THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles were created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday stories about real people.

LOCAL BIRDS — FEATHERED VARIETY

Copyright Valerie Martin 2007

I do not know exactly what gave me the original idea of presenting a list of bird sightings in the Findon area.   First of all, I would point out that I do have binoculars but I am in no way to be classed as a bird watcher, nor a twitcher.   I just take note of what has been spotted — and where ....and I have put all recordings in alphabetical order for easy reference.   This is not just a list of boring dates and birds but incorporates odd snippets of info as well.

It is rather interesting to see what exactly turns up on our doorstep over the decades. 

Obviously, I have not included our regular garden birds such as blackbirds, robins and dunnocks etc.

BEAN GOOSE.     Have you ever seen a bean goose in the area?   

These birds were very rare visitors to our neck of the woods back in March 1964, but nevertheless a party of seven obviously thought it looked like a favourable site and were witnessed grazing in the meadows around the Wiston Pond.

BLACK CAP.    Black Caps are a common summer visitor and passage migrant and also winter in our area, albeit in small numbers.

BLACK REDSTART.   One visitor was recorded at New Buildings on the Muntham Estate at the beginning of the 20th century.

BULLFINCH.  I have only seen one of these in my life.... very early one summer morning in my garden.  When I say "very early", I do mean very early..... like when the dawn chorus is in full swing.

BUSTARDS.   Gilbert White wrote in his diary for 15th December 1773....

“Some bustards are bred in the Parish of Findon”,

but he regretfully added...

 "Alas they must have been extinct long ago".

Please click on my data entitled The Shepherds' Wild Turkey to learn more about these birds locally.

BUZZARD.   These are not unknown in our area.   Four were seen together over Findon on 27th October 1969.

I have sighted them above Rogers Farm,  soaring over the Findon Gallops and also the summit of Cissbury.

CIRL BUNTING.    These attractive buntings were reported as common in Findon at the beginning of the 20th century. 

Up to ten pairs once bred in a colony to the south of the village at Findon Valley but, alas, all had disappeared by 1975.

CURLEW.   It is said that in the past curlews were heard flying over Findon at nightfall but by the beginning of the 20th century their call became more seldom.   

By the 1980s they were regularly observed in flight above the Findon downland during the latter half of each year (October and November).... perhaps some overland migration was occurring?

FIRECREST.   Seen by Brian Clay on Wednesday 7th March 2007 one of these was seen flitting and feeding around the ivy-clad tree trunks in the vicinity of Findon Place.

GOLDCREST.   Seen by Brian Clay at the Findon Cricket field on Wednesday, 7th March 2007..  

GOLDFINCHES.    I first noticed these flitting around the thistle heads at Cissbury Ring in the autumn of 2005.   They are also frequent visitors to my niger seed feeder in the garden (I would add that I have no thistles).

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER.   A frequent visitor to my bird feeder.

GREY HERON.   At the beginning of the 20th century, herons often passed over Findon on their way to and from River Adur at Shoreham when their heronry was at Michelgrove.   They departed from Michelgrove for pastures new at Parham around the year 1831.

A heron proved a very common sighting in Nepcote from the autumn of 2006 onwards.   Every morning it flew in from the north just after I had finished my breakfast.   It passed over my property and landed always on the same spot on the roof of the bungalow on the opposite side of the road.     It had a good look all around each day and eventually took off in a southerly direction.   

In the evening, it flew back on its return journey heading northwards again.   As Findon is waterless, it is unusual to have a heron regularly dropping in.  

GREY PARTRIDGE.   Seen on the Findon Gallops in March 2004.

GREY WAGTAIL.    These have been seen at the beginning of the 21st century at  Rogers Farm and also at North Farm.

LAPWING.    I have often seen small flocks of these since 1993 when I moved to Findon.   They have been in the fields to the east of Cissbury Ring .......and are often found in the fields of spring sown cereal.

MARSH TIT.   I caught sight of this bird more than once during December 2006 in my garden much to my surprise.

MISTLETHRUSH.    Two of these seen by Brian Clay in a field at the back of Findon Place and a third heard singing on Wednesday 7th March 2007.  

NIGHTINGALE.  

I know exactly where Peter means, but I haven't heard a Nightingale.... has anyone else?   Perhaps the school children have put the wildlife off.

NUTHATCH.   Three of these seen by Brian Clay on Wednesday, 7th March 2007 chasing each other around in a copse by Findon Place.

PARAKEET.   I've heard of wild parakeets making their homes in London but during mid-August 2009 a new arrival turned up in nearby Worthing (Brooklands area).   It added a bit of glamour to the bird population and was enjoying taking the sea air.    Has anyone seen anymore around..... like dropping off on the downland to make their home?  

I believe the parakeet population of London is now (2009) something between 30,000 and 50,000 of these cute little customers.   In one of the recent Big Garden Birdwatches, the parakeet was among the 20 most-sighted birds in London.

How will it fare in Worthing do you think?     Well, they actually originate from the foothills of the Himalayas, so they may find Sunny Worthing and the South Coast acceptable.  

RED KITE.   Seen soaring above Kithurst Hill on 28th May 2006.   I saw one pass low over the summit of Cissbury Ring in the spring of 2007.

ROOKS.  It is reputed that rooks took up residency at the Cissbury Estate in 1828 for the first time. 

At the beginning of the 20th century it was said that during the winter months they could be seen in the evening following the Findon Valley till they reached Washington Borstal, from which they directed their flight over Storrington to the Parham Estate to roost in the shelter of the trees.

SHRIKE.     I am not sure if the Findon one I am going to mention is the Red-backed Shrike or the larger Great Grey Shrike......these are better known as "the butcher bird"...... be on the look out for this one.... many years ago a pair bred at the southern end of Cross Lane and the main road.   Eventually some interfering person meddled with their nest and put a half brick in it..... and they were seen no more in Findon.    As they were not very pleasant birds it maybe why they met their demise in our village.

I forgot to mention that these birds have rather violent eating manners, which includes establishing a larder of spare food by impaling prey on sharp thorns until ready to devour.   

The birds often perch on the top of small conifers to locate their "dinner" .... which is often torn to shreds..... when, of course, not hung in the "larder".

On 8th April 2008 a Great Grey Shrike appeared at the RSPB Reserve at nearby Pulborough Brooks.  These larger of the two Shrikes can capture Repolls, Siskins and even the larger Swallows and Fieldfares. 

SKYLARK.   These birds are supposed to be getting rare.... but I haven't noticed this on the Findon Gallops and Cissbury Ring which appear to be their strongholds.

STARLING.  When did you last see a starling fly by?  

I remember, I remember the days when there were flocks of them around the Brighton Pavilion when they came in to roost for the night.    I remember a pair of starlings bringing up their young in an old woodpecker's nest in the Canadian Oak in my garden in Henfield.   

A little nearer to Findon, there were 30,000 of these birds recorded on the Downs near Cissbury Ring in November 1976.    If I get the odd couple in my garden for a short period these days, I consider myself lucky.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.   These are rarely seen in our area but on the evening of 9th April 1984 they were heard honking as they flew over Findon.

WOOD SANDPIPER.   One individual was recorded as a visitor at "a pond at Church Hill" at the beginning of the 20th century.

WRYNECK.   It is said that for many years this bird was heard in springtime along the main road at Findon (A24) ....not far from Parson’s Pond in those days (but now known as Black Horse Pond).   By the beginning of the 20th century it was heard no more. 

Good news though.   A wryneck was seen on Cissbury Ring's Western Escarpment on 23rd June 2006.

SUMMING UP:    Last but by no means least....have I missed anything out?   I am sure you will let me know if I have.

Have you found this as interesting as I have....... let me know. 

Have a rummage through your grey cells, have you anything to add to the records for me?

Continue if you would like to see the Village Snow — 2007

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.