Tag: Newlands Corner

With no rain forecast eleven of us assembled under cloudy skies at Newlands Corner car park. Our first stop at the view to the south gave us several Whitethroat, a Buzzard and the sounds of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Chaffinch; then came our first glimpses of Swifts, Swallows and a couple of House Martins. The ever-present Skylarks were singing above the cereal field on our descent to the farm.  Around the farm buildings were two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Dunnock, while perched along the telegraph poles were House Sparrow, Whitethroat and Goldfinch with young while House Martins & Swallows flitted above. Ascending the bridle path, we heard our first Goldcrest in pines on the left and saw a flighty flock of a dozen or more Stock Doves briefly on the ground opposite. Two Linnets were obligingly perched on fencing to our right, another ascending Skylark, then a flock of busy Starlings, a Red Kite and more hirundines overhead. Crossing White Lane and on up the sandy rise of St Martha’s Hill, we heard Blackcap, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and then our first singing Firecrest. No clear sight of it but the pause afforded a view of recently fledged Wrens being fed by a parent. Then we enjoyed an eye-level encounter with a soaring Buzzard at the top of the hill and a pit stop in the churchyard of St Martha’s, accompanied by a Yehudi Menuhin School violinist playing inside. On our descent from the church through Rhododendrons, a Nuthatch purported to be a Treecreeper. Then several Goldcrests were heard territorially singing in the large conifers.  Another singing Firecrest could be heard at the corner of White Lane while a Crow was seen angrily mobbing a Sparrowhawk.

Ascending again next to beautifully laid Hawthorn hedge, keen eyes spotted a Painted Lady butterfly in the scrubby field. An elusive Green Woodpecker was heard and another Buzzard soared above the millionaires’ houses. Back out onto the slope below Newlands Corner an extremely well-camouflaged Dingy Skipper was spotted and then then a Six Spot Burnet moth and a possible Small Heath butterfly in the now warm sunshine. In the woods amongst the ancient Yews and Oaks we made a final attempt to spot Bullfinch, Hawfinch or Marsh Tit, but not today. Clear views of another Sparrowhawk overhead then a final stop on the Yew Tree Project boardwalk for some “forest bathing”.  A Green-Veined White butterfly was spotted on route back up to the car park. It was very pleasant walk in beautiful surroundings. Total number of bird species seen or heard was 36.

As a light spatter of rain stopped almost on the dot of 10 am, fifteen members headed south from the Newlands Corner car park towards St Martha’s Hill and church in the distance. A short stop below allowed good views of a couple of Whitethroats, a single Linnet, a preening Jay and the continuing call of a Chaffinch. At the foot of the slope a singing Skylark was seen ascending from the barley field below and further views of multiple Skylarks were enjoyed through the descent through the field towards the farm. The only, very distant Cuckoo of the walk was heard from the direction of Albury. The farm and its buildings gave Swallows, House Martins, House Sparrows & views of a distant Buzzard. Along the footpath adjacent to a coniferous plantation there where views of a singing Blackcap, the tail-ends of two Green Woodpeckers, a Nuthatch and a Kestrel fly-past. Over the fallen tree and across the road ascending up to St Martha’s, the first Firecrest was heard but, as was the theme for the entire walk, sadly not seen. The pit stop at the top by the church was sound-tracked by a wheezing Greenfinch and a displaying Whitethroat, while three Buzzards circled and called overhead. During the descent from the Church into the tall pines, there were several more singing Firecrests and at least one Goldcrest. Nice views of a Chiffchaff dispatching a juicy caterpillar were followed by a fleeting glimpse by a few of a streak of grey through the pines. Minutes later a Sparrowhawk was flap-flap-gliding in a gap of blue sky right above. The meander back up to the chalk grassland slope into the woods was quiet, and a last attempt at spotting a vocal Firecrest was to no avail. A final detour down to the newly installed Yew Tree Project boardwalk gave a final boost to morale among the ancient trees! It was an excellent walk of great views, kind skies and frustratingly elusive Firecrests. The final final tally was 34 species.