We noted 23 species of birds on a brisk walk up the riverbank on a freezing cold day. Despite the cold, we heard a Dunnock singing for the first time this year. Meadow Pipits were out in numbers and there were a few winter thrushes about. Nearly 50 Greylag flew north in small groups, presumably from the Beeding fishponds.
JW contacted me to report no less than 6 Goldcrest on Steyning Downland Scheme. Two Buzzards were in a tree over the targets and there was a small flock of Fieldfares about.
19 January 2017
Teal were on the Lower Pond, and Green Woodpecker on the Rifle Range, but apart from that it was very quiet in the late afternoon. However, we did see that the Dexters were all at the top of the north side of the Rifle Range where the sun was still shining. The south side was in deep shade and still covered in frost. No wonder the north side is being grazed down more than the south side.
On the way over we looked in the mill stream where it emerges by the Star Inn. The water was clear and fast flowing (after recent rain) and we counted nine trout and what might well have been a redd.
On the way back we crossed Clays Field and were astonished to put up a pair of Snipe from the middle of the field. We have not been around Clays Field for some time and were surprised by the amount of Reedmace (Bulrush) invading the pond.
Finally, on the corner we saw a single early violet. I do not know what spp.
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