hastings country park nature reserve hastings · the birds of hastings country park nature reserve....

the

of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve

Hastings Country ParkNature Reserve

hastings.org.uk

HCPNR Bird List.indd 1 14/03/2008 17:48:08

the

of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve

Hastings Country ParkNature Reserve

hastings.org.uk

HCPNR Bird List.indd 2-3 14/03/2008 17:48:10

The Birds of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve.

This booklet provides an annotated check list of the birds recorded in Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, as well as a summary of a typical birding year at the nature reserve.

A map of the nature reserve can be downloaded from wildhastings.org.uk or obtained from the visitor centre.

© Hastings Borough Council, 2008.

Text by Ian Standivan & Hastings Borough Council.Photos1 by Murray Davidson, Mali Halls, Bob Mazzer, Andy Phillips & Ian Standivan.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - Mali Halls

1 Cover photo - Peregrine by Ian Standivan.


Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica- Andy Phillipscontents

Introduction - 8A Birding Year - 12The Checklist - 18 Wildfowl-19 Pheasants&Partridges/Divers-21 Grebes/Petrels&Shearwaters-22 Gannets&Cormorants/Herons&Storks-24 BirdsofPrey-25 Rails&Crakes/Waders-27 Skuas/Gulls-30 Terns/Auks-32 Pigeons/Parrots/Cuckoos/Owls-33 Nightjars/Swifts/Kingfishers,Bee-eaters&Hoopoe-34 Woodpeckers-35 Larks/Swallows&Martins/Pipits&Wagtails-36 Wrens/Accentors/Chats&Flycatchers-39 Thrushes-40 GrassWarblers/Marsh&TreeWarblers-42 TrueWarblers/LeafWarblers-43 Crests/BeardedReedling/Long-tailedTits-44 Tits/Nuthatches/Treecreepers-46 Wallcreeper/Orioles/Shrikes/Crows-47 Starlings/TrueSparrows/TrueFinches-48 Buntings-50

Further Information - 52


introductionHastings Country Park Nature Reserve is a picturesque

area of coastal gill woodland, sandstone & clay cliffs, heathland and farmland. It sits within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. On clear days there are spectacular views overlooking the coastline from Beachy Head to Dungeness, and as far as Folkestone and France.

This stunning landscape has inspired many artists, including J.M.W. Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites.

The cliffs here are rich in fossils and have yielded many specimens of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, turtles, crocodiles and

plesiosaurs. This site is one of only a handful in the world to have produced early mammal fossils.

The nature reserve covers 345 hectares (853 acres) of coastal gill woodland, heathland, grassland and farmland together with five kilometres (three miles) of dramatic soft rock cliffs and coastline. Much of the area has been designated a Special Area of Conservation (S.A.C.) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I.) because of the presence of the special wildlife and geologically rich soft rock cliff and slope.

Most of the cliff-top area, and a smaller area of heathland at North’s Seat, were declared a country park under the 1968 Countryside Act in 1974.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla - Andy Phillips

8 �


Hastings Country Park and the adjacent Fairlight Place Farm were declared a local nature reserve (L.N.R.) in May 2006.

The reserve is also of archaeological importance because of the impressive number of archaeological finds and landmarks. A large area of East Hill is a scheduled ancient monument and much of the reserve has been identified as an area of archaeological interest.

The reserve is part of a network of seven local nature reserves and two proposed local nature reserves in Hastings. The other sites are Filsham Reedbed (part of Combe Haven S.S.S.I.), Marline Valley (part of Marline Valley S.S.S.I.), St Helens Wood, Old Roar Gill (part of Alexandra Park), Church Wood & Robsack Wood, and Summerfields Wood. Ponds Wood and South Saxons Wetlands are the two proposed local nature reserves.

A local nature reserve is a natural or semi-natural green

space, usually of national or county importance for ecology and/

or geology, which provides access to nature and environmental

education for the local population.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus - Mali Halls

10 11


LateWinterDuring January and February tree sparrows, corn buntings and brambling can sometimes be present amongst the flocks of yellowhammer and reed bunting that are usually present on the arable stubble fields along Barley Lane and behind the quarry.

Look out for barn owl, kestrel, peregrine and occasionally short-eared owl and merlin hunting over the grasslands and meadow. Snipe are also commonly seen feeding amongst damp areas within the farm fields.

Rock-a-nore beach is a good place to look for red-throated diver, great crested grebes, razorbills and guillemots wintering on the sea offshore and fulmars start to return to the cliffs behind the beach.

Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis - Andy Phillips

Spring&SummerFrom mid March to mid May summer migrants begin to appear. Wheatear, chiffchaff and sand martin are usually first to appear in March. Whitethroat, swallows, willow warbler, common redstart and pied flycatcher move through in April and by May swift and spotted flycatcher are amongst the last summer migrants to appear.

Offshore migration of wildfowl, waders, gulls, terns and skuas is best seen from Rock-a-nore beach and East Hill. Most spectacular are the large flocks of dark-bellied brent geese that can be seen flying east close inshore from the end of February to the middle of March.

Mid-April can be excellent for sea-watching from Rock-a-nore with hundreds of common scoter, bar-tailed godwit, common and sandwich tern flying east close past the shore together with smaller numbers of little tern

abirding year...

12 13


and black tern. Skuas can also be seen in smaller numbers moving through with the terns. Great skua and arctic skua are most common but pomarine skua and long-tailed skua are also possible, mostly during early to mid May.

The breeding season is in full swing by June and many species breed here including heathland specialists such as Dartford warbler and stonechat.

On the cliff and undercliff black redstart, rock pipits, fulmars, grey wagtail and peregrines are present. Black redstart is a special bird here as this is the first site in Britain that this species started to breed regularly. Most black redstarts in Britain breed in urban and derelict industrial areas but the cliffs here support a nationally important population of the species and is one of the only

natural habitat breeding populations in the country.

Breeding birds on the farm include barn owls, skylark, meadow pipits and yellowhammers. The farm buildings support small populations of swallow, house martin and house sparrow.

AutumnDiurnal migration of overflying birds is a conspicuous feature from high ground here in autumn. Sometimes tens of thousands of swallows, house martins and sand martins can be seen flying through in September, and huge flocks, sometimes numbering into the thousands, of woodpigeons in October and November.

Autumn falls of migrant birds can be very large here amongst the coastal scrub and woodland and day counts of nearly 1000 chiffchaff and goldcrest are possible in October. Flocks of up to a hundred wheatear are also possible during favourable weather conditions and scarce and rare birds usually appear at the same time, such as hoopoe, wryneck, yellow-browed warbler and double-figure flocks of ring ouzel.

Raptor watching from the Coastguard watch point at the end of the Access for All Trail or from the East Hill can be very productive and on the best days a number of species can be seen using the cliff generated thermals to

Barn Owl Tyto alba - Bob Mazzer

14 15


gain height before drifting across the channel to carry on their migration over mainland Europe. Common buzzard, merlin, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, kestrel and hobby and the most common migrants but osprey, honey buzzard, red kite, black kite and rough-legged buzzard are also possible. Herons can also be seen migrating in the same fine conditions that raptors are seen migrating and flocks of grey heron can sometimes be seen drifting high over the cliffs. Short-eared owls can be involved in these migrations as well.

EarlyWinterLate autumn and early winter brings influxes of winter thrushes such as redwing, fieldfare and song thrush and numbers of finches and buntings using the winter stubble and cover crops on the farm begins to increase.

It is also worth looking within the sheltered gill woodlands for wintering blackcap, chiffchaff and firecrest and occasionally woodlark can be found either on the farmland or amongst the cliff-top heathland.

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus - Andy Phillips

16 17


Records have been acquired from various sources, including the Birds of Sussex, the Sussex bird reports,

and records supplied by several local observers, whose dedication to this site has in no small part led to such an impressive species list being available.

It has only been in the last few years that systematic breeding bird, wintering bird, migrant studies and ringing studies have been carried out so the statuses will change in the future based on increased bird data being recorded.

StatusVagrant. Less than 20 recordsVery Rare. Usually less than annualRare. Usually 1-2 records annuallyVery scarce. Usually less than 10 records annuallyScarce. Usually 11-50 records annuallyCommon. Usually 51-100 records annuallyAbundant. 100+ records annually

Breedingstatus(Breedingspeciesmarkedwith=)Occasional. Has bred at least onceRare. 1-5 pairsScarce. 6-10 PairsCommon. 11+ pairs

Wildfowl Anseriformes

Mute Swan Cygnus olorStatus: Vagrant

Bewick’s Swan (Tundra swan) Cygnus columbianusStatus: Vagrant

White Fronted Goose Anser albifronsStatus: Vagrant

Greylag Goose Anser anserStatus: Vagrant

Canada Goose Branta canadensisStatus: Very scarce visitor

Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla berniclaStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Feb-May and Sept-Nov.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla - Andy Phillips

the checklist

18 1�


Common Shelduck Tadorna tadornaStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Feb-May and Oct-Dec.

Wood Duck Aix sponsaStatus: Vagrant

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelopeStatus: Rare passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Gadwall Anas streperaStatus: Vagrant

Eurasian Teal Anas creccaStatus: Vagrant

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos =Status: Very scarce resident and winter visitor & rare breeder.

Pintail Anas acutaStatus: Vagrant

Garganey Anas querquedulaStatus: Vagrant

Shoveler Anas clypeataStatus: Very rare winter and passage visitor, Oct-Apr.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligulaStatus: Vagrant

Greater Scaup Aythya marilaStatus: Vagrant

Common Eider Somateria mollissimaStatus: Very rare winter and passage visitor, Oct-May.

Common Scoter Melanitta nigraStatus: Common migrant and winter visitor, Sept-May.

Velvet Scoter Melanitta fuscaStatus: Vagrant

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangulaStatus: Vagrant

Smew Mergellus albellusStatus: Vagrant

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serratorStatus: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Goosander Mergus merganserStatus: Vagrant

Pheasants & Partridges Phasianidae

Grey Partridge Perdix perdixStatus: Very rare visitor.

Common Quail Coturnix coturnixStatus: Vagrant

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus =Status: Common resident & rare breeder.

Divers Gaviidae

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellataStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-May.

20 21


Black-throated Diver Gavia arcticaStatus: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-May.

Great-northern Diver Gavia immerStatus: Vagrant

Grebes Podicipedidae

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatusStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-May.

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegenaStatus: Vagrant

Slavonian Grebe (Horned grebe) Podiceps auritusStatus: Vagrant

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollisStatus: Vagrant

Petrels & Shearwaters Procellariiformes

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseusStatus: Vagrant

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinusStatus: Rare passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct.

Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicusStatus: Vagrant

Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis - Andy Phillips

22 23


European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicusStatus: Vagrant

Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoaStatus: Vagrant

Gannets & Cormorants Pelicaniformes

Gannet Morus bassanusStatus: Common non-breeding resident.

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo =Status: Common resident & occasional breeder.

Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelisStatus: Very rare winter visitor, Nov-Mar.

Herons & Storks Ciconiiformes

Little Egret Egretta garzettaStatus: Vagrant

Grey Heron Ardea cinereaStatus: Scarce resident

Purple Heron Ardea cinereaStatus: Vagrant

White Stork Ciconia ciconiaStatus: Vagrant

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodiaStatus: Vagrant

Birds of Prey Falconiformes

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorusStatus: Very rare passage migrant, May-Oct.

Black Kite Milvus migransStatus: Vagrant

Red Kite Milvus milvusStatus: Very rare visitor, all months.

Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosusStatus: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Nov.

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneusStatus: Vagrant

Goshawk Accipiter gentilisStatus: Vagrant

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus =Status: Common resident & rare breeder.

Buzzard Buteo buteoStatus: Very scarce visitor, all months.

Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopusStatus: Vagrant

Osprey Pandion haliaetusStatus: Rare passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct.

Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinusStatus: Vagrant

24 25


Kestrel Falco tinnunculus =Status: Common resident & rare breeder.

Merlin Falco columbariusStatus: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Hobby Falco subbuteo =Status: Very scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Sept & occasional breeder.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus =Status: Scarce visitor, all months & rare breeder.

Rails & Crakes RallidaeMoorhen Gallinula chloropus =Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder.

Waders Charadriiformes(inpart)

Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegusStatus: Scarce resident and passage migrant.

Avocet Recurvirostra avosettaStatus: Vagrant

Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemusStatus: Vagrant

Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticulaStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Aug-May.

European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricariaStatus: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarolaStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May.

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Status: Rare winter visitor, Nov-Mar.

Red Knot Calidris canutusStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Mar-May.

Sanderling Calidris albaStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Mar-May.

Peregrine Falco peregrinus - Mali Halls

26 27


Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritimaStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-May.

Dunlin Calidris alpinaStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct.

Ruff Philomachus pugnaxStatus: Vagrant

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimusStatus: Vagrant

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinagoStatus: Scarce winter visitor, Nov-Mar.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticolaStatus: Very scarce winter visitor, Oct-Feb.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosaStatus: Vagrant

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponicaStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopusStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Sept.

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquataStatus: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-May.

Common Redshank Tringa totanusStatus: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Greenshank Tringa nebulariaStatus: Vagrant

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropusStatus: Vagrant

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareolaStatus: Vagrant

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucosStatus: Vagrant

Turnstone Arenaria interpresStatus: Common passage and winter visitor, Aug-May.

Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Andy Phillips

28 2�


Skuas Stercorariidae

Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinusStatus: Vagrant

Artic Skua Stercorarius parasiticusStatus: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Sept-Oct.

Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudusStatus: Vagrant

Great Skua Stercorarius skuaStatus: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Sept-May.

Gulls Laridae

Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalusStatus: Vagrant

Little Gull Larus minutusStatus: Vagrant

Sabine’s Gull Larus sabiniStatus: Vagrant

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundusStatus: Abundant passage and winter visitor, July-May.

Common Gull (Mew Gull) Larus canusStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus =Status: Common resident and rare breeder.

Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellisStatus: Vagrant

Herring Gull Larus argentatus =Status: Abundant resident and common breeder.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreusStatus: Vagrant

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus =Status: Common resident and occasional breeder.

Kittiwake Rissa tridactylaStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus - Paul Troake

30 31


Terns Sternidae

Little Tern Sterna albifronsStatus: Vagrant

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspiaStatus: Vagrant

Black Tern Chlidonias nigerStatus: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensisStatus: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Mar-Oct.

Common Tern Sterna hirundoStatus: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougalliiStatus: Vagrant

Artic Tern Sterna paradisaeaStatus: Vagrant

Auks Alcidae

Common Guillemot Uria aalgeStatus: Scarce winter visitor, Nov-Mar.

Razorbill Alca tordaStatus: Rare winter and passage visitor, Nov-May.

Pigeons Columbidae

Stock Dove Columba oenas =Status: Common resident and winter visitor & scarce breeder.

Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus =Status: Abundant resident and passage/winter visitor & common breeder.

Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur =Status: Very scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Sept & rare breeder.

Parrots Psittacidae

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameriStatus: Very scarce visitor, all months.

Cuckoos Cuculidae

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorusStatus: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Sept.

Owls Strigiformes

Barn Owl Tyto alba =Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder.

32 33


Little Owl Athene noctua =Status: Very scarce resident & occasional breeder.

Tawny Owl Strix aluco =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Long-eared Owl Asio otusStatus: Vagrant

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeusStatus: Very rare winter visitor, Dec-Feb.

Nightjars Caprimulgidae

European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeusStatus: Vagrant

Swifts Apodidae

Common Swift Apus apus Status: Abundant summer visitor, Apr-Sept.

Pallid Swift Apus pallidusStatus: Vagrant

Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Hoopoe Coraciiformes

Kingfisher Alcedo atthisStatus: Vagrant

European Bee-eater Merops apiasterStatus: Vagrant

Hoopoe Upupa epopsStatus: Very rare passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct.

Woodpeckers Picidae

Wryneck Jynx torquillaStatus: Very rare passage migrant, Sept-Oct.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor =Status: Very scarce resident & rare breeder.

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - Andy Phillips

34 35


Larks Alaudidae

Wood Lark Lullula arboreaStatus: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Sky Lark Alauda arvensis =Status: Common resident and winter visitor & rare breeder.

Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae

Sand Martin Riparia ripariaStatus: Common passage migrant, Mar-May and July-Oct.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica =Status: Common passage and summer visitor & rare breeder.

House Martin Delichon urbica =Status: Common passage and summer visitor.

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis dauricaStatus: Vagrant

Pipits & Wagtails Motacillidae

Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardiStatus: Vagrant

Tawny Pipit Anthus campestrisStatus: Vagrant

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialisStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis =Status: Common resident, passage and winter visitor & scarce breeder.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus =Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flavaStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and July-Sept.

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea =Status: Rare resident and migrant & occasional breeder.

White Wagtail Motacilla alba albaStatus: Scarce passage migrant.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - Murray Davidson

36 37


Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrelli =Status: Common resident and passage/winter visitor & rare breeder.

Wrens Troglodytidae

Wren (Winter Wren) Troglodytes troglodytes =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Accentors Prunellidae

Dunnock (Hedge Accentor) Prunella modularis =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Chats & Flycatchers MuscicapidaeEuropean Robin Erithacus rubecula =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhyncos =Status: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct & occasional breeder.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros =Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder.

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurusStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

Whinchat Saxicola rubetraStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Oct.

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - Mali Halls

38 3�


Stonechat Saxicola torquata =Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenantheStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct.

Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata =Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-Oct & occasional breeder.

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleucaStatus: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

Thrushes Turdidae

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatusStatus: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-Apr and Sept-Nov.

Blackbird Turdus merula =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Fieldfare Turdus pilarisStatus: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Redwing Turdus iliacusStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus =Status: Scarce resident and rare breeder.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Mali Halls

40 41


Grass Warblers Megaluridae

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naeviaStatus: Vagrant

Marsh & Tree Warblers Acrocephalidae

Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenusStatus: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Sept.

Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustrisStatus: Vagrant

Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceusStatus: Rare passage migrant, July-Sept.

Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterinaStatus: Vagrant

True Warblers Sylviidae Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla =Status: Abundant passage and summer visitor, Mar-Oct, rare in winter & common breeder.

Garden Warbler Sylvia borin =Status: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct & rare breeder.

Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca =Status: Common passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct & rare breeder.

Whitethroat Sylvia communis =Status: Abundant passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct & common breeder.

Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata =Status: Very scarce resident & occasional breeder.

Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillansStatus: Vagrant

Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephalaStatus: Vagrant

Leaf Warblers Phylloscopidae

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulusStatus: Vagrant

Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia - Andy Phillips

42 43


Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatusStatus: Vagrant

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibiltrixStatus: Vagrant

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita =Status: Abundant passage and summer visitor, Mar-Nov, rare in winter & common breeder.

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus =Status: Abundant passage and summer visitor, Mar-Sept & scarce breeder.

Crests Regulidae

Goldcrest Regulus regulus =Status: Common passage and winter visitor, scarce resident & scarce breeder.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapillaStatus: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Bearded Reedling Panuridae

Bearded Reedling (Bearded Tit) Panurus biamarcusStatus: Vagrant

Long-tailed Tits Aegithalidae

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla - Andy Phillips

44 45


Tits Paridae Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Great Tit Parus major =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Coal Tit Periparus ater britannicus =Status: Common passage and winter visitor, rare resident & rare breeder.

Continental Coal Tit Periparus ater aterStatus: Vagrant

Willow Tit Poecile montanus =Status: Very rare resident & occasional breeder, probably now extinct in the nature reserve.

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris =Status: Very scarce resident & rare breeder.

Nuthatches Sittidae

Nuthatch Sitta europea =Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder.

Treecreepers Certhiidae

Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris =Status: Scarce resident & scarce breeder.

Wallcreeper Tichodromadidae

Wallcreeper Tichodroma murariaStatus: Vagrant

Orioles Oriolidae

Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolusStatus: Vagrant

Shrikes Laniidae

Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitorStatus: Vagrant

Red-backed Shrike Lanius excubitorStatus: Vagrant

Crows Corvidae

Jay Garrulus glandarius =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Magpie Pica pica =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder

Chough (Red-billed Chough) Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocoraxStatus: Former resident now extinct.

Jackdaw Corvus monedula =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

46 47


Rook Corvus frugilegusStatus: Very scarce winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Hooded Crow Corvus cornixStatus: Vagrant

Raven Corvus coraxStatus: Scarce resident.

Starlings Sturnidae

European Starling (Common Starling) Sturnus vulgaris =Status: Abundant resident.

True Sparrows Passeridae

House Sparrow Passer domesticus =Status: Abundant resident.

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus =Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr & occasional breeder.

True Finches Fringillidae

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Brambling Fringilla montifringillaStatus: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Serin Serinus serinusStatus: Vagrant

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris =Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis =Status: Abundant resident and passage migrant & common breeder.

Siskin Carduelis spinusStatus: Common passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Linnet Carduelis cannabina =Status: Abundant resident and passage migrant & common breeder.

Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaretStatus: Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostraStatus: Vagrant

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinusStatus: Vagrant

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula =Status: Common resident & scarce breeder.

Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes =Status: Rare resident & occasional breeder.

48 4�


Buntings Emberizidae

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicusStatus: Vagrant

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalisStatus: Vagrant

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella =Status: Common resident & common breeder.

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclusStatus: Common passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Corn Bunting Emberiza calandraStatus: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - Mali Halls

50 51


For more information about the habitats and wildlife of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve and the latest bird sightings from Hastings please visit wildhastings.org.uk

If you find an interesting bird in Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, or are uncertain of an identification, please call at the visitor centre or upload a photo and details to wildhastings.org.uk

If you would like to join the Friends of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve please pick up a membership form from the visitor centre or download one from wildhastings.org.uk

further information

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TofindoutmoreaboutthewildlifeofHastingsCountryParkNatureReservepleasevisitwildhastings.org.uk

ForallthelatestwildlifesightingsfromHastings,RyeBayandDungenesspleasevisitRXwildlife.org.uk

ThisbooklethasbeenproducedbyHastingsBoroughCouncilandtheFriendsofHastingsCountryPark

NatureReserve.

HCPNR Bird List.indd 54 14/03/2008 17:48:42

hastings country park nature reserve hastings · the birds of hastings country park nature reserve....

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