlife and scenery there in 2009.
    The Seven Sisters in the background.
    02.02.2011
    17.11.2010
    01.02.2011
    02.02.2011
    08.02.2011
    14.02.2011
    24.05.2010
    15.11.2009
    You have to watch the tides!
    02.02.2011

    The Chalk cliffs are comprised of millions of fossilised Sea Creatures.
    17.11.2010
    Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus)
    17.11.2010
    Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus)
    22.11.2010
    Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) nest in the cliffs.
    They are related to the Albatross. They defend their
    nests by spitting out a foul-smelling oil.
    14.02.2011
    17.11.2010
    Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). A small white heron.
    Shanny (Lipophrys pholis) in a Rock Pool.
    24.05.2010
    Starfish
    15.11.09 
    Walnut Orb Weaver Spiders (Nuctenea umbratica) live
    on the cliffs. They catch Sea Slaters, Shrimps as well as
    Flies in their webs.
    17.02.2011
    A Sea Slater (Ligia oceanica)
    Closely related to Woodlice.
    17.02.2011
    A type of Shrimp.
    14.02.2011
    Missing Sector Orb Web Spider (Zygiella x-notata)
    also dwell on the Cliffs.
    08.02.2011
    Red Sector Orb Web Spider (Zygiella atrica)
    I think this is Z. atrica due to the distinctive reddish
    marks on the abdomen.
    08.02.2011
    The flightless Oil Beetle on the Cliffs.
    I have observed Burrowing Bees on the Cliffs too,
    which is probably how and why Oil Beetles are there,
    as they depend on these Bees to transport their Larvae into
    the burrowed nests so the young can devour the collected Pollen and
    sometimes the Bee Larvae.
    30.09.2010
    View from the main road.
    16.03.2011

    Harbour or Common Seal (Phoca vitulina) along the Estuary.
    The remains of a Crab were alongside him so
    I gather he was digesting his lunch and waiting for
    the tide to go back out.

    I sat with him for at least half an hour.
    He wasn't at all bothered by my presecence.
    22.11.2010

    His usual perch at the mouth of the Estuary.
    01.02.2011
    Hunting for Crabs!?
    08.02.2011

    A second, younger and smaller Common Seal.
    Also along the Estuary.
    25.11.2010
    For a Video on Youtube of both these Seals click HERE
    15.12.2010
    Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
    25.05.2011
    Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
    14.02.2011
    Yellowhammer
    (Emberiza citrinella)
    06.06.2011
    
    Views from the Dew Pond.
    08.02.2011
    Female Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus).
    Found along the edge of the Dew Pond.
    Sadly she was injured - tail missing and broken
    front right leg. She was quite fat so maybe pregnant too.
    There are Sheep that drink from the Pond so perhaps
    she'd been trodden on, unless she was a victim of an Adder.
    02.04.2011
    Male Adder (Vipera berus)
    Drinking from the Dew Pond, roughly 3ft away
    from where I found the Newt.
    He climbed a tree which seemed to be his home.

    Close-up of the Adders' Scales.
    Adder food? Found under the tree he was hanging out in.
    17.04.2011
    For a Video on Youtube of this Adder click HERE
    I also found this young Lycosid running across the Dew Pond.
    I sent the photo to Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society
    who identified it as a juvenile of the Pirata sp.
    17.04.2011

    Adult Pirata sp. (?)
    Hunting on the same Dew Pond.
    29.03.2011
    Phaeocedus braccatus
    Family - Gnaphosidae
    Genus - Phaeocedus
    Single UK species.
    A new find for me! It's a Male Phaeocedus braccatus
    He found me, noticed him crawling on my arm.
    I thought he was an Ant at first. Quite a rare Spider.

    Confirmed by Peter Harvey of the British Arachnological Society.
    Larinioides cornutus
    Family - Araneidae
    Genus - Larinioides
    Green Orb Web Spider
    Family - Araneidae
    Genus - Araniella
    25.05.2011
    Magpie Moth ( Abraxas grossulariata)  
    09.07.2010
    Magpie Moth Caterpillar
    25.05.2011

    Newly emerged Brown Tail Moth (?) Alongside the Estuary.

    Large Skipper Butterfly (?)
    Mating Common Blue Butterflies.
    28.07.2010
    Bee Fly
    02.04.2011

    Male Ruddy Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum sanguineum)
    14.10.2010
    06.06.2011
    
   
   

1 comment:

  1. Some lovely ones up there already, mate - I'm glad you're doing a blog concentrating on this subject...I've already enjoyed your photography and film on YT and FB, but a blog is the best way to tie it all together..
    All the best with it,
    Dave J

    ReplyDelete