A respectable group of 20 assembled at Newlands Corner for a “lovely walk with added birds”. Pausing on the slope below gave us our first of several singing Chaffinches heard on the walk, as well as perched Whitethroat, skulking Blackcap and ever-present Chiffchaff. Descending through the cereal field to the farmhouse, we were rewarded with views of the Skylarks we could hear, including two having a squabble over land rights near to the barn. Passing the chicken coop to the sounds of chirping House Sparrows flitting in and out of the hedgerow, a Green Woodpecker was heard in the adjacent field. Along the sandy path, no sign of the Green Woodpecker until one member of the group saw it fly into a dip in the grass, but it was sadly not then visible to us all. Fledged tits peeped from the hedgerow, and we paused to enjoy low-flying Swallows darting over the long grass. 

Crossing the road and climbing to St Martha’s was quiet but for the urgent piping of a young Great Spotted Woodpecker demanding to be fed, a parent bird duly flying in with something tasty. Our slow and steady ascent to the Church was rewarded with another stunning view and a refreshment break. 

Some of the group had seen a Red Kite, and in the churchyard a Greenfinch wheezed, a noisy Whitethroat sang, and a Pied Wagtail hopped among the gravestones. Descending from the Church, a Buzzard in flight was seen through treetops, some briefly heard the song of a Willow Warbler, and another noisy G S Woodpecker was being tended to by its parent. Through the Rhododendrons and a second Green Woodpecker yaffled. Then a quiet but unmistakable “Cronk” of a Raven – two in fact, one perched above for the group to see (possibly a juvenile) before both flew off but remained close by. 

Weaving through the tall sequoias, the group remained quiet for the sound of either Gold or Firecrest. Nothing at first, but we were rewarded with at least 5 singing Firecrests in close proximity, with glimpses of 2 of them flitting in the foliage. Onward and climbing again, along the hawthorn-hedged path, some of us saw our first Swifts and House Martins of the day. Emerging back out onto the chalk grassland slope, Skylarks were still singing and a solitary Swift darted above our heads. A brazen Fox sat out in full view, ignoring 2 disgruntled Magpies. 

Entering the ancient Yew woodland finally gave us a Goldcrest, a vocal Coal Tit and a perched Buzzard which flew off low through the trees then called above us as it circled away. A quick detour onto the Yew Project boardwalk to hug a tree and our walk ended with 34 species seen or heard.