Steyning Downland Scheme

During the setting up in the morning 2 Buzzards came over, then another 3;
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard calling one along the Mill Stream the other in the Beech woods A Parrott seemed to be the highlight for many, of a indeterminate species and almost certainly an escapee. At the end of our walk it perched obligingly on a dead tree branch for all to see.
During the day the following birds were seen or heard; House Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest ( In 2 locations), Nuthatch, Jay, Swallow, Grey Heron, ( seen flying over), Magpie, Carrion Crow, Green Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Linnet and Goldfinch were about in various localities, but mainly near the stubble. The best for me and found on our walk around were the 4 Spotted Flycatchers seen along the hedge that runs from the Beech wood track to the Rifle range track all perched on the dead trees, using them as look out posts to pounce on any unsuspecting flies!
It was in all a very pleasant day, with a lot of people taking interest in the birds and surroundings

A short walk around this P.m. from Mouse Lane to the RR
Nice flock of Blue and Great tits with a Treecreper and some Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers along side the Mill Pond. A few goldfinches were in the tree tops A flock of about 40 pre - migratory House Martins were flying about over the pond and field with a couple of Swallows. Great Spotted Woodpeckers were found in 3 seperate locations. I went up the west slope and back down the Beech Wood track, a flock of 20 or so Chaffiches flew up from the stubble into the hedge , Goldfinches about here as well. Cut back across the field to Mill pond along the big hedge with the dead trees and found some Blackcaps feeding on blackberries, more Chiffs and Willow Warblers here also.

I completed the second survey of the area on Thursday A.M starting at the old NTC hut. The mill Pond Area the most productive with 2 Chiffchaff, Blackcap (2) Yellowhammer, moving up, by there were whitethroat, another 2 yellowhammer in the low scrub to the nort side of teh Rifle range, further on up the Beechwood path were, Great Spotted Wdpkr, another Blackcap and Bullfinch, near the top a Goldcrest and another Great Spot; along the top path to the chalk pit 3 Skylark. near the pit another Whitethroat, Another productive area around the Beech hanger with lots of common birds; Chaffinches, Blue and Great tits and another Goldcrest. The track down to Spring Meadows produced a flock of young Long Tailed Tits and a Lesser Whitethroat near Spring Meadows Barn. Loads of Wrens , Robins Blackbirds and Song Thrushes; Dunnocks all the way round.

Six people joined me at 7.00am for the early morning bird walk. At the start of the walk near the old NTC hut, a male Whitethroat put on a display, urging us to move on, he was in no uncertain terms warning us off! From this point Chiffchaff (3), could be heard in chorus with the local Robins, Wrens and Dunnocks, which were present all round our walk. A Green woodpecker was seen clinging to one of the dead trees in the old hedge row that separates a pasture field from an arable one. One member of the group picked out a Kestrel perched on another tree. Blackcaps (3) were also singing from the Willow scrub that fringes the Mill pond. A brood of Blackbirds were hopping clumsily about in some branches, demanding to be fed, a number of Song Thrushes were also in full flow.
Whitethroats were also found in a number of other locations and a Lesser Whitethroats at the top of the Spring Meadows track. Some Starling had occupied a hole in tree in the hedge adjoining Spring Meadows.
Another Green Woodpecker was seen probing the ground in the bank below the path. Blue and Great Tits were seen around a couple of the new nest boxes in the scrub beside the lower horseshoe, and a Goldcrest was heard.

The first Swallow arrived on 5th April and a Barn Owl corpse was found on the Rifle Range. Unusual as they are not seen often here. On finer days there are quite a few Brimstone Butterflies about along with Peacock and a couple of Comma. Primroses, Wood Anemones and Bluebells are in full flower. We have a colony of Sanicle (Sanicula Europara) in the woods. Its not that rare but is an interesting woodland plant as it was dried and used as a cure for diarrhoea and dysentery. The dry herb was infused in wine overnight. There are also records of it being used during childbirth to assist the expulsion of the placenta.

The blackbirds and robins are enjoying the good weather. A number of blue tits are nesting in the garden and we got a surprise visit from a lesser spotted woodpecker.

I saw a beautiful young green woodpecker on the approach to Lancing college