Stubcroft Farm

Just got back from a nature packed family holiday to Stubcroft Farm on the Selsey Peninsula, West Sussex.  This eco-camp site  is a perfect base to explore the surrounding coast and downs, our third stay there with the delightful staff and nice neighbours. As it was a family trip I just did a bit of birding before Holly and Jacob got ready in the morning and then kept my eyes open on our touristy things. First day I did Church Norton in the morning before spending the day at West Wittering Beach/East Head, on Sunday I did Medmerry early and then we visited Arundel Wetland Centre, yesterday I did Church Norton in morning and we did Arundel gardens and Swanbourne Lake and today was all day at West Wittering/ East Head again. Ebird lists HERE, HERE and HERE. 

Had the actinic moth trap out but the nights were cool so not much action- Chinese Character, Poplar Hawkmoth, Treble Lines, Brimstone and Muslin moth was the complete turn out. 

Here's a few pics. 

Mediterranean Gull- literally everywhere on the peninsula 

Avocet- nice to see them breeding at Medmerry with chicks running around 

Had a couple of Cattle Egrets (I think there's nearly a dozen in the area). The one above flew over the wetland centre and the one below was feeding with the cattle at the Ferry Pool

Interesting free-flying hybrid family at the Wetland Centre, what I presume is a hybrid Cackling Goose x Barnacle goose paired up with a pure looking Cackling (Ridgeway's Canada) Goose

The trust have got a couple of new attractions at Arundel Wetland Centre including Dalmation Pelicans and sea bird enclosure which included these collection Spectacled Eiders (male, above, female below).  

Lockdown might have caught this Oystercatcher out which was breeding on a small island in the public area and getting quite irate with the sudden deluge of tourists 

A flock of Little Tern at Church Norton- about 60 in the harbour 

The colony at Church Norton- mainly Black-headed and Med Gulls with Sandwich Terns and the odd Common Tern

Meadow Pipit (above) and Skylark (below) at East Head where they were breeding amongst the Sand Dunes 

Plenty of these Grey Gorse Piercers at Church Norton in the Gorse. 

East Head (National Trust) is a fascinating area, a sand bar and sand dune complex with some really interesting botany. The lowest part of the complex (below) are covered in South Marsh Orchids and Sea Rush and the sandy areas with dune grasses, sea spurge and sea bindweed.  

Southern Marsh Orchids (above and below) 

Sea Rush (above) 

Sea Spurge (above) and Sea Bindweed (below) 

More Southern Marsh Orchids (above and below) showing a bit of variation in colour 

Hare's Tail

The odd Common Spotted Orchid too 

Seemed like Lilies were the theme at Arundel Castle Grounds (three above). The app says Camash (top), St. Bernard's Lily (middle) and Turk's-cap (bottom). (Cultivated).

Plant Net app says these are Common Milkwort (above) and Smooth bedstraw (below), growing on the chalk slopes at Swanbourne Lake

Spiny Dogfish on the tide line 

Stubcroft Camp Site