Hill Road

On May Day, after returning from a damp morning at Jack in the Green in Hastings, I walked my local woodland along the scarp edge of the South Downs above Eastbourne. 

The view over Eastbourne from Beachy Brow.

Currently a Nightingale is singing regularly from the woods above Hill Road. Buzzards are calling repeatedly and seem likely to breed here again this summer. A pair of Green Woodpeckers are very vocal and active at the top of Foxholes Brow. In the scrub on the top the resident Stonechat, Linnet, Skylark, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Song Thrush and Blue Tit have been joined by Common Whitethroat.

Germander Speedwell, Beachy Brow.

Down in the woods plenty of Blackcap are singing, having joined the resident Treecreeper, Wren, Robin, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Goldcrest and Blackbird. A pair of Stock Dove continue to live just at the southern edge of Further Plantation, an area of ancient woodland, within the scarp woods. The Coal Tits that appeared in the woods in March appear to have moved on.

Cowslip, Beachy Brow.

The Sycamore are in full leaf, with Ash only just budding, though some leaves are visible on trees from more sheltered areas. In the woods Herb Robert and Bluebells are flowering, with a few patches of Celandine and Wood Anemone hanging on.

Early Purple Orchid, Beachy Brow.

I saw a pair of Magpies attempting to carry off a newly fledged Blackbird chick, but the persistent harrying from the adult birds meant it got away.

Twayblade growing in the woods surrounding Willingdon golf course.

A closer view of the Twayblade, showing the distinctive split green labellum.