Bird Sightings

Birds (and other interesting things!) seen in and around our patch.

If you want to let us know of something you have seen on our patch, please contact sightings@henfieldbirdwatch.co.uk

Monday’s walk

P Bird Sightings

Ezio and I started the walk on our own yesterday, wondering where Angela was – she normally walks up from Small Dole but had decided to catch the bus. However, it hadn’t turned up, so she had to walk anyway! We met her en route and carried on along the Downslink, into the fields and as far as the heronry. I was pretty sure I heard a Treecreeper on the way down (confirmed by Merlin!), Robins and Wrens were singing as usual, we had a Raven cronk overhead, and could hear plenty of geese out on the well-flooded fields. The rough estimate was 1200 Canada, 700 Greylag and – not an estimate – 5 Egyptian Geese. The winter ducks were back, but quite distant and males still in eclipse plumage, so not standing out as well as normal. However there were Wigeon (?200), Teal (?100) and a handful of Shoveler and Gadwall, as well as plenty of Mallards. Also about 30 Lapwings. Also maybe 300 Black-headed and 100 Herring Gulls. The geese were moving between the floods and a field of cut maize on the east side, and we heard the strange hissing of the Egyptian geese as they went over. Also lots of Rooks and Jackdaws there.

On the way back we diverted down to look at the area between Rye & Buckwish, adding a Grey Heron and Moorhen to the list of species, and finding another pair of Gadwall, then heard two Jays calling from the little patch of woodland.

A lovely sunny morning, despite the tremendous downpour about 7.15! Species list was 34.

Val Bentley, 8th October 2024

Breakfast delight!

P Bird Sightings

Out on the balcony at breakfast this morning, a female Blackcap popped in which was very nice to see. However, excitement levels grew when I noticed a very small bird fly into the Eucalyptus tree. As usual, it went into the back of the tree but it seemed about the size of a Goldcrest. It eventually became visible and then I could see it wasn’t a crest, more like a Warbler. I had a front-on view and noticed it had a broad yellow stripe or supercilium above the eye that met at the base of the beak. It’s front was grey and noticed that it’s legs were reddish colour that was picked out by the sun. It then very briefly turned sideways before flying off and I noticed a distinct yellow stripe in the wing. I discounted Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler on size and very short tail. I’m pretty certain I was looking at a Yellow-browed Warbler! I’ve seen quite a few before and it showed all the distinct features albeit pretty briefly. Unfortunately it didn’t call which would have really clinched it for me, though I’m pretty certain now that is what it was.

Mike Russell, 4th October 2024

Morning’s walk up to Henfield

P Bird Sightings

Lovely  listening  walk along the Mill Stream,  Cetti’s Warbler in full voice  by the small wooden gate in to the pasture  on the phone wires.   As I walked towards the Downslink  a Raven flew  over making  its clonking  call, landed in a pylon  south of the stream much to the horror  of a loudly  protesting  Kestrel . Reed bunting calling,  6 meadow  pipit flight call.swallows flying low over the grass.Nice to have no wind. Water beginning  to fill the fields at Rye Brooks, lots of noise  from Rooks,Jackdaws,and Mallards. Plus I am sure I heard Lapwings as well.

Angela Thyer, 22nd September 2024

Chilly balcony birding

P Bird Sightings
The cold night seemed to have triggered a bit more activity in the garden and the beautiful but chilly morning made breakfast on the balcony a real treat! A male and female Blackcap were chasing each other through the hedgerow but unlikely that there was any amorous intentions involved. A Chiffchaff sang somewhere from the back of the garden, it’s thought that this autumn singing may be young birds practising for the breeding season next year. Two Chaffinches visited the feeders while two more were sitting in a tree in a neighbouring garden, very close to a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Nuthatch was regularly to the feeder along with three species of Tit. A Mistle Thrush rattled loudly from a few gardens up the road. Three Meadow Pipits flew over, a sign that autumn migration is underway and like others in Henfield, we’ve been enjoying the sight and sounds of the Greylag Geese flying over the house. However, the star of the morning was non-avian as I first looked out the window and there was a Roe Deer up the back of the garden, a definite first for us!
Yesterday, we took Lesley’s granddaughter down to Rye Farm which meant trying to watch birds a bit fragmented, but I did manage to record three Kestrels hunting over the fields. There were a number of House Martins feeding over the fields as well and I did manage to pick out one Sand Martin amongst them.
Mike Russell, 12th September 2024

A few bits and bobs

P Bird Sightings

Just to say saw a few bits and bobs this morning on walk at back of Swains.  A few Fieldfares (I think), Blackcap (rarely see them, Merlin hears them),  Long-tailed Tits and Grey Wagtail.  Also Kingfisher on one of the ponds yesterday.

Alex Hill, 22nd September 2024

Parliament of Rooks

P Bird Sightings

Early this morning I espied over 100 Rooks all lined up on the cables spanning across two pylons! Its not often that I’ve seen so many in solidarity. Could they have been the absentees from the debate on senior citizens and their winter handouts!

Will Green, 14th September 2024

Geese

P Bird Sightings

We’ve enjoyed hearing geese these last couple of days as they travel south in the morning and north in the evening.
This evening about 150 Canada and Greylag flew over in various sized skeins plus a pair of Egyptian.

Debbie & Nigel Colgate. 11th September 2024