The Beacon April 2011 - Beacon Parish of Ditchling, Streat ...

I saw a female Blackbird carrying nest building material on March 2 nd which Ithought to be an early date for this year. Whereas during the height of thebreeding season, nests are constructed over a period of only a few days, theearly ones often take a couple of weeks and on completion there may be severaldays before eggs are laid if weather conditions are poor.By the time this is published we should have had the joy of seeing severalmigrant species returning to Britain to breed. There is often an overlap as somewill arrive while some of the winter visitors are still with us. I have often foundChiffchaffs singing in the woods at the same time as Redwings are foragingamongst the leaf litter. It is also quite possible that some of our early breedingSong thrushes and Blackbirds could have fledged young out of the nest beforethe Fieldfares and Redwings, with similar food requirements have departed tothe east and north.A species that does need a lengthy period to complete its most wonderful nest isthe Long-tailed Tit. Unlike the others of that family that breed in holes or nestboxes, these birds make an elaborate nest, often in a well protected bush ofBlackthorn or one with similarly spiny wood. It is made and the first eggs are laidoften before the leaves emerge on the bush, so for a time it is exposed thoughquite well camouflaged. The nest is a marvellous work of art made of moss andcovered in lichens that give it the appearance of a log that has fallen into thehedge and contains many hundreds of feathers. The entrance hole is high up onthe side of the nest facing away from the prevailing wind, thus affordingprotection from the elements. Up to a dozen young and often both adults usethe nest which has to be a very strong and enduring construction.A feature of recent years has been the number of Buzzards in the area. Twentyyears ago they were hardly ever seen around Plumpton but this week, on abright morning seven were soaring together high in a thermal. I wonder if inyears to come the Red Kite, that has been re-introduced into the Home Countieswill also colonise these parts. They are already occupying parts of Sussex. Mydaughter lives in Maidenhead and they fly over the garden daily and on puttingmeat scraps and bacon rinds on the lawn, has encouraged them to swoop downto collect them. Then you get the full appreciation of their wingspan.34