Ashdown Forest - walking my patch

[SueP]

A cold morning, but with no wind, inspired me to walk my patch for the last time in 2008.Usually the forest is a bit hectic at weekends, but I arrived at 08.00 and saw no-one. Bonus! It was surprisingly rewarding - coal tits were calling, great tits ditto, and I had hardly left the car park before I heard a jay and a green woodpecker calling. A redpoll flew over as I walked on; a nuthatch was calling, too, and I had nice views of a feeding gs.woodpecker. Chaffinches, bluetits, robins and wrens were busy; heading up the valley I found a couple of coal tits feeding busily, taking time out to harass a goldcrest as it too tried to feed. Ahead was a flock of small birds whizzing about, pausing to perch and whizzing about again - when I got near enough to see them properly, they turned out to be reed buntings. Always a nice bird to see. They did well to keep moving - as I scanned the valley, I found a great grey shrike parked up on a dying pine tree, doubtless looking for a spot of breakfast.
Receiving a message on my mobile, a friend walking her patch reported that she'd had a buzzard overhead. On trying to phone her to tell her my news, the phone made that awful noise it makes when it can't get a proper signal, and needless to say, the shrike legged it...
Heading back, in dire need of coffee, I was pleased to hear a bullfinch calling. Altogether a very satisfactory morning.
Happy New Year to one and all, and happy birding!:t:

[paulwfromtheden]

A cold morning, but with no wind, inspired me to walk my patch for the last time in 2008.Usually the forest is a bit hectic at weekends, but I arrived at 08.00 and saw no-one. Bonus! It was surprisingly rewarding - coal tits were calling, great tits ditto, and I had hardly left the car park before I heard a jay and a green woodpecker calling. A redpoll flew over as I walked on; a nuthatch was calling, too, and I had nice views of a feeding gs.woodpecker. Chaffinches, bluetits, robins and wrens were busy; heading up the valley I found a couple of coal tits feeding busily, taking time out to harass a goldcrest as it too tried to feed. Ahead was a flock of small birds whizzing about, pausing to perch and whizzing about again - when I got near enough to see them properly, they turned out to be reed buntings. Always a nice bird to see. They did well to keep moving - as I scanned the valley, I found a great grey shrike parked up on a dying pine tree, doubtless looking for a spot of breakfast.
Receiving a message on my mobile, a friend walking her patch reported that she'd had a buzzard overhead. On trying to phone her to tell her my news, the phone made that awful noise it makes when it can't get a proper signal, and needless to say, the shrike legged it...
Heading back, in dire need of coffee, I was pleased to hear a bullfinch calling. Altogether a very satisfactory morning.
Happy New Year to one and all, and happy birding!:t:

Great Grey Shrike? Perhaps I am due another trip down there...Was there last spring listening to the Nightjars and Woodcock.
Wonderful place...

[Mark43]

Nice report Sue :t:

I'm heading to Old Lodge tomorrow to try and find these pesky Ravens as i haven't been up on the Forest for a fair while now........fingers crossed.

[joannec]

Nice uplifting report, Sue.:t:

[SueP]

Thanks, Paul, Mark, and Joanne. Best of luck with the ravens. Lunchtime seems to be as good as any other.