Having seen some good reports from Steyning Roundhill over the last few weeks, I thought I'd head up early am to try and see and hopefully photograph Skylark, Corn Bunting, and Yellowhammer. What I did not expect to see was my all time target species, a Firecrest. Having 'twitched' and failed to see a few birds in Sussex recently, I was most surprised to find my own, in the middle of the South Downs. The bird was locating a small patch of scrub just north of where the 2 tracks (leading of the Bostal Road) converge. At first I thought it was a wren but the very prominent eye patch and call (very similar to Goldcrest) without the end florish, gave it away. To top the walk, a very smart male Black Redstart then appeared!
Photos below (please click to view full screen). Hoping to get some better images of the Buntings over the spring months - unfortunately they are difficult birds to get close to to ensure the quality.
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Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)
Male Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) |
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