Eastbourne group April event

David Beer

Our first April event was a walk through Friston Forest. Twenty members assembled in the Litlington Road Car Park just as the heavens opened. Fortunately it quickly blew through and we enjoyed the chorus of Chiffchaffs, Chaffinches, Wrens, Blackbirds and a very vocal Nuthatch. Further along the footpath colleagues gained good sightings of Blackcaps, Long Tailed Tits and a Buzzard. Early spring flowers such as Primroses, Violets, Herb Robert, Celandines and Blackthorn provided some much needed colour on a grey day and a single Cowslip hinted at warmer days to come.

On the 18th of the month we welcomed Dr Geoffrey Mead to Eldon Road Baptist Church to present an illustrated talk on ‘What is Landscape?’ His excellent talk explained how we view landscapes through literature, music, art and cartography. He explained how landscapes have changed over time and many examples were taken from the South Downs and the Weald. I am sure that as we all set out on walks this Spring we will spend more time observing the countryside and deciding what factors have been in important in creating the fabulous landscapes of East Sussex and beyond.

On Saturday 18th April a large group met at Arlington Reservoir for a circular walk around the reserve. As we assembled we were treated to a fabulous hovering Kestrel directly above our heads. Great Crested Grebes were pairing up on the water and there was a heathy collection of Cormorants, Tufted Ducks, Mallards and Canada Geese. As we entered the woodland Blackcaps, Song Thrushes, and Chiffchaffs dominated the sound waves. Blue Tits, along with Long Tailed Tits and Great Tits were busy in the tree canopy and as we walked along the top of the dam a handful of Swallows and House Martins skimmed over the surface of the water. On the woodland floor Bluebells and Stitchwort created a spectacular carpet of colour. The catkins of Goat Willow trees were alive with Bumble Bees. As we returned to the car park we were treated to the sound of a Reed Warbler competing with the Rooks from their colony across the road.