Eastbourne Group - March Events

David Beer

Fortunately, our two walks coincided with two of the warmest days of the month. A spring walk in Abbot’s Wood is always a treat and this year did not disappoint. There was plenty of birdsong and good sightings of Chaffinches, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Buzzards and Long-tailed Tits. We counted ten Brimstone Butterflies in the warm sunshine and Celandines, Primroses and Hazel catkins provided some colour.

Our second walk was at Seaford Head and we were blessed with clear blue skies. As we walked towards Hope Gap numerous Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Skylarks were in full voice. Two Kestrels were busy hunting for voles in the long grass and looking out to sea, and several flights of Brent Geese were seen moving East. A Common Seal kept us entertained, especially when it surfaced with a large fish in its jaws. There were still numerous Wigeon, Shelduck, Canada Geese, a few Greater Black-Backed Gulls and a small group of Curlew in the wet meadows adjacent to the Cuckmere. As we strolled back to the car park, the cacophony of sound from the numerous Rooks was interrupted by the drumming of Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Our monthly evening talk was delivered by Phil Gardner who gave a wonderfully illustrated account of the flora and fauna of the Stubai Valley in Austria. Stunning photographs of the Alpine flowers and the dramatic mountainous landscape together with amusing anecdotes resulted in a very entertaining evening.