It’s been a while since I’ve walked the river between Stretham & New Inn, but as this morning was cooler, Angela, Ezio and I went round pretty well the whole of the Area 9 circuit.  Rain was supposed to clear by about 9, but actually continued all morning – we weren’t really complaining though!

 

Not that many species today.  A Jay called as we came out from the bridge under the railway line, and a young Buzzard called plaintively.  As we got to the fields we saw scores of Swallows and House Martins over the brooks, two Herons flew along, passing a third that was on the bank, and a Kestrel was on the top of a dead tree.  A loud Cetti’s was somewhere to the west, and the cormorant roost site was occupied by a young Red Kite. Flock of over 100 Rooks and Jackdaws in the field to the east.  Very quiet along the Adur other than yet more House Martins and Swallows flying low over Sharon’s fields and the river. Couldn’t tell if there were any Sand Martins there too – still raining, and any birds I could focus on were not that species!  A well-camouflaged moth,  was a Vestal – migrant  species from Europe according to UK Moths, which appears in good numbers in some years from August-October.   A little vole scurried across in front of Angela.  Along the Hollands Lane bridleway a Buzzard flew off from a tree, a Wren sang, and a Chiffchaff called.

 

And that was about it!

 

 

 

Hazel & I were joined by John D, Tony F (our new newsletter editor – excellent first one, thanks Tony!), Sam H & her friend Ruth, Maureen, Tina and Hilary.  Along Stonepit Lane, we saw several folk returning from eclipse watching on the hill.  Hazel kindly gave us background information on St Hugh’s  monastery visible in the far distance (though we couldn’t see any peregrines on there!), and later on Chanctonbury Ring when we reached the river. The sunset was gorgeous and along the riverbank we spotted a Blood-vein moth, but sadly no Barn Owls put in an appearance yet again.  Too dark to see the lovely Purple Loosestrife bordering the river but it does look lovely in daylight!

 

We lingered at the bridge, seeing a few bats, which set off clicking on my & Maureen’s bat detectors, and Hazel explained about the meteor shower.  Just after we headed back I waved my arm to the side and said “sometimes the glow worms can be quite far back”, and amazingly we could see a bright green glow quite a way down the bank.  That was the only one, though we kept looking all the way back.

 

We stopped at the usual spot just south of the seat and started to look skywards for meteors, with varying success.  Hilary was delighted to see the first,  I saw one very bright one, and most of us caught a glimpse of one or two.

 

And that was about it – thanks to Hazel for all the information, and to everyone for coming.

 

Tony F, Pete T, Sam H, Mary F, Helena and myself went to Heyshott Common last night.  A272 was shut in Petworth, so had to double back and go via Fittleworth, which took me some thinking about, so arrived late at destination. Hence most of the daytime birds were quiet apart from a rattling Dartford Warbler and a cheesy Yellowhammer.  Temperature still about 30C as the sun disappeared over the pines to the west.  There was an early short churr about 9.20 but then at least three got going about 9.40.  One dropped down from a tree fairly nearby, wing clapped and flew off. Then we all had lovely views of two flying around a clearing almost in front of us. As we walked back there was one churring nearby which continued without a break for at least five minutes!

 

A first Nightjar encounter for Sam, Mary and Helena and the first time Pete has actually seen one after three previous attempts.

 

Apart from one chap standing near the car park watching, we were the only people there – just the way it should be!

 

(The photo is from a previous visit as I didn’t take any last night – the moon was somewhere different yesterday!)

 

Val

A somewhat belated report of the Area walk by Alan (+ Stella), Angela T, new member Sam H, myself + Ezio. Only just had time to put all the data into BirdTrack – where does the time go?

 

The first part of the walk ticked off the expected species, and when we reached the fields we soon heard Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, while Nuthatch and Stock Dove called from the trees by the railway line.  Blackcaps were regular, and just a single Lesser Whitethroat heard near the wooden gate.  Sam spotted a Kestrel hovering, a pair of Lapwings were mobbing a crow, and Little Egrets were seen in the fields and also on nests at the heronry where there were also well-grown young herons. A Red Kite went over, and as we came back to the railway line about 15 Swifts were overhead, screaming. A Swallow and 8 House Martins were seen later.  The only Goldcrest noted was in a regular spot near Stretham Manor. A very large flock of corvids (c420), probably mainly Rooks were feeding on a recently cut field.

 

What was surprising was the number of Sedge Warblers along the river.  Normally only the odd one, heavily outnumbered by Reeds.  But we heard 7 Reeds to 4 Sedges.  Someone we met said he’d heard 3 Cuckoos on his route up from the south, but we didn’t hear one until we got to New Inn.  A Mute Swan appeared to be on a nest on the overflow pit, but when I visited again the following day there was no sign of it, though one was sitting on a nest a bit further north, right by the river!  It took until the Rye Farm track to add Buzzard to the list – one noted by Angela & Sam.  The stinky ponds only held a pair of Mallards.

 

Flower-wise, there was a lot of Crosswort in the fields and along the railway line. In the fields was some Ladies Smock, and the pond by the metal gate had a small amount of Water Violet which we dismissed as more Ladies Smock at the time!

 

Total of 53 bird species – thanks as always for the extra eyes & ears!

 

Last minute change of plan on 6^th May from Castle Hill to the River Ouse as a pair of Spotted  Sandpipers (from across the Atlantic) had been seen over the past few days near Southease and seemed to be hanging around.  Sally & Rikki joined me & Ezio for still quite a long walk, as we parked at Rodmell and walked to the river from the west side.  Heard Reed and Sedge Warblers singing in the same vicinity, plenty of Reed Buntings – well satisfying Sally who hadn’t seen one this season – and vociferous Cetti’s of course.  A seal was bobbing its head about in the river, and there were several Whimbrels on the other bank.  Finally got to where a couple of birders were standing, but the sandpipers had split ranks with one flying further down river and the other had disappeared upstream.  A young chap started walking back, then waved to say he had found one of the birds again, and we were able to get reasonable view of it.  Beautiful spotting on the front, and the eyestripe made the head look rather Redwing-like!  More Whimbrels were seen on the way back too.  Also noted were some Swallows, Skylarks, Linnets, Goldfinches, Little Egret, a Raven, swans, and of course, Blackcap and Chiffchaff nearer to the village.

 

Upon returning home, I had lunch and a kip, and Ezio finally ate his breakfast and did the same!

 

More info on Spotted Sandpipers in the UK on https://rbbp.org.uk/2023/01/01/spotted-sandpipers/

 

Many thanks to Sally for the Whimbrel, seal & Spotted Sandpiper photos.

 

Val