We left Brian behind on our trip to Old Lodge because he hadn’t seen the Redstart.
Actually he bribed me with an Extra Strong Mint, so I let him go home which was just as well since he was driving Debbie and Jill. It was an almost perfect June day although at 8.40 when we arrived there was a slight chill in the air which required second layers to be put on or tied round waists. There was action as soon as we opened the car doors with Chiffchaff and Blackcap arias. A sign on the entrance boldly stated dogs had to be on leads which was a contrast to Iping Common and the message was adhered to by dog walkers we encountered.
It soon became apparent that if you were a Coal Tit this nature reserve was a hit. Their strident little calls were an accompaniment for much of the time. Difficult to see the little blighters though and the same applied to the Goldcrests and an assortment of little sizzlers and tweeters. The refrain of the Chaffinch is likened to the run up of a fast bowler if you are able to make that sort of mental leap which is tricky if you haven’t got the slightest interest in cricket. Anyway there were a number of them running up and bowling. As we sauntered along at birdwatching pace we also picked up the delightful song of the Willow Warbler. The first real visual treat came when a pair of Bullfinches flew over and the male showed off his finery from a bare twig which was most generous of him. Coal Tits etc please take note.
Having made our way along the top of the reserve we stopped before turning left to go downhill through an open wooded area and everybody listened politely to me asking them to keep alert (i.e. quiet!) because the woods were a favoured spot for Common Redstart. By the time we arrived at the stream at the foot of the hill the score was Redstarts 0 Coal Tits about 5. Nevertheless we had started to hear the Cuckoo. We climbed the hill beyond the stream and the group declared UDI by sitting down and taking a coffee break.
Just as well, as the Cuckoo suddenly appeared and sat for a good 15 minutes in a dead tree giving amazing views. Indeed so good were the views that we started to ignore it and home in on various songs and calls that we were uncertain of. Merlin was used appropriately, that is by giving us some suggestions that we did our best to corroborate. Debbie was able to confirm that Redpolls were calling but of course they remained unseen unless some of the tiny birds showing intermittently in the tree tops were Redpolls. A Tree Pipit did show splendidly at the summit of a birch and while I walked off to locate a singing Whitethroat everyone else saw a Stonechat. The Cuckoo moved off, possibly because quite a few walkers went by and totally ignored it. This was a signal for us to move off and Sue expressed amazement at Brian’s youthful ability to stand unaided by arms and hands. I reckon it’s all the Extra Strong Mints he eats.
Not long after this, after having walked through another Redstart free zone (although we did hear some), Debbie instructed us to make a non-stop march back to the cars because it was getting towards lunch time. There was to be no stopping to look at birds! We obeyed as we were all getting a bit peckish. While sitting down to eat we were able to enjoy some more homely birdsong from Blackbird, Dunnock, Song Thrush and Robin.
Eventually I decided it was time for more Redstart seeking and we set off to walk through the far end of the reserve which included a considerable patch of large conifers. Merlin informed us the birds we were hearing were Siskins and at last they played ball by performing some natty little flights above the canopy and one scruffy male alighted onto a bare branch for about 5 seconds. This seemed to light the blue touch paper because we started to see some Redstarts, if only briefly. We totalled three in all but not one of them was good enough to be a resplendent male and sit still. Both of the larger Woodpecker species made an appearance and a strange Crow noise attracted attention as the bird chased a beleaguered Buzzard out of a tree. Skylark voices could be heard when not shouted down by Wrens and just as we started saying what a lovely day it had been we had a final treat as two Woodlarks took off from the path in front of us. A good end to an excellent day.
The final count was 34 species which, while not being anything like as many as for example a trip to Pagham & Medmerry, is a good haul for heathland and includes birds which are less likely to be in other habitats. Sometimes its good to have to work a bit hard to find the little blighters!