Summer on The Downs Link

1. Summer on The Downs Link Black-headed Gull Blackcap As spring turns into summer, the breeding season is winding down. Some birds will have second or third broods but even those will be fledging soon. By late June the birds no longer need to sing to protect their territory. Most birds will moult around this time. This means shedding their feathers and growing new ones. During this process, they are less able to fly away from predators so they tend to hide themselves away in thick cover. Some of our summer visitors will already be preparing for their long journey back to their winter homes.

2. Summer on The Downs Link Pyramidal Orchid Common Spotted Orchid The pyramidal orchid grows to a height of 30 cm. The colour of the flower varies from pink to purple, or rarely white. Look out for them in sunny spots along the track. The Common Spotted is the most widespread and common British orchid, normally found on chalk and limestone grassland. It’s leaves are always dark-spotted but the plant itself may be variable in height.

3. Summer on The Downs Link Southern Hawker Marbled White Butterfly Is a large, brightly coloured dragonfly. It breeds in still or slow-flowing water, but will wander widely, and is often seen in gardens and open woodland. This is an inquisitive and territorial species and will often approach people. The males are often seen patrolling by a ponds edge or river, where they fight away intruders, crashing into rival males and spiralling through the air. Adults emerge in the second half of June, reaching a peak in mid-July. Early morning is a good time to see this species, as it warms up with wings held open absorbing the sun's rays. The strongest populations are found on chalk or limestone, but a range of habitats is used, including woodland rides and clearings, coastal grassland, waste ground, set-aside, road verges, and railway embankments.

4. Summer on The Downs Link Pipistrelle Bat Glow Worm A nocturnal walk along the downs link could reveal some very exciting wildlife… Glow worms lighting up to attract a mate, bats swooping on insects, owls calling out to each other and hunting small mammals. You might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a badger out foraging.

5. Summer on The Downs Link Shrews live a very fast-paced life. They live for around 23 months and eat 200% of their bodyweight daily. Their diet is mostly slugs, worms, spiders and other invertebrates. Summer is the peak of the breeding season. Babies will often form a ‘caravan’ behind their mother by holding each others tails in their mouths. Listen out for their high-pitched squeaks in long grass and hedgerows alongside the Downs Link. The Silver-washed Fritillary was in decline in the UK for much of the 1970s and 1980s, but seems to be coming back to many of its old territories. The underside is green, and, unlike other fritillaries, has silver streaks instead of silver spots, hence the name silver-washed.. The Silver-Washed Fritillary is a strong flier, and more mobile than other fritillaries, and can be seen gliding above the tree canopy at high speed.