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+ [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Warm air, winter birds

A balmy morning  (practically T-shirt weather) but the birds are decidedly autumnal.
At least one Redpoll flew through (following six yesterday), followed by a couple of Redwings. Three Yellowhammers over the centre of the village was a sign of the season too.
The sun seems to be encouraging Skylarks to sing, particularly in the fields by Bostal [...]

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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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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).

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Mainly mud

A brief walk along Glynde Reach late on Sunday afternoon didn’t yield too many surprises, but did remind me how promising the area looks at this time of year.
The sedgy fields either side of the Reach just east of the train station at Glynde are superbly soggy, and look good for Snipe and perhaps Jack [...]

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