Page 12 - Out Birding Issue 109 Winter 2022

Cissbury Ring 03/09/2022
Long-standing members will know that this is an annual staple of the GBC calendar, and has probably happened more 􏰀mes than any other event including Grand Get Togethers. In fact, there is documentary evidence, as Simon’s hallway is decorated with framed photographs of the par􏰀cipants on each and every Cissbury Ring event going back in history. On the basis of the sheer number of photos, the first event must actually have been held around the 􏰀me when Cissbury Ring was created as a Neolith- ic hill fort. Gosh, we looked so young back then!
For this year’s event, there was a southerly breeze and heavy cloud, and not even a Red Admiral or Speckled Wood bu􏰁erfly to break up the steep ascent to the ring. A flight of Swallows whistled over the top, but the bushes were empty of life.
But we are the GBC and we don’t give up without a good fight, so the dozen or so of us worked hard for a Whitethroat, a few Long-tailed Tits, an overhead Buzzard and a Chiffchaff.
A Sparrowhawk whistled through, presumably also cursing the lack of birds, but at last we found a couple of Common Redstarts, a Wheatear on top of a tree (yes, real- ly!), and a dapper black beetle called Harry. Why Harry? Well, if you can’t put a text- book name to something, they deserve a name nevertheless.
If the dearth of birds sounds a lot of toil for li􏰁le reward, that is to misunderstand the event. This is an ins􏰀tu􏰀on, a tradi􏰀on, marking a point in the year. It is about the pleasure of seeing the same site at the same 􏰀me and observing how things change between the lean years and those flush with goodies.
If we see some birds and bu􏰁erflies, great; if we don’t, it doesn’t ma􏰁er, for we all know we will end up at Simon and Mark’s for a hearty buffet, love and laughter among friends old and new.
Adrian
The legendary Cissbury Ring group photo 12