Old Lodge NR, Ashdown Forest, East Sussex ... 26th Feb 2012

A long overdue return to Old Lodge Nature Reserve provided us with superb views of a RED KITE drifting off to the east. A shame that my camera settings were all wrong today!





A couple of Ravens were calling but remained unseen, as did a calling fly-over Crossbill.
Lesser Redpolls were in evidence with at least 30 birds seen.

Five Woodlarks were a nice sight, with one in song-flight. To me, the Woodlark has the most beautiful song of any bird in the UK, even better than the Nightingale.





Many Coal Tits and Goldcrests in the conifers and 3 Nuthatches, 2 Skylarks, a male Reed Bunting and a male Bullfinch made up the best of the rest.

At least 25 Fallow Deer were present around the reserve and over at nearby Pippingford Park.





Wood Ants are already extremely active with one huge nest crawling with thousands of the little blighters.



Graham & Sue James