Page 14 - Out Birding Winter 2023

chalk downland is rich in them in summer, but usually by the first week of September numbers, both of species and individuals, have waned from earlier in the season.
However, this year we were treated to excellent numbers of Meadow Browns and Small Heaths with plenty of Common Blue and Chalkhill Blue (including a pair ‘in cop’, as lepidopterists coyly say, the ‘cop’ short for ‘copulation’), a few Adonis Blue and Small Copper, plus a Brimstone, Red Admiral and Brown Argus.
It paid to keep checking the bushes, too, where there were a couple of Stonechat, a few Willow Warbler, a couple of Blackcap and Whitethroat, while in the tree tops around the Cissbury Plantation there were probably double figures of Spotted Flycatcher launching themselves up in vertical forays.
To add to the migrant haul, about five Yellow Wagtail flew over, there was a brief showing of a Redstart, and there were flights of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin where in some years we struggle to register one or two.
This trip always turns into something of a nature ramble, with delicate centaury and eyebright flowers to augment our animal sightings, while views across to the distant Isle of Wight showed we were fortunate with the clarity of the air as well as the Indian summer weather.
Back down for Simon’s legendary buffet lunch, and we went home happy with Sandra and Linda’s rock cakes pocketed for our teas.
Adrian
What Bird? Answers to August’s quiz.
Goosander
Quiz Answers
What Bird?
1. Mandarin (F)
2. Lapland Bun􏰀ng
3. (L) Pink – footed Goose
(R) Bean Goose
4. Common Scoter (F)
5. Spo􏰁ed Redshank
Iceland Gull (immature)
Bits of Garden Birds
Mistle Thrush
A. Blackbird
B. House Sparrow C. Long-tailed Tit D.PiedWagtail
E. Blue Tit
F. Robin
G. Starling
H. Greenfinch I. Chaffinch
J. Goldfinch
K. Wren
L. Song Thrush
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