Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve hastings .org.uk

the

of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve

HCPNR List.indd 1 14/03/2008 17:48:08 Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve hastings .org.uk

the

of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve

HCPNR Bird List.indd 2-3 14/03/2008 17:48:10 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - Mali Halls

The of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve.

This booklet provides an annotated check list of 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.

1 Cover photo - Peregrine by Ian Standivan.

HCPNR Bird List.indd 4-5 14/03/2008 17:48:12 Barn Hirundo rustica contents - Andy Phillips Introduction - 8 A Birding Year - 12 The Checklist - 18 Wildfowl - 19 Pheasants & Partridges / Divers - 21 Grebes / Petrels & Shearwaters - 22 Gannets & Cormorants / Herons & Storks - 24 Birds of Prey - 25 Rails & Crakes / Waders - 27 Skuas / Gulls - 30 Terns / Auks - 32 Pigeons / Parrots / Cuckoos / Owls - 33 Nightjars / Swifts / , Bee-eaters & Hoopoe - 34 Woodpeckers - 35 / Swallows & Martins / Pipits & - 36 Wrens / Accentors / Chats & Flycatchers - 39 Thrushes - 40 Grass Warblers / Marsh & Tree Warblers - 42 True Warblers / Leaf Warblers - 43 Crests / Bearded Reedling / Long-tailed Tits - 44 Tits / Nuthatches / Treecreepers - 46 Wallcreeper / Orioles / Shrikes / Crows - 47 Starlings / True Sparrows / True Finches - 48 Buntings - 50 Further Information - 52

HCPNR Bird List.indd 6-7 14/03/2008 17:48:16 introduction plesiosaurs. This site is one of only a handful in the world to have produced early mammal . The nature reserve covers 345 hectares (853 acres) of astings Country Park Nature Reserve is a picturesque coastal gill woodland, heathland, grassland and farmland Harea of coastal gill woodland, sandstone & clay cliffs, together with five kilometres (three miles) of dramatic heathland and farmland. It sits within the High Weald Area soft rock cliffs and coastline. Much of the area has been of Outstanding Natural Beauty. On clear days there are designated a Special Area of Conservation (S.A.C.) and a Site spectacular views overlooking the coastline from Beachy of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I.) because of the presence Head to Dungeness, and as far as Folkestone and France. of the special wildlife and geologically rich soft rock cliff and This stunning landscape has inspired many artists, slope. including J.M.W. Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites. Most of the cliff-top area, and a smaller area of heathland The cliffs here are rich in fossils and have yielded many at North’s Seat, were declared a country park under the specimens of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, turtles, crocodiles and 1968 Countryside Act in 1974.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla - Andy Phillips

 

HCPNR Bird List.indd 8-9 14/03/2008 17:48:16 Hastings Country Park and the adjacent Fairlight Place Peregrine Falco peregrinus - Mali Halls 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.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 10-11 14/03/2008 17:48:17 Spring & Summer a birding year... From mid March to mid May summer migrants begin to Late Winter appear. Wheatear, chiffchaff and sand martin are usually first to appear in March. Whitethroat, swallows, willow During January and February tree sparrows, corn warbler, common redstart and pied flycatcher move buntings and brambling can sometimes be present through in April and by May swift and spotted flycatcher amongst the flocks of yellowhammer and reed bunting are amongst the last summer migrants to appear. that are usually present on the arable stubble fields along Barley Lane and behind the quarry. Offshore migration of wildfowl, waders, gulls, terns and skuas is best seen from Rock-a-nore beach and East Hill. Look out for barn owl, , peregrine and Most spectacular are the large flocks of dark-bellied brent occasionally short-eared owl and merlin hunting over the geese that can be seen flying east close inshore from the grasslands and meadow. Snipe are also commonly seen end of February to the middle of March. feeding amongst damp areas within the farm fields. Mid-April can be excellent for sea-watching from Rock-a-nore beach is a good place to look for red- Rock-a-nore with hundreds of common scoter, bar-tailed throated diver, great crested grebes, razorbills and godwit, common and sandwich tern flying east close guillemots wintering on the sea offshore and fulmars past the shore together with smaller numbers of little tern start to return to the cliffs behind the beach.

Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis - Andy Phillips

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 12-13 14/03/2008 17:48:19 and black tern. Skuas can also be seen in smaller numbers natural habitat breeding populations in the country. moving through with the terns. Great skua and arctic Breeding birds on the farm include barn owls, skylark, skua are most common but pomarine skua and long- meadow pipits and yellowhammers. The farm buildings tailed skua are also possible, mostly during early to mid support small populations of , house martin and May. house sparrow. The breeding season is in full swing by June and many Autumn breed here including heathland specialists such as Diurnal migration of overflying birds is a conspicuous Dartford warbler and stonechat. feature from high ground here in autumn. Sometimes On the cliff and undercliff black redstart, rock pipits, tens of thousands of swallows, house martins and sand fulmars, grey and peregrines are present. Black martins can be seen flying through in September, and redstart is a special bird here as this is the first site in huge flocks, sometimes numbering into the thousands, of Britain that this species started to breed regularly. Most woodpigeons in October and November. black redstarts in Britain breed in urban and derelict Autumn falls of migrant birds can be very large here industrial areas but the cliffs here support a nationally amongst the coastal scrub and woodland and day counts important population of the species and is one of the only 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

Barn Owl Tyto alba - Bob Mazzer 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

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 14-15 14/03/2008 17:48:20 gain height before drifting across the channel to carry on Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus - Andy Phillips 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. Early Winter Late 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.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 16-17 14/03/2008 17:48:21 Wildfowl Anseriformes the checklist Mute Swan Cygnus olor ecords have been acquired from various sources, Status: Vagrant Rincluding the Birds of Sussex, the Sussex bird reports, Bewick’s Swan (Tundra swan) Cygnus columbianus and records supplied by several local observers, whose Status: Vagrant dedication to this site has in no small part led to such an White Fronted Goose Anser albifrons impressive species list being available. Status: Vagrant It has only been in the last few years that systematic Greylag Goose Anser anser breeding bird, wintering bird, migrant studies and ringing Status: Vagrant studies have been carried out so the statuses will change in Canada Goose Branta canadensis the future based on increased bird data being recorded. Status: Very scarce visitor Status Dark-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla bernicla Vagrant. Less than 20 records Status: Scarce passage migrant, Feb-May and Sept-Nov. Very Rare. Usually less than annual Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla bernicla - Andy Phillips Rare. Usually 1-2 records annually Very scarce. Usually less than 10 records annually Scarce. Usually 11-50 records annually Common. Usually 51-100 records annually Abundant. 100+ records annually

Breeding status (Breeding species marked with=) Occasional. Has bred at least once Rare. 1-5 pairs Scarce. 6-10 Pairs Common. 11+ pairs

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 18-19 14/03/2008 17:48:22 Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Feb-May and Oct-Dec. Status: Common migrant and winter visitor, Sept-May. Wood Duck Aix sponsa Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Status: Rare passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr. Status: Vagrant Gadwall Anas strepera Smew Mergellus albellus Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Status: Vagrant Status: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr. Anas platyrhynchos = Goosander Mergus merganser Status: Very scarce resident and winter visitor & rare breeder. Status: Vagrant Pintail Anas acuta Status: Vagrant Pheasants & Partridges Phasianidae Garganey Anas querquedula Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Status: Vagrant Status: Very rare visitor. Shoveler Anas clypeata Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Status: Very rare winter and passage visitor, Oct-Apr. Status: Vagrant Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus = Status: Vagrant Status: Common resident & rare breeder.

Greater Scaup Aythya marila Divers Gaviidae Status: Vagrant Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata Common Eider Somateria mollissima Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-May. Status: Very rare winter and passage visitor, Oct-May.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 20-21 14/03/2008 17:48:22 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis - Andy Phillips Status: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-May. Great-northern Diver Gavia immer Status: Vagrant

Grebes Podicipedidae Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-May. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Status: Vagrant Slavonian Grebe (Horned grebe) Podiceps auritus Status: Vagrant Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Status: Vagrant

Petrels & Shearwaters Procellariiformes Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Status: Vagrant Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Status: Rare passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct. Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus Status: Vagrant

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 22-23 14/03/2008 17:48:25 European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus Status: Vagrant Birds of Prey Falconiformes Leach’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Status: Vagrant Status: Very rare passage migrant, May-Oct. Black Kite Milvus migrans Gannets & Cormorants Pelicaniformes Status: Vagrant Gannet Morus bassanus Red Kite Milvus milvus Status: Common non-breeding resident. Status: Very rare visitor, all months. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo = Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Status: Common resident & occasional breeder. Status: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Nov. Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Status: Very rare winter visitor, Nov-Mar. Status: Vagrant

Herons & Storks Ciconiiformes Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Status: Vagrant Little Egret Egretta garzetta Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus = Status: Vagrant Status: Common resident & rare breeder. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Buzzard Buteo buteo Status: Scarce resident Status: Very scarce visitor, all months. Purple Heron Ardea cinerea Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant White Stork Ciconia ciconia Osprey Pandion haliaetus Status: Vagrant Status: Rare passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 24-25 14/03/2008 17:48:25 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus = Rails & Crakes Rallidae Status: Common resident & rare breeder. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus = Merlin Falco columbarius Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder. Status: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr. Hobby Falco subbuteo = Waders Charadriiformes (in part) Status: Very scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Sept & Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus occasional breeder. Status: Scarce resident and passage migrant. Peregrine Falco peregrinus = Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Status: Scarce visitor, all months & rare breeder. Status: Vagrant Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus Peregrine Falco peregrinus - Mali Halls Status: Vagrant Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Aug-May. European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria Status: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May. Northern Vanellus vanellus Status: Rare winter visitor, Nov-Mar. Red Knot Calidris canutus Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Mar-May. Sanderling Calidris alba Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Mar-May.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 26-27 14/03/2008 17:48:26 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Greenshank Tringa nebularia Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-May. Status: Vagrant Dunlin Calidris alpina Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Status: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct. Status: Vagrant Ruff Philomachus pugnax Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Turnstone Arenaria interpres Status: Scarce winter visitor, Nov-Mar. Status: Common passage and winter visitor, Aug-May. Woodcock Scolopax rusticola Status: Very scarce winter visitor, Oct-Feb. Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Andy Phillips Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Status: Vagrant Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Status: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug- Sept. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Status: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-May. Common Redshank Tringa totanus Status: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 28-29 14/03/2008 17:48:28 Skuas Stercorariidae Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis Status: Vagrant Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus Status: Vagrant Herring Gull Larus argentatus = Status: Abundant resident and common breeder. Artic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Sept-Oct. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Status: Vagrant Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus Status: Vagrant Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus = Status: Common resident and occasional breeder. Great Skua Stercorarius skua Status: Very rare passage and winter visitor, Sept-May. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr. Gulls Laridae Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus - Paul Troake Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Status: Vagrant Little Gull Larus minutus Status: Vagrant Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini Status: Vagrant Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus Status: Abundant passage and winter visitor, July-May. Common Gull (Mew Gull) Larus canus Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus = Status: Common resident and rare breeder.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 30-31 14/03/2008 17:48:29 Terns Sternidae Pigeons Columbidae Little Tern Sterna albifrons Stock Dove Columba oenas = Status: Vagrant Status: Common resident and winter visitor & scarce breeder. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus = Status: Vagrant Status: Abundant resident and passage/winter visitor & Black Tern Chlidonias niger common breeder. Status: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct. Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto = Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. Status: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Mar-Oct. Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur = Common Tern Sterna hirundo Status: Very scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Sept & Status: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct. rare breeder.

Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii Parrots Psittacidae Status: Vagrant Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Artic Tern Sterna paradisaea Status: Very scarce visitor, all months. Status: Vagrant

Auks Alcidae Cuckoos Cuculidae Common Guillemot Uria aalge Cuculus canorus Status: Scarce winter visitor, Nov-Mar. Status: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Sept. Razorbill Alca torda Owls Strigiformes Status: Rare winter and passage visitor, Nov-May. Barn Owl Tyto alba = Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 32-33 14/03/2008 17:48:29 Little Owl Athene noctua = Hoopoe Upupa epops Status: Very scarce resident & occasional breeder. Status: Very rare passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct. Tawny Owl Strix aluco = Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. Woodpeckers Picidae Long-eared Owl Asio otus Wryneck Jynx torquilla Status: Vagrant Status: Very rare passage migrant, Sept-Oct. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Green Woodpecker Picus viridis = Status: Very rare winter visitor, Dec-Feb. Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major = Nightjars Caprimulgidae Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus minor = Status: Vagrant Status: Very scarce resident & rare breeder.

Swifts Apodidae European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - Andy Phillips Common Swift Apus apus Status: Abundant summer visitor, Apr-Sept. Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Status: Vagrant

Kingfishers, Bee-eaters & Hoopoe Alcedo atthis Status: Vagrant European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Status: Vagrant

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 34-35 14/03/2008 17:48:30 Larks Alaudidae Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis = Status: Common resident, passage and winter visitor & Wood Lullula arborea scarce breeder. Status: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar. Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus = Sky Lark Alauda arvensis = Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder. Status: Common resident and winter visitor & rare breeder. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae Status: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and July-Sept. Sand Martin Riparia riparia Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea = Status: Common passage migrant, Mar-May and July-Oct. Status: Rare resident and migrant & occasional breeder. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica = White Wagtail Motacilla alba alba Status: Common passage and summer visitor & rare breeder. Status: Scarce passage migrant.

House Martin Delichon urbica = Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava - Murray Davidson Status: Common passage and summer visitor. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Status: Vagrant

Pipits & Wagtails Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi Status: Vagrant Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris Status: Vagrant Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis Status: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 36-37 14/03/2008 17:48:32 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - Mali Halls 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 Muscicapidae European Robin Erithacus rubecula = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Luscinia megarhyncos = Status: Scarce passage and summer visitor, Apr-Oct & occasional breeder. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros = Status: Scarce resident & occasional breeder. Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Status: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra Status: Scarce passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Oct.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 38-39 14/03/2008 17:48:33 Stonechat Saxicola torquata = Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Mali Halls Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder. Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Status: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-May and Aug-Oct. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata = Status: Very scarce passage migrant, Apr-Oct & occasional breeder. Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Status: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and Aug-Oct.

Thrushes Turdidae Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Status: Scarce passage migrant, Mar-Apr and Sept-Nov. Blackbird Turdus merula = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris Status: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Redwing Turdus iliacus Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Apr. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus = Status: Scarce resident and rare breeder.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 40-41 14/03/2008 17:48:35 Grass Warblers Megaluridae Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina Status: Vagrant Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia Status: Vagrant True Warblers Sylviidae Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia - Andy Phillips 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 = Marsh & Tree Warblers Acrocephalidae Status: Very scarce resident & occasional breeder. Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans Status: Rare passage migrant, Apr-May and July-Sept. Status: Vagrant Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Status: Vagrant Status: Vagrant Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Leaf Warblers Phylloscopidae Status: Rare passage migrant, July-Sept. Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus Status: Vagrant 42 43

HCPNR Bird List.indd 42-43 14/03/2008 17:48:37 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla - Andy Phillips Status: Vagrant Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibiltrix Status: 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 ignicapilla Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr.

Bearded Reedling Panuridae Bearded Reedling (Bearded ) Panurus biamarcus Status: Vagrant

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

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 44-45 14/03/2008 17:48:38 Tits Paridae Wallcreeper Tichodromadidae Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus = Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Status: Vagrant Great Tit major = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Orioles Oriolidae Coal Tit Periparus ater britannicus = Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Status: Common passage and winter visitor, rare resident & Status: Vagrant rare breeder. Shrikes Laniidae Continental Coal Tit Periparus ater ater Status: Vagrant Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor Status: Vagrant Willow Tit Poecile montanus = Status: Very rare resident & occasional breeder, probably Red-backed Shrike Lanius excubitor now extinct in the nature reserve. Status: Vagrant

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris = Crows Corvidae Status: Very scarce resident & rare breeder. Jay Garrulus glandarius = Nuthatches Sittidae Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. Nuthatch Sitta europea = Magpie Pica pica = Status: Scarce resident & rare breeder. Status: Abundant resident & common breeder (Red-billed Chough) Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Treecreepers Certhiidae Status: Former resident now extinct. Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris = Jackdaw Corvus monedula = Status: Scarce resident & scarce breeder. Status: Abundant resident & common breeder.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 46-47 14/03/2008 17:48:38 Rook Corvus frugilegus Serin Serinus serinus Status: Very scarce winter visitor, Oct-Mar. Status: Vagrant Carrion Crow Corvus corone = Greenfinch Carduelis chloris = Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Hooded Crow Corvus cornix Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis = Status: Vagrant Status: Abundant resident and passage migrant & common Raven Corvus corax breeder. Status: Scarce resident. Siskin Carduelis spinus Status: Common passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr. Starlings Sturnidae Linnet Carduelis cannabina = European Starling (Common Starling) Sturnus vulgaris = Status: Abundant resident and passage migrant & common Status: Abundant resident. breeder. Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret True Sparrows Passeridae Status: Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor, Sept-Apr. House Sparrow Passer domesticus = Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Status: Abundant resident. Status: Vagrant Tree Sparrow Passer montanus = Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Status: Scarce passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr & Status: Vagrant occasional breeder. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula = True Finches Fringillidae Status: Common resident & scarce breeder. Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes = Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs = Status: Rare resident & occasional breeder. Status: Abundant resident & common breeder. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Status: Rare passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 48-49 14/03/2008 17:48:38 Buntings Emberizidae Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella - Mali Halls Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Status: Vagrant Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Status: Vagrant Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella = Status: Common resident & common breeder. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Status: Common passage and winter visitor, Sept-Apr. Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra Status: Very scarce passage and winter visitor, Oct-Mar.

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 50-51 14/03/2008 17:48:40 further information

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

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HCPNR Bird List.indd 52-53 14/03/2008 17:48:40 To find out more about the wildlife of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve please visit wildhastings.org.uk

For all the latest wildlife sightings from Hastings, Rye Bay and Dungeness please visit RXwildlife.org.uk

This booklet has been produced by Hastings Borough Council and the Friends of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve.

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