Sunny Sunday up the Downs!

 Margie and I decided on a walk on the Downs yesterday, between the Bostal Road and the Cissbury Ring as is often the case we were a bit late to start. Was a bit quiet with a few Chiffchaffs in the hedges, a Stonechat, quite a few Pied Wagtails and a lot of Meadow Pipits. Raptors were quite prevalent with a couple of Red Kites, a Kestrel, a few Buzzards and two Sparrowhawks! "Farmland Birds" were few and far between with only a few Linnets and Goldfinch. Probably the most noticeable sighting were the Red Admirals with loads flying about in the unseasonal heat!! Some of our pics below.

The Path ahead (M)

Scenic countryside

A Wall Butterfly a change from the hordes of Red Admirals

(M)

(M)

Quite a few Dragonflies on the wing still as well! (M)

Chiffchaff

Sparrowhawk, being mobbed by Hirundines, don't think it was a serious attempt to catch them!! Quite a few Hirundines about but stayed very high up!

Another Chiffchaff

Red Admiral, about the only one we saw that wasn't flying!

Goldfinch

Pipit were lots about mainly if not all Meadow Pipits, not sure about this one could be a Tree Pipit with the finer streaks on the flanks! Can't see it's feet unfortunately

Pied Wagtail

Fighting for the dung!

This Sparrowhawk flew along a ridge scattering the Pipits ahead of it!

Red Kite

Buzzard getting mobbed

Stonechat

Another posy Pied Wagtail

Kestrel

Goldfinch

Plenty of Cows in the fields, thankfully fenced in! (M)

Margie thought this one was cute 😀(M)

Margie found a nest of Sheep! (M)

So not a bad stroll, ridiculously warm for the time of year, a sign of the times I suppose 😢 We headed home stopping on impulse at the Fox in Small Dole which did a very nice and satisfyingly large Gluten Free Roast Dinner and had several GF pudding options, one of which I indulged in!! Has to be said though Margie disgraced herself and deliberately taunted me by tucking into a huge Banoffee Waffle, which very sadly wasn't GF!! 

Chunky Roast

Gluten Free Blondie!!

The Waffle of Torment😢