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Latest news and sightings from Feathers, Salehurst
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Friday, 19 June 2015
Owl Display, Beer & BBQ - Sat 18th July, Salehurst, East Sussex
Hosted by Feathers Wild Bird Care & Busters Farm Produce
Owl Display by Owls About Town
Stalls from Hawke Optics, Vanguard Sporting Optics, The Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and The RSPB
Browse our range of binoculars online
June Birding
June is normally one of our busiest months of the year, both in the shop and for birds on the feeders, as all the fledglings arrive in gardens. It seems this year is significantly quieter, very few Blue Tits or Great Tits, the Sparrows are busy but not a whole load of youngsters, the Starling youngsters were out in May and have slowed down too. The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have brought one juvenile in though, which is always nice to watch, and the Nuthatches are certainly regular at the minute too.
A brief but nice surprise in the Nature Area was a male Blackcap, just staying long enough for Allan to get a nice photo.
Unfortunately the Spotted Flycatcher's attempt to breed was unsuccessful, the nest was built but then destroyed, presumably by a corvid or rat. A big disappointment for us as they now haven't bred here for the past 3 years.
The Pied Wagtails didn't breed in the same place as last year and so far we have seen no young, though they are seemingly now gathering nesting material so we're keeping watch on that.
The Kestrels, however, did breed in the same place again as the Church tower evidently provides a safe home. Though we haven't kept up with their progress as well this year, they are certainly very active now and it seems the young are out flying now, though not venturing too far from the safety of the Church, particularly as the Jackdaws give them a lot of grief!
Allan had an unusual event in his garden recently as an adult Great Tit was feeding a couple of baby Blue Tits. This is known as cross-species feeding and according to the linked BTO article can be down to a number of factors, including mixed clutches and nest failure.
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| Adult Male (left) and juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Unfortunately the Spotted Flycatcher's attempt to breed was unsuccessful, the nest was built but then destroyed, presumably by a corvid or rat. A big disappointment for us as they now haven't bred here for the past 3 years.
The Pied Wagtails didn't breed in the same place as last year and so far we have seen no young, though they are seemingly now gathering nesting material so we're keeping watch on that.
The Kestrels, however, did breed in the same place again as the Church tower evidently provides a safe home. Though we haven't kept up with their progress as well this year, they are certainly very active now and it seems the young are out flying now, though not venturing too far from the safety of the Church, particularly as the Jackdaws give them a lot of grief!
Allan had an unusual event in his garden recently as an adult Great Tit was feeding a couple of baby Blue Tits. This is known as cross-species feeding and according to the linked BTO article can be down to a number of factors, including mixed clutches and nest failure.
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| Cross-species feeding: Adult Great Tit feeding fledgling Blue Tit |
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Spotted Flycatcher
In 2013, the Spotted Flycatchers investigated the nest site they had used previously but disappeared without attempting to breed and in 2014, we only spotted one a couple of times during the summer. So this year we were hoping they would return to breed once more, as unlikely as it seemed. Much to our delight, Allan spotted one by the Oast House on the 27th May and a pair together on the following day. They have now built a good nest which will hopefully withstand any further miserable weather we seem to have been getting recently. They're not always around the nest site at the minute and are obviously venturing further afield to find food, and after having last week off, I'm now back and hoping to get a few nice pics. Today's fine weather presented my first opportunity and Allan has taken some nice pictures too.
The Oast House is also home to a pair of Blue Tits, at least one pair of Wrens and numerous House Sparrows. The Blue Tits in the nest box in the nature area fledged late in May.
The Oast House is also home to a pair of Blue Tits, at least one pair of Wrens and numerous House Sparrows. The Blue Tits in the nest box in the nature area fledged late in May.
Friday, 15 May 2015
Breeding Season Progress
This time last year we had young Starlings, young Siskins and young Pied Wagtails out of the nest, even the Blue Tits weren't far behind, as a mild winter led to an early breeding season.
This year, the Siskins never showed up, the Pied Wagtails have chosen to breed elsewhere as have the Starlings, though the latter are very active on the feeders now, so I'd expect they are breeding nearby and will bring their youngsters in soon. The Blue Tits recently fledged in the nest box as the adults are now making regular visits with food, putting their fledging date somewhere around the end of the month. The pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, which rarely used the feeders over winter, are back to nibbling peanuts in to small pieces to take away. One pair of the ever promiscuous Dunnocks are now parents, with at least a couple of babies lingering in the relative safety of the shrubs outside the shop.
Last weekend a pair of House Martins returned to one of the nests on the farm house. Compared to the numbers from 5 years ago, it seems there are very few now. The nests are still there, so what the reason is for their local decline I'm not sure. Fortunately the Swifts are back in relatively good numbers, the first of them arriving on the 8th May, a week or so later than 2014.
This year, the Siskins never showed up, the Pied Wagtails have chosen to breed elsewhere as have the Starlings, though the latter are very active on the feeders now, so I'd expect they are breeding nearby and will bring their youngsters in soon. The Blue Tits recently fledged in the nest box as the adults are now making regular visits with food, putting their fledging date somewhere around the end of the month. The pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, which rarely used the feeders over winter, are back to nibbling peanuts in to small pieces to take away. One pair of the ever promiscuous Dunnocks are now parents, with at least a couple of babies lingering in the relative safety of the shrubs outside the shop.
Last weekend a pair of House Martins returned to one of the nests on the farm house. Compared to the numbers from 5 years ago, it seems there are very few now. The nests are still there, so what the reason is for their local decline I'm not sure. Fortunately the Swifts are back in relatively good numbers, the first of them arriving on the 8th May, a week or so later than 2014.
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| Swift |
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| House Martin |
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| Fledgling Dunnock |
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| Busy Blue Tit |
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| Male Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
Recent Sightings
Though we have seen Swallows and House Martins on a few occasions this Spring, there has been little or no interest in their previous nest sites around the farm. One Swallow briefly investigated the workshop and the House Martins are, well, they're just not around. I'm still hoping at least a few pairs will return to the farm house where they have nested in good numbers in the 5 years we have now been here. The Swifts simply aren't back yet.
Most days you can expect to hear Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest from around the car park. The Treecreeper at the weekend, however, was a pleasant surprise and not a common visitor at the minute.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is drumming regularly and has just started to pop back on to the feeders outside the shop every now and then, having hardly been using them over the winter.
Our first fledgling of the year was a Blackbird, photographed on the 1st of the month though it's evidently been out of the nest a while longer judging by it's behaviour and feathers.
There are a good few Starlings now using the feeders outside the shop, particularly the suet cake which is now lasting less than a day. I would think (like at home) their nestlings are ravenous and may well emerge in around a weeks time. The Blue Tits are probably a bit further behind, one pair has taken up residency again in the nest box in the Nature Area, though they're not bringing in food yet so most likely sitting on eggs.
On a subnote, our binoculars are now in a Spring Sale, go check it out! www.shop.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk
Most days you can expect to hear Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest from around the car park. The Treecreeper at the weekend, however, was a pleasant surprise and not a common visitor at the minute.
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is drumming regularly and has just started to pop back on to the feeders outside the shop every now and then, having hardly been using them over the winter.
Our first fledgling of the year was a Blackbird, photographed on the 1st of the month though it's evidently been out of the nest a while longer judging by it's behaviour and feathers.
There are a good few Starlings now using the feeders outside the shop, particularly the suet cake which is now lasting less than a day. I would think (like at home) their nestlings are ravenous and may well emerge in around a weeks time. The Blue Tits are probably a bit further behind, one pair has taken up residency again in the nest box in the Nature Area, though they're not bringing in food yet so most likely sitting on eggs.
On a subnote, our binoculars are now in a Spring Sale, go check it out! www.shop.featherswildbirdcare.co.uk
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
My date with nature
The RSPB have started a project called 'A date with nature', the idea to encourage more people to get outdoors, specifically to their fantastic Nature Reserves. Many of these dates are free to attend and are a great way to encourage children to get outside and appreciate wildlife. For me, looking closer to home can be just as rewarding, if not even more so as you stumble across something that perhaps no one has found before...
On a brief dog walk in one of the many local woods a couple of days ago, I was delighted to hear my first Nightingale of the year. The next morning I went back with my camera, daughter and dog to discover it in exactly the same place, singing again at the top of his voice from deep within the coppice. Add in the sound of many Song Thrushes, Wrens and Nuthatches, a Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest and a mewing Buzzard circling low overhead, I was in my element and pleased to be able to show my 3 year old such a selection, even if she didn't really feel the same elation I felt (and really just wanted to splash in the stream).
That evening I went back alone, my very own date with nature and a very memorable one it turned out to be. A Buzzard sitting on a fence post in the adjacent field was being harassed by Mistle Thrushes and Blackbirds which drew my attention towards it. Having never taken a decent picture of a perched Buzzard, I was off to a great start. Back on the path, a fox strolled across down at the bottom of the hill, either unaware or not bothered by my presence. Nuthatches, Goldcrests and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker were around on the way to the coppice, where again I was graced by the birdsong of the Nightingale along with many others. A fly by Hobby, another first for the year, darted by overhead, disturbing the melodic evening chorus and causing a stir.
A few years ago I was shown a Tawny Owl nest box in use at the bottom of the woods, but having entered a different way I was unsure as to its whereabouts. My unsuccessful search for the box was not a waste of time, however, as I spotted a badger near its sett. Though it at first spotted me and went back down, I decided to wait as the light dimmed for it to emerge once more. The next half an hour was spent being entertained by 3 badgers snuffling around in the bluebells, one making its way up their track towards the very path I was squatted down on. It briefly stopped about 50 yards away, before spotting me and darting across to the other side. Though my photos are nothing to be proud of, my date with nature was completely enchanting and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again!
On a brief dog walk in one of the many local woods a couple of days ago, I was delighted to hear my first Nightingale of the year. The next morning I went back with my camera, daughter and dog to discover it in exactly the same place, singing again at the top of his voice from deep within the coppice. Add in the sound of many Song Thrushes, Wrens and Nuthatches, a Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest and a mewing Buzzard circling low overhead, I was in my element and pleased to be able to show my 3 year old such a selection, even if she didn't really feel the same elation I felt (and really just wanted to splash in the stream).
That evening I went back alone, my very own date with nature and a very memorable one it turned out to be. A Buzzard sitting on a fence post in the adjacent field was being harassed by Mistle Thrushes and Blackbirds which drew my attention towards it. Having never taken a decent picture of a perched Buzzard, I was off to a great start. Back on the path, a fox strolled across down at the bottom of the hill, either unaware or not bothered by my presence. Nuthatches, Goldcrests and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker were around on the way to the coppice, where again I was graced by the birdsong of the Nightingale along with many others. A fly by Hobby, another first for the year, darted by overhead, disturbing the melodic evening chorus and causing a stir.
A few years ago I was shown a Tawny Owl nest box in use at the bottom of the woods, but having entered a different way I was unsure as to its whereabouts. My unsuccessful search for the box was not a waste of time, however, as I spotted a badger near its sett. Though it at first spotted me and went back down, I decided to wait as the light dimmed for it to emerge once more. The next half an hour was spent being entertained by 3 badgers snuffling around in the bluebells, one making its way up their track towards the very path I was squatted down on. It briefly stopped about 50 yards away, before spotting me and darting across to the other side. Though my photos are nothing to be proud of, my date with nature was completely enchanting and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again!
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| Common Buzzard |
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| Nightingale |
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| Hobby |
Friday, 17 April 2015
First Spring Sighting Dates 2015
2015 Spring Migrant first arrival dates at Feathers, Salehurst, East Sussex
Swallow: 7th April
House Martin: 16th April
Swift: 8th May
Chiffchaff: 10th April
Blackcap: 12th April
Whitethroat: 23rd April
Cuckoo: 23rd April
Spotted Flycatcher: 27th May
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| Male Blackcap - 15th April 2015 |
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