Wildlife, nature and butterflies seen during visit to Hastings Country Park on 22nd April 2026

Song thrush near the top of a tree while on my way to Warren Glen

There weren't many birds about, but I did see a few butterflies:

Comma butterfly with very ragged wings

Side view of the Comma

Small Copper butterfly

Holly Blue butterfly

I walked down the path from the top part of Warren Glen

but decided not to go down to the lower part as it was too steep for me as I have a bad knee

Instead, I walked along Barley Lane and then went down the path leading to the Dripping well

Lots of Wild Garlic lined the edge of the path

There were also lots of Bluebells

and a Speckled Wood butterfly on white blossom

Here, again, the path was too steep for me so I went back up to Barley Lane

I was hoping to see Yellowhammers in the country park, but this notice by a field had to do!

I just managed to capture a tiny Wren in the undergrowth along Barley Lane

View of the Coastguard cottage and radar station on my way back to the visitor centre

I hope the roaming horses did not eat all the Bluebells!

Part of the old sand quarry wall

Looking down towards the coast from Hastings Country Park

White Fan-tailed Pigeon entering its home on the roof of a house at the edge of the country park

There were several Fan-tailed Pigeons on the roof that were ready to go home

I had an enjoyable day in Hastings Country Park, but was disappointed with the lack of birds and I had not realised that the area was so steep

A wander round Winchelsea church, followed by another birding visit to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - 21st April 2026

I walked up Strand hill to Winchelsea on Tuesday morning. The road narrows as it goes through the ancient archway leading into the village.

There is a pedestrian pathway at the edge of the arch where I stood and looked down into the fields.  Cattle were grazing at the edge of the Royal Military canal.

I made my way to the huge church in the centre of the village

Spike Milligan's grave in the churchyard

Jackdaw with lots of nesting material in the churchyard

I believe that this old building is now a museum

One of the stained glass windows in the church

Carved memorial in the church

Winchelsea sign on the road just outside the church

After lunch I walked back down the hill and then went back to the nature reserve.

A male Wheatear near Castle Water was very uncooperative!

Nearby lambs were very inquisitive

Male Blackbird with lunch for its nestlings

Mute Swan in a strange pose in the middle of a pond

It was lovely to see pretty Spring blossom

Back in the main part of the reserve, the dusky Spotted Redshank was on my side of the Salt Pool

Avocet standing in the salt marsh

Avocet on the move!

Common Redshank at the edge of a lagoon in the late afternoon

Robin singing on the top of a shrub as I trudged back to Winchelsea Beach

Fluffy Chiffchaff on top of a telegraph cable

Rabbit basking in the late afternoon sunshine in one of the fields at Harbour Farm

Birds and nature - another walk round Rye Harbour nature reserve from Winchelsea Beach and back via Castle Water - 20th April 2026

I saw this white horse standing patiently in a field when I set off from Winchelsea Beach

Male Pheasant lurking by a garden hedge

Sedge Warbler well disguised in the branches of a tree

Shelduck standing in shallow water at the Salt Pool

Female Stonechat standing on top of a post at the edge of the Salt Pool

Linnet perching on the wire fence

Two Avocets stretching their wings

Group of Avocets having a meeting in a shallow scrape

Two Bar-tailed Godwits - one in winter plumage and the other in summer plumage - arrived in the scrape

The Avocets checked out the Bar-tailed Godwits

then left them to it!

The Spotted Redshank in summer plumage was at the far side of the Salt Pool

Common Whitethroat on a bare-branched shrub

Oystercatchers on one of the little islands at Flat Beach

Groups of Sandwich Terns on islands in the shallow water of Flat Beach

Four Whimbrels were in the grass at the other side of the water - viewed from Gooders hide

Suddenly the Sandwich Terns took to the air

then landed again

I left the reserve to walk along the road to the Castle Water entrance - on the way along the road I saw a Goldfinch near the top of a tree

Speckled Wood butterfly on the footpath

Pied Wagtail in the grass near Castle Water

Rabbit sitting underneath a tree

I was happy to see a small group of Yellow Wagtails in a field by Castle Water

Cormorant drying its wings in front of Halpin hide at Castle Water

Oystercatcher on rocks in front of the Halpin hide

I left the reserve at one of the exits near to Harbour Farm and came across a large duck pond - with a few Mallards - on one of the side roads leading to the main road between Rye and Winchelsea Beach

Great Wisteria plant in flower on a house overlooking the duck pond