Walk from the Windmills

 With a reasonable weather forecast, I decided to head up to the Clayton Windmills for a bit of Winter Birding. I was hoping at the least for some Redwings and Fieldfares, wouldn't have minded a Merlin either, as it was Winter Migration was a bit thin on the ground although a lot of Common Gulls on the field below the car park was a good start. Did see a couple of Redwings and five flyover Fieldfares but it was the displaying Ravens that stole the show! Apart from that and the hordes of Red-legged Partridge, though by the sound of the gunfire heard in the distance I'm guessing there will be less at the end of the day than there was at the start!, it was a bit slow. Good views of some noisy Buzzards, a Red Kite, couple of Corn Buntings, a few Goldfinch, a Yellowhammer,  several flocks of Starlings, had a couple of mini murmuration's , a single Stonechat, a Skylark and a couple of Mipits the best of it! Think the highlight were the Common Gulls always nice to see em return for the Winter! A few pics below.

Common Gull

Was hoping for a few more flight shots, but the lazy buggers spent the whole time just wandering a round the field

HPP Church, looking a bit Autumnal

Redwing, there were a few on the horse paddocks

Meadow Pipit

Wren popped out for a couple of seconds

Goldfinch

Pied Wagtail on the small Dungheap

Buzzard being pursued

Being escorted from the premises

Noisy Buzzard

Raven

Mini-Murmuration

Still a surprise to see Ravens in Sussex, it was fun watching them circling grunting and kronking, having a go at the Buzzards, being mobbed by Crows and Jackdaws there was about six altogether presumably claiming a territory as they are early breeders.

Think I've mastered the silhouette shot!

Corn Bunting, one of a small flock, but they stayed distant today

Red-legged Partridge, there are loads at the moment, released to be shot!

RLP in flight

Red Kite, only saw one and it didn't come close

Raven

Sadly they have removed the large Gorse patches from this area, the brown bits! I suppose there is a reason for it, but several singing Yellowhammers here last spring, they have left some at the top of the hill and at least they have left the Hawthorn! So far!

Interesting Crow with White wings possibly leucistic or maybe a vitamin deficiency 

Fieldfare, sadly didn't hang around

Redwing, with berries, most of the Hawthorn seem devoid of berries this year, maybe to do with the drought in the Summer?

A nice view on the walk back

Another Raven, seems to have a bit of white in the wings

Back at the Car Park, the Common Gulls were still strutting their stuff

A few Rooks in amongst the Gulls

Striking in the Sunlight

A Chaffinch dropped into the bush next to me, but didn't hang around!

Not a bad walk, pretty chilly to start with but warmed up towards the end, fairly slow birdwise, with the small stuff not really showing. Didn't even see a Linnet!!