Beachy Head and the Pevensey Levels 15/02/17

Today I went down to a windswept Beachy Head, where there was not much around. There were at least four pairs of singing Skylarks around the visitor centre, where my trip was mostly based. The other common birds were a pair of Pied Wagtails on the roof of the buildings, and a few Meadow Pipits that flew over. Of course there were several gulls milling around, mostly Herring Gulls, but I picked out at least one each of Common, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls amongst them. The most exciting bird on Beachy Head was, however, a single Twite (local rarity) that was flying around the rough grassland next to the public footpath. It was calling distinctly, and giving good views. Leaving Beachy Head after it had vanished, I made my way to Horse Eye Levels, on the Pevensey Levels, not too far away. It was getting on for late evening by then, but I located a single Bewick's Swan amongst the numerous Mute Swans, and later I saw a Merlin hunting low over. At first it was quite distant, and I had hopes of Hen Harrier or Short-eared Owl, but it was neither. Still, the Merlin was lovely to watch, albeit for a brief period.

Crowborough 1/02/2017

An absolutely horrible day today, all misty and murky, so that visibility was probably about 10% at most. All the same, somebody reported Waxwings in the Warren, so I drove over there. The car was parked on the roadside verge, and getting out, I walked towards some trees which I thought might be suitable for that species. A Coal Tit suddenly called out of the murk from one of the pine trees on my left, and then, through misted binoculars (I am not sure whether the binoculars were misty or the weather!) I saw three birds at the very top of a tree, half faded out. The binoculars showed a bird which was slightly smaller than a Starling, by my reckoning, but I couldn't be sure what they were. Then, out of the blue, a trilling bell-like noise came to my ears. hat really is quite a thrilling noise, and the one that I wanted to hear. Sure enough, the mist cleared a little for a moment, and the crests became visible. All the same, I was quite glad to get back into the car and dry out!