South Downs Rangers View

Cattle Survive the Chill winds and enjoy some collective warmth

February began with snow hanging on in the cold pockets on the Downs and there is the possibility of more snow to come this month. Last month was certainly very changeable with severe flooding, gales, cold weather brought down from the Arctic giving us sleet and snow, and conversely the warmest January temperatures since records began.
Livestock owners have had a hard time with these wet and cold conditions and it pays them not to overstock their fields. In areas where they do, the poached ground becomes covered in thistles and docks later in the year, which is not good for grazing. At this time of year, because the grass does not grow quickly, the farm animal's diet needs to be supplemented with hay. Also ice has to be broken to allow animals to drink from their troughs and salt licks need to be readily available.

A view across Duncton

It is also not a good idea to spread manure when the fields are waterlogged or frozen because this increases the chances of pollution to the neighbouring watercourses. Any rolling or harrowing of grasslands should be carried out when the weather is fine and before mid March to prevent disturbing ground-nesting birds.
On the sunny warmer days, this month, look out for the odd butterfly or foraging bumblebee. When out and about you may hear the squealing commotion of courting grey squirrels chasing each other from tree to tree. From mid-February to early March you may also hear the croaking of the mating Common Toad in the evenings. The evenings are noticeably becoming lighter by the day, which allows the birds and animals more time to forage for food in daylight. However, it equally allows more day light for them to be predated on by foxes and birds of prey.

Buzzard
Buteo buteo

One of these predators you might see is the Buzzard (Buteo buteo). The Buzzard has very good eyesight and can be seen circling high up in the sky looking for its prey. Often you can hear a distinctive mewing "kiew" sound and if you look up you may see one or two and some times if you are lucky four to six circling above. You will see Buzzards being mobbed by crows in an attempt to drive them away. They do this with good reason as Buzzards may attack their young within the next few months. Although the Buzzard will move off, if it is out-numbered, it is much bigger than the crow to be truly threatened by them. The Buzzard is an expert in finding warm thermal updrafts so that they can effortlessly glide around the countryside to hunt their prey. Many a hang-glider watches them then uses the updrafts where the Buzzards circle so that they can stay buoyant. They feed on small mammals but their favourite source of food is the rabbit. Buzzards suffered with the introduction of Myxomatosis because they had become specialists in hunting only rabbits back in the 1950s and furthermore they also suffered persecution by gamekeepers. However, things have changed and Buzzards are no longer trapped or shot and rabbits seem to quickly recover in numbers even though Myxomatosis still strikes them from time to time. In fact the numbers of Buzzards in Sussex have increased greatly in the last ten or so years.

Gorse
Ulex Europeaus

There are a variety of flowers to see this month like the Primroses, Lesser Celandine and Hazel catkins.

Snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis

The flower that stands out the most this month, when there is no snow on the ground, has to be the beautiful white flowers of the Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) that can be seen adorning our road verges and stream banks. On the heaths and road verges you will see the bright yellow flowers of the Gorse (Ulex Europeaus). Although the Gorse is in bloom all year round somewhere or other, it again gives some colour in what appears a dark colourless month. If you have never noticed before, the gorse gives an uncanny smell that resembles coconut. This smell attracts those insects foraging for food that dare venture out in these cold conditions.

Another attractive group of plants that can be seen all year round, but are particularly noticeable at this flowerless time of year are the ferns. One fern that can be found growing on banks, walls and sometimes in trees is the Common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare).

Common Polypody
Polypodium vulgare

This fern has two cousins that can be found in and around Sussex and they are the Southern Polypody and the Western Polypody and are initially very similar in appearance to each other. They derive their name from the Latin "many feet" which refers to the numerous foot-like divisions of their root system. Looking at the shape of the orange leaf-like shaped "scales" on their stems can really separate them apart. The Southern Polypody has long drawn out scales, whereas the Common Polypody has triangular shaped scales and the Western Polypody is an intermediate stage between the two former mentioned scales.

Next month the countryside will come alive with colour and sound, so until then have a good time searching for wildlife.

Every month South Downs Ranger Bruce Middleton gives us an expert's view on on the ever changing landscape of the Downs. As the seasons come and go the Downs undergo dramatic changes. Keep track of the Flora and Fauna, agriculture and wildlife throughout the seasons, here.

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