Siskins at Fitzlea and Barrows exposed on Lavington Common

There were at least three Buzzards circling about at various times during the walk.  On Lavington Common a possible Snipe took off - or was it a Woodcock?  A Green Woodpecker was very noisy.

A lot of trees have been cleared on Lavington Common and the southern half has had a brush cutter over it, exposing the barrows.  We were a bit surprised that there were four of them.  Are these the ones that Miss Keefe excavated?  (no, they were not.  Miss Keefe published an excavation of barrows on Iping Common, but P does remember her father meeting Miss K there to discuss them) It seems odd now that the Forestry Commision would have been allowed to plant trees all over them, or that they would even consider it a good idea.  Thank goodness attitudes have changed and the policy now is to expose the archaeology so that people can see it.

There were a few Snowdrops in flower on Graffham Common and at Fitzlea Pond we saw Siskins on the Alder trees in company with a flock of Goldfinches. No sign of the Gadwall that we saw there last year.