Sussex Scrapbook
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Wildlife walks throughout the year
Monday 17th April 2006
Beachy Head
We took a ride out to Beachy Head via the little hamlet of Litlington where we
visited the tea rooms and the church. The churchyard was covered in Lesser
Celandine and Daffodils which made up for the fact that the church was locked up
to keep us out!
It was bank holiday Monday, so the roads were packed with lunatics and there
were thousands of people tramping about shouting and screaming. We couldn't walk
far when we got to Beachy Head as Gill has hurt her foot. That is going to stop
her running for a few days, so we are packing her trotter in ice as often as
possible so that she can get back to her training.
The weather on the coast was great but a bit blustery. Although Beachy Head is a
great landing place for all of the birds that are returning now from migration,
we didn't see all that much. We spotted several Skylarks, a Stonechat, a Willow
Warbler and some Dunnocks.
The flowers up there are not out in strength yet, although there is always
something in flower up there. They say that when gorse is not flowering, then
kissing is out of fashion. It flowers every day of the year and there was plenty
up there today. We also spotted some Wood Dog Violets, which are les common than
the Common Dog Violet (Viola riviniana) that is more often seen.
Lesser Celandine and Daffodils
Wood Dog Violets (Viola reichenbachia)