It was a fairly lively morning for movement though I had to leave at 09:00. Waders moving included eight
Lapwings in-off the sea (a group of six and two singles), a
Golden Plover east and a
Snipe west. Wildfowl were represented by 11
Wigeon, four
Teal, six
Common Scoters, three
Red-breasted Mergansers and 38
Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Passerines moving overhead were mainly finches, with two
Bramblings, six
redpolls, a few
Chaffinches, 78
Siskins, 343
Goldfinches and 84
Linnets. Others included two
Reed Buntings, 20
Meadow Pipits and five
Pied Wagtails. 60
Cormorants included a flock of around 45 and singles of
Chiffchaff,
Goldcrest and
Little Egret were logged.
A visit to the Gill's Lap area of the Ashdown Forest made for a pleasant few hours between mid-morning and early afternoon, distant views of the
Great Grey Shrike eventually being upgraded to unforgettable close-range views of the hunting bird after a game of patience. Two
Bramblings and four
Crossbills flew over, while a
Dartford Warbler, a
Raven, 12
Fieldfares, two
redpolls, three
Siskins and two
Reed Buntings provided further interest.
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| Great Grey Shrike in the Ashdown Forest |
