Gary Howard's birds and wildlife

After a lazy start, it was fathers day(!), we headed out to Sussex and to explore Nyman's Garden, a National Trust property that we regularly drive past on the A23 as we head down to Grandma's.It was a lovely warm, sunny day.

It was rather beautiful, as expected, but to two six-year olds after a while perhaps a bit restrictive! The largely ruined house was a draw and they liked exporing the remaining rooms and chatting to the custodians as they filled in the inevitable kids quiz but the gardens were of limited interest. They got bored, we got irritated. Eventually our patience began to wear thin and we left to look for a picnic spot.

A short drive later and we were in the heart of the Ashdown Forest.

We had our picnic overlooking the valley leading to the airmans grave and then spent a couple of hours wandering around Old Lodge.

It was the perfect finish;  hardly a person in sight, plenty of birds and lots of sticks, hiding places, streams and trees to climb for the boys.

Redstart were everywhere and I saw a few juvs as well as at least 5 males. Tree Pipit were still singing, a Woodlark had a brief sing and it was good to see a Spotted Flycatcher.  Not a sight nor sound of a Dartford Warbler.