Birds and bluebells seen during a walk along the cliffs at Berwick-upon-Tweed on 8th May 2026

I arrived in Berwick-upon-Tweed at lunchtime, before my holiday mobile home was ready, so I left my luggage with security and wandered along the path on the cliffs

Two Linnets were sitting on the fence at the edge of the holiday park

Crow helpfully pointing out which direction I should take

Male Chaffinch with food for his babies

Berwick lighthouse in the distance at the end of a long promenade

Patch of pretty Bluebells on the road down towards the lighthouse

Someone must like birds!

Pied Wagtail on a wall

House Sparrow amongst foliage

Herring Gull with nesting material on a roof

Two young Stonechats on each side of a shrub with brambles

The young Stonechats then sat together on the side of the shrub

until one flew away!

I think this may be mum Stonechat

and dad Stonechat!

 What a lovely start to my week long stay in Berwick-upon-Tweed

Birding visit to RSPB Pulborough Brooks on 25th April 2026

I went from London to Pulborough Brooks on a coach trip with a birdwatching group

The first bird I saw when I arrived was a distant Common Whitethroat

Nightingale perching on a tree in part of a woodland area

The Nightingale moved to a bramble beneath the tree

 There was some excitement when someone pointed out a Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly that had just emerged from its nymph skin and was hanging from it in order to harden up its body in the sunshine

The new dragonfly was hanging off a thin leaf in a small pond

Damselfly hanging from a leaf in the same small pond

Great White Egret wading around in a large lagoon in front of a bird hide

Little Egret in the marsh land

Two Mute Swans flew across the lagoon

Distant Buzzard flying overhead

Male Northern Shoveler at the edge of the lagoon

Posing Lapwing

Rather handsome male Pheasant

Well-disguised Common Redshank against a mud bank

Wood Pigeon having a bath

Greater Stitchwort flowers

with a helpful label - thanks!

When I returned to the small pond where I had seen the newly-emerged dragonfly, only the empty nymph case was left

Lovely white blossom along the edge of the path

Bluebells in the woodland walk

Song Thrush in the woodland area

Impressive trees on the hill

Returning along the path in the woodland, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was hanging off the side of a large tree trunk

Looking back at the path through the woodland

Dunnock on the path

Tiny Pied Wagtail and giant wooden Owl at the visitor centre

 It was a very interesting day spent in Pulborough Brooks and I would love to return there some time

Birds and nature in Rye Harbour Nature Reserve during a visit on the last day of my stay in Sussex - 23rd April 2026

Spotted Redshank at the far side of the Salt Pool

Avocet much nearer in a shallow scrape

Accommodating Shelduck

Male Linnet perching on a thin stem

Male Stonechat standing on top of a wooden post

Ivy-leaved Toadflax covering part of the shingle near the coast

Avocet on the move

Old railway carriage positioned just outside the reserve in Rye Harbour

Common Whitethroats on brambles

A last view of the Spotted Redshank in breeding plumage

Two Common Terns on one of the little islands in a lagoon

Female Linnet perching on a telegraph cable

 I spent a great dry sunny week visiting Winchelsea Beach, Pett Level, Hastings Country Park and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve - I was so lucky!