Eastbourne Group Walk at Arlington Reservoir

By David Beer

Eastbourne group committee member

Yesterday morning twenty Sussex Wildlife Trust members met at Arlington Reservoir for an early spring walk. Despite the strong and gusty wind thirty six bird species were identified. Highlights included a mistle thrush heard calling and then perched high in a tree, redwing, fieldfare and meadow pipits. No British bird declares the arrival of spring so recognisably and insistently as the chiffchaff. We all heard at least one and some of us were lucky enough to see them nervously moving from branch to branch in the willow scrub.

It was good to see some early spring flowers with plenty of lesser celandine on the grassy banks and the odd patch of violets, ground ivy, chickweed and primrose. The white blossom of blackthorn brightened up the hedges and goat willow catkins looked to be loaded with pollen. A loan peacock in prime condition made the lepidopterists smile. It was an enjoyable walk in good company despite the slightly testing conditions