I had a brilliant day in the company of AJG at Ashdown Forest seeing the Short-toed Eagle that has been present there for a few days. While waiting for it to leave its roost a couple of Woodlarks were singing, also some Tree Pipits, Willow Warblers were constantly singing and seemed numerous, there were a few flyover Redpolls and some Coal Tits the first I have seen this year(I must get off the marsh more often). The bird eventually left its roost site near Long car park soon after 10.00 A.M. flying around for a few minutes before disappearing over the horizon towards Gills Lap, where it was relocated and put on a fine display for the best part of a couple hours, hovering high over the valley, sometimes dropping towards the ground and on at least one occasion catching what appeared to be a small snake. A Buzzard drifted in and harried and tussled with the eagle showing the obvious size difference.
It was great to see so many familiar faces and catch up with some of my old Sussex birding friends.
This afternoon we dropped into Old Lodge where we found a couple of Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Redstarts, 7+ Woodlarks, Blackcaps and more Willow Warblers.
Tussling with a Common Buzzard!
The Short-toed Eagle was most of the time fairly distant and the light was awful!
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