18/07/2014 to 21/07/2014 Brian and June Visit Sussex

Thursday 18th July to Monday 21st July
Brian and June visit Sussex
"The Big Seven"


This was not a birding trip as such but we were on the look out for birds as we toured around Sussex and Kent in the car.  We targeted birds, commonly found in Sussex  and Kent but rarely found in our home town of Workington.





First success was a Dartford Warbler seen from the Friends CP in the Ashdown Forest.  Although we could hear it very clearly it took almost 45 minutes to get the clear view we were after. 

Dartford Warbler
Library picture

What a great way to end our first sunny afternoon!    

Later on that evening we saw our Nightjars at the Hindleap and Churlwood patches of the Ashdown Forest. 



Nightjar
Library picture

We had the full works including good clear sightings as they flew around hunting for insects, "churring" from the tree tops and the familiar "coo-ick" sound during the flight.





We didn't have to travel too far to see Green Woodpeckers. 

Green Woodpecker
Library picture

Probably as a result of the recent conservation work done by the local council we saw them less than 100 metres from home on the green by the pond on Saturday morning.





Whilst visiting Chichester on Sunday we couldn't help but see the resident Peregrine at the base of the spire of the Cathedral. 

Peregrine
Library picture

After another successful breeding year, the chicks had fledged but the adults remained to provide Brian with some splendid photographs.





On the way home we stopped off at the Burgh, just outside of Arundel to locate our final 3 birds.  Pride of place went to the Red Kites; after good views of a single, rather bedraggled bird we finally saw a lovely group of 5 to 6 flying low over the hills SW of us. 

Red Kite
Library picture

 The Burgh is famous for it's Partridges and we duly saw families of both the Red-legged and the Grey varieties as they moved along the paths by the edge of the corn fields. 

Red-legged Partridge
Library picture

 

Grey Partridge
Library picture

What a lovely way to end a great weekend! 

Brian was delighted with his "Big Seven" that we managed to squeeze in around our car trips in Sussex.