Spring birds at Ebernoe Common (Sussex Wildlife Trust)

Leader: Sarah Shepley (HNHS member)

On a beautiful spring morning 21 members visited Ebernoe Common with a view to see and hear birds, led by Sarah Shepley. The walk commenced in Furnace Field, which has a gorse thicket growing across the middle: an ideal habitat for Nightingales. Everybody was enthralled by the song, and the group were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of this little brown bird.

Walking across the field other birds were heard: a Whitethroat close by, in the distance a Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush, in the far distance a Cuckoo was calling, and in the next field Skylarks.
Moving into a wooded area, Linnets, a Buzzard and Chiffchaff were heard. The woods, having had quite a lot of recent tree felling, were full of Bluebells, Wood Anemones, Early Purple Orchids and violets.

Further on, Furnace Pond came into view, where Mallards showed us their latest hatching of ducklings, and a Grey Wagtail was insect hunting on the little bridge. Back by the car park we listened once again to the Firecrest that had welcomed us when we arrived some two hours before