Honey Buzzards and Hobbies - Ashdown Forest with the Ashdown Bird Group

Friday 27th June 2025

Press Ridge Warren,  Ashdown Forest, Sussex

Ashdown Bird Group

09.30 to 12.00

(4 members present)

Trip Report

The weather was fine today with high temperatures.  The westerly breeze meant that it wasn't too hot.

We parked at the Twyford Lane car park and walked down the road to access the public footpath leading out to the hillside overlooking Press Ridge Warren.

Our primary target bird was the Honey Buzzard.

Around 10.00, we had our only sighting, but boy was it a good one - my closest view of the year!  The Honey Buzzard drifted in from the direction of the Old Llama Park and passed behind us before disappearing over the trees towards Hindleap.  

Martin took these lovely images as the bird moved across the sky and shared them with Mark M, who reported back to us.  He recognised the bird from his considerable store of sightings of this species.

.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

We were also fortunate to spot two Hobbies flying high in the area of sky where we first spotted the Honey Buzzard.  

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

There were several Common Buzzards around too, and on at least two occasions, we witnessed an altercation between the Buzzard and the Hobbies.

Jane spotted the Hobbies moving around the trees at the bottom of the valley below us, and after a short time, we saw them perched on a leafless tree.  One was static, but the other was more mobile, frequently dropping down to the lower branches before returning to the same perch.  We enjoyed these views for a prolonged period before the birds disappeared.

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

Courtesy of Martin Jeffree

We left at 12.00, having had a very enjoyable and productive morning.  

Thanks, John and Martin, for organising the event. 

Species List:

 

Name:	Count
Blackbird	1
Buzzard	2
Carrion Crow	3
Chiffchaff	4
Cormorant	5
Goldcrest	6
Goldfinch	7
Great Spotted Woodpecker	8
Herring Gull	9
Hobby	10
Honey-buzzard	11
Jay	12
Long-tailed Tit	13
Mistle Thrush	14
Pheasant	15
Skylark	16
Song Thrush	17
Stock Dove	18
Stonechat	19
Swallow	20
Woodpigeon	21

 

Species count = 21