Hastings Country Park Walk with Paul James

Half a dozen of us met with Paul James for a walk around Hastings Country Park, at the headland we saw many birds on the move overhead- flocks of siskin, goldfinches, meadow pipits, linnetts, redpolls and pied wagtails, though some were just dots in the sky the experienced birders recognised them by sound. We walked on into the quarry down Barley Lane past Barn Pond through Fairlight Glen back up Warren Glen and then to the car park. Species of note seen were Green and Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Chiff Chaff, Long Tailed Tits, Yellow Hammer, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, some but not all saw Treecreeper and Ring Ouzel. A Firecrest and a Bullfinch were heard.

After lunch we then went onto Carter's Flood as a Glossy Ibis had been seen there the 2 previous days. Fortunately on arrival someone already there put us in the right direction and we all got a reasonable view. Also seen were a couple of siskin in a flock of goldfinches, several stonechats and a kingfisher. (Later in the day Paula, Frank and I returned to the hide, to see the Glossy Ibis fly to the opposite side of the lake and give really good views next to a Grey Heron and Little Egret) Further up the canal we visited Pannel Valley, but the water level was so low that there wasn't a single bird to be seen.

The party then down to just 3 went onto Pett Pools as the recent rain had put a slight covering over the recently dried mud. The 8 resident Grey Herons were hoping for a fish to swim by (they have got a long wait) but amoungst the several hundred Lapwing a Black Tailed Godwit was feeding alongside 4 Redshank.