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==Birds== | ==Birds== | ||
| − | ===Notable Species=== | + | ===Notable and Rare Species=== |
[[Image:AF-3.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Photo by {{user|pjohnson|pjohnson}}<br />Waterfall on Ashdown Forest]] | [[Image:AF-3.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Photo by {{user|pjohnson|pjohnson}}<br />Waterfall on Ashdown Forest]] | ||
| + | '''A Summary of a Year on Ashdown Forest''' | ||
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Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the [http://www.sos.org.uk SOS] and [http://www.birdguides.com Bird Guides] websites. Other Winter species includes passing birds of prey like Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and Raven. Crossbill, Siskin, (Lesser) Redpoll and Brambling are present, some throughout the year, others only in Winter. If there is a good crop of berries Waxwings occasionally turn up. | Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the [http://www.sos.org.uk SOS] and [http://www.birdguides.com Bird Guides] websites. Other Winter species includes passing birds of prey like Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and Raven. Crossbill, Siskin, (Lesser) Redpoll and Brambling are present, some throughout the year, others only in Winter. If there is a good crop of berries Waxwings occasionally turn up. | ||
| − | In Spring the Forest is alive with bird song. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, increasingly Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Woodlark can be seen and heard on the Forest. Stonechats are present but their numbers have been dropping. Spring is also a good time to catch birds heading north as the Forest provides a good stopping off point for migrants. Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Hobby pass through and you may be lucky enough to see Common Buzzard | + | In Spring the Forest is alive with bird song. Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, increasingly Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Woodlark can be seen and heard on the Forest. Stonechats are present but their numbers have been dropping. Redstarts can be seen, the males using low branches in open pine woodland to sing. Spring is also a good time to catch birds heading north as the Forest provides a good stopping off point for migrants. Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Hobby pass through and you may be lucky enough to see Common Buzzard or Red Kite drifting high across any wooded valleys. |
| − | In Summer things quieten down as the breeding season is in full swing. Most of the warblers will be present and a few birds of prey. Look out for early migrants like Whinchat. | + | In Summer things quieten down as the breeding season is in full swing. Most of the warblers will be present and a few birds of prey. Look out for early migrants like Whinchat. Spotted Flycatchers are sometimes seen along the edges where heathland meets woodland. |
In Autumn the Forest starts to wake up before the Winter and is a good time to look for migrants coming south. Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare all over-winter on the Forest and Dartford Warblers become more visible. If you're really lucky you may catch a glimpse of a Osprey heading towards Weir Wood reservoir. | In Autumn the Forest starts to wake up before the Winter and is a good time to look for migrants coming south. Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare all over-winter on the Forest and Dartford Warblers become more visible. If you're really lucky you may catch a glimpse of a Osprey heading towards Weir Wood reservoir. | ||
Revision as of 17:09, 12 June 2009
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Overview
Ashdown Forest is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the High Weald. It is situated between Crowborough, Nutley, Maresfield and Forest Row. Originally a deer hunting forest in Norman times, Ashdown Forest is now freely open to the public. It is a great place for walking and enjoying spectacular views over the Sussex countryside and is known the world over as the 'home' of Winnie-the-Pooh.
The Forest covers 6500 acres (2500 hectares), and over half of this is heathland. It makes up 2.5% of the UKs heathland which is a very important and rare habitat. The Forest Centre is the headquarters of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest who are responsible for the managing the Forest. Bird recording is conducted on the Forest by the Ashdown Bird Group who are wholly independent and not affiliated to the Forest Centre or Conservators in any way.
To support a heathland the soil is very acidic, Ashdown Forest is based on a bed of sandstone with pockets of clay. Water collects and creates boggy areas which are exceptionally good for wildlife. Being elevated quite high above sea-level the area also attracts a lot of rainfall in the Winter months. Acid loving plants including heath bedstraw, heath-spotted orchid and bog asphodel can be found in many places as well as heathland moths including latticed heath and hawkmoths.
Birds
Notable and Rare Species
A Summary of a Year on Ashdown Forest
Birding on Ashdown Forest can be a thankless task, particularly in the Winter. Speaking of Winter, this is when we get our most notable species... Great Grey Shrike, which often gets reported on the SOS and Bird Guides websites. Other Winter species includes passing birds of prey like Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon and Raven. Crossbill, Siskin, (Lesser) Redpoll and Brambling are present, some throughout the year, others only in Winter. If there is a good crop of berries Waxwings occasionally turn up.
In Spring the Forest is alive with bird song. Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Dartford Warbler, Whitethroat, increasingly Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Woodlark can be seen and heard on the Forest. Stonechats are present but their numbers have been dropping. Redstarts can be seen, the males using low branches in open pine woodland to sing. Spring is also a good time to catch birds heading north as the Forest provides a good stopping off point for migrants. Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail and Hobby pass through and you may be lucky enough to see Common Buzzard or Red Kite drifting high across any wooded valleys.
In Summer things quieten down as the breeding season is in full swing. Most of the warblers will be present and a few birds of prey. Look out for early migrants like Whinchat. Spotted Flycatchers are sometimes seen along the edges where heathland meets woodland.
In Autumn the Forest starts to wake up before the Winter and is a good time to look for migrants coming south. Meadow Pipit, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare all over-winter on the Forest and Dartford Warblers become more visible. If you're really lucky you may catch a glimpse of a Osprey heading towards Weir Wood reservoir.
Rarities
To do
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
To do
Other Wildlife
To do
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
Access is straight-forward and should ideally be done by road if possible. The main facilities are at the Forest Centre.
Access By Car
Access is by road, using the numerous car parks available to walk out onto the Forest. The A22 cuts through the Forest running between Nutley and Forest Row, access to the Forest Centre is from this road, turning at Wych Cross traffic lights.
Access By Bus
Stagecoach Service 54 (becomes 261 from Uckfield onwards) Buses run from Eastbourne to East Grinstead via Uckfield. They stop at Chelwood Gate, Wych Cross and the Forest Centre.
Metrobus Service 291 East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells, stopping at Forest Row and Hartfield.
Metrobus Service 270 East Grinstead to Haywards Heath, stopping at Forest Row, Wych Cross and Chelwood Gate.
Access By Train
Trains from London Bridge or London Victoria to East Grinstead are fairly regular.
Contact Details
The Forest Centre 01342 823583
Or use website links.
