Upping of thrushes

A noticeable increase in winter thrushes over recent days in Firle – in addition to parties flying through, there are now several groups hanging around.
A mixed party of Fieldfares and Redwings has returned to their favourite spot, in paddocks just south of the allotments near The Ram. Yesterday a Sparrowhawk scattered about 30+ [...]

Read Full Post »

One small paddock, four species of gull

Passing by the paddocks at Place Farm around 7 this morning, I was pleased to see (after a few weeks’ absence) our very own scraggy-tailed Herring Gull amongst around 30 Black-headed Gulls.
Coming back past a few minutes later, these had all moved on – but in flew three Common Gulls and a Lesser Black [...]

Read Full Post »

Brambling at Place Farm

With heavy rain until about 10 yesterday, I was late walking the dog, but it seemed to coincide with all the birds starting to get busy after their own delayed start.
Walking up Bostal Road, a gaggle of about 30 noisy Canada Geese – that included one noisy Greylag – flew off the Downs and over [...]

Read Full Post »

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, [...]

Read Full Post »

Winter thrushes

The largest mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings in Firle thus far this winter – around 75 today in the usual place, the paddocks on the south side of the village centre (thanks Paul).

Read Full Post »

Glynde Reach, 8 November

A walk with Paul up Glynde Reach, in the gloom of Saturday afternoon.
Apart from the clouds and the wind, the afternoon belonged to thrushes: at least ten Blackbirds in hawthorns by Glynde Station, and party after party of Redwings in the scrub along the Reach, vastly outnumbering the seven Fieldfares.
Apart from thrushes, passerines were fairly [...]

Read Full Post »

Ringtail harrier + Stock flock

More good stuff from Paul Stevens, this time in Firle.
Today, a ringtail Hen Harrier just south-east of Blackcap Farm (beyond the Firle Beacon car park). Apparently it was disturbed by shooting and flew up high to the north.
A count of 80 Stock Doves is particularly noteworthy – there are often ones and twos around the [...]

Read Full Post »

Tilton and back

A walk early on Saturday morning from the village to Tilton and back produced Bramblings again, this time on the Firle escarpment just to the east of the Plantation.
At least one bird was heard on two occasions, amongst the small groups of Chaffinches leaving the woods – perhaps leaving the roost for their regular feeding [...]

Read Full Post »