Crowborough, 31/07/18

This morning, at around eight o'clock, I went up to the Pocket Park NR. It was very quiet, although there was still some bird life. The main highlight of the morning was a singing Whitethroat, and a pair of Blackcaps, not singing, but very visible. Apart from that, there were just a few Herring Gulls and a single Black-headed Gull flying around, a couple of Carrion Crows on the playing fields opposite, and about twenty Starlings in the vicinity, along with a male Blackbird feeding in their midst (picture below)

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Eastbourne and Splash Point, 28/07/2018

Today it was very windy. Around Princes Park, Eastbourne, there was nothing more than the usual House Sparrows, Mute Swans and Mallards, although a Tufted Duck was a little of a surprise. Also, saw a single Yellow-legged Gull flying over the adjacent grounds to the lake. On the sea, the conditions were so rough that if there was anything to see it was hidden in the troughs of the waves. On to Splash Point, and round Beachy Head the sea was much rougher, and sea watching therefore was near impossible. Still, there were several Kittiwakes still inhabiting their breeding ledges, and amongst the large gull flock on the beach I picked out 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, at least 10 Herring Gulls, and a Great Black-backed Gull, all juveniles.

Crowborough 19/07/2018

Over the last week I have made some notable observations: firstly, the local Jackdaws have started congregating before they fly in to roost in the woods nearby, and also the Grey Heron has been flying in to roost. Also, I have seen a lot more of the local Sparrowhawks recently, one on Sunday was soaring very high, and there was one on Monday, somewhat lower, and on and off during the rest of the week I have seen them flying through. This is because they are not breeding anymore. I went up to the Pocket Park NR on Wednesday and there was yet another Sparrowhawk there, but otherwise it was very quiet.

Crowborough 11/07/2018

Having been out birding at night recently, I have observed/heard at least one Tawny Owl on the Beeches Estate, and I know that it is more than likely that there are more elsewhere in the town. Indeed, many birders have recorded them on BirdTrack. Also, it appears that the first Black-headed Gull has arrived back in town (10/07/2018) for the winter. This species does not breed in Crowborough, but in winter numbers often reach hundreds. A final observation was of a male Kestrel, a first for my garden, which was first sighted over Jarvis Brook, before presumably the same species flew over the Beeches Estate, and then later on over the town centre.