Canons Farm and Hastings, 18th September 2017

A morning walk at the farm produced a Yellow Wagtail, 80 Meadow Pipits, a couple of Common Gulls, a Hobby and two Stonechats. Later, in Hastings we saw a Peregrine over the cliffs.

Hastings Country Park, November 4th 2014 12:50-13:50

Herring Gull	Present
Woodpigeon	Present
Magpie	Present
Jay	Present
Jackdaw	Present
Carrion Crow	Present
Goldcrest	Present
Firecrest	1
Blue Tit	Present
Great Tit	Present
Long-tailed Tit	Present
Chiffchaff	2
Wren	Present
Blackbird	Present
Robin	Present
Dunnock	Present
House Sparrow	Present
Pied/White Wagtail	Present
Meadow Pipit	Present
Chaffinch	Present
Bullfinch	Present
Linnet	1
Goldfinch	Present

Mallydams field trip

From Monday to Friday last week I was on an Ecology field trip near Hastings at Mallydams Wood. It was pretty good fun doing wildlife work out in the field with my fellow students, mainly looking at woodland mammals and plants but I took charge of the trip's bird list which finished on 36 with fairly low effort. Highlights included Firecrest and Brambling as well as the very inquisitive and locally famous Jay that would greet you as you walk through the woods by dive-bombing you on the head from behind then followed you around as you work. Early on the Tuesday morning I escaped to the Hemsted Forest and successfully located the flock of six Parrot Crossbills before I had to dash back to the field centre. This was a second attempt; on Sunday 20th I visited and briefly saw the male TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL but failed to get a satisfactory look at a Parrot. All good fun, such a shame that my hacking cough spoiled the week to a degree!

The Parrot Crossbills early on a Tuesday morning in the Hemsted Forest

You couldn't move in Mallydams Wood without this guy checking things out

We checked Hazel Dormouse boxes pre-hibernation