The one with the Red Kite: Safari Britain walk, 9 August

There was hardly a bird to be heard as we gathered at the Safari Britain campsite on a lovely August morning. The previous day had been hot, but this morning was warm with a welcome breeze and a little light cloud cover.
Moving down from the campsite towards the Coach Road, the beech trees started to [...]

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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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The first Whitethroat’s alright

An early walk today, inspired by the fine weather (and an early-rising child, who attended happily in the backpack).
Finally, a Whitethroat, singing from wires over the Firle Bostal road just south of the village. We get so used to them (dare I admit, fed up with them?) before the summer’s out, but the first ones [...]

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Around the village

Over the couple of weeks…
The main arrival of Chiffchaffs appeared to take place on the 15th, when there were birds singing in the middle of the village and along Ripe Lane, near Middle Farm. Amazing how reliable these first migrants are.
On the same day, there was a female Grey Wagtail on the stream leading out [...]

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