WildHastings Sightings

birds in warren glen

Ian Standivan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:43:00 GMT

Bird ringing in Warren glen this morning found a lovely GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, this secretive species has been noted 4 times now over the years of the ringing project, I have only ever seen one in the field, so their true status here is probably only revealed by the ringing scheme. Also caught were 2 GARDEN WARBLER, a few BLACKCAP and WHITETHROAT, but a real indication of what is to come was the first GOLDCREST capture of the autumn.
Also seen were 16 CROSSBILL flying NW, 3 GREY WAGTAIL, 8 YELLOW WAGTAIL flying W, a flock of 21 GOLDFINCH, and the 2 young RAVEN flew up the glen.

Combe Haven

Dave the lesser — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:44:00 GMT

It was looking like a quiet walk as myself and Lulu the dog headed upstream this afternoon. Then, as I gazed across an empty field... our binoculars met. I gave the man a mischievous wave, secretly hoping he was one of those scowling birders who likes the place to himself. When I met him a few minutes later he turned out to be a perfect gentleman, and immediately recognized me for the rambling contributer to this very site. As often seems to happen, the interesting birds seem drawn to the competent birder. As I walked the opposite way in Dave's footsteps I saw first a heron in a muddy puddle by the wooden post in the boggy filed behind the tip. As I traversed the slope behind the tip a slender hobby flew into a lichen-covered tree near the hedgerow. It, gazed unflinchingly at me, of course, as I surreptitiously edged closer at a discreet angle, then flew off (the hobby, not me) behind the clump of trees. Another appeared from the field, out of sight behind hedge, then followed the first. A little further on, a greater spotted woodpecker caught my eye, perfectly posed at the top of a dead tree within the grounds of the poo farm. It joined two comrades on another dying tree, obviously a favourite, judging by the patches of bare bark. A the far end of the pond at Pebsham Marsh a barn owl patrolled the low scrub, dropping to the ground for a while before perching for a good ten minutes in a low shrub. Another few minutes hunting then exit stage right.

Finally, a field vole under the sheet of scrap metal where I found the dead snake previously.

Shag at Rock-a-Nore

Alan Parker — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:27:00 GMT

Early morning seawatching has been hard work this weekend, with just a few Gannets and 1-3 Scoters on both days, a few Fulmars and 10 Common Terns today [no Sandwich]. However, this morning an immature Shag flew along the beach and landed on the breakwater next to a Cormorant, it soon left. 2 Grey Wagtails flew over. Later, several hours in the country park produced 5 Wheatears, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 10 Crossbills and a Spotted Flycatcher. 165 Great Black Backs were on the beach and attending fishing boats at Rock-a-Nore .

Fairlight birds this evening

Andrew Grace — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:26:00 GMT

With the wind having dropped a look around the top of Fairlight Coastguards at Hastings Country Park this evening. 120 or more Meadow pipits in the fields and also 3 Whinchat, 2 Wheatears and several Chiffchaffs. In the evening Yellow wagtails heard several times but I was surprised by a fast moving flock of at least twenty heading westward over the brow of the hill.

No sighting of Grasshopper warbler, but this species is an annual autumn migrant here, in small numbers presumably. I have seen the species five or six times here over the years.

Osprey over HCPNR

Ian Standivan — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:56:00 GMT

This morning an Osprey flew SE over Warren Glen in between the showers, obviously it had had enough of our lovely British summer!
Also around Warren Glen were 10 Goldcrest, 15 Blackcap and a couple of Whitethroat.