Staying Local

 Some pictures below of a walk along Bullfinch Lane, Hurstpierpoint on Saturday evening and then some more pics from Margie and my walk near Woods Mill today. 

Chiffchaff, sat on a wire throughout and was still there singing 2hrs later. Though obviously he could have left and come back!

Distant Red Kite

Obligatory pic of HPP church

Couple of fledgling Goldfinch

Rabbit

Buzzard, bit closer than the Kite

Swallow lots over the recently cut fields

Skylark lurking in the long grass

Backlit Linnet

Skylark

The two big fields looked like they had been cut a couple of weeks ago, they were full of Skylarks in April, wonder how many nests got trashed? 

Chiffchaff still present and correct when I went home

A pretty quiet walk, heard one Yellowhammer in the distance and there was a Common Whitethroat deep in the hedge which I couldn't get a pic of! The two fields where the Barn Owl was earlier in the year are still looking good, but I had no sign by 8.45pm. Both the big fields have been cut, by the amount of regrowth maybe a couple of weeks ago, there were loads of Skylarks, displaying and  prospecting for nests in April, presumably any that attempted it would have been destroyed when the grass was cut, when people talk about modern farming being bad for nature, this is what they are talking about, in the old days this would have been left for hay and cut later in the summer allowing birds like Skylarks to get a couple , sometimes 3 broods in! There seemed to be Skylark activity in the "Owl Fields" so hopefully they will produce a few youngsters! Not sure where the Yellowhammers have gone, the hedges actually look pretty good this year, maybe I was just unlucky on this occasion!! Sorry about the plethora of Swallow pics, but probably my best ever flight shots so put a few up!! New camera seems to be improving my skills though it wasn't a very high bar!!

Today we went to Woods Mill, Margie thought she heard a Turtle Dove, briefly from the car park, but we could find no further sign, however later on we bumped into another group of Birders who had heard and seen it!! We had a lovely walk along the stream towards the Adur, we were harassed by a pair of Lapwings, we could hear their chicks in the grass right next to the path, so hurried on our way! The highlight was a very confiding Yellowhammer having a sing right next to the path. Margie's pics first, she is using the my old Canon 7d mks2, which she seems to be getting some good pics with considering she only has a 300mm lens!

Lapwing

We turned back at this point, right in front of the gate, usually as you know I'm pretty fearless in the face of these beast but I couldn't be arsed to take on this amount and we was getting tired anyway!

Kestrel

More blooming cows!

My pics below!

Lapwing, bit slower than Swallows and Swifts, though pretty twisty!

Reed Bunting, saw a couple along the stream, lots of Reed Warblers heard, though none showed enough for pics

Common Buzzard

Yellowhammer

Large Red Damselfly I think

Chiffchaff

Red Kite

Comma

Arty Kestrel shot

Willow Emerald Damselfly possibly!

 

Common Blue Damselfly I think!

Not a bad stroll. shame we couldn't find the Turtle Dove, but the first time I've walked from Woods Mill out towards Henfield looks a good area, so will explore more soon!!