Tuesday, 21 June 2016
Midsummer's Day
The solstice was yesterday, but the weather was terrible, so marked Midsummer's Day this evening with a walk at Wilmington beneath the Long Man. Beautiful sunlight and Spotted Orchids everywhere.
Spotted Orchids
Meadow Pipit
Sunday, 19 June 2016
Horseye, Pevensey Levels
A marvellous sunny June afternoon for a walk at Horseye. My two previous attempts to walk here failed due to astonishing levels of mud. Despite the recent rain the paths were good.
Birds everywhere including Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Raven, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Bullfinch, which were all new to my Term 6 list.
Other birds seen were Stonechat, Mute Swan, Mallard, Canada Goose, Buzzard, Kestrel, Cormorant, Swift, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Little Egret, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Linnet and Herring Gull.
An amazing place, but the Horseflies were a menace. Also saw Greylag Geese at Shinewater Marsh and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over when I got home. Total for term 6 now 74, only two short of my previous record.
Birds everywhere including Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Raven, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Bullfinch, which were all new to my Term 6 list.
Other birds seen were Stonechat, Mute Swan, Mallard, Canada Goose, Buzzard, Kestrel, Cormorant, Swift, Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Little Egret, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Linnet and Herring Gull.
An amazing place, but the Horseflies were a menace. Also saw Greylag Geese at Shinewater Marsh and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over when I got home. Total for term 6 now 74, only two short of my previous record.
Pond update
The Water has been in for a week so we have bought some plants for the pond.
Very exited to see two species of Damselfly on the the foliage. Pretty sure there is not enough of an ecosystem established to support nymphs yet though.
Common Blue Damselfly
Large Red Damselfly
Very exited to see two species of Damselfly on the the foliage. Pretty sure there is not enough of an ecosystem established to support nymphs yet though.
Serin at Shooters Bottom, Beachy Head
I went out to look for the reported Serins (male, Female and juvenile) at 8.30pm on Friday. The rain storms had moved south, but massive anvil shaped thunder clouds were still visible to the west. No luck with the Serins, but I did see a Cuckoo. Mad to think this bird is already returning to Africa, and we have not yet reached Midsummer's Day.
Next morning I tried again, arriving at 6.30am. Almost immediately I saw a small yellow bird as it flew off. Later I got a better view. I managed a photo of the juvenile.
Thick-set head, streaking on breast and short beak. Happy to be corrected!
Amazingly there was a Quail calling from the field to the north. Spent ages looking before I had a brief view of it flying up and away.
Very grateful to Beachy Birder for his help. Two lifetime firsts and a nice Peregrine flew over.
Next morning I tried again, arriving at 6.30am. Almost immediately I saw a small yellow bird as it flew off. Later I got a better view. I managed a photo of the juvenile.
Amazingly there was a Quail calling from the field to the north. Spent ages looking before I had a brief view of it flying up and away.
Very grateful to Beachy Birder for his help. Two lifetime firsts and a nice Peregrine flew over.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Badger Visit
It seems we now share our garden with up to three Badgers. They visit nearly every night to eat up the peanuts that I put out for them.
This evening one came earlier than usual, the light allowed some better photos.
This evening one came earlier than usual, the light allowed some better photos.
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Linnets
I visited Shooters Bottom at dusk last week and saw some fantastic Linnets in full breeding plumage.

Vipers Bugloss flowering along the cliff edge.
My Term 6 2016 species list has been progressing steadily. It has reached 51, with highlights including Corn Buntings at Birling Gap and a calling Lesser Whitethroat at Cow Gap.
Pond!
Managed to mostly fill it with rainwater from a water butt. The pond's first wildlife interaction occurred when something between a daddy long-legs and a mosquito (excuse my diptera ignorance) hovered over it, dipping down to lay eggs.
The pond is very near to the Badger track through the garden. Any concerns that it might deter the Badgers were quickly dispelled when one turned up to consume peanuts, at about 10pm, as usual.
The pond will be left for a week to settle, then planted next weekend.
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
Turtle Dove at Alciston
My Term 6, 2016 birdlist got exciting on Tuesday with a wonderful Turtle Dove at Alciston, only the second time I have seen one.
Apocalyptic thunderstorms to the west and north in the distance, but Alciston was dry.
Turtle Dove just before it flew to an Ash tree and began calling.
A walk in the surrounding fields gave several sightings of Red-legged Partridge and two splendid 'countryside' Foxes.
My Term 6 list has reached 32 species, with the previous record from 2015 being 76.
Wren, Alciston
Apocalyptic thunderstorms to the west and north in the distance, but Alciston was dry.
A walk in the surrounding fields gave several sightings of Red-legged Partridge and two splendid 'countryside' Foxes.
My Term 6 list has reached 32 species, with the previous record from 2015 being 76.
Tuesday, 7 June 2016
Whitsun 2016 Birdlist
A fantastic list of 98 species, beating my previous best of 79.
There were two lifetime firsts, which were the American Golden Plover at Rye Harbour and, most excitingly, Common Crossbills at Old Lodge Ashdown Forest.
I was pleased to see breeding Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, which are much less common than wintering birds of these species.
Eight species of Warbler on the list are a reflection of the time of year, but I was disappointed not to see a Willow Warbler.
Common Whitethroat, Willingdon Hill
Old Lodge in Ashdown Forest produced the aforementioned Crossbills, at least two Cuckoos, Bullfinches and Green Woodpecker. The later is noticeably less common locally than it was a few years ago.
Rye Harbour is a great place at any time of the year. Highlights this time were three species of Tern, Avocet, Wheatear, Mistle Thrush and Mediterranean Gull.
Mistle Thrush, Rye Harbour
Avocet, Rye Harbour
Black-headed Gull, in full breeding finery, Rye Harbour
Other special birds seen:
Marsh Harrier
Grey Wagtail
Whimbrel
Grey Wagtail, Sissinghurst
The one that got away has to be Long-tailed Tit.
Full Whitsun 2016 list:
There were two lifetime firsts, which were the American Golden Plover at Rye Harbour and, most excitingly, Common Crossbills at Old Lodge Ashdown Forest.
I was pleased to see breeding Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, which are much less common than wintering birds of these species.
Eight species of Warbler on the list are a reflection of the time of year, but I was disappointed not to see a Willow Warbler.
Old Lodge in Ashdown Forest produced the aforementioned Crossbills, at least two Cuckoos, Bullfinches and Green Woodpecker. The later is noticeably less common locally than it was a few years ago.
Rye Harbour is a great place at any time of the year. Highlights this time were three species of Tern, Avocet, Wheatear, Mistle Thrush and Mediterranean Gull.
Other special birds seen:
Marsh Harrier
Grey Wagtail
Whimbrel
The one that got away has to be Long-tailed Tit.
Full Whitsun 2016 list:
| Mute Swan |
| Greylag Goose |
| Canada Goose |
| Shelduck |
| Gadwall |
| Eurasian Teal |
| Mallard |
| Northern Shoveler |
| Tufted Duck |
| Pheasant |
| Northern Fulmar |
| Great Crested Grebe |
| Grey Heron |
| Little Egret |
| Northern Gannet |
| Cormorant |
| Marsh Harrier |
| Sparrowhawk |
| Common Buzzard |
| Kestrel |
| Hobby |
| Peregrine Falcon |
| Moorhen |
| Coot |
| Oystercatcher |
| Avocet |
| Ringed Plover |
| American Golden plove |
| Northern Lapwing |
| Dunlin |
| Eurasian Whimbrel |
| Eurasian Curlew |
| Common Sandpiper |
| Common Redshank |
| Kittiwake |
| Mediterranean Gull |
| Black-headed Gull |
| Common Gull |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
| Herring Gull |
| Great Black-backed Gull |
| Little Tern |
| Sandwich Tern |
| Common Tern |
| Stock Dove |
| Woodpigeon |
| Feral Pigeon |
| Collared Dove |
| Common Cuckoo |
| Common Swift |
| Green Woodpecker |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
| Magpie |
| Jay |
| Jackdaw |
| Rook |
| Carrion Crow |
| Raven |
| Blue Tit |
| Great Tit |
| Coal Tit |
| Skylark |
| Swallow |
| House Martin |
| Cetti’s Warbler |
| Common Chiffchaff |
| Sedge Warbler |
| Reed Warbler |
| Blackcap |
| Garden Warbler |
| Lesser Whitethroat |
| Common Whitethroat |
| Goldcrest |
| Wren |
| Nuthatch |
| Treecreeper |
| Starling |
| Blackbird |
| Song Thrush |
| Mistle Thrush |
| Robin |
| European Stonechat |
| Northern Wheatear |
| Dunnock |
| House Sparrow |
| Grey Wagtail |
| Pied Wagtail |
| Meadow Pipit |
| Rock Pipit |
| Chaffinch |
| Greenfinch |
| Goldfinch |
| Linnet |
| Common Crossbill |
| Bullfinch |
| Yellowhammer |
| Reed Bunting |
| Corn Bunting |
Monday, 6 June 2016
Whitsun 2016: Highlights
I saw lots of fantastic wildlife. Several experiences stand out: being surrounded by a blizzard of feeding Swifts on the Cuckmere as they flew within a few feet of me, watching half a dozen Gannets dive for food just of Birling Gap, listening to the impossibly sad calls of a pair of Whimbrel from the cliffs south of Crowlink, and being 'led' away from ten ducklings by an anxious Shelduck at the Cuckmere scrape.
Anyway, I have managed to select my top five Wildlife Wonders of Whitsun 2016.
#5
Wall Lizard, Holywell Eastbourne, Sunday 5th June.
I had read that this introduced species had reached Eastbourne. Saw two of these marvellous green Lizards basking in the morning sun.
#4
Male and female Bullfinches, Old Lodge Ashdown Forest, Wednesday 1St June.
Always exciting to see these shy birds. Lovely view just before a very heavy rain storm.
#3
A Badger in our garden, Hill Road Eastbourne, Wednesday 2nd June.
We were pretty confident the established track across the garden was a Badger track. Really thrilling to see one. It now feeds nightly at the backdoor, but if it feels the peanut ration is too small it trashes the bean plants.
#2
The Gull and Tern breeding colony, Rye Harbour, Saturday 4th June.
The sound and smell of this spectacle began before I was within sight of it, such is the incredible intensity of it. Black-headed and Mediterranean Gulls with Common, Sandwich and Little Terns. Chicks everywhere and everything goes mad if an adult bird returns with a fish.
Common Terns
Black-headed Gull chicks
Sandwich Terns
#1
Crossbills, Old Lodge Ashdown Forest, Wednesday 1St June.
After many previous visits I finally managed to see these mythical, to me, birds. Vocal, gregarious little parrot like birds with the crazy crossed beak.
Female Crossbill
Male Crossbill
Friday, 3 June 2016
Introduction
This is the blog for Not Badger, amateur naturalist, professional Science teacher and full time nature botherer.
I live in Eastbourne, East Sussex on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
This blog will record my sightings and photographs from the local area, and further afield. It will also detail progress with my many bird lists, which broadly synchronise with school terms and holidays. Currently I get excited about seeing a Bluetit 12 times a year! 
I live in Eastbourne, East Sussex on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
This blog will record my sightings and photographs from the local area, and further afield. It will also detail progress with my many bird lists, which broadly synchronise with school terms and holidays. Currently I get excited about seeing a Bluetit 12 times a year!
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