Rye and Old Lodge

A repeat of my normal routine, Rye in the morning followed by Old Lodge in the afternoon. With a clear blue sky I was looking forward to the visit to Rye, As sometimes happens things didn't live up to expectations. Whilst the Black-headed Gulls, Mediterranean Gulls and Sandwich Terns have nested and chicks are hatching the Common Terns are sadly missing, just a few dotted here and there, nothing like the numbers of last year.  On the way to Ternery pool I spotted four Avocets - 2 pairs I guess. One pair must be in the Synchronised Wading event at the Olympics, as everything they did  was perfectly together. There were plenty of Terns flying in from the sea but a visit to the beach showed only a few fishing near in. A Skylark politely posed for me, as did a Cuckoo but both were up sun of me giving less than optimal photos. A fleeting visit from a Peregrine set the terns aloft but apart from that there was little to get the pulse going. So, after a cup of tea, I made my way to Old Lodge in the Ashdown Forest. 

Cuckoo

Skylark

Synchronicity

I have a distinct feeling that the message had got through that I was coming  and everything must have gone into hiding, just a few Stonechats, an obliging Woodlark, and not a sign of a Redstart.

Woodlark

Ubiquitous Stonechat on gorse