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Sussex Ouse
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| The beautiful Sussex Ouse above Hamsey |
| Flora |
| Flora is another collective term but this time relating to plant life in a particular area or region. |
| Plants & Flowers |
| Trees |
| Fauna |
| Like flora, fauna is a collective term for animal life inhabiting a particular area or region. |
| Birds |
| Fish |
| Mammals & Amphibians |
| Birds |
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) Appearance: A small bird about 18cm long with a comparatively large head and long bill; short tail and legs. Iridescent colours with head and wings greenish-blue; back and tail bright blue and underside orange with a white throat patch. Flies very fast, low over water. Habitat: Always near slow flowing rivers, lakes, ponds or canals. Forms a nest by burrowing a metre long tunnel in a sandy bank with a round chamber at the end. Eggs are laid on the bare earth, but the nest builds up with a supply of regurgitated fish bones. Common throughout the Sussex Ouse catchment and tributaries. (Photo by permission RSPB). Food: Small fish and invertebrates. The Kingfisher will perch looking out for food and then make a vertical dive into the water. It can also hover if a suitable perch is not available. Did you know? The brilliant plumage was once commonly used to decorate ladies' hats. In a less enlightened age the birds were often caught to be stuffed and displayed in glass domes. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) Appearance: A large bird up to 100cm long with neck extended and a wingspan of 170cm. Medium grey above and a whitish grey below; the bill is yellow. Flies with the neck retracted, unlike Storks and Cranes that extend the neck in flight.Habitat: Besides lakes, reservoirs and rivers, near woodland where it nests in tall trees. The nests are built in the top of the tree, are made of sticks and are flat, up to a metre across. Frequently uses the same nest each year. Common throughout the Sussex Ouse catchment and tributaries, this picture was taken at Southease, lower Ouse. Food: Mostly eats fish, but will also take small water birds and voles. Waits patiently in shallow water standing on one leg, or sometimes stalks through the shallows. Quickly stabs down with its strong bill when prey comes within range. Did you know? In the breeding season these Herons soar and swoop over their nests chasing each other. They assemble in groups on the ground running and skipping to and fro with open wings. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Appearance: Similar in size to a Pigeon and dark grey with a brown tinge; the tail is white underneath with a central black stripe. A broken white line runs along the side of the body. Distinctive red bill with a yellow tip and long green legs with long toes that are well suited to support the bird on muddy or marshy ground. The head is jerked when swimming and the tail jerked high when walking. Habitat: Small lakes, ponds and rivers with adjacent dense vegetation. Can often be seen on open grass and meadows besides water. The nest is usually a raft of twigs hidden in vegetation at the waterline. Common throughout the middle and upper reaches of the Sussex Ouse and tributaries, this picture was taken at Barcombe. Food: Mostly eats plants, but will also take small animals. Did you know? The name Moorhen has nothing to do with the moors, but is thought to be a corruption of the name “Mirehen”. |
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