Lullington Heath

My first Whitethroat of the year.

Linnets

Wild Garlic

Duxford

Pied Wagtail

Rook

Garden

Coal Tit. This species has recently colonised the woodland around Hill Road.

Arlington Bluebells

Nuthatch

Wood Anenome and Bluebells

Rye Harbour

Always an amazing place to visit. The Black-headed Gulls were very busy establishing breeding sites.

Terns

Dunlin

Mediterranean Gull

Black-headed Gull

Avocet

West Rise Marsh

Water levels were quite high, though the ground was dry. I counted 38 species including Snipe, Lapwing and Curlew (a first for me at this site).

Starling

Stonechat

A characteristically hidden male Reed Bunting

Bexhill High Woods

Bexhill High Woods was full of birdsong, the weather having got a little warmer. The displays of Wood Anemones  was glorious.

Brimstone Moth, Opisthograptis luteolata.

Cuckmere near Littlington

At last, the weather turned.

  Rock Pipit

 Female Chaffinch

Meadow Pipit

Cuckmere Haven

A cold and bright day with a cutting easterly wind. Passage waders in the valley despite the number of visitors. I saw Greenshank, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover and Kentish Plover. The latter was a lifetime first, though a rather distant and unrewarding view. I also saw a Water Pipit on the river and a pair of Corn Bunting near the scrape.

Greenshank. The first one I have seen in this country this year, having already seen then overwintering on the coast in Gambia.

Birling Gap

Still cold, but out of the wind it was very pleasant at Birling Gap in the sun.

 Dunnock

A rain shower on Seaford Head

Old Lodge

A lovely spring visit to Old lodge in Ashdown Forest. Lots of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler calling, plus my first Siskin, Treecreeper and Woodlark of the year.

 Wren

A stand of conifers in the sun

Pulborough Brooks

A delightful spring visit to Pulborough Brooks today. I saw nothing particularly remarkable, but did manage 51 species, including all three common hirundines. The Lapwing that have stayed are settling down to nest. Several Mediterranean Gulls moved through, as did two Red Kites. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs competed to be the most numerous bird, and I was pleased to see a Bullfinch.

 Male House Sparrows

 Greenfinch

 Jay

 Blackthorn blossom

 Male and female Teal

 Chiffchaff

 Nuthatch

 Speckled Wood

Pheasant, male at the top.