For the first time in eight years, we had a huge flock of Redwing and Fieldfare visiting our garden over the snowy/icy period - they stripped our berry bushes over a course of four or five days. We also had a Meadow Pipit in our garden and a male Blackcap eating olives off of my olive tree, all new garden ticks!
During a walk on the downs over the snowy period we saw a flock of 400+ Corn Buntings, along with many Yellowhammer (90 I think), which is a phenomenal amount - there was a national press release about a flock of 700 Corn Bunting in Bedfordshire, so we're not far behind in Sussex! Also a flock of 2,500 Sky Larks and 12 Wood Lark in the Adur Valley and great views of a brazen Kingfisher catching and eating fish in a ditch right next to a busy footpath along the River Adur. Apparently there was a Bittern in a reedy ditch near the River Adur for a while too, but we didn't get to see it. All the best, Penny Penny Green Species Officer Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre http://sxbrc.org.uk | 01273 497521 -----Original Message----- From: adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk [mailto:adastra-boun...@lists.sxbrc.org.uk] On Behalf Of tallent...@btinternet.com Sent: 01 February 2010 21:21 To: Adastra discussion group Subject: Re: [Adastra] Redwings Again a bit late, but during the snowy weather 2 redwings appeared and started stripping the berries from the 2 hawthorn trees at the bottom of our garden. The next day, there were 5. Were the first 2 scouts? The small flock stayed around for a few days, and since then have returned irregularly. Interestingly, all the birds who eat the haws favour one of the trees over its neighbour. Back in the 1980s, we had 2 crab apple trees in the garden (sadly lost to fireblight), and during hard winters larger flocks of redwings(approx. 20) would come and spend a couple of days stripping the trees. The 5 we have seen this winter are the first for many years - but this could be a reflection of the recent mild winters. Bev --- On Mon, 1/2/10, annie.sherg...@talktalk.net <annie.sherg...@talktalk.net> wrote: > From: annie.sherg...@talktalk.net <annie.sherg...@talktalk.net> > Subject: Re: [Adastra] Redwings > To: "Adastra discussion group" <adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk> > Date: Monday, 1 February, 2010, 11:50 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Small flock of > Redwing (about 12) on the > edge of the leisure centre grounds in Haywards Heath > .. > > Right on queue for > the Big Garden > Birdwatch and a first in 36 years for our small garden - > superb male > pheasant > > ----- Original Message > ----- > From: > Steve > > To: adastra@lists.sxbrc.org.uk > > Sent: Monday, > February 01, 2010 11:30 > AM > Subject: [Adastra] > Redwings > > > > Hi > all > > > Apologies, its a > bit late posting > this. During the periods of snow we had recently there > were several small > flocks of redwing in the area I live, Portslade old > Village. (There were many > flying over also). We even had them in our garden, which > is very small. I have > seen them in large garden before, but a first for > ours. > > > We do see > redwing in my local park > Easthill > Park most years when it > gets very cold and frosty. Interestingly, I di not see > any in the park during > the snowy period. > > > Steve > Savage > Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
