Yellowhammer at Glynde

Along Mill Lane, Glynde early this morning, a Yellowhammer ticking away in the hedge. Not rare on the escarpment, but they’re scarcer elsewhere these days, so it was welcome surprise.
The dawn chorus was noticeably rowdy too, with Blackbirds and Song Thrushes starting to motor.  Is it too early to wish for spring?

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Around the cricket field

A spring-like afternoon, before the wet hit this evening.
The endless tag-team antics of the Long-tailed Tits were in evidence near the play-park, where a discontinuous chain of 19 birds were counted at one point.
In the horse paddock beside the tennis court, one of the local Mistle Thrushes was playing musical statues in the usual style, [...]

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Firle in the Snow

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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Lots of interesting cold-weather sightings over the past couple of days, with Fieldfares frozen out of their usual fields and trying the gardens, and Skylarks and Meadow Pipits moving overhead.
But star bird report is that of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which was seen visiting the vicar’s bird table in Firle on Monday.
This is the first [...]

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