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Insects There are dragonflies, butterflies, moths and unusual insects such as the Bloody-Nosed Beetle and rare bees on the Nature Reserve. The warm climate makes the area ideal for many butterflies such as the Chalkhill Blue, Dark Green Fritillaries and Adonis Blue, which feed on Horseshoe Vetch. |
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Birds
Over 200 species of bird
have been recorded <pin the Nature Reserve, many of which breed in the area.
Chalk downland is an ideal habitat for the increasingly endangered Skylark,
which nests on the ground. Listen out for its melodic flight song in
summer. Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons can also be seen hunting where the grass
is taller. The Cuckmere River valley is particularly valuable to migrant birds
e.g. Redstart and Ring Ouzel, the diversity and number of which are nationally
important. Some of the birds which can be seen feeding and resting include
Little Egrets and flocks of Widgeon and Lapwing.
Flowers
Chalk grassland supports a
whole host of rare and colourful flowers including a number of orchids. The
distinctive Green-Winged Orchid flowers from April onwards.
Mammals and reptiles | ||