Flora & Fauna |
| The
rare chalk grassland of the Eastbourne
Downland is home to a rich variety of
plants, insects and birds. If you are
interested in the wildlife of the Eastbourne
Downland then join the Downland Ranger
for one of his Guided Walks.
Flowers include hairy violet,
cowslip, bulbous buttercup, milkwort,
birdsfoot trefoil, kidney vetch and
horshoe vetch in Spring. In Summer flowers
include knapweed, yellow wort, centuary,
wild carrot, squinancy wort, wild thyme,
marjoram and round-headed rampion. Downland
orchids include fragrant and common
spotted orchids and the particularly
rare early purple, early spider and
frog orchids. |
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Spring migrant birds include Common
Scoter, Whimbrel, Sandwich, Common and
Arctic Terns and Bar Tailed Godwits, all
flying up the Channel to return to summer
breeding grounds. Meadow Pipits, Finches,
Goldcrests and Firecrests can be seen
amongst the gorse. Chiffchaffs and Willow
Warblers arrive in March/April with Whitethroats,
Blackcaps, Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers
and Whinchats arriving later in May. Nightingales
sing day and night from the undergrowth
and Linnets and Yellowhammers are common.
The cliff provides an important nesting
site for Herring Gulls and Fulmars as
well as Jackdaws, Stock Doves and Kestrels.
The Peregrine Falcon has also returned
during the last decade. Autumn
migrants are also numerous thanks to
a plentiful supply of elderberries and
blackberries to feed upon. Lesser Whitethroats,
Garden Warblers, Wheatears, Thrushes,
Fieldfares and Redwings are common visitors.
The Winter
is fairly quiet but the occasional Merlin
or Hen Harrier can be seen swooping
over the fields.
The chalk
grassland provides an important habitat
for butterflies. Migrants include red
admirals, painted ladies and the striking
clouded yellow. The downland also has
resident colonies of butterflies, attracted
by foodplants which cannot grow in any
other type of soil. These include the
adonis blue, the chalkhill blue and
the common blue. Attracted by the coastal
habitat are distinctive dark green fritillaries
and marbled whites. |
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