There was a roe deer being chased by a dog in Furze Common Field on Bedelands Nature Reserve this morning at about 8.20am.

Peter Markby

In April a pair of hedgehogs have been seen mating in my Holmesdale Road garden.  I have also found a nest in my neighbours garden under a wheelbarrow and I believe there may also be a nest under our decking as they have been a regular visitor to our garden for years.  Last year the hedgehogs had successfully mated so hopefully we may see babies this year.

Nicky Moxham

I have slow worms (Anguis fragilis ) in one compost bin and bumble bees (possibly Bombus lucorum) nesting in the other - I'll have to get another bin!
Mill Rd
Mel Elllis

Transect walked this afternoon at Bedelands Farm, butterfly species seen:
Small White, (3)
Large Skipper, (2) the first this year.
Small Copper, (3)
Common Blue, (37)
Speckled Wood, (2)
Meadow brown, (1) the first seen this year.
The following moths were also seen;
Silver Y, (2), Burnet Companion, (17), well down on last week!, Six Spot Burnet, (6) first seen this year, Grass Rivulet, was abundant last week now about 100 seen.
David Pyle

Beautiful grass snake about 3ft long seen in my garden (Welbeck Dr).  Possibly female as the male I have seen is much slimmer and longer.  I think it had been in my pond sizing up my fish for lunch but had no tell tale bulges.

Mary Smith 

Paul Lister has achieved a Sussex Record by sending his sightings of hundreds of moths at Bedelands to the County Moth Recorder, Colin Pratt, who replied:- 

Thanks for highly interesting e-mail. These are important records. 

Burnet Companion - These are the highest numbers ever recorded in Sussex in 150 years!

Grass Rivulet - These are the highest numbers recorded here for around a century.

Well done Paul.  All species recorders are envious of you.  This should inspire us all to look even harder in our 'Make It Count' project in the International Biodiversity Year. 

Bedelands Butterfly Group

Transect walked today at 12 noon with 9 other people at Bedelands Farm as part of the regular transect walked there from April until September.  We saw a total of 334 butterflies, they were;
Large White, 2
Small White, 5
Orange Tip, 1
Green Hairstreak, 4
Common Blue, 314
Speckled Wood, 4

Also recorded were Cinnabar, 4 and numerous Burnet Companions and Grass Rivulets.

My thanks to all who assisted me.

David Pyle