Hurst bits n bobs!

 Having seen a post in a local wildlife group, suggesting there was a Little Owl in the area thought I would have a crack at finding it last evening, failed miserably!! Did see a large flock of Goldfinch going to roost and an ok Sunset but Hurst remains stubbornly Owl free for me in recent times (Can't remember the last Little Owl I saw to be honest!!)

Goldfinch nicely lit by the setting sun

Part of the Goldfinch flock, think I can count about 40+ birds here so probably at least 70 in the whole
 flock maybe more, which was a surprise!

The setting Sun

A few Fieldfare going to roost

So no luck may try again tonight if I've got the energy and inclination.

This morning  we had been invited to join the Hurst Meadows volunteers on a bird walk/survey around Hurst Meadows an area in the village which is being managed for nature and the community. Unfortunately Margie was feeling a bit under the weather so it was left for me to attend, I'm not generally a fan of group birding preferring to be on my own or with another person mainly because  I'm an unsociable bugger, (if everyone had my attitude Covid would have had no chance!) but also because despite the extra eyes, the talking etc generally means you don't see much. We were to meet at "the Owls" at 8 o'clock because I thought Margie was coming, I'd set the alarm for 6.30 to allow for "getting ready" time, which of course, in her absence  meant I was ready to go too early!! I also realised I wasn't sure where "the Owls" (carved out of wood for some reason) were. Margie looked up from her sick bed and gave me vague directions and I set off on foot!! The weather was glorious ,sunny blue skies though a bit of a chill wind. The walk through the estates was uneventful with lots of Sparrows, Starlings, Blue Tits, Woodpigeons, a flyover Pied Wagtail and a couple of Goldfinch seen,

Woodpigeon

Goldfinch posing in the road

I reached the Meadows, following Margie's directions a few Meadow Pipits flew up from the grass and a couple were having a preen in a bush, light was terrible but I got a pic, a Green Woodpecker flew up and onto a Telephone Pole and promptly disappeared around the back of it, don't they always! However a bit of patience and it edged back around, looks like a male though the red moustache is fairly dull, think it can just about be made out!

Meadow pipits

Green Woodpecker

All the waiting around had made me a bit late so hurried on and despite a few wrong turns found "the Owls" There was only one other person present but the rest soon turned up, We would be lead by Georgina, I know from her posts on the local Facebook group that she is very knowledgeable about all things Nature, the rest of the Crew were Trudi, who is the creator and admin of said Facebook Group, Jess, Valerie and the other bloke in the group Nick, so not too many !! (hope I got everyone's name right apologies if not, I've got a terrible memory!!)  introductions were made and we headed off through the Millennium Gardens, fair bit of common stuff Blackbirds, Wrens, Dunnocks etc a Chaffinch flew into a tree and a Thrush turned out to be a Redwing which due to my usual useless directions, I'm not sure if any the others managed to get on it!! 

Our route basically took us through the Gardens then a loop around Hurst Meadows themselves, we heard a couple of Chiffchaffs, the first I've heard this year, though seen a couple already. There was also a Greenfinch calling from high in a tree though pics were difficult.

Blackbird

Blue Tit

Partially obscured Greenfinch

Once on the Meadows, we soon heard Skylarks singing and had good views of a couple having a scrap, which I attempted, with out much luck, to get pictures of, managed a few of the proud victor though or loser it was hard to tell really😂!

Skylark singing!

Incoming Skylark

1st winter Herring Gull, several Gulls over the Meadows

Think this Cherry Blossom possibly!!

We looped around, saw some Mallards flying,  a few Meadow Pipits, a Stock Dove but fairly quiet really, we got back to the start, with the rest of the group heading off, I decided to head back around, I followed the path down to College Lane, the highlights from here were a Bullfinch, with a couple more heard calling and a Goldcrest, however the thick scrub made pictures impossible though I did manage some of a couple of very showy Blue Tits! 

This one was a bit of a scruffy herbert

This one was a bit more dapper

I retraced my steps and headed home across the Meadows, managed a record shot of a Stock Dove and a Dunnock at the entrance posed nicely, we had  heard several singing earlier, Black-headed Gull on an aerial was the best of the walk home though plenty of Sparrows and Starlings again!!

So a very nice walk around, nice to meet the group, a lot of good work gone on at the Meadows with lots of trees planted and seems some good plans for the future, hopefully it will kick on from here and become a special place for nature!! Dogs owners permitting 😏

Stock Dove

Dunnock

Black-headed Gull

Clifftop Walk

 First  the exciting news on the weight loss front, after a brief flirtation back in the 14 stones I'm back on track with a 13st,12lb 2oz weigh in, although foolishly I made an Organic Cheesecake last night, which is now lurking in the fridge being all gooey and delicious, I am determined only to eat it under the terms of my diet, though I may have to cut out some unnecessary vegetables to balance things out!! 😏

At time of writing I've only had one bit for lunch!!

Today's Birding , as it so often does, started with a Seawatch at Splash Point Seaford, the weather was looking good , with a South Easterly  and blue skies, trouble is it's still only  February!!😏 I was hoping for a bit of early Brent and Med Gull action and to a certain extent I had some, however In the hour and 20 minutes I stuck it out for I had 23 Brents east one group of 19 and 2 pairs and one group of 4 Med Gulls through, a few Divers, 7 Common Scoter, (a group of 5 and a pair going east) a couple of Gannets,  two flocks of Small Waders went through, very distant think they may have been Sanderling but awaiting confirmation from very dodgy pics! A couple of Great Crested Grebes on the sea, lots of Kittiwakes and Fulmars, quite a few Auks still knocking about, all that I could identify were Razorbills. There were several Rock Pipits including the blinged up individual from my last visit who it has to be said has a bit of an attitude problem ,chasing off a couple of Pied Wagtail and at least 3 other Rock Pipits!! I also had my first Shag of the year which was a result I usually have to wait til May!! Some pics of the action below they are predictably poor pics with most of the Seabirds distant, don't worry some better pics coming later!! 

Also things have spiralled out of control, now at time of writing I have had 2 bits of Cheesecake😲😂!! Although it was pudding on the back of a healthy Haloumi/vegetable traybake courtesy of Margie!!

The Moon

Kittiwake

Blinged Up Rock pipit

Bolshy bugger

Newhaven with Brighton lit up behind it!!

Pale Waders any ID help appreciated!!

Brent Geese

Diver Sp

Great Crested Grebe

Black-headed Gull

First Shag of the year, Hurrah!!

Med Gull

Fulmar

Gulls

3rd Winter Herring Gull

With the Seawatch petering out, I made the frankly crazy decision to go up Seaford Head, now despite my well known mountaineering skills, who can forgot my assault on the east face of Wolstonbury Hill, With my dodgy  lungs, knees and thighs it was mental, however I was motivated by the thought of the Cheesecake in the fridge, calories in the bank and the thought of being able to take a few pics of the Kittiwakes and Fulmars that were flying about the cliffs, which is always fun, I made it up to the plateau bit and was rewarded for my efforts with great views of the aforementioned Seabirds, it has to be said care is needed here several rock falls lately but there are several places where you can view without going to close to the edge! Some pics below bit better quality!

A different Rock Pipit hiding in the shadows

House Sparrow at the bottom of the cliff

Kittiwake

Herring Gull

Fulmar

Kittiwake

Fulmar

As you can tell I do like a Fulmar and a Kittiwake!! 

At this point, as it was still early and feeling slightly cocky as I had made it up to this point without collapsing, I made the decision to push on to the top, should be remembered I had no Sherpas or pack mules😱!! So brave!! I of course strolled up no problem, no burning lungs and thighs for me, no sir😱😰 I reached the top, hurrah!! On recovery I headed towards Hope Bottom, I was hoping for some Skylark action and although I heard a couple I couldn't find them to take pics of, in fact the walk to Hope Bottom was extremely quiet with just Gulls, Jackdaws and a large Corvid present and more Rock Pipits obviously

Rock Pipit

The view from the top of the Head

Belle Tout

I reached Hope Bottom at this point I want to do a little shout out to the Stonechat when it's quiet these guys really do liven up the day proper little posers, there were three in Hope Bottom, two males and a female showed well and I took advantage!!

Male Stonechat

C'mon turnaround!

Robin

Female Stonechat

Not all Stonechats at Fulmars as well!

Rock Pipit with Grub

At this point I decided to head back, no not the call of the Cheesecake😁 The mighty Leeds Utd were live on BT so wanted to get home for it!! (in hindsight I wished I hadn't bothered another thrashing, troubled times MOT) The walk back is usually not as good as the way out but today has to be said it weren't bad with stonking views of what i think were two Male Peregrines having a right old ding dong!!

Signs of Spring 

Peregrine

Peregrine

Not happy about all the Peregrine action

I reached the top of the cliff again, it's all downhill from here, the trouble is it's so steep and slippy that it is murder on the knees!! So get no benefit from it at all!! The Peregrines had caused havoc amongst the Jackdaws and Gulls and the Kittiwakes and Fulmars had disappeared presumably out to sea to safety!

He seemed pleased I'd made it back!

Peregrine Attack

Symbols of Peace, seems appropriate although can't help thinking they're  Peregrine food!!